1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,166 IV: ...for the interview. I know a lot of them. Out of the books. 2 00:00:03,167 --> 00:00:03,999 MR: Hm. Right. 3 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:04,399 IV: They have been here before.. 4 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:04,966 MR: Yes, yes. 5 00:00:04,967 --> 00:00:06,299 IV:.. and they told us.. 6 00:00:06,300 --> 00:00:09,999 So now, I just know your name. {laughs} 7 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:14,466 So, that means we should start with the beginning of the story. 8 00:00:14,467 --> 00:00:16,066 Where did you live? 9 00:00:16,067 --> 00:00:20,666 And when the Nazis took you away off... So this... 10 00:00:20,667 --> 00:00:26,332 MR: Well, I was born in Hungary, in a little town in Hungary in 1931. 11 00:00:26,333 --> 00:00:38,299 And ..er.. I guess in April or so the Germans occupied Hungary I believe because they were negotiating with the Allies, and trying to surrender Hungary to the Allies. 12 00:00:38,300 --> 00:00:48,099 And when the Germans came in, my family and I were taken to a ghetto in a city called Sátoraljaújhely. 13 00:00:48,100 --> 00:00:55,966 And we were only there a short time, and from there of course we were taken in cattle cars to Auschwitz. 14 00:00:55,967 --> 00:00:59,432 IV: Can you tell a little bit about the trip, about your family? 15 00:00:59,433 --> 00:01:02,899 How many people went, how many people went on this transport. 16 00:01:02,900 --> 00:01:05,499 How many days you need, how you were treated there. 17 00:01:05,500 --> 00:01:12,732 MR: Well, actually, the.. er, Sáto is very close to Krakau. 18 00:01:12,733 --> 00:01:18,332 And if my memory is correct, the journey only take like over night. 19 00:01:18,333 --> 00:01:22,932 We left late afternoon and following noon time we were in Krakau. 20 00:01:22,933 --> 00:01:26,566 And from there, the train continues to Auschwitz. 21 00:01:26,567 --> 00:01:34,732 And when we arrived in Auschwitz er, instantly,.. we went in cattle cars which held about seventy people. 22 00:01:34,733 --> 00:01:37,666 There were no facilities, there was buckets on the train. 23 00:01:37,667 --> 00:01:40,132 You had to release yourself in these buckets. 24 00:01:40,133 --> 00:01:46,699 Ah, when we got to Auschwitz, I, I got there with my father, my mother and my two younger brothers. 25 00:01:46,700 --> 00:01:51,832 When we got off the train, there was some Polish prisoners who were Jewish. 26 00:01:51,833 --> 00:01:54,132 And they told us in Jewish: 27 00:01:54,133 --> 00:01:57,732 "When they ask you how old you are, tell them you are 15." 28 00:01:57,733 --> 00:02:02,332 I was actually just passed my 13th birthday. 29 00:02:02,333 --> 00:02:11,932 So, when we went up to the so called selection, äh, my fa.. my bro.. my mother and my younger brothers went to one side. 30 00:02:11,933 --> 00:02:16,499 And when they asked me how old I was, I was.. I said I was 15. 31 00:02:16,500 --> 00:02:19,499 So I went to the other side with my father. 32 00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:29,699 And what I remember the first night we were there, I cried because I said I wanted to go with my mother, not knowing where my mother went. 33 00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:33,699 And we were only in Auschwitz a few, a few days really. 34 00:02:33,700 --> 00:02:36,566 And while we were there, you know, they had assemblies. 35 00:02:36,567 --> 00:02:40,399 We had to line up er in three rows. 36 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:44,332 And there used to be a little game er, how shall I line up? 37 00:02:44,333 --> 00:02:48,499 Shall I line up in back of my father or on the side of my father? 38 00:02:48,500 --> 00:02:50,999 Cause you never knew in which way the lines were cut. 39 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,966 Will it.. gonna be one in the front, or this way. 40 00:02:53,967 --> 00:03:00,799 So anyway, from Auschwitz, we were taken to a place called Kittlitztreben. 41 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,899 Which was near Breslau, it was a subcamp of Groß-Rosen. 42 00:03:04,900 --> 00:03:09,499 And there of course you know I did different work. 43 00:03:09,500 --> 00:03:14,366 I worked in a in a forrest, I built barracks, I er.. 44 00:03:14,367 --> 00:03:20,166 At one time, we went to er harvest potatoes, myself and another young kid. 45 00:03:20,167 --> 00:03:29,399 And er.. so we were there until February of 1945. 46 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:34,232 When the Russians were advancing, they evacuated the camp. 47 00:03:34,233 --> 00:03:38,532 The camp held about 200 prisoners. 