ORAL+HISTORY+QUESTIONS



Oral History Questions

**Topic** - The Holocaust and life in The Holocaust **Interview subject** - Judy Meisel

( PS Audio has been typed out in first person, these are her exact words.)

What was your status during the Holocaust?

" Well, I was quite wealthy I would say. Our family was good for the time and my parents would get me lots of things. We had sufficient enough money to buy lots of food, clothing, and basic things that our family needed. There was no trouble until the start of the Holocaust. Then things got bad."

What was your mood like during the Holocaust?

" I was very sad and depressed about it. At one point I did in fact have that feeling of committing suicide. At this point I was thinking about all my family and friends. I could see them vivedly, but I could bear to think about them dying and going away from my world."

After the Holocaust ended, did you think that something bad would happen again?

" Well you know, there still is that feeling of dread and you are shocked. I would describe say it like this, it was ' Holocaust shock '. After seeing people hearing about my people from my community dying, I was shocked and very scared to go anywhere after it was over. I thought that maybe a new dictator would come to Germany. "

What impact does the Holocaust have on you?

" I will never forget the brutality and depression that the Holocaust has inflicted upon me. It is the most dreadful thing that could ever happen in human history. I will never forget seeing and hearing the people die. I remember a shriveled and pale dead body being tossed onto the street. I will never have the same exact joy that I had before the Holocaust compared to now."

Is it painful for you to explain your story?

" Actually indeed it is. At one time in Colorado I had to go to the bathroom because I felt that my heart was about to burst."

Can you recall how brutaly the Nazi guard(s) treated you if they did?

" They had treated me brutaly numbers of times. I remember being hit hard with a club on my back simply for no reason. There were other times too that I was hurt but I would not like to reveal that to you at this time."

How did your status before the Holocaust change after it?

" Our status went down the drain but then we very slowly climbed back. Our family was the turtle just like //__The Turtle and the Hare__// but we were very very slow at recovering with our health, finding our friends, and gaining back our wealth."

Did you see any of your good friends that you made before your move to the camp or friends met in the camp die?

" One of my friends, Nickolas, died in a gas chamber. The Nazi guard had forced him in the shower because he said ' You smell bad, take a shower ', then all of a sudden he dies. "