Testimony of Akiva Karl Shvartz, born in Vienna, Austria, 1921, regarding his experiences in Vienna during the Anschluss, escape to Bratislava, setting sail on an illegal immigrant ship to Yugoslavia, life on Rodi Island and other places

Testimony of Akiva Karl Shvartz, born in Vienna, Austria, 1921, regarding his experiences in Vienna during the Anschluss, escape to Bratislava, setting sail on an illegal immigrant ship to Yugoslavia, life on Rodi Island and other places From an assimilated Zionist family; education; displays of antisemitism; joins Beitar. Anschluss, March 1938; escape with a Czechoslovakian passport, April 1938; move to Bratislava; Beitar aliya training conducted by a Jewish farmer; sets sail from Bratislava, May 1940; deportation of the ship to Yugoslavia from Romanian waters; Romania permits the ship to cross its territorial waters, July 1940; ship runs aground near the Island of Rodi; life on the island; rescue by the Italians; transfer to Rodi, October 1940; life on Rodi under Italian guard; deportation to the Ferramonti camp, 1942; camp life; marriage, October 1942. Aliya to Eretz Israel, March 1945; absorption.