48 00:03:38,533 --> 00:03:44,832 And 800 was sick, so they were left behind. 49 00:03:44,833 --> 00:03:47,532 And I left with my father. 50 00:03:47,533 --> 00:03:49,832 IV: You have been still together all the time? 51 00:03:49,833 --> 00:03:55,232 MR: Yes. And in February, it must have been on February 10th when we left. 52 00:03:55,233 --> 00:03:58,999 And we walked er, I guess till sometimes in April. 53 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:11,332 We went to Dresden, Zwickau, Görlitz, and we got to Buchenwald eh around April 2nd or 3rd something like that. 54 00:04:11,333 --> 00:04:16,166 And while we were there, the, the Americans were advancing. 55 00:04:16,167 --> 00:04:19,899 I guess it was around April 7th 1945. 56 00:04:19,900 --> 00:04:23,766 And then they formed what they called transports. 57 00:04:23,767 --> 00:04:26,666 And there were 1500 people in this transport. 58 00:04:26,667 --> 00:04:29,599 And the only way I remember it cause there is a book called 59 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:33,166 "The theory and practice of hell" by Eugen Kogon. 60 00:04:33,167 --> 00:04:42,399 And in there, there is a chapter mentioning the fact that this transport left Buchenwald around April 7th 1945. 61 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,732 Er.. I was with my father. 62 00:04:44,733 --> 00:04:50,732 The first day out of Buchenwald, my father's legs stiffened up and he wouldn't walk. 63 00:04:50,733 --> 00:04:58,932 So I carried him on my shoulder except a soldier came along, he pushed him on the ground and he was shot. 64 00:04:58,933 --> 00:05:03,599 And I continued.. This happened the first day we were on the road. 65 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:09,099 And we walked for about ten more days. 66 00:05:09,100 --> 00:05:12,066 And the last seven we didn't get anything to eat. 67 00:05:12,067 --> 00:05:17,499 So I used to eat grass, rotten potatoes, drink dirty water, and I got very sick. 68 00:05:17,500 --> 00:05:19,566 I came down with dysentery. 69 00:05:19,567 --> 00:05:25,999 Er well I was, if I use my language, er, you know, defecating blood and mucus. 70 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:30,499 And of course you couldn't stop because if you stopped, they shot you. 71 00:05:30,500 --> 00:05:36,132 So you just did it in your pants and when it dried up, you rubbed it off. 72 00:05:36,133 --> 00:05:44,799 We got to Flossenbürg I guess er, sometimes April 17th, 19th or thereabouts. 73 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,466 IV: You have been walking all the time? 74 00:05:46,467 --> 00:05:55,432 MR: Yes. Yes. We walked from on February 10th till er April 17th, with a few days rest in, in Buchenwald. 75 00:05:55,433 --> 00:06:00,966 Because Buchenwald was liberated April 11th, and we left April 7th. 76 00:06:00,967 --> 00:06:04,466 It was liberated by the American army. 77 00:06:04,467 --> 00:06:09,232 Er, by the time I got to Flossenbürg, I was very sick. 78 00:06:09,233 --> 00:06:17,299 And I recall they used to drag us out to the assembly place, the Appellplatz. 79 00:06:17,300 --> 00:06:24,366 And they used to exhort us to walk to the main gate because there were trucks waiting there. 80 00:06:24,367 --> 00:06:32,866 But of course by this time either I was too sick or too er untrusting of, of the trucks. 81 00:06:32,867 --> 00:06:40,099 So I remained there and they dragged us back to the barracks close to the place there. 82 00:06:40,100 --> 00:06:49,632 And er, there were too many people in Flossenbürg at that time because all the evacuated camps were congregating in Flossenbürg. 83 00:06:49,633 --> 00:06:56,366 And er, so I was in the middle bunk with somebody and the fellow died over the night. 84 00:06:56,367 --> 00:06:58,266 I pushed him out of bed. 85 00:06:58,267 --> 00:07:01,499 And er, April 23rd I was liberated. 86 00:07:01,500 --> 00:07:03,899 But I was very sick. 87 00:07:03,900 --> 00:07:09,366 So, there was a military hospital run by the army. 88 00:07:09,367 --> 00:07:12,332 Maybe a field hospital I guess. 89 00:07:12,333 --> 00:07:15,599 And they got me back to health. 90 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,166 And when I got better, they did not know what to do with me. 91 00:07:19,167 --> 00:07:22,299 So they put me in a hospital in Weiden. 92 00:07:22,300 --> 00:07:29,566 Except I used to get up and go into town and bum around and meet some friends you know whom I met. 93 00:07:29,567 --> 00:07:33,499 Except one morning the doctor, I didn't leave early enough. 94 00:07:33,500 --> 00:07:35,166 So the doctor asked me: 95 00:07:35,167 --> 00:07:37,166 "What's wrong with you?" I said: "Nothing." I said. 96 00:07:37,167 --> 00:07:39,666 "You can't stay here if nothing is wrong with you." 97 00:07:39,667 --> 00:07:43,299 And I guess that's why I wound up in Kloster Indersdorf. 