Item 45: Holocaust survivors from Hungary ; Georgette Reiszman interviewed by Ilona Vogel, 1990

MLOH 500/203-204

item

23/08/1990

Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Oral Histories

997857

Sound Recording : CY MLOH 500/203-204

2 sound cassettes (2 hrs.)

Georgette Reiszman was born in Ujpest, Hungary, in 1920. Her father was a wine merchant whose business was taken away in 1941. In 1944 Georgette was forced to move into a Jewish house. In June she was transported to Auschwitz concentration camp. On arrival, she passed through a selection by Mengele. In November Georgette was moved to Bergen Belsen concentration camp in Germany. Later she was moved to Braunschweig camp and then in March 1945 she was transported to Ravensbruck concentration camp. There Georgette was taken into a gas chamber, but suddenly let out again

In April 1945 Georgette, along with other camp inmates, was marched to Rechlin where they were liberated by the Russians in May. She had a difficult journey back to Budapest. Those returning received a bad reception from the Hungarians. In August Georgette left Hungary with a group. They went to Germany. She met her future husband who was working for the Americans in Berchtesgarden. There she also met Henry Kissinger who was a sergeant at the time.

When the Americans moved out of Berchtesgarden Georgette and her husband crossed illegally into Belgium, where they were married in 1946. Georgette had a son while living in Brussels. Because of the political unrest in Belgium Georgette decided to come to Australia. Georgette and her family arrived in Australia in 1950 and went first to Bonnagilla and then Greta migrant camp.

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Log of interview available in the Mitchell Library Reading Room -

Original Mitchell Library allocated tape number 104.