Interview with Sol Urbach, January 6, 1995

Interview Summary

Sol Urbach shares about his various experiences during World War II as a teenager living in Krakow, Poland. He discusses his and his family?s lives before the start of the war and about their temporary move to Romania. He explains how they were forced out of Romania because they were foreign Jews and why they were arrested once they returned to Poland. He remembers the German invasion of Poland in 1939 as well as anti-Semitic policies that were instituted once Germany had control of Poland. He describes Krakow Ghetto?s creation and conditions within the ghetto the Jewish citizens had to face. Urbach recalls collections conducted by SS guard of Jewish men for forced labor, and his experience being taken during one of those collections. He describes meeting Oskar Schindler while working in his enamel factory and what happened to the previous owners of the factory. While at the factory, Urbach shares, orders were given to liquidate Krakow Ghetto leading to many atrocities being committed by SS soldiers. He recalls being sent to various concentration camps during the war, including the two concentration camps built by Oskar Schindler. He discusses Schindler?s list of prisoners who were sent to his camps and factories. Urbach describes the end of World War II and when he was finally free from the camps. He takes time to discuss his wife?s experiences during the war at a work camp in Siberia. He ends by discussing his experiences sharing his stories with others, whether individuals or organizations, and why he feels it is important for him to share his story.

Interview Keyword

Anti-Semitism Concentration camp buildings--Poland Concentration camps Enamel works Extermination Forced labor Genocide German occupation, Poland, 1939-1945 Jewish children Jewish families Jewish ghettos Jewish prisoners Liquidation Occupied Germany Russian front Schindler's List Schindler, Oskar, 1908-1974 SS guards Survivors World War, 1939-1945--Atrocities--Poland World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives

Interview LC Subject

World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps

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