Nechama remembers being taken from her home with her parents to the nearby Seventh Fort, a military fortification in Kaunas, Lithuania, in 1941. She and her mother were released shortly thereafter and allowed to return home. Her father, however, remained in the Fort and witnessed the mass killings of Jewish men by German soldiers and the Lithuanian police. Nechama explains how her father was able to survive the mass killings at the time.

Karen Jungblut, USC Shoah Foundation director of research and documentation, participated in the “Digital Testimonies on War and Trauma” conference in June. Held at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the symposium brought together scholars from all over the world to address the use and impact of digitized narrative collections in relating the horrors of warfare.

Aristides de Sousa Mendes may not be a familiar name, but several people, along with their descendants, who owe their lives to him, are working to change that.

Eva speaks of her gratitude to China and the Chinese people.  She explains that despite the hardships related to the refugee experience, her family was able to survive the Holocaust in Shanghai and move on to create a new life in Australia.

Irma speaks fondly of her life in Chongqing, while she lived in China as a German Jewish refugee during the war.

John reflects on the historical reasons of the anti-refugee sentiment he experienced from the local population while living in China as a German Jewish refugee during the war.

Hermine talks about the medical assistance she received from a local Chinese woman when she, a Jewish refugee from Germany, lived in the Hongkew Ghetto in Shanghai during the war.

Gert expresses his gratitude toward Chinese people and explains that Shanghai served his family as a place of refuge during the war.

Gert describes the community established by Jewish refugees from Germany upon their arrival in China on the eve of World War II. He remembers the living conditions in Shanghai and mentions the Hongkew Ghetto formed in the city by the occupying Japanese authorities in 1943.

Eva reflects on the living conditions she had as a child living in Shanghai, China, during the war and discusses her daily activities.

Fred speaks of his enrollment in the Shanghai Jewish School and describes the education he received while living as a German Jewish refugee in China during the war.

While reminiscing on the Jewish life in Shanghai, Eva talks about the customs and observances her family maintained while living as German Jewish refugees in China, and discusses synagogue attendance.  She  recollects social and cultural activities in the local community.

Fred recalls his first impressions of Shanghai while, housed in a refugee camp, he and his family were adapting to life in China after having fled Nazi Germany in 1939.  He notes that soon after their arrival,  his family moved out of the camp to the Shanghai Japanese quarter.

Helen talks about the overcrowded housing conditions she and her family had in Ward Road Heim—a makeshift refugee camp established in Shanghai, China, during the war.

Henri Deutsch, a jewish survivor, who along with his family was rescued by Aristides de Sousa Mendes, recalls the Portuguese diplomat. Sousa Mendes, against orders from the Portuguese government, issued an estimated 30,000 travel visas to people escaping Nazi-occupied France in 1940.

Featuring testimony on Aristides de Sousa Mendes, this video focuses on the theme of diplomats and rescue and relates some of the best-known cases of aid provided by consulates and embassies including the efforts of Raoul Wallenberg, and Chiune Sugihara. Diplomats in countries throughout Europe helped Jews escape persecution by issuing visas and other travel paperwork that allowed Jews to flee Nazi-occupied territory. Featured in the video are the testimonies of Israel Kipen, Per Anger, and Henri Deutsch who recount their personal experiences of rescue during the Holocaust.

Yvonne talks about her maternal grandmother's flight from Germany to China, joining Yvonne and her parents in Shanghai a year after they had arrived there in 1939. Yvonne states that the remaining family perished during the Holocaust. She explains why her mother chose Shanghai as a place of refuge.

Gerald talks about his family's flight from Nazi Germany to China in 1939, on board of the German steamship "Scharnhorst."  He mentions the instrumental role of Jewish relief organizations that assisted his family during the trip and describes his first impressions of Shanghai.

Henry describes his flight from Berlin, Germany, to Shanghai, China, in summer 1940 and recalls the family members he left behind.

Judith reflects on the social relations that were formed among Jewish refugees of various nationalities in Shanghai, China, during the war.

Eva discusses the housing conditions her family had in the Hongkew ghetto in Shanghai, China, and describes the food available to the ghetto inhabitants during the war.

Judith describes the overcrowded housing conditions in the Hongkew ghetto in Shanghai, China, and discusses the general lack of privacy.

Echoes and Reflections, a professional teacher development program on the Holocaust, has now expanded to Alaska. In April, middle and high school educators from across the state journeyed to Kodiak High School on Kodiak Island to participate. In addition to those attending in person, others in remote locations joined via video conferencing.

Henny talks about Kanoh Ghoya, a Japanese official responsible for issuing monthly passes to inhabitants of the Hongkew ghetto in Shanghai, China. She notes that, aware of Goya's poor treatment of Jews, her parents decided to cease their attempts of leaving the ghetto.

Berthold Katz talks about Kanoh Ghoya, a Japanese official responsible for giving monthly passes to Jews who were living in the Hongkew ghetto in Shanghai, China, and remembers his brutal treatment of the ghetto inhabitants.

Hans describes his encounters with a Japanese ghetto official, Kanoh Ghoya, while he was confined in the Hongkew ghetto in Shanghai, China, during the war. He speaks of Ghoya's brutal treatment.

Eva discusses a ghetto pass policy enforced in the Hongkew ghetto in Shanghai, China, during the war. Eva explains that she had to pass the ghetto checkpoint on a daily basis, as the school she attended was located outside of her living district. She talks about the impact from her encounters with Kanoh Ghoya, a Japanese official who was in charge of issuing the ghetto passes.

Hildegard recalls her trip from Shanghai, China to San Francisco, CA, on the board of the U.S. Army transporter “Marine  Adder,” in August 1947.  She explains that the trip was sponsored by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).

Hildegard talks about her arrival in San Francisco, CA in September 1947, after having spent the war years in Shanghai, China.  Hildegard describes the joy she felt when her ship reached the shore of the United States.

Miriam discusses her family's preparations to leave China after liberation and explains the U.S. immigration policies established for refugees. She remembers her trip to San Francisco, CA, on the board of the "USS General W. H. Gordon" troop ship in June 1947.