Magda Herzberger: Oral History Transcript
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Magda Herzberger: Oral History Transcript www.wisconsinhistory.org/HolocaustSurvivors/Herzberger.asp Name: Magda Mozes Herzberger (1926– ) Birth Place: Cluj, Romania Arrived in Wisconsin: 1960, Monroe Project Name: Oral Histories: Wisconsin Survivors Magda Herzberger of the Holocaust Biography: Magda Mozes Herzberger was born on February 20, 1926, in Cluj, Romania. On August 30, 1940, the northern part of Transylvania (in Romania, including the capital city of Cluj) was annexed by Hungary, an ally of Nazi Germany. Life for Cluj's nearly 17,000 Jews grew steadily worse over the next four years. On March 27, 1944, the Germans occupied northern Transylvania (Romania) and took large-scale anti-Semitic measures. The Mozes family, along with thousands of other Jews, was forced into the Cluj Ghetto. It was liquidated only a month later. Magda and her family were sent to Auschwitz, where most of them perished. After six weeks in Auschwitz, 18- year-old Magda was shipped to Bremen, Germany. She did forced labor as the city was bombed by Allied forces. In March 1945, Magda was transferred to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Her job there was to dispose of thousands of corpses that had accumulated in and around the barracks. On April 15, 1945, she collapsed from exhaustion. Magda was near death when she was found among the corpses by a liberating British soldier. Magda returned to Cluj late in 1945. In June 1946, she met Eugene Herzberger and the following autumn they married and she began medical school. Fearing persecution under communism, the Herzbergers fled Romania for Palestine in December 1947. The British, who severely restricted immigration to Palestine, captured her ship in the Aegean Sea and brought it to Cyprus. The Herzbergers were held in a makeshift prison camp until permitted to leave for Israel in January 1949. In 1957, after nine years in Israel, the Herzbergers immigrated to the U.S. They and their two children settled in Monroe, Wisconsin, where Magda's husband practiced neurosurgery for 16 years. The Herzbergers moved to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1976 and to Arizona in 1994. Magda has spoken extensively about her experiences. She has published two memoirs (Eyewitness to Holocaust and Survival), and several volumes of poetry and fiction. Also, Magda has published this interview in paperback with an audio CD. Go to www.magdaherzberger.com to order. Magda is also a former mountain climber, skier and runner. She competed in a marathon the summer this interview was conducted. Oral Histories: Wisconsin Survivors of the Holocaust Page 1 of 207 Wisconsin Historical Society Magda Herzberger: Oral History Transcript www.wisconsinhistory.org/HolocaustSurvivors/Herzberger.asp Audio Summary: Below are the highlights of each tape. It is not a complete list of all topics discussed. Tape 1, Side 1 Magda's reasons for sharing her story Family background th Jewish life in Romania in the early 20 century Tape 1, Side 2 Schooling and anti-Semitism Annexation of Romania by Hungary, 1940 Occupation by German troops, March 1944 Tape 2, Side 1 Family and religious life in Cluj before the war Zionism and early immigrants to Palestine Growing anti-Semitism Tape 2, Side 2 Knowledge of Hitler and the Third Reich Oppression by Hungarian police, 1940–1944 Increased anti-Semitism Tape 3, Side 1 Living conditions under German occupation Creation of the Cluj Ghetto Her family's imprisonment in Cluj Ghetto Tape 3, Side 2 Brutality of life in the ghetto Deportation to Auschwitz, June 1944 Magda's first impressions of Auschwitz Tape 4, Side 1 Conditions at Auschwitz Selection of inmates for forced labor or death Description of crematoria Tape 4, Side 2 Life at Auschwitz Tortures and beatings A typical day Emotional and psychological condition of prisoners Tape 5, Side 1 Smuggling at Auschwitz German collaborators Futile acts of resistance Forced labor in Bremen Tape 5, Side 2 Bunkers and Allied bombings in Bremen Conditions in winter Transfer to the Bergen-Belsen death camp Oral Histories: Wisconsin Survivors of the Holocaust Page 2 of 207 Wisconsin Historical Society Magda Herzberger: Oral History Transcript www.wisconsinhistory.org/HolocaustSurvivors/Herzberger.asp Tape 6, Side 1 Attempt to escape Bergen-Belsen Magda prepares to die Last-minute rescue and liberation Rehabilitation and repatriation to postwar Cluj Tape 6, Side 2 The fate of her family Magda returns to school, 1946 Entering medical school Tape 7, Side 1 Meeting her husband His background and their courtship Their time in medical school Tape 7, Side 2 Deciding to leave Romania Imprisoned by the British in Cyprus for one year Immigrating to Palestine, Dec. 1947 Tape 8, Side 1 Life in Israel, 1949–1957 Immigrating to the U.S. Impressions of New York, Connecticut and Georgia Settling in Monroe, Wisconsin, 1960 Tape 8, Side 2 No Jewish community in Monroe Magda's