98 00:07:43,300 --> 00:07:47,999 And the rest is as they say is history. 99 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,966 IV: So that means you have been liberated in the camp itself. 100 00:07:50,967 --> 00:07:51,232 MR: Yes. 101 00:07:51,233 --> 00:07:54,499 IV: So everybody who could walk, who.. had to go to the transport. 102 00:07:54,500 --> 00:07:59,066 Just the people who were too sick, they have been left behind there. 103 00:07:59,067 --> 00:08:00,732 MR: Er, I would seem that way. 104 00:08:00,733 --> 00:08:03,432 Because they dragged us out from the barracks. 105 00:08:03,433 --> 00:08:05,166 And they were telling us that.. 106 00:08:05,167 --> 00:08:07,499 "Just go to the main gate and there are trucks waiting. 107 00:08:07,500 --> 00:08:09,132 You don't have to walk any more." 108 00:08:09,133 --> 00:08:12,432 But I was really too sick to do, to do that anymore. 109 00:08:12,433 --> 00:08:15,766 So I, I didn't. 110 00:08:15,767 --> 00:08:22,666 And as I said they dragged me back to one of the barracks and er, I was liberated April 23rd 1945. 111 00:08:22,667 --> 00:08:25,099 IV: Can you remember what happened on this day? 112 00:08:25,100 --> 00:08:31,532 What er, what has happened to the soldiers who er, the watchmen who has been with you before? 113 00:08:31,533 --> 00:08:36,932 MR: Er, I guess they, they left, you know when the military was advancing, American military. 114 00:08:36,933 --> 00:08:39,432 They wanted to save their lives, so they just disappeared. 115 00:08:39,433 --> 00:08:45,066 You know because I believe if my memory is correct reading about it, that's what happened to many camps. 116 00:08:45,067 --> 00:08:56,766 You know, the guards just disappeared, they may have changed to civilian clothes and went into the forest because they didn't want to be caught obviously. 117 00:08:56,767 --> 00:09:05,599 IV: So, you've just been telling this story er very.. concluding all this facts. 118 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:06,832 What about your emotions? 119 00:09:06,833 --> 00:09:10,499 You've been just, you have been 15 you told me. 120 00:09:10,500 --> 00:09:14,332 MR: No, I was, I was 14 when I was liberated. 121 00:09:14,333 --> 00:09:16,499 IV: 14. And you told them that you were 15. 122 00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:20,266 MR: Well I told them when I was in Auschwitz that I was 15 so I wasn't going to the left. 123 00:09:20,267 --> 00:09:22,832 In which case I wouldn't be here to tell you the story. 124 00:09:22,833 --> 00:09:27,632 I went to the right, so I went to, to work. 125 00:09:27,633 --> 00:09:34,666 IV: So when you and your family, when you got on this first transport to Auschwitz, did you know where you were going? 126 00:09:34,667 --> 00:09:37,232 Did you know was Auschwitz was standing for? 127 00:09:37,233 --> 00:09:40,066 MR: Absolutely not. We had no idea. 128 00:09:40,067 --> 00:09:42,499 We had no idea. 129 00:09:42,500 --> 00:09:44,499 IV: And what was the first impression? 130 00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:46,932 So you came there by train. 131 00:09:46,933 --> 00:09:48,199 The doors opened. 132 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:49,466 I think you saw a lot. 133 00:09:49,467 --> 00:09:57,966 MR: Well you know the first impression was, I come from a little town in Eastern Hungary, you know, a population of maybe 700. 134 00:09:57,967 --> 00:10:02,766 And we came into the Krakau railyard and for me it was humongous you know. 135 00:10:02,767 --> 00:10:04,999 I said "Boah, I never saw something like this." 136 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:12,499 Then the train continued to Auschwitz and it stopped on the track which I'm sure you have seen pictures of. 137 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:16,966 And er, they said: "Get out and leave all your baggages behind." 138 00:10:16,967 --> 00:10:24,832 The only thing they allowed you to keep was your er shoes, er your clothing and, and an overcoat and nothing else. 139 00:10:24,833 --> 00:10:32,599 And so I've said earlier, the Jewish prisoners who were collecting the bag, baggages, they said 140 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:36,232 "When they ask you how old you are, tell them you are 15!". 141 00:10:36,233 --> 00:10:40,099 And of course, I didn't hesitate. 142 00:10:40,100 --> 00:10:46,866 I didn't know why they told me that, but I told them that I was, when I got to the selection point I told them I was 15. 143 00:10:46,867 --> 00:10:50,199 And er, you went to one side with your father. 