ACCIDENT OF FATE

a personal account, 1938-1945 Imre Rochlitz

with Joseph Rochlitz

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These are the wartime memoirs of my father, Imre Rochlitz. They represent a valuable addition to Holocaust literature as they deal primarily with the war years in Yugoslavia, a comparatively little-documented chapter, particularly from the Jewish point of view. His exceptional memory for fact and detail and a personal archive of unique photographs and documents are the basis for this extraordinary account. My father wrote a first draft of his memoirs, in English (now his primary language), in the mid-1980s; in recent years I have been assisting him in editing, re-writing, conducting background research and collecting additional materials. A major episode in the book - the Italian obstruction of the Final Solution - is the topic of The Righteous Enemy, a documentary film I produced in 1987. A completed draft of the memoirs is now available; the book (252 pages, 69,000 words) is written in the first person and richly illustrated.

Joseph Rochlitz

Copyright Imre Rochlitz and Joseph Rochlitz 2006 All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the authors.

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SYNOPSIS Born in Budapest in 1925, Imre Rochlitz spent his childhood years in Vienna. Following the Anschluss of 1938, he escaped to Yugoslavia, where he lived clandestinely until the German occupation in 1941. In 1942, at the age of 17, he was arrested by the Ustashe (Croatian Fascists) and deported to the Jasenovac death camp for being a Jew. The description of his internment in Jasenovac and work as a slave labourer digging mass graves for the hundreds of inmates dying every day is the most harrowing chapter in the book. The account of his release, secured by the personal intervention of a German general (who later committed suicide), borders on the incredible.

Imre (Mirko) Rochlitzs release form from Jasenovac; it is unlikely that there are many more in existence. There were practically no survivors of Jasenovac. Following his release from Jasenovac, Imre Rochlitz made his way in mid-1942 to the Adriatic coast of Croatia and succeeded in entering the Italian zone of military occupation. Despite the fact that Fascist Italy was Nazi Germanys main ally, Italian troops treated Jewish refugees humanely, systematically ignoring Mussolinis orders to hand them over to the Germans. While the Germans and their allies were exterminating the Jews of Europe, Rochlitz and a handful of relatives (together with some 4,000 other refugees) were living in Italian protective internment camps on the Adriatic, studying languages, holding literary competitions and organising concerts of classical music. His mother, who did not succeed in escaping to the Italian zone, was arrested in Croatia in the summer of 1942 and deported to Auschwitz. She did not survive. In September 1943, the Italian protection came to an end: Italy capitulated to the Allies and its army collapsed. The gates of the camp were flung open.

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September 8, 1943: following Italys surrender, some 4,000 Jewish refugees stream out of the Italian protective internment camp on the island of Rab. Circled: Imre Rochlitz Fearing the arrival of the Germans, Rochlitz, together with some uncles and an aunt, retreated into the mountainous Kordun region. In early 1944, at the age of 19, he joined the Yugoslav Partisans, eventually obtaining the rank of second lieutenant. His main assignment was that of assistant veterinarian in the animal hospital of the 8th Partisan Assault Division, a position to which he was named primarily because he was one of the few in the area who could read and write.

Rochlitz (third from left) in the mountainous Kordun region of Croatia, with members of his Partisan unit (1944)

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As the only Partisan in the area who knew some (self-taught) English, during the course of 1944, he led numerous search parties to locate downed Allied airmen, contributing to the rescue of some 70 Americans, Britons and Australians.

As a token of gratitude, many of the airmen wrote down their names and addresses on the only paper available: the pages of Rochlitzs long- expired Hungarian passport. As the end of the war drew near, Rochlitz began to plan the fulfilment of his long-held dream: emigration to the West. At the same time, pressure intensified from his Partisan commanders to join the Communist party and link his future to the new Socialist Yugoslavia. In early 1945, when it became clear that requesting an official discharge would lead to his imprisonment and likely execution, Rochlitz deserted. Hiding under a blanket, with an elderly uncle sitting on top of him as though he were a bundle, he escaped. A British landing-craft later evacuated him and two surviving uncles from Yugoslavia to Allied-liberated southern Italy. _____________________________________ The book ends with Rochlitzs successful flight to southern Italy. For the next two years, while waiting in Italy for a visa to the United States, he worked for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (UNRRA) and the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). He immigrated to the United States in 1947, became a U.S. citizen and graduated from New York University Law School. He has four grown children and three grandchildren, and now lives in London.