first speaking engagements about the Holocaust Family life and children Tape 9, Side 1 Children and family life Relations with Christians in Monroe, Wis. and Dubuque, Iowa Tape 9, Side 2 Americans' understanding of the Holocaust Magda's social life Her daily activities and reading habits Tape 10, Side 1 Depictions of the Holocaust in the media Travels in Wisconsin Anti-Semitism and American Nazis Attitudes toward American culture and politics Tape 10, Side 2 Anti-Semitism in the U.S. Feelings on speaking out about the Holocaust Magda sings two of her musical compositions Score for Magda‘s musical composition ―Seduction‖ Score for Magda‘s musical composition ―Prayer‖ Oral Histories: Wisconsin Survivors of the Holocaust Page 3 of 207 Wisconsin Historical Society Magda Herzberger: Oral History Transcript www.wisconsinhistory.org/HolocaustSurvivors/Herzberger.asp About the Interview Process: The interview was conducted by archivist Sara Leuchter on July 21, 22, and August 27, 1980. The conversations totaled 10 hours. Magda comes across as enthusiastic and charming. She had a clear memory for facts and a candid appreciation of the emotional and spiritual effects of her experience. In 2009-2010, Magda listened closely to the audio tapes, and, with the aid of Society librarian Michael Edmonds, corrected the transcript, inserted explanations in square brackets or as footnotes, and deleted false starts and repeated interjections. This work provided unique contextual information and researchers are encouraged to consult the transcript as well as listen to the audio files. Transcript Details: Interview Dates Jul 21, 1980; Jul 22, 1980; Aug 27, 1980 Interview Location Herzberger home, Dubuque, Iowa Interviewer Archivist Sara Leuchter Original Sound Recording Format 10 qty. 60-minute audio cassette tapes Length of Interviews 3 interviews, total approximately 10 hours Transcript Length 207 pages Rights and Permissions Any document may be downloaded or printed at no cost for nonprofit, educational use by teachers, students, and researchers interested in the Holocaust. Nothing may be reproduced in any format for commercial purposes. Magda Herzberger retains the copyright to this interview. She agreed to share it with the Wisconsin Historical Society for nonprofit, educational purposes or for private study or research only. No portions may be reproduced for any other use without her prior permission. She can be reached at her website, www.magdaherzberger.com Pictures: WHI Image ID 62059 WHI Image ID 61989 WHI Image ID 61991 WHI Image ID 62054 WHI Image ID 62061 WHI Image ID 61993 Oral Histories: Wisconsin Survivors of the Holocaust Page 4 of 207 Wisconsin Historical Society Magda Herzberger: Oral History Transcript www.wisconsinhistory.org/HolocaustSurvivors/Herzberger.asp Transcript The following transcript is from the collections of the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives. It is an unedited, firsthand account of the Nazi persecution of the Jews before and during World War II. Portions of this interview may not be suitable for younger or more sensitive audiences. It is unlawful to republish this text without written permission from the Wisconsin Historical Society, except for nonprofit educational use. Copyright Notice: Magda Herzberger retains the copyright to this interview. She agreed to share it with the Wisconsin Historical Society for nonprofit, educational purposes or for private study or research only. No portions may be reproduced for any other use without her prior permission. She can be reached at her website, www.magdaherzberger.com Key SL Sara Leuchter, Wisconsin Historical Society archivist MH Magda Herzberger, Holocaust survivor TAPE 1, SIDE 1 SL: First I would like to know something about your family background; where and when you were born and the names of both your parents and where and when they were born. Tell me about your family background. MH: I was born in the northern part of Transylvania, which at the present time is Romania, so I could say I was born in Romania in the city of Cluj, and Cluj is the capital of Transylvania. I was born on February 20, 1926. My whole family practically was born in that city and in this area. My mother, and also my grandparents, and I heard that even my great-grandparents were born and raised in that area. I'm the only child, and my mother's name is Serena, and my father's name was Herman. Unfortunately I lost him in the German concentration camps — in Dachau — during World War II and I'm very fortunate that my mother is a survivor. As far as the background of my family, we were a very close family and a large family. Unfortunately, 80 percent of my family perished in the German concentration camps. My grandparents had twelve children and I had lots of cousins and we had a happy family. Indeed, I experienced a very happy childhood and I feel fortunate. I experienced lots of love at home. My father was a very gentle person. He encouraged me to have goals in life, to have a career.