Were you or a family member or friend saved in Italy during the Holocaust?
Is that your family name in the 272 List from Campagna on September 16, 1940 - (see page 329)? Maybe you are one of the children in the Ferramonti school picture – (see pages 127 & 315). Perhaps you or a family member are on the steps of the Camp in Campagna in 1940, smiling with Italian Police Officers – (see page 66).
Since the book was published, I have met others who have similar stories and I would be delighted to hear yours.
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October 11, 2009 at 11:03 am
Imre Rochlitz
Dear Ms. Bettina,
The Italians saved my life and the lives of thousands of Jews,- not only in Italy but also outside of Italy, in areas occupied by the Italian Army.
This episode is a central theme of my memoirs, and outline of which can be seen here: http://www.josephrochlitz.com/joseph_rochlitz/Book.html.
I hope the book will be published next year.-
Also, my son Joseph made a film about this, entitled “The Righteous Enemy”. See: http://www.vimeo.com/2322714.
I would appreciate your comments.
Best regards,
Imre Rochlitz
September 27, 2009 at 6:50 am
Heinz Wartski
I have posted the following in The Jewish Daily Forward:
As a German Jew and Holocaust survivor, my whole family escaped to Italy in October 1939. What Elizabeth Bettina writes, concerning the attitude of the Italian people and Government towards the Jews, is correct.
After September 8, 1943, everything changed because all parts of Italy not yet liberated by the Allies came under German occupation and Italy lost its sovereignty. From then on, the Italians had absolutely no voice in what happened to the Jews in Italy, and the Germans than used Mussolini as a pupped to get as many Italians as possible to fight for Germany. It was the Germans who rounded up Jews and transported them to Auschwitz.
Dr. Pollak, an Auschwitz survivor and former Italian concentration camp inmate, wrote the following memorial placard:
“In the hours of darkness at Auschwitz, like a mirage we had visions of the bright and lush garden of Urbisaglia in Italy, the land of sun and good people”
The ‘bright and lush garden of Urbisaglia’ is the Villa Bandini estate that was used as a concentration camp for Jews.
I have written on the attitude of the Italian people and its government towards Jews in my story of surviving the Holocaust in Italy. This book also contains my wife’s story of surviving Auschwitz. We have been publishing and donating all copies of this book to the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida in Naples were it is available to raise funds for its mission.
Heinz Wartski
June 23, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Stan Pugliese
Elizabeth,
I don’t know if you remember me but I am the professor at Hofstra where Walter gave one of his last talks, the day of his 90th birthday.
I just finished your book: auguri!
Best of luck and best wishes for the fine work.
Stan Pugliese
December 13, 2009 at 5:28 pm
elizabethbettina
Hi!
I would love to be in touch with you. I sent you an email about a week ago…but am not sure if you received it. Please email me again if you get this. Regards,
Elizabeth