Oral History

Gerda Weissmann Klein describes her liberation by a US soldier after a death march in Czechoslovakia

In 1939, Gerda's brother was deported for forced labor. In June 1942, Gerda's family was deported from the Bielsko ghetto. While her parents were transported to Auschwitz, Gerda was sent to the Gross-Rosen camp system, where for the remainder of the war she performed forced labor in textile factories. Gerda was liberated after a death march, wearing the ski boots her father insisted would help her to survive. She married her American liberator.

Transcript

Critical Thinking Questions

Why are survivor testimonies important in studying World War II and the Holocaust?

How do oral histories differ from other primary sources such as artifacts, documents, and photographs? What can we learn from different types of primary sources?

What challenges immediately faced survivors of the Holocaust?

Explore the Museum's website and Collections to find out more about Gerda's story.


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  • US Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection
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