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CHAPTER OUTLINE Foreword (2p) The reasons for writing these memoirs Prologue: Vienna (28p) Life as a boy in Vienna, 1925-1938 loss of father at very young age difficult economic circumstances uncertain identity as German-speaking Hungarian national assimilation, antiSemitism and Jewish prejudice against Eastern European Jews chance encounter with Arthur Schnitzler dreams and ambitions 1 Anschluss (10p) March 1938, the Anschluss through the eyes of a 13-year-old boy expulsion from school sudden Nazi fervor of population decision to escape passport and exit visa difficulties fleeing Vienna alone 2 Zagreb (19p) Illegal entry into Yugoslavia living clandestinely with uncle in Zagreb isolation, going to the movies two escapes from arrest and deportation thanks to courageous Croatian housemaid arrival of mother and second husband, their internment in Bosnia amnesty for illegal aliens, attend school the Nazi noose tightens 3 Invasion (16p) April 1941, Germany and Italy attack, welcomed by the Croatians getting out of Zagreb on last train and joining mother in Derventa, Bosnia home bombed by Germans, family survives witness mistaken identity massacre of local Ustashe together with best friend, manufacture yellow badges for group of 200 Jewish refugees loaded onto cattle cars and deported north, railroads in chaos, released clandestine return to Zagreb, preparation for flight to Italian zone 4 Prison (8p) Denounced, probably by concierge, and arrested - questioning by Ustashe police - torture of prisoners - sentenced to 2 years hard labor, "as a Jew being dangerous to Public Safety" 17th birthday in prison cell - transfer with 12 others to Jasenovac in January 1942 5 Jasenovac (16p) Within 3 days, only one alive - despair, suffering, cold, certain death - learn that step-father and other acquaintances and friends already dead - inmates sleeping in same bunk die overnight struck with cocked pistol by Ustashe officer - dig mass graves pushed into grave by guard, pulls trigger, rifle jams starvation, exhaustion - suddenly transported in chains to Zagreb "for execution" 6 Release & Escape (11p) Sentence "waived" and released, together with aunt and uncle learn that release due to intervention of German general,in view of World War I decorations of uncle - slow recovery from ravages of concentration camp, starvation, frostbitten toes decide not to trust German protection, escape to coastal Italian Zone of occupation by trickery and with help of anonymous Croatian waiter 7 Split (7p) June 1942 - No fear, no Yellow Star - friendship with local girl - unsuccessful attempt to bring mother from Bosnia, her deportation and death in Auschwitz

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8 Novi (10p) Sent by Italians to forced residence in village of Novi, together with aunt and uncle befriend Vlado Horvati, young veterinarian, and wife - good relations with local Italian army personnel sudden, ominous order to prepare for evacuation, fear being handed over to Germans 9 Kraljevica (21p) November 1942, interned in Italian concentration camp within barbed wire, 1350 inmates large, crowded barracks, no contact with outside world - decent treatment by Italian army, never any violence - democratic institutions within camp - active social life - limited supply of fatty foods, health of many overweight inmates improves - musical events, attended by Italian army personnel decline opportunity to escape from camp 10 Rab (10p) July 1943, all refugees transferred by Italians to camp on island of Rab about 4,ooo Jews housed in small huts - large camp with Slovene inmates nearby, conditions much worse continued decent treatment by Italians win literary competition organized by fellow inmates Italy surrenders to Allies on 8 September 1943, Tito's Partisans take over, rough unjust justice 11 Lika (8p) Autumn/Winter 1943, evacuation by Partisans to mainland Yugoslavia, in anticipation of German advance - first encounter with an American: Major Hanes, a shot-down U.S. pilot snowstorm - German troops approaching, family argument whether to stay or flee decide to escape into mountains with 2 uncles, rest of family opts to remain - they are killed a few days later by German troops 12 Joining the Partisans (5p) January 1944 - enlist with Tito's Partisans - uneasy, anxious to leave - volunteer for pilot training in Allied - liberated southern Italy, with intention to desert - selected for pilot training, but held back at last minute and posted as army veterinarian all other members of pilottraining group ambushed and killed by Germans 13 Veterinarian (10p) Reunited with Vlado Horvati (veterinarian encountered in Novi, Ch. 8) and become his assistant - 800 horses and mules, animal hospital - relative success despite lack of medicines - pig castrations, other risky operations - forbidden from treating humans, reversed by dramatic emergency - success in stopping horse scabies epidemic 14 - A Communist Regime (9p) Tito's Partisans under strict Communist control Party exercises absolute, arbitrary authority system of political commissars sense danger of being German-speaking Hungarian Jew, adopt identity of Mirko Rohli, Slovene virulent Communist prejudice and propaganda against West 15 - Friendships and Hardships (9p) Few friends, mistrust reigns only friends Vlado Horvati and Paolo (former Italian soldier) food shortages - improvised clothing, some retrieved from German corpses body lice infestation women in Partisan ranks, brave, rugged severe prohibition of sexual relations, except for ranking Communists no personal success with Partisan women

