Cast Category: Holocaust Survivor Henry Oertelt

Jun 2, 2010

Independent Film Project of Dr. Henry Oertelt

Dr. Henry Oertelt’s was made into a short film.  Producer Stephanie Silverman Houser worked tirelessly to raise money and awareness for the film.  You can learn much more about the project including following Stephanie’s and Henry’s blog updates.  This is KVSC’s interview on this important film project.

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Jul 10, 2009

An Unbroken Chain – Intro

In this amazing true-life account from the Holocaust, young Berlin Jew Henry Oertelt manages to survive the Nazi hate and death machine in wartime Germany. In 18 heart-stopping incidents, Henry manages to evade death time after time. These 18 events are the Unbroken Chain of Henry’s survival. A different outcome of any of these links […]

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Jul 9, 2009

An Unbroken Chain – Part One

Henry Oertelt describes the reasons why he chose to share his very personal story—and why he continues to speak publicly about his survival of the Nazi Holocaust. He was inspired by his children and grandchildren among many others to publish the events that saved his life from Hitler’s murderous regime.

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Jul 8, 2009

An Unbroken Chain – Part Two

The listener is introduced to Henry’s family in Germany and the events that led up to their imprisonment in concentration death camps. Henry describes his teen years and the continual humiliation and intimidation of Jews prior to the start of World War II. You’ll hear about the 1938 Kristallnacht event that furthered Hitler’s attacks on […]

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Jul 7, 2009

An Unbroken Chain – Part Three

In this episode, Henry describes working at a weapons factory illegally—nearly starting the factory on fire. You’ll also hear how Henry’s skills as a furniture maker were put to use—but nearly at the expense of being sent to a place called “Auschwitz-Berkinau.”

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Jul 6, 2009

An Unbroken Chain – Part Four

It’s now 1943, Henry’s mother had been working in a forced labor camp, but she is now imprisoned full-time. There is a terrifying experience with SS Guards hunting down friends while Henry flees and is just feet away from being captured.

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Jul 5, 2009

An Unbroken Chain – Part Five

SS Nazi Guards break down the door to Henry’s family apartment and tell them to prepare to leave. Henry, his brother Kurt and Kurt’s girlfriend Sonja are sent to Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia. They were processed and sent to live in horrid conditions. Henry describes the meager food offerings and how to try to gain nourishment […]

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Jul 4, 2009

An Unbroken Chain – Part Six

Henry describes the devastation of being turned down by the consulate to leave Germany (prior to their imprisonment), but recognizes that the late date (June 1943) for being sent to the death camps helped save his life.  Henry and his brother Kurt are sent to Auschwitz in October 1944. The train car ride was indescribably […]

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Jul 3, 2009

An Unbroken Chain – Part Seven

Henry’s ability to work certainly helped save his life. His slight stature and youth also contributed.  The brothers are sent to yet another concentration camp, Golleschau. You hear about the value and heartache of just one piece of bread, and Henry’s new job to create a custom desk, under the watchful eye of an SS […]

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Jul 2, 2009

An Unbroken Chain – Part Eight

This episode deals with four more links in the events that helped Henry Oertelt survive the Nazi Holocaust.   Henry’s optimism and profession as a fine furniture designer helped him survive.  He was now sent to another death camp, Flossenburg in Bavaria. The camp was horribly overcrowded and daily beatings of prisoners was the norm.  Henry’s […]

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