![]() ![]() Weissmandel resolved to impart what he had learned of the killings to the world, and wrote to various countries and authorities worldwide. In November 1942 Weissmandel burst into Gisi Fleischmann's office, terribly upset, with the first definite news from Poland that deportation meant annihilation. Steiner says that Weissmandel thought that money would come pouring in to help save the Jews, once it became known what the deportations really meant. ![]() After this anomaly, however, deportations ceased completely.įILM ID 3416 - Camera Rolls #8-14 - 03:00:08 to 03:33:44ĬR8 Weissmandel created a fictitious person named Joseph Rot, based in Switzerland, who represented "world Jewry."Ġ3:00:55 CR9 Steiner and Gisi Fleischmann forged letters from Rot. In October, three more transports occurred, purportedly due to a false report of the number of Jews in the country, though Weissmandel believed it was because the Jews had not offered more bribe money. Steiner confirms that the bribe was successful since no deportations occurred between July and September. Lanzmann makes reference to the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" and the powerful influence that the myth of the Jewish world conspiracy had on the Germans.Ġ0:22:47 CR7 Steiner discusses the source of the bribe money, which provided means of communication between camps and the ability to send medical aid. Steiner invoked "world Jewry" in order to get Wisliceny to believe that he had the money and power to provide a bribe. Steiner tells of his first meeting with Wisliceny, in which he stood up to the German as Weissmandel advised. Weissmandel chose Steiner to be the go-between with Wisliceny, once Hochberg was thrown in jail by the Slovaks.Ġ0:11:36 CR5 Steiner says that there were around 80,000 Jews in Slovakia when the deportations began.Ġ0:12:49 CR6 The deportations from Slovakia quickly became large-scale and Weissmandel convinced Steiner he must bribe both the Slovaks and the Germans, including Wisliceny, to stop the deportations. Steiner says he began to feel a "magic influence" from Weissmandel and saw what a beautiful person he was on the inside. After the deportations started, Rabbi Weissmandel was able to provide them with some news from Poland, and they learned that most of those deported were not going to work camps in Germany, as had been promised, and that families were separated.įILM ID 3415 - Camera Rolls #4-7 - 00:00:23 to 00:34:05ĬR4 Weissmandel asked Steiner to try and arrange a kosher kitchen in the camps for the orthodox Jews, which Steiner succeeded in doing. The first deportation happened in spring 1942 when 999 girls were deported. Lanzmann asks Steiner to elaborate on this "shadow government" formed by the dissident members of the Judenrat.Ġ0:22:40 CR3 Steiner says that Slovakia still had an independent state and the Slovaks were in charge of the deportations. They did not like the "yes-man" attitude that prevailed among some of the Judenrat members, including the head, Schepersczy?, and Hochberg, who dealt with Dieter Wisliceny, Eichmann's deputy. Neumann, met separately and made other plans. Steiner says that a few members of the Judenrat, including himself, Gisi Fleischmann, and Dr. Because of his connections and his position as an architect, Steiner managed to get work with the Slovak government for himself and for other Jewish architects. Neumann, were convinced that it would be much better for the Jews if they were able to stay in Slovakia, even in camps, rather than be deported to Poland or anywhere else.Ġ0:11:28 CR2 The Slovak government demanded that the work camps be self-supporting within three months. Steiner, along with Gisi Fleischmann and Dr. He was sent out to determine what types of buildings would be needed at the sites where the Germans intended to build concentration camps for the Jews. In Bratislava he eventually became a part of the Judenrat. He and his family left Brno for Bratislava as soon as he was released from prison. ![]() He was an architect in Brno and in 1939 he was imprisoned briefly because his father-in-law was a leader of the Jewish Agency in Czechoslovakia. He recounts relations with Rabbi Weissmandel and Gisi Fleischmann in their attempt to rescue Slovak Jews from deportation.įILM ID 3414 - Camera Rolls #1-3 - 00:00:22 to 00:33:51ĬR1 Andre Steiner was born into an assimilated Czechoslovakian Jewish family. Film | Accession Number: 1996.166 | RG Number: RG-60.5010 | Film ID: 3414, 3415, 3416, 3417, 3418, 3419Īndre Steiner, an architect, discusses the Judenrat and resistance activities in Slovakia with Lanzmann. ![]()
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