Testimony of Josef-Moshe Singer, born in 1910 in Vranov nad Topľou, about his experiences in the Czechoslovakian Army in 1938–1939 and in Italy before emigrating to the United States in the early 1940s

Testimony of Josef-Moshe Singer, born in 1910 in Vranov nad Topľou, about his experiences in the Czechoslovakian Army in 1938–1939 and in Italy before emigrating to the United States in the early 1940s Five years of service in the Czechoslovakian Army; discharge from the army; staying in Paris in 1938; receiving information about preparations for Germany's invasion of Czechoslovakia; back to Czechoslovakia; re-enlisting in the army and serving in 1938–1939; German invasion of Czechoslovakia; leaving Czechoslovakia; reaching France; reaching Rome in 1939; admitted to a yeshiva in Rome thanks to Israel Zolli, the Chief Rabbi of Rome; efforts to obtain requisite documents for emigration to the United States; staying in Ventimiglia, Monaco, and Nice; reaching New York. Submitter's comments: The submitter's grandfather, Josef-Moshe Singer, was born in 1910 in Vranov nad Topľou. The family name was Travis but was changed due to his occupation as a cantor. Josef-Moshe's parents: Shmuel and Esther-Leah Singer. Shmuel owned a print shop. The family was affiliated with the Munkácser Hassidim. Josef-Moshe had siblings: David, Golda, Saa, Chaim-Aharon, Chaya-Rosa, and Feige. Apart from Josef-Moshe, all perished in the Holocaust. Josef-Moshe served in the Czechoslovakian Army, spent time in Italy, and emigrated to the United States in the early 1940s.