144 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:54,766 And my mother and two younger brothers who were 10 and 6 at that time went to the other side. 145 00:10:54,767 --> 00:10:57,932 And of course only later did you find out what happened to them. 146 00:10:57,933 --> 00:11:03,999 IV: So you had no idea, er, what's that it really was, what was going to happen to you. 147 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:05,532 MR: Non whatsoever. 148 00:11:05,533 --> 00:11:08,966 Because you know Hungary was an ally of Germany during the war. 149 00:11:08,967 --> 00:11:15,099 And of course, nothing was in the Hungarian papers what was happening in Germany obviously. 150 00:11:15,100 --> 00:11:19,266 You know, that was kept a secret. 151 00:11:19,267 --> 00:11:28,666 IV: So and then going to this first working camp, can you tell a little bit, have you some rememberings about er, the conditions of living? 152 00:11:28,667 --> 00:11:32,666 The food, how they treated you, the barracks? 153 00:11:32,667 --> 00:11:39,199 MR: Well er, in the morning, we used to get some Ersatz-coffee I think which was made with someting {shakes his head} you know. 154 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:46,466 And then on, and then we left for work and on 10:30 we got a sandwich like Wurst sandwich or something. 155 00:11:46,467 --> 00:11:52,566 And at night, you got a quarter of er, sliced, you know a quarter bread from a loaf and a little margarine. 156 00:11:52,567 --> 00:11:58,899 And of course the big meal was on Sunday because we got boiled potatoes and soup with horse meat. 157 00:11:58,900 --> 00:12:03,266 Because I went by the kitchen one day and there were horses' heads sitting on the table. 158 00:12:03,267 --> 00:12:07,232 So we knew what... But we were hungry, so we ate anything you know {laughs}. 159 00:12:07,233 --> 00:12:17,332 And er, well, er, you know er, the barracks were the typical barracks with three bunks up, you know how the outhouse where you had to go. 160 00:12:17,333 --> 00:12:19,432 You got a shower once a month. 161 00:12:19,433 --> 00:12:23,866 And er, you never changed to other clothing. 162 00:12:23,867 --> 00:12:27,999 When you.. after you came in from the shower, they used to delouse you. 163 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:37,132 You had to spread your arms and they used to spray you with some de... you know delousing stuff you know, white er thing. 164 00:12:37,133 --> 00:12:42,799 And er, they threw you another shirt of somebody else's that supposedly was clean. 165 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,766 And er that was it. 166 00:12:45,767 --> 00:12:51,232 And er, you know it was.. you worked all the time. 167 00:12:51,233 --> 00:12:54,532 And you were always hungry and cold and er. 168 00:12:54,533 --> 00:13:00,666 When somebody tried to escape, we used to stand in attention for hours. 169 00:13:00,667 --> 00:13:04,866 And they caught him, they used to give him fifty lashes. 170 00:13:04,867 --> 00:13:12,766 There used to be a, a dugout where they used to throw the dead bodies which was taken to Groß-Rosen to be cremated. 171 00:13:12,767 --> 00:13:20,466 And er, you know that's what it was, except the camp.. 172 00:13:20,467 --> 00:13:21,832 IV: Those, those things you saw. 173 00:13:21,833 --> 00:13:22,632 MR: Yes. 174 00:13:22,633 --> 00:13:28,932 IV: And so er, was there a time er, an idea came up where this road was leading to? 175 00:13:28,933 --> 00:13:32,132 MR: No, no. 176 00:13:32,133 --> 00:13:36,499 There was, there was no.. Er you remember, I was, I was coming on my 14th year you know. 177 00:13:36,500 --> 00:13:38,699 What the hell did I know. I mean we didn't.. 178 00:13:38,700 --> 00:13:48,899 You know everyone do.. we wanted to survive of course because on the march from Buchenwald to Flossenbürg er, a lot of people were shot. 179 00:13:48,900 --> 00:13:51,732 And er I used to ask the older people: 180 00:13:51,733 --> 00:13:53,332 "Does it hurt to be shot?" 181 00:13:53,333 --> 00:13:59,866 But I was afraid of pain, so I continued going you know {laughs}. 182 00:13:59,867 --> 00:14:02,366 IV: And your father was with you. 183 00:14:02,367 --> 00:14:06,132 So you were talking about it, he did talk to you, he tried to explain. 184 00:14:06,133 --> 00:14:09,799 I think he was an adult, he should have known.. 185 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,132 MR: I don't think anybody really knew. 186 00:14:13,133 --> 00:14:16,166 You know nobody really knew because everything was kept a secret. 187 00:14:16,167 --> 00:14:21,499 We just worked in there and er, you know, you got up in the morning, you worked six days a week as I said. 188 00:14:21,500 --> 00:14:24,666 The big meal was Sunday, we got boiled potatoes. 