Lilly Rosenberg in Beregszasz

This is me, Lilly Rosenberg, already in my engagement period. My groom was a relative, his name was Lajos. This photo was taken in Beregszasz in 1942.

Before the deportations, I started to work, in 1942. In Beregszasz, I learned to tailor and I taught tailoring, because Uncle Samu, the exceptionally big Zionist, said, 'No diplomas, learn a trade, because in Israel that's what is important.'

So I learned a trade and continued to do it. The Jewish laws affected everything, our whole lives. The educational ones meant I couldn't continue my tailoring classes. I had been learning to sew for a year, and tailoring with a famous seamstress.

I was still in Hetyen in 1942, and was still teaching tailoring, but I had to stop because racism really started then. Fascism had spread to a few places.

Hetyen hadn't yet been touched. It hadn't been decided yet, that Jews couldn't have industries, but it was clear that we had to sell the business: the spices and general store.

We weren't allowed to have a business. Moric, Erzsebet and I were home then. Gyula had married, Jozsef was studying in Prague.

My older sister had found a husband in Mateszalka District, in Szamossalyi and had three children.

You could travel, but Jews weren't allowed to continue their business activities; I had to give up teaching in 1942.

Centropa Collection acquired by USHMM

The Centropa archive has been acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. 

USHMM will soon offer a Special Collections page for Centropa.

Academics please note: USHMM can provide you with original language word-for-word transcripts and high resolution photographs. All publications should be credited: "From the Centropa Collection at the United States Memorial Museum in Washington, DC". Please contact collection [at] centropa.org.