Jewish Life before World War II | Holocaust Education | USHMM
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum・2 minutes read
Amateur films captured the lives of various Jewish families across Europe during World War II, showcasing their struggles, survival, and tragic losses, emphasizing the significance of preserving these historical records for future understanding of the Holocaust.
Insights
- The amateur films captured by individuals like Dr. Benjamin Gasul, Albert Hess, and others offer a poignant and personal glimpse into the lives of diverse Jewish families across Europe during the tumultuous period of World War II, showcasing their struggles, resilience, and ultimately, the devastating impact of the Holocaust.
- The stories of families such as the de Groots, Fuchs, and others underscore the profound losses and survival narratives that emerged from the Holocaust, emphasizing the critical role of preserving these historical records to honor the memory of those who perished and to provide a platform for understanding the human experiences behind the staggering statistics of the era.
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Recent questions
How many Jews lived in Europe in 1933?
9.5 million
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Summary
00:00
Survival Stories of European Jewish Families
- In 1933, 9.5 million Jews lived in Europe, making up 1.7% of the European population and over 60% of the global Jewish population.
- Dr. Benjamin Gasul, a pediatrician from Chicago, filmed the Jewish quarter of Warsaw in 1939, just before Germany invaded Poland.
- Albert Hess, from Germany, filmed his family in 1936, escaping to the US in 1937 and later returning to Europe with the American military.
- The Schermeister family from Denmark faced the impending roundup of Danish Jews in 1943, with Bernhard committing suicide upon reaching Sweden.
- Bobby Tennenbaum's family from Vienna escaped to the US in 1939, with Marcus helping most family members flee.
- Peter and Nina Lederer from Czechoslovakia were deported to Auschwitz in 1944, with only Rose's sister surviving the Holocaust.
- Hana and Jiri Fuchs from Prague were deported to Theresienstadt during the war, with only the siblings surviving.
- The de Groot family hid in the Netherlands, with only Louis surviving, as shown ice skating in Arnhem.
- Morris Unger's family from Poland faced tragedy as most were murdered, with Morris and some family members surviving.
- The Lieberman family from Poland immigrated to Palestine, with Alyssa Sperber shown working in a field in Poland in the footage.
20:31
Survival and Loss: WWII Families' Stories
- Louis and Rachel de Groot, along with their family, faced persecution during World War II, with Louis surviving by hiding in various places and recovering family films from a bombed photo studio safe.
- Dr. Max Schur, Sigmund Freud's personal physician, and his family escaped Vienna in 1938, moving to New York and then London before returning to New York after Freud's death, where their children, Peter and Eva, became doctors.
- Families like the Verdoners, Kans, and Tennenbaums experienced the horrors of the Holocaust, with some members surviving in hiding while others tragically perished, highlighting the importance of preserving amateur films to understand historical events and their impact on ordinary people.
