Interview with Hanka Pressburg

Hanka Pressburg was born in Rakovnik, Czechoslovakia on 28 August 1920. Describes family background, childhood, schooling and life before the German occupation. Discusses different religions in Czechoslovakia. Comments the family did not have a kosher home but her father closed the shop for Jewish holidays. Describes what happeneed to Rakovnik's Jewish synagogue. Describes restrictions on Jews and the reaction including that of her non-Jewish friends. Recalls the first incident of anti-Semitism to herself. Recalls 15 March 1939 when the German Army entered Prague. Mentions the Nuremberg Laws. Explains why her family did not leave Czechoslovakia before the war. Talks about her fiance, Frederick Weil, and reasons for their marriage.

Describes being sent to Theresienstadt on cattle trucks and from there to Krivoklat. Recalls first impressions and being tattooed with an identification number. Describes layout of the camp, general hygiene and the day to day routine. Explains how they dealt with life in the ghetto. Talks about the groups people formed to survive. Describes sexual behaviour of SS to some inmates including the extermination of children which resulted. Discusses inmates involved in sending people to the gas chambers and their lack of choice. Describes being greeted by music from the Auschwitz Orchestra. Discusses being used to clean up the roads in Hamburg after bombing and working on an oil refinery.

Describes being sent to Bergen Belsen concentration camp and staying there until liberation on 15 April 1945. Describes the chaos of liberation and arriving back in Prague. Talks about post-war employment and readjustment including a job dealing with restitutions to victims of the Holocaust. Reflects on what contributed to her survival. Explains the procedure involved to prove her husband's death before marrying Jiri(George). Explains their reasons for emigrating and choosing New Zealand. Describes getting money for a house and their need for security. Talks about working for twenty two years at Golden Kiwi lottery. Comments on some anti-foreigner attitudes. Discusses the importance of education about persecution.

Language - English with Czech accent

Venue - Wellington : 1993

Interviewer(s) - Anita Carlisle

Accompanying material - Transcript from a tape recording made in 1981 describing Hanka's early days in Czechoslovakia and time in concentration camps (bound in to abstract)

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-005880-005883

Quantity: 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 1351.

Alternative form available: Listening copies are available at OHLC-001801-001804

A digital copy of the recording is available