Plaestier, Joseph

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Description de l'interview extraite du site US Fortunoff / Biographie à venir

Joseph Plaetsier was born in Bonheiden, Belgium in 1924. He recalls his father's death in 1935 from World War I injuries; German invasion in May 1940; fleeing to France; returning to Belgium via Poperinge; seeing Hitler and other high German officers there; visiting his grandmother in Arlon to obtain food; hiding a Jewish family in 1942; having them leave when exposure was imminent; joining the Resistance; broadcasting to the British from a clandestine radio in their home; arrest on January 3, 1944 with his brother, sister, and mother; separation from his brother after seeing him in terrible condition from being tortured; imprisonment in St. Gilles prison (his mother and sister were released soon); two months solitary confinement; transfer to Bourg Leopold on July 9; liberation by the Red Cross on September 5; traveling to Brussels; and reunion with his family (his brother had escaped and was hidden). Mr. P. notes praying in prison; never discussing the war experience with his family; physical and emotional difficulties for years afterward; recently finding one of the Jews they had hidden, who blamed their family for not keeping them; and hoping to share his story with his grandchildren.

(Copyright : Fortunoff Video Archives for Holocaust Testimonies – Yale)

Ressources

Fiche interview

Code interview : YA/FA/065
Date interview : 15/03/1995
Lieu interview : Centre Audiovisuel de l’Université Libre de Bruxelles
Durée interview : 4h20
Langue interview : Français
Interviewers : Yannis Thanassekos et Michel Rosenfeldt
Cameraman : Jean-Yves Le Docte
Consultation : Autorisée
Indexation thématique : Oui
Séquençage interview : non

Mots-clés du témoignage :
Bourg-Léopold / Leopoldsburg/Beverlo (prison) | Résistant / Résistante | Saint Gilles (prison) | Tégal (service de renseignement) | Witte Brigade / Fidelio