Item 62: Holocaust survivors from Hungary ; Ernest Vamos interviewed by Irene Stanbrook, 1990

MLOH 500/241-242

item

20/03/1990

Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Oral Histories

1091442

Sound Recording : CY MLOH 500/241-242

2 sound cassettes (2 hrs.)

Ernest Vamos born in Rakoskeresztur, Hungary, 1911. Family moved to Budapest after First World War. In 1929 went to Stuttgart, Germany, to study, but instead worked there until 1931. Returned to Hungary and worked in father's picure frame factory. In 1940 called up for army labour service and sent to Csuges (?), on border with Romania. Returned home in December. Married in 1941. Called up again in 1942 and sent to various places in Russia. Encountered German soldiers for the first time. Retreated from Stary Oskol and then Kiev as front line approached. In June 1943 witnessed burning down of hospital in Dorosici (?), Russia, with 600-700 Jews inside, most infected with typhus. Then moved on to labour camp in Korosten, Ukrania. Back to Budapest in November and called up again in April 1944. Sent to different labour camps in Hungary. Escaped in November and got Aryan papers. Met up with wife and hidden by some Hungarian Christians. In January 1945 wife and some other Jews found and killed. Russians already on Pest side of Budapest so Ernest met up with parents. After war, started up family business again. Escaped to Vienna in 1956 and migrated to Australia three weeks later to join sister who came in 1946. Parents arrived in Sydney in 1950.

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Log of interview available in the Mitchell Library Reading Room -

Original Mitchell Library allocated tape number 121.