Kestenberg Archive

16-48: GA was born in May 1935 in Vienna into a traditional family. His father owned a large shoe factory and his mother was a pianist who worked as a housewife. His mother was an active communist and a party member of the Social-Democrat party. At some point their property, bank accounts, business and cars were confiscated. His father contacted relatives living abroad via the different consulates and finally, a distant relative in Washington DC sent four visas for the family. GA's grandparents were left in Europe. They perished in concentration camps. In September 1939, the family took a train to Paris and then sailed to the USA arriving in New Jersey. At first they went to their relatives in Washington DC but later settled in New York. At first, his father painted telephone booths, then manufactured ties for the US Navy and later went into real estate. His mother gave piano lessons. Ever since the family immigrated, his mother has been depressed because she feels guilty for abandoning her parents. GA made very few friends throughout his childhood and adulthood, and has always felt very ostracized by society. He has a strong Jewish identity but does not feel he belongs anywhere. ; Currently, GA works as an accountant and he has two children ages 18 and 22. He has suffered from nightmares ever since the war. He seems mildly depressed and feels that since he survived his life has to be meaningful and he has to be worthy. This causes him stress. ; 14-4: GA was born in May 1935, Vienna, Austria to a family of prestigious Hungarian rabbinical lineage. His father owned a shoe factory and his mother was a graduate of the Vienna Conservatory of Music. The Nazis occupied Vienna in March 1938. One of his earliest memories is witnessing a couple blown up while sitting on a park bench. The police kept them in constant fear and placed grenades in Jewish regions of the city. He also remembers the SS dragging a neighbor from their house. After his older brother was beaten, the parents feared the reality of roundups and deportation to a concentration camp. In 1939, the family's business, bank accounts, and property were confiscated. In attempt to obtain visas his father began approaching consulates based in Vienna. This strategy was not successful so he obtained phone books from overseas and initiated contact with families with similar names. In 1939, a non relative responded living in Washington DC. GA, an older brother and parents traveled from Paris to New Jersey via boat. They were allowed to take $16, so his mother camouflaged a gold compact with red polish. They remained in contact with the grandparents and sent coupons until 1942. The grandparents were not able to obtain visas and were taken to concentration camps. The mother suffered from severe depression and possibly committed suicide. ; Today, GA is an economist married with 2 grown children. He has no sense of belonging to American society, often traveling to Europe on business. He struggles every day to justify the right to live. In his nightmares, he sees prisoners of Dachau coming to the gates asking why he is alive. GA took an active part in supplying Nazi hunters with information. He prays and practices Judaism because of an eternal promise he made to his grandparent - remember he is a Jew.