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16 Airmen (6p) Lead search parties to locate downed Allied airmen before capture by Germans and Ustashe rescue about 70, who write their names into my passport like creatures from another world, wide-eyed, nave, brave offer me their uniforms to escape, decline as too risky 17 - The Seventh Offensive (8p) May 1944, Germans suddenly attack, my Partisan unit retreats into hills observe enemy advance from ridge appearance of aircraft, greeted by Germans turn out to be Allied planes, German troops bombed and massacred before our eyes on return to base, given opportunity to execute German prisoner, decline 18 The Captain and the Commissar (9p) October 1944, take part in rescue of complete 10-man crew of B-24 bomber - accept gift of leather jacket from airman - word reaches area Commander, on verge of arrest and possible execution for treason political commissar saves me, lies, saying I took jacket for unit 19 Vlado (8p) Vlado Horvati sends money accepted from U.S. airman to estranged wife letter intercepted, he is arrested, disappears forever his Partisan girlfriend discovers she is pregnant, tells me, threatens suicide I manage to arrange for abortion by Austrian doctor kidnapped by Partisans 20 Departure (21p) January 1945, German plane tries to kill me on my 20th birthday encounter with Randolph Churchill 1995 conversation with Sir Fitzroy Maclean about Churchill, Partisans - prepare for evacuation to liberated southern Italy with other Jewish refugees Commander menacingly warns me not to leave Partisans learn that Jewish friend imprisoned for requesting discharge decide to defect hide under blanket in truck evacuating refugees, uncle sits on me reach Adriatic coast, metamorphose from Partisan officer into dispirited refugee to avoid recognition evacuated to southern Italy (and freedom) in British landing-craft Epilogue (2p) Re-united with brother in Bari, liberated southern Italy. Find job with United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Agency, then with American Joint Distribution Committee. Work as Welfare Officer for Jewish refugees in Rome region, secretly assist Aliya Bet. Emigrate to the United States in 1947.

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Bibliography & Sources Carpi, Daniel, The Rescue of Jews in the Italian Zone of Occupied Croatia, Second Yad Vashem International Conference (Jerusalem, 1977) Published online: http://www1.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%204803.pdf Churchill, Winston S., His Fathers Son: Life of Randolph Churchill, (London, 1996) Gottlieb, Hinko, The Key to the Great Gate, (New York, 1947) Herzer, Ivo, The Italian Refuge Rescue of Jews During the Holocaust (Washington D.C., 1989) Hilberg, Raul, The Destruction of the European Jews, rev. edn, (New York, 1985) Maclean, Fitzroy, Eastern Approaches, (London, 1949) Rochlitz, Imre, Testimony no. 32300, videotaped interview, Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation http://www.vhf.org/ Rochlitz Joseph, The Righteous Enemy, documentary film, (Italy/UK, 1987) www.josephrochlitz.com Rochlitz, Joseph, The Righteous Enemy: Document Collection, (Rome, 1988) Rodogno, Davide, Fascisms European Empire (Cambridge, 2006) Scales, Junius Irving and Nickson, Richard, Cause at Heart: A Former Communist Remembers, (Athens, GA, 1987) Shelah, Menachem, (ed.), History of the Holocaust Yugoslavia, Yad Vashem (Jerusalem, 1990) in Hebrew Steinberg, Jonathan, All or Nothing The Axis and the Holocaust 1941-1943, (London, 1990) Walston, James, History and Memory of the Italian Concentration Camps, The Historical Journal (40 ,I, 1997) Waugh, Evelyn, Unconditional Surrender, (London, 1961) Zuccotti, Susan, The Italians and the Holocaust, (New York, 1987)