George Varnai Testimony
Object numberM2015/028:006
TitleGeorge Varnai Testimony
DescriptionVideo testimony of Holocaust Survivor George Varnai. George Varnai was born in 1924 in Budapest where there was a large population of Jews. They knew what was occurring in other countries, and soon the persecution came to Hungary. The Jewish young were called to fight at the Russian front and one of George’s brothers was chosen. Other Jews were made to work in forced labor camps. At this point, people tried to escape Hungary, but few countries would take the Jews. In 1944, the Germans arrived. More pressure was put on the Jews; they were forced to loose their radios and other objects of value. Then, the Star of David was to be worn by all Jews. Moreover, Jews weren’t allowed to use public transport and anti-Semitic demonstrations were put on to confront the “Jewish problem.”
George was called to the labor camps in May. He was put in a factory where the work was hard and food was minimal. Soon, Budapest was bombed and George, with other prisoners, was brought to help build shelters and pull people out of the rubble. It wasn’t long before George and his fellow prisoners created a Resistance movement. They had secret meetings and stole guns. In October 1944, the Resistance saw their opportunity. They took their guns and attempted to help the Jews, but soon noticed that they were surrounded by Hungarian and German military. They saw that the 50 of them could not challenge them and surrendered. They were placed in jail where they were beat every few hours and had no food. Eventually, they were taken to Buchenwald, although there was no way to transport them and they were forced to walk 250km with no food.
At the camp, they were taken to build in thin clothes for 12 daily. After 3 weeks, the SS asked for a mechanic and George volunteered. About 300 prisoners were taken to another camp to work in a factory. The work was hard and there were about 20 or 40 deaths a day. In January 1945, the prisoners could hear that the Russian army was close and thus half the camp was moved. In the cars, there was no food or water and it snowed heavily. George remembers eating snow because it was the only food available. They arrived in Germany where they were forced to build a new camp. George recalls it being terribly hard work and receiving only a small bit of bread nightly. Once day a doctor saw George and told him he looked like he going to die. He then got George moved to Buchenwald by train. George remembers there were 80 people in his car, of which only 10 survived the trip. But Buchenwald was better; there were 3 meals a day and blankets. George met other Resistance members and they began having meetings and saving up guns. By April 1945, they could hear the army getting close. By April 11th, the Americans arrived, but the camp was located on a mountain and hard to storm. The Resistance took this opportunity to overtake the SS. The Germans, sensing attack from outside and in, fled. In the morning the tanks arrived and the camp was liberated.
George returned to Budapest where he found out his father was killed but his mother survived Auschwitz. In 1947, his brothers returned after being Russian prisoners. Soon, communists took over and the Jews began to be persecuted again. The Jews were picked on and robbed of their belongings and jobs. The borders were soon closed and George couldn’t leave Hungary. In 1956, the Hungarian revolution resulted in more problems for the Jews and George decided to leave. He took his wife and son to the border and crossed at night, arriving in Vienna. George wanted to go far away from Europe, and was granted permission to go to Australia. Today he says that his life in Australia has been good. Later, he helped open the museum and today is happy to be a guide, teaching people about what happened.
George was called to the labor camps in May. He was put in a factory where the work was hard and food was minimal. Soon, Budapest was bombed and George, with other prisoners, was brought to help build shelters and pull people out of the rubble. It wasn’t long before George and his fellow prisoners created a Resistance movement. They had secret meetings and stole guns. In October 1944, the Resistance saw their opportunity. They took their guns and attempted to help the Jews, but soon noticed that they were surrounded by Hungarian and German military. They saw that the 50 of them could not challenge them and surrendered. They were placed in jail where they were beat every few hours and had no food. Eventually, they were taken to Buchenwald, although there was no way to transport them and they were forced to walk 250km with no food.
At the camp, they were taken to build in thin clothes for 12 daily. After 3 weeks, the SS asked for a mechanic and George volunteered. About 300 prisoners were taken to another camp to work in a factory. The work was hard and there were about 20 or 40 deaths a day. In January 1945, the prisoners could hear that the Russian army was close and thus half the camp was moved. In the cars, there was no food or water and it snowed heavily. George remembers eating snow because it was the only food available. They arrived in Germany where they were forced to build a new camp. George recalls it being terribly hard work and receiving only a small bit of bread nightly. Once day a doctor saw George and told him he looked like he going to die. He then got George moved to Buchenwald by train. George remembers there were 80 people in his car, of which only 10 survived the trip. But Buchenwald was better; there were 3 meals a day and blankets. George met other Resistance members and they began having meetings and saving up guns. By April 1945, they could hear the army getting close. By April 11th, the Americans arrived, but the camp was located on a mountain and hard to storm. The Resistance took this opportunity to overtake the SS. The Germans, sensing attack from outside and in, fled. In the morning the tanks arrived and the camp was liberated.
George returned to Budapest where he found out his father was killed but his mother survived Auschwitz. In 1947, his brothers returned after being Russian prisoners. Soon, communists took over and the Jews began to be persecuted again. The Jews were picked on and robbed of their belongings and jobs. The borders were soon closed and George couldn’t leave Hungary. In 1956, the Hungarian revolution resulted in more problems for the Jews and George decided to leave. He took his wife and son to the border and crossed at night, arriving in Vienna. George wanted to go far away from Europe, and was granted permission to go to Australia. Today he says that his life in Australia has been good. Later, he helped open the museum and today is happy to be a guide, teaching people about what happened.
Production date 2000 - 2000
Subjectsurvivors
Object nametestimonies
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr George Vanai