189 00:14:24,667 --> 00:14:31,199 And er, I guess everyone was clueless so to speak. 190 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:33,399 You know. 191 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:43,399 And you know during the march for example from er, from Buchenwald to Flossenbürg, you know we saw er, Russian fighter planes machine-gunning railway stations. 192 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:47,599 I remember Zwickau being bombed. 193 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:51,166 And you can see the animals running away from the impact of the bombs. 194 00:14:51,167 --> 00:14:55,366 You could see the bombs fallling from the sky from these planes. 195 00:14:55,367 --> 00:15:03,432 And er, so er, that was.. we kept going. 196 00:15:03,433 --> 00:15:06,766 Hoping that things will be better the next day. 197 00:15:06,767 --> 00:15:19,099 IV: Did you got any informations that er the war was close to, to finish, that the Russians, the Americans were near, or..? 198 00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:21,432 MR: Well er, we didn't really get any direct information. 199 00:15:21,433 --> 00:15:26,999 But you could see, you know, as they were evacuating the camp that something was imminent you know. 200 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:31,732 Because they used to.. there was a lot of bombing you heard in the distance er. 201 00:15:31,733 --> 00:15:41,432 Actually from, from Kittlitztreben to er Da.. I mean er, Buchenwald, we went to Dresden after it was fire-bombed. 202 00:15:41,433 --> 00:15:45,732 And you know I remember to this day going to a bridge I guess the Elbe is in Dresden. 203 00:15:45,733 --> 00:15:48,299 And you could see the devastation all around you. 204 00:15:48,300 --> 00:15:55,999 So you knew something was happening without realizing what really was happening. 205 00:15:56,000 --> 00:16:02,866 IV: So well you have been a child in this time and er, a part of this time, your father was with you. 206 00:16:02,867 --> 00:16:05,699 You have been not totally alone. 207 00:16:05,700 --> 00:16:09,366 But what happened on this day when you saw they shot your father? 208 00:16:09,367 --> 00:16:11,366 MR: Well, you kept going! 209 00:16:11,367 --> 00:16:12,332 IV: You kept going. 210 00:16:12,333 --> 00:16:13,999 MR: You kept going. 211 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:18,599 Actually my uncle was in camp with me also but he was left behind and he survived. 212 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:27,832 And er, and the way I found out about it is er, Zoltán Farkas whom you interviewed earlier. 213 00:16:27,833 --> 00:16:30,599 He was in Indersdorf with us. 214 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:33,632 And he was going back to Hungary. 215 00:16:33,633 --> 00:16:41,266 And as you, as you well know, a postal communication after, during, after the war was pretty poor. 216 00:16:41,267 --> 00:16:47,232 So I wrote a letter to my uncle er, not knowing whether he was alive or dead. 217 00:16:47,233 --> 00:16:49,399 And I said to David, I said: 218 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,466 "When you get to Hungary, mail this." 219 00:16:51,467 --> 00:17:01,232 And about six weeks later, a good friend of mine that I grew up with, he was around my age, and his father appeared in Ind.. Kloster Indersdorf 220 00:17:01,233 --> 00:17:12,666 with a letter from my uncle which showed my aunt settles in the United States and my brother settles in Palestine. 221 00:17:12,667 --> 00:17:27,399 Because my brother is older, and in September of 1944, he escaped in the underground to Palestine, to Romania, I guess, Turkey and Lebanon, and he got there, I had his address. 222 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:31,766 And there is, there is another conincidence to this whole story: 223 00:17:31,767 --> 00:17:40,132 when Zoltán came back from Hungary, he coundn't find anything in his home town as his relatives settled in the United States. 224 00:17:40,133 --> 00:17:47,332 So he asked me would I write to my aunt to see if she can find his relatives. 225 00:17:47,333 --> 00:17:48,799 He just gave me a name. 226 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:56,099 Which I did, and my aunt found his aunt living about 15 blocks where she was living. 227 00:17:56,100 --> 00:18:04,999 And that's how they found their relatives in the United States. 228 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:13,732 IV: And what do you think in this time er, until the day of liberation, what was the most hard thing for you? 229 00:18:13,733 --> 00:18:17,232 The most terrible thing? The most devastating? 