Martin Koby - April 20, 1999

An interview with Mr. Martin Koby, a Holocaust survivor, conducted by Dr. Sidney Bolkosky, Professor of History at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Martin Koby was born in Rovno, Poland in 1930. During the 1930s, Mr. Koby along with his mother, father and brother moved to the neighboring village of Giuszwica. During the pre-war period, Martin and his family experienced several incidents of anti-Semitism, especially during Christian holidays. In 1939, the Soviet Union annexed Eastern Poland as part of a secret agreement contained in the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact and Giuszwica came under Soviet control. Under Soviet rule, Martin and his family lived a relatively normal life. In Summer 1941, the Germans invaded the Soviet Union and Giuszwica came under German control. Under German rule, anti-Semitism increased among the local population and Martin's father was abducted and beaten by members of the Ukrainian Liberation Army (UPA). Martin's father was released and due to the influence of a wealthy Polish landowner, the family was sent to work on an estate, rather than sent to the newly established Jewish Ghetto in Rovno. In September 1942, Martin's family, hearing news of the liquidation of the Rovno Ghetto, went into hiding. Between 1942 and 1944, the family hid in six different locations in and around Giuszwica, usually with the knowledge and complicity of the local population. In February 1944, the Soviets liberated the area and the family moved to Rovno. In late 1945, they were allowed by the Soviet government to relocate to Poland and moved to Bytom, near Katowice. Sometime in 1946 or 1947, the family traveled to a Displaced Persons Camp (The Sedan Kaserne) in Ulm, Germany. From there they made their way to the United States.

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Voice/Vision Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive

Martin Koby - April 20, 1999

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