Autobiographical interviews of Jews born in German speaking countries ("Yekkes") - 50/60 years after their immigration to Israel

Born 11/09/1923 Altenburg (Thueringen). Education: secondary high school until 1941, 1950-54 Technion in Haifa. Emigration: 1938 with family to Poland (Lemberg/Lvov), which at this that time was occupied by Russian troops. 1941-44 in a concentration camp. 1946-49 Textile Academy in Berlin; 1949 emigration to Israel (Haifa). Career: schooling in Lemberg, return to Berlin Textile Academy. 1950-54 Study of engineering with diploma as mechanical engineer. Work in military industries, own little factory. 1985 retirement, works part-time in the metal business. Interview: Born 1923 in Altenburg, primary school and secondary school in Leipzig until 1938. Flight to Poland, Visa to Siam. Surprised by the outbreak of war. His family in the Ghetto, Concentration camp Lemberg, mother and sister died. Father and G. flew, many adventures, after the end of war they went to Berlin. 1946-49 Berlin. Emigration, wanted to stay in Germany, knew that the rest of their family had died. Went to Berlin because father used to have a fortune in Altenburg. Establishment of the State of Israel, G. decided to emigrate, father stays another 15 years. Parents from Poland, came to Germany after WWI. Met his wife in Israel, she had been in the Ghetto and had a certificate Wedding 1950, he began to study. 1954 diploma as medical engineer. Further professional career. 2 daughters. Wife worked as English teacher. Parental home: orthodox father, liberal mother. Language at home: German. Kosher house. About ; Altenburg. Member of the Zionist boy scouts. Association of Jewish front soldiers. German Jews and East - Jews. Attitude towards Zionism. Differences between German Jews and East Jews. Reactions to the persecution. About the Jewish boy scouts. Thoughts about emigration in 1937. Karlsbad, information about the bad situation. Father's business. Emigration. Experiences with Anti-Semitism during his childhood. Thinks that his father saved his life because he was such an optimist. Anti-Semitic experiences in school. Decision to emigrate. Help by a half Jewish book keeper. The role of Switzerland during WWII. Emigration: 4 suitcases. Father was taxi driver during the Russian occupation. German Invasion 06/29/1941. About Lemberg. Tragedy of the Jews. Deportation to the concentration camp. Mother and sister in the Ghetto. Liberation from the Concentration camp. A German officer liberates a few Jews from the camp. Good times after the war. Contacts with the German officer and his family. Visits to Germany and meeting officers who claim that they did not know anything. Why his father stayed in Berlin. Father' s late emigration. Language: German with his wife and daughter until her 3rd year of life, then Hebrew. His wife was a teacher. Sometimes Hebrew is easier, but problem of accent. The German of his daughters. Children and children-in-law. Knows Russian