230 00:18:17,233 --> 00:18:25,999 MR: Well er you know, certainly shooting my father was pretty devastating, but er you were always cold and hungry. 231 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,432 You were always cold and hungry und you never knew when you gonna get beat up. 232 00:18:29,433 --> 00:18:33,266 You never knew when something will happen to you. 233 00:18:33,267 --> 00:18:44,866 Although er, the camp itself was not er, policed by the SS. Only the Kommandant was an SS guy. And the assistant. 234 00:18:44,867 --> 00:18:49,532 It was really, I think they were conscientious objectors and some Wehrmacht. 235 00:18:49,533 --> 00:18:51,732 And you know there were decent people. 236 00:18:51,733 --> 00:18:56,432 There was one guard who let me carry his lunch you know those (???) lunch packet. 237 00:18:56,433 --> 00:18:58,166 And he used to give me his leftovers. 238 00:18:58,167 --> 00:19:04,666 You know today I wouldn't eat anybody's leftovers, but I ate those leftovers {laughs}. 239 00:19:04,667 --> 00:19:06,999 You are hungry, you eat. 240 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:12,866 Whatever comes along the way, you know? 241 00:19:12,867 --> 00:19:17,732 IV: And if there is nothing left, some start to steal it from the others. 242 00:19:17,733 --> 00:19:20,432 MR: Well, I had, I had another good job. 243 00:19:20,433 --> 00:19:25,399 Once, another kid and I er, were pealing carrots in a military kitchen. 244 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:29,766 So that was a good job, because you ate one and you pealed another one you know. 245 00:19:29,767 --> 00:19:34,599 Especially when they didn't watch you close enough. 246 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,999 IV: So, and maybe you can tell us a little bit of the story of Indersdorf. 247 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,566 How did you get there, and what happened there? 248 00:19:40,567 --> 00:19:46,732 Because that story, I just read some articles, but I don't know much of it. 249 00:19:46,733 --> 00:19:57,432 MR: Well er you know, I must have got to Indersdorf, I would say, August, end of July, August of 1945. 250 00:19:57,433 --> 00:20:03,199 And er, it was run as you know by UNRRA. 251 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:08,666 And they tried to help us reacclimate to civilian life there you know. 252 00:20:08,667 --> 00:20:10,832 They had teachers there er who.. 253 00:20:10,833 --> 00:20:14,799 I was born in Hungary, they had teachers who taught us in Hungarian. 254 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:20,266 We used to go to movies in a, in military trucks to Munich. 255 00:20:20,267 --> 00:20:23,299 And we used to have little outings. 256 00:20:23,300 --> 00:20:28,666 We went to Konstanz and we used to go to Munich as I said. 257 00:20:28,667 --> 00:20:39,032 And er, at Christmas time, they had a big dinner in the main dining.. there is a main dining room for dinner. 258 00:20:39,033 --> 00:20:43,799 And er everybody had a little gift, I don't remember what it was. 259 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:48,999 And they had a young Russian girl ended singing, you know entertaining us. 260 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:54,899 And subsequently during Hanukka, the Jewish holiday, we went to a party in Dachau some place. 261 00:20:54,900 --> 00:21:07,099 And of course I left, I left er Indersdorf in May of 1946 because I got to the States on a military transport, May 22nd 1946. 262 00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:13,899 And we have some photos that I gave to the Holocaust Museum in Washington and so forth. 263 00:21:13,900 --> 00:21:20,766 IV: And so most of people living there is er, I think, being there they recognized they were orphans now. 264 00:21:20,767 --> 00:21:21,532 They were alone most of them. 265 00:21:21,533 --> 00:21:23,266 MR: Yeah. Yes. Yes. 266 00:21:23,267 --> 00:21:25,499 IV: So how was the atmosphere also together with you? 267 00:21:25,500 --> 00:21:31,132 So.. because some people, they say: the day of the liberation was the happiest in my life.. 268 00:21:31,133 --> 00:21:32,066 MR: And the saddest. 269 00:21:32,067 --> 00:21:37,199 IV: And some say it is the saddest because they felt totally alone. 270 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:42,599 MR: Well you know, you were happy, and I didn't have time to be sad because I was very sick. 271 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:48,666 You know I was just er, in field hospital for about two or three months. 