Testimony of Arie Lieb Lewinnek, born in Berlin, 1927, regarding his experiences and those of his family in Belgium, France and Switzerland

Testimony of Arie Lieb Lewinnek, born in Berlin, 1927, regarding his experiences and those of his family in Belgium, France and Switzerland Established family based in Germany for generations; Nuremberg Laws, 1934; return of the family to Berlin after several months in Switzerland and then they move to Brussels; problems supporting themselves; leaving all their property behind in Germany; education, Zionist youth activities, 1938-1939; his father's arrest on suspicion of espionage because he is a German citizen, May 1940, and his father's deportation to the Saint Cyprien camp in southern France; the rest of the family attempts to escape to France; arrest of the witness, his mother and siblings; eight day deportation to Gurs camp in southern France, by train; release and travel to Saint Cyprien; conditions in Saint Cyprien camp; diseases in the camp; his father's transfer to Gurs camp; witness, his mother and siblings travel to an aunt in Chamonix, in the Savoie district; his father's release with the help of a relative in Sweden; illegally crossing the border to Switzerland; deaths of his uncle and aunt in the mountain snows; life in Lausanne: good conditions; his sister's wedding; end of the war. Studies in Geneva; after the war, difficulties with the Swiss authorities; return to Belgium; difficulties in earning a livelihood; emigration to Canada.