Kate Fest Testimony
Object numberM2015/028:013
TitleKate Fest Testimony
DescriptionVideo testimony of Kate Fest recorded in the year 2000. Kate was born in Czechoslovakia where she grew up in a happy environment. In 1939 Hitler invaded and Kate was forced to give up her studies and return to Lipnik. Her father lost his job and eventually they moved to Brno. There, Kate’s life was tolerable until November 1941 when the family was called to be ‘transported’. They reported to the school hall and were put onto trains to Terezin, Czechoslovakia.
Kate was put into the Children’s home where she was to care for kids. As the numbers of inmates increased so did the transports to the ‘East’. They saw many of their extended family members passing through on their way to unknown places. Her father, so degraded by it all, developed a duodenal ulcer and died. When Kate visited him for the last time he gave her his money as he felt she would survive and would need it after the war. Kate feels that it was his words, to be strong, which gave her the will to survive.
In 1943 there was a period of improved conditions. They were given extra food and the camp was renovated. The Red Cross was to make an inspection as they had received reports of mistreatment. The camp presented itself as a model for ideal treatment of prisoners. This was short lived and soon life returned to its previous horror. Her brother was transported in September 1944 and her mother was to follow the next month. After a promise that Kate had made to her father to stay with her mother, she begged her to go with. He tried to tell her that she should try to save herself, but Kate wouldn’t listen.
After an indescribably horrible journey they arrived at Auschwitz and went through selection. Her mother, who was weakened by the journey, was sent to the left. Kate tried to join her but was told they would see each other again that evening. She and the other women were stripped, showered, deloused and shaved. After about a month she was put onto a train and sent to a slave labour camp. She was placed in a camp where the women guards were worse than the SS in Auschwitz. Kate wanted to give up but was encouraged by a French mechanic who told her the war was ending.
Soon, the SS deserted the camp to avoid the Russians and the French mechanics told them they were free. They were afraid of the Russian soldiers and so hid in the forest. The next day they heard Yiddish and came out to find a Jewish doctor who took them to get food, gave them money and sent them to Prague. When she arrived, Kate went to the police station where she was given papers and money and told to return to Brno where she would be given accommodation. She went to see a friend of her father’s who could not believe that she had survived 4 years in camps. He was in possession of all of her father’s documents and she realized that she would not need anything financially.
Soon, she had news that someone was looking for her; another survivor whom her family in England had asked to find her. They met and soon decided to marry. At the wedding, Kate wore black as she had no white clothes. It was a very sad occasion because neither had family members alive to attend. They tried to have children but it took until 1948 due to the malnutrition which she experienced. Once the communists started to gain power they realized they would have to leave. They arrived in Sydney and were provided with an opportunity for a new life. They worked hard and had a daughter. They loved Sydney and enjoyed experiencing freedom without prejudice.
When her daughter was 16 her husband passed away. Kate moved to the Eastern suburbs with her daughter and continues to have a full life with family and grandchildren.
Kate feels that she has kept her promise to her father, at his deathbed. He wanted her to survive and survive she has.
Kate was put into the Children’s home where she was to care for kids. As the numbers of inmates increased so did the transports to the ‘East’. They saw many of their extended family members passing through on their way to unknown places. Her father, so degraded by it all, developed a duodenal ulcer and died. When Kate visited him for the last time he gave her his money as he felt she would survive and would need it after the war. Kate feels that it was his words, to be strong, which gave her the will to survive.
In 1943 there was a period of improved conditions. They were given extra food and the camp was renovated. The Red Cross was to make an inspection as they had received reports of mistreatment. The camp presented itself as a model for ideal treatment of prisoners. This was short lived and soon life returned to its previous horror. Her brother was transported in September 1944 and her mother was to follow the next month. After a promise that Kate had made to her father to stay with her mother, she begged her to go with. He tried to tell her that she should try to save herself, but Kate wouldn’t listen.
After an indescribably horrible journey they arrived at Auschwitz and went through selection. Her mother, who was weakened by the journey, was sent to the left. Kate tried to join her but was told they would see each other again that evening. She and the other women were stripped, showered, deloused and shaved. After about a month she was put onto a train and sent to a slave labour camp. She was placed in a camp where the women guards were worse than the SS in Auschwitz. Kate wanted to give up but was encouraged by a French mechanic who told her the war was ending.
Soon, the SS deserted the camp to avoid the Russians and the French mechanics told them they were free. They were afraid of the Russian soldiers and so hid in the forest. The next day they heard Yiddish and came out to find a Jewish doctor who took them to get food, gave them money and sent them to Prague. When she arrived, Kate went to the police station where she was given papers and money and told to return to Brno where she would be given accommodation. She went to see a friend of her father’s who could not believe that she had survived 4 years in camps. He was in possession of all of her father’s documents and she realized that she would not need anything financially.
Soon, she had news that someone was looking for her; another survivor whom her family in England had asked to find her. They met and soon decided to marry. At the wedding, Kate wore black as she had no white clothes. It was a very sad occasion because neither had family members alive to attend. They tried to have children but it took until 1948 due to the malnutrition which she experienced. Once the communists started to gain power they realized they would have to leave. They arrived in Sydney and were provided with an opportunity for a new life. They worked hard and had a daughter. They loved Sydney and enjoyed experiencing freedom without prejudice.
When her daughter was 16 her husband passed away. Kate moved to the Eastern suburbs with her daughter and continues to have a full life with family and grandchildren.
Kate feels that she has kept her promise to her father, at his deathbed. He wanted her to survive and survive she has.
Production date 2000 - 2000
Subjectsurvivors
Object nametestimonies
Dimensions
- duration: 121.00 min
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Kate Fest