272 00:21:48,667 --> 00:21:55,332 And er, after that er, I used to go, after I got better, I used to go to Weiden with the ambulance drivers. 273 00:21:55,333 --> 00:21:58,332 I was there, you know, I was messed up, I was forteen and a half years old. 274 00:21:58,333 --> 00:22:04,232 But er, I, I think, you know, I truely think we really reacclimated pretty good. 275 00:22:04,233 --> 00:22:14,466 Because I got to the States in 1946, and in 1951, I was drafted into the Marine Corps during the Corean War. 276 00:22:14,467 --> 00:22:23,532 And I think we were very patriotic because most of my friends, even from Indersdorf, served in the military. 277 00:22:23,533 --> 00:22:25,166 IV: In the US. 278 00:22:25,167 --> 00:22:35,032 MR: In the US. Because in all probability if I told them what I went through six years prior to that date, they would have kicked me out, they wouldn't have wanted me. 279 00:22:35,033 --> 00:22:42,366 But we've all, I guess we were all patriotic and we readjusted fairly good 280 00:22:42,367 --> 00:22:51,032 that we were able to go into the military and go to basic training and er, serve our time there. 281 00:22:51,033 --> 00:22:57,132 IV: And going to the war, what did you feel being there? 282 00:22:57,133 --> 00:22:59,266 MR: {Laughs} 283 00:22:59,267 --> 00:23:01,832 IV: That's another story. But.. 284 00:23:01,833 --> 00:23:08,999 Well.. You, you know, we didn't, we really even think you know about what we went through prior to that. 285 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:13,499 We wanted, we wanted to get along with our lifes. 286 00:23:13,500 --> 00:23:21,632 So, you know, we learned English, not like today when you are in the States, you have bilingual Spanish and English. 287 00:23:21,633 --> 00:23:27,399 Er, I went to regular class where they only taught you in English. 288 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:33,299 And the first semester I was there, in 1947, I got a, a D average. 289 00:23:33,300 --> 00:23:35,466 Because you were forced to learn. 290 00:23:35,467 --> 00:23:37,999 You were forced to learn. 291 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:42,332 And I wanted to get educated. 292 00:23:42,333 --> 00:23:44,332 And my relatives weren't that well off. 293 00:23:44,333 --> 00:23:46,732 So I went to work when I was 17. 294 00:23:46,733 --> 00:23:49,166 And I went to school at night. 295 00:23:49,167 --> 00:23:51,499 I went to high school three years at night. 296 00:23:51,500 --> 00:23:55,366 I er, served two years in the Marine corps. 297 00:23:55,367 --> 00:24:01,399 And then I went six and half years to undergraduate school and I went one year in graduate school. 298 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,832 So I went to night school ten and a half years. 299 00:24:03,833 --> 00:24:05,832 So you were all busy. You didn't think of something else. 300 00:24:05,833 --> 00:24:08,966 You were too busy working and going to school. 301 00:24:08,967 --> 00:24:14,666 And then studying. 302 00:24:14,667 --> 00:24:17,099 IV: And until now, you have never been here. 303 00:24:17,100 --> 00:24:19,699 I think you have been to Germany before after the war? 304 00:24:19,700 --> 00:24:24,299 MR: I was in Germany once, in Berlin in 1994. 305 00:24:24,300 --> 00:24:29,866 One of my cousins' sons got married in Berlin 1994. 306 00:24:29,867 --> 00:24:33,866 And they persuaded me to go the wedding. 307 00:24:33,867 --> 00:24:36,999 So I met them in Berlin and I spent a week there. 308 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:42,999 But that's the extent that I have been in Germany since, since I left in May of '46. 309 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:46,532 IV: And what's the reason you are here now? 310 00:24:46,533 --> 00:24:49,099 Or why did you decide? 311 00:24:49,100 --> 00:24:51,499 MR: Anna twisted my arm. 312 00:24:51,500 --> 00:25:00,466 If I don't come, she gonna shoot me personally. {laughs} 313 00:25:00,467 --> 00:25:04,499 Er, thruthfully if my friends wouldn't have come, I wouldn't be here. 314 00:25:04,500 --> 00:25:09,566 If Erwin Farkas and David Farkas wouldn't be, I wouldn't be here. 315 00:25:09,567 --> 00:25:11,699 Because I met them in Weiden. 316 00:25:11,700 --> 00:25:16,732 And we went up.. all three was in, in Indersdorf. 317 00:25:16,733 --> 00:25:21,266 Otherwise honestly I wouldn't be here. 318 00:25:21,267 --> 00:25:29,132 IV: And what kind of feelings you took with you entering the plane in New York coming back to Germany? 319 00:25:29,133 --> 00:25:32,332 And also to this place, I think, it's different to go to a wedding. 320 00:25:32,333 --> 00:25:40,399 MR: Er, you know, I was, I was er, I didn't have any feelings one way or another. 