Forced Labor 1939 - 1945

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Helena B.-Sz., "half-Jew", concentration camp survivor and artist

Helena B.-Sz. from Białystok was deported as a “half-Jew” to the Ravensbrück concentration camp in 1944. In the subcamp Helmbrechts / Oberfranken she became friends with other prisoners from Łódź. She lived in Łódź after the war, but then immigrates to Berlin (West) in 1968.

Segment from the video interview with Helena B.-Sz., 2005: Helena B.-S. describes work and friendship in the subcamp Helmbrechts / Oberfranken (1:56 minutes).

Biography

• Born in 1928 in Bialystok/Eastern Poland. Father German, mother of Jewish origin
• 1939: German and then Soviet occupation of Poland
• 1941: German re-invasion; her sister is murdered
• 1944: Internment in the Bialystok prison
• Deportation to the Ravensbrück concentration camp
• 1944/45: Slave labor and hunger in the Helmbrechts concentration camp, subcamp of the Flossenbürg concentration camp
• 1945: Death march and liberation
• Spring of 1945: In search of her parents in Bialystok and Łódź
• After 1945: Studies art, career in the fashion industry; her father is murdered
• 1968: Immigrates to Berlin (West), works as a graphic designer

A biographical short film (duration 25 minutes) from the interview with Helena B.-Sz. has been produced for educational work.