1 00:00:02,067 --> 00:00:06,232 IV: Good, yes. Okay. So.. 2 00:00:06,233 --> 00:00:10,166 These 16 years in Poland 3 00:00:10,167 --> 00:00:11,832 LW: 19, 19. 4 00:00:11,833 --> 00:00:19,832 IV: 19? You described it so: You arrived, were very successful and then this wave of antisemitism came, mandated. 5 00:00:19,833 --> 00:00:30,732 How were these 16 years, were you confronted with prejudice, were you accepted up to the point of the political wave? 6 00:00:30,733 --> 00:00:32,332 LW: That is the astounding part. 7 00:00:32,333 --> 00:00:41,299 I had through my studies in Germany, at which time there was not any discrimination. 8 00:00:41,300 --> 00:00:45,866 As a student, among German students, there were a few Poles. 9 00:00:45,867 --> 00:00:47,466 I was just a student. Period. 10 00:00:47,467 --> 00:00:52,166 I never felt that someone was looking at me strangely because of my Jewish origins. 11 00:00:52,167 --> 00:01:02,199 I was somehow immune, in Poland I never sensed that anyone looked at me funny. 12 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:07,232 But I have to add it was similar in Sweden. 13 00:01:07,233 --> 00:01:15,932 I was in a position where people depended on me. I was someone who could do good, could help. 14 00:01:15,933 --> 00:01:20,866 People came to me for help, to the gynecologist and obstetrician. 15 00:01:20,867 --> 00:01:27,832 So I wasn't in a position where I had to ask someone for anything. 16 00:01:27,833 --> 00:01:35,432 I was independent, and people looked up to me more than down at me. 17 00:01:35,433 --> 00:01:45,466 So I was able to keep many many wonderful friends in Poland. 18 00:01:45,467 --> 00:01:53,266 And children too, that I brought into this world, in special situations, through special situations in pregnancy. 19 00:01:53,267 --> 00:02:01,866 I still have children speak to me and I am like the grandfather of their children because we have close contact. 20 00:02:01,867 --> 00:02:07,999 That warms my heart, leaves traces, positive traces. 21 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:11,166 So I didn't experience anything negative. 22 00:02:11,167 --> 00:02:18,332 My wife worked for a publishing house, for the magazine "Poland", the German version. 23 00:02:18,333 --> 00:02:23,366 She was the editor, an illustrated, wonderful magazine about Poland. 24 00:02:23,367 --> 00:02:25,299 Published in five languages. 25 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:27,866 She was in charge of the German editorial office. 26 00:02:27,867 --> 00:02:35,999 IV: Basically up to today, where this car stopped in front of your door with the ban, you never experienced... 27 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:36,599 LW. Just the opposite. 28 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,599 IV: Or even from the wave that came from the government. 29 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:40,566 LW: No, until then - 30 00:02:40,567 --> 00:02:41,799 IV: And you didn't, not there either? 31 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,066 LW: Just the opposite, they came up to me. 32 00:02:44,067 --> 00:02:52,632 "It's not meant for you. Keep going and continue working, take on a new position." 33 00:02:52,633 --> 00:03:01,366 They were like: "you are dismissed but you will find a new position. It is not aimed at people like you, you are a good boy." 34 00:03:01,367 --> 00:03:04,999 I told them: "go sit on a tack." 35 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:06,666 IV: You sensed that that wasn't -- 36 00:03:06,667 --> 00:03:14,332 LW: In the end all I can say is that a sore spot for me, where I have a tick is the question of human dignity. 37 00:03:14,333 --> 00:03:28,199 In the camps, in the ghetto I could be kicked into the ground, humiliated, dehumanized, my humanity was denied me. 38 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:29,566 But I was helpless there. 39 00:03:29,567 --> 00:03:32,199 I didn't have a chance against the SS. 40 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:38,366 But after the war I reacted strongly to the slightest expression against human dignity. 41 00:03:38,367 --> 00:03:41,666 Very hard sometimes and very strongly. 42 00:03:41,667 --> 00:03:48,866 My dignity is the most important thing... as a conscious being. 43 00:03:48,867 --> 00:03:53,399 That is the most important thing for people to maintain. 44 00:03:53,400 --> 00:04:03,832 And all acts, everything that violated human dignity, that violates me too. 45 00:04:03,833 --> 00:04:05,033 IV: Okay. Thank you.