321 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:45,499 You know I didn't.. I was scared about it or I was apprehensive, er. 322 00:25:45,500 --> 00:25:48,666 You know 62 years is a long time. 323 00:25:48,667 --> 00:25:52,366 And I was here 62 years ago. 324 00:25:52,367 --> 00:25:58,432 Because I am 77 and I, I left when I was 15. 325 00:25:58,433 --> 00:26:00,299 I left Indersdorf with 15. 326 00:26:00,300 --> 00:26:04,466 I guess I was 14 when I was in Flossenbürg. 327 00:26:04,467 --> 00:26:06,299 So that's a long time. 328 00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:10,999 It's a couple of lifetimes. 329 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:12,799 And you know, you have to adjust. 330 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:15,499 You can't go on being depressed about it. 331 00:26:15,500 --> 00:26:18,499 There is nothing you can do about it being depressed. 332 00:26:18,500 --> 00:26:19,999 You have to cope. 333 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:24,932 I coped then and you have to cope for the rest of your life with it. 334 00:26:24,933 --> 00:26:29,999 Ah, I didn't expect to see what I am seeing here because I remember all the barracks you know. 335 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:39,932 And I remember the, the assembly place where they dragged me you know to persuade me to go the main gate where trucks were waiting to take us some place else. 336 00:26:39,933 --> 00:26:43,066 What as I said I was too gone. 337 00:26:43,067 --> 00:26:50,066 I couldn't have walked another 200 feet. You know. 338 00:26:50,067 --> 00:26:54,099 IV: So is there anything you can remember here looking around? 339 00:26:54,100 --> 00:26:57,232 MR: I remember nothing. 340 00:26:57,233 --> 00:27:01,432 The only thing I remember is the Appellplatz where they dragged me to. 341 00:27:01,433 --> 00:27:04,799 And I only rembember the barrack I was in. 342 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:08,999 I remember being in a middle bunk with this old German guy. 343 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:11,666 I think it was a political prisoner who had a white beard. 344 00:27:11,667 --> 00:27:19,899 I only remember when the Americans came in, and my recollection is, but we can't find it, that I was, I went to see.. 345 00:27:19,900 --> 00:27:25,332 I sit with a couple of other inmates in the upper bunk in the corner of the barracks and they filmed us there. 346 00:27:25,333 --> 00:27:29,466 But we can't find it and.. that's what I remember. 347 00:27:29,467 --> 00:27:33,232 Because after that I was so sick that they took me to this field hospital. 348 00:27:33,233 --> 00:27:36,432 I even remember the, the name of the officer. 349 00:27:36,433 --> 00:27:39,232 The medical captain Lewis who was the medical officer. 350 00:27:39,233 --> 00:27:42,466 I remember the nurses who took care of me. 351 00:27:42,467 --> 00:27:49,666 But I never got back to the camp after I went to this field hospital. 352 00:27:49,667 --> 00:27:57,799 You know I went to Weiden, and from Weiden, I went to Kloster Indersdorf. 353 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:03,166 IV: Hm. You said that you have to try to cope with these things. 354 00:28:03,167 --> 00:28:14,999 So going to the United States er, later on, it was possible for you to talk about this experiences you had, er, with your family, with your friends, or you just tried to forget it? 355 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:19,799 MR: I didn't ever talk to anything to anyone about it. I just you know.. 356 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:23,499 It was done, there was nothing that could be done about it again. 357 00:28:23,500 --> 00:28:34,532 And I didn't really spoke to anybody. 358 00:28:34,533 --> 00:28:41,932 IV: And did you ever start to talk about it later on in the family or..? 359 00:28:41,933 --> 00:28:43,066 MR: I, I really don't think so. 360 00:28:43,067 --> 00:28:45,199 I may have mentioned a few incidents, you know. 361 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:51,999 But not the whole story as the one transpired, you know. 362 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:58,832 You see you're dragging it out to me, I was, I, I repressed all these years, and now you're dragging this whole thing out of me. 363 00:28:58,833 --> 00:28:59,766 IV: Yeah. 364 00:28:59,767 --> 00:29:06,666 MR: So you didn't waste a tape {laughs}. 365 00:29:06,667 --> 00:29:07,999 IV: Thank you very much. 366 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:10,999 MR: You're welcome. 367 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:12,832 IV: And I hope it was okay. 368 00:29:12,833 --> 00:29:15,600 MR: It's okay.