Paquita Holocaust Survivor Testimony
Paquita was born in Paris, France in 1933. There, she lived with her parents and her brother until 1940, when the Nazis invaded.
Her father was arrested shortly after by the authorities of Vichy France, but he managed to escape prison. From there, the family reunited in Paris where they made plans to travel together to safety in the south of France.
They stayed in the south of France for two years, but when the Nazis began closing in on the whole country, they crossed the Pyrenees mountains into Spain.
From there, they traveled to Barcelona where they received support from HIAS.
HIAS provided them with food and accommodation as they waited for several weeks for their boat to depart for Venezuela.
Paquita has many memories of the high holidays, but Yom Kippur stands out to her the most as she would spend the day with loved ones and host a special meal to break the fast.
Video Transcript
Paquita
An Interview with a Holocaust Survivor
Narration: Today I am visiting Paquita in her home. Born in Paris in 1937, she entered the world just as Europe stood on the brink of war. In this interview, she reflects on her family’s escape from Nazi persecution, the difficult years that followed, and the remarkable life they rebuilt after the Holocaust.
Leslie: Thank you for welcoming me into your home.Paquita: I don’t like people coming empty-handed.
Leslie: Exactly.
Paquita: I have a very small family, but my friends are my wealth.
Leslie: I like that.
Leaving Europe
Paquita: We arrived in Venezuela as a family of four: my parents, my brother, and me. My parents met in Germany and were married there. When Hitler came to power in 1933, they left Germany and settled in France, believing it would be a country of freedom, equality, and fraternity. My godfather, who had been living comfortably in Venezuela, suggested that my father move there as well. My father refused. He believed France was the safest place to raise a family. Unfortunately, history proved otherwise.The German Occupation
Narration: As the Germans occupied France, antisemitic laws quickly transformed daily life for Jewish families.
Paquita: Everything changed. Little by little, Jews lost their rights. Restrictions multiplied. Fear became part of everyday life. Eventually, it became clear that remaining in France was no longer possible.
