An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt

Dr. Henry Oertelt

As a young Jewish teenage boy, Henry Oertelt lived with his mother and brother in Berlin, Germany as the storm clouds of Hitler’s Nazi hatred, discrimination and violence toward Jews grew darker. Henry avoided arrest by the Gestapo until 1943, when at age 22 he began his amazing saga of surviving five Nazi concentration camps. His story of the 18 cliff-hanging events which led to his Nazi death camp survival is told in his book, An Unbroken Chain. In a world premiere podcast here at KVSC, Dr. Oertelt tells his astounding story of survival, human dignity and perseverance. Dr. Oertelt has a long history of involvement with SCSU, and with Holocaust remembrance activities. He is the recipient of many honors, among them an Honorary Doctorate from SCSU in 2006, and an Honorary Doctorate from Southwest State University in Marshall in 2007.

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Top 10 An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt Episodes

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An Unbroken Chain - Part Twelve

An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt

11/20/07 • 23 min

Epilogue Part 2 and Acknowledgements: Finally, Henry is back in Berlin only to discover the family’s apartment has been given to Nazi party loyalists. He reunites with some family and tried to adjust to his freedom. We learn the details of Henry’s emigration to the United States and the splendid news of his wife and new family. Acknowledgements: Henry Oertelt thanks all the people in his life who inspired him to write his story of survival of the Nazi Holocaust.

An Unbroken Chain - Part Eleven

An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt

11/20/07 • 25 min

Epilogue Part 1: Henry is liberated and left wondering who is left in his family. There was no mode of transportation available as it nearly all forms were destroyed in the war. He runs into trouble with Soviets on his attempt to return to Berlin including forced labor again.

An Unbroken Chain - Part Ten

An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt

11/12/07 • 12 min

Chapter 15: This episode is the 18th Link in the Unbroken Chain. The American troops are nearby as heard through machine gun fire and bombs. But on April 20, 1945, the Nazis order all remaining prisoners out of the barracks. Henry was put on a death march with all his fellow inmates. American liberators find those still standing after 3-days of constant marching with no food, water or rest.

An Unbroken Chain - Part Nine

An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt

11/12/07 • 14 min

Chapters 12, 13, 14: Henry puts his life in the hands of an SS Doctor. He describes the harrowing ordeal of surgery - and the conditions of "recovery". A non-Jewish political prisoner befriends Henry and saves him from another death camp. For the first time they hear the bombings from the front lines. Hope for freedom begins, it’s April 16, 1945.

An Unbroken Chain - Part Eight

An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt

11/05/07 • 20 min

Chapters 9, 10, 11: This episode deals with four more links in the events that helped Henry Oertelt survive the Nazi Holocaust. Henry’s optimism and profession as a fine furniture designer helped him survive. He was now sent to another death camp, Flossenburg in Bavaria. The camp was horribly overcrowded and daily beatings of prisoners was the norm. Henry’s brother Kurt is sent to a different camp, which was devastating, but also led to another link that helped him live. He needed medical help.

An Unbroken Chain - Part Seven

An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt

11/05/07 • 21 min

Chapter 7 and 8: Henry’s ability to work certainly helped save his life. His slight stature and youth also contributed. The brothers are sent to yet another concentration camp, Golleschau. You hear about the value and heartache of just one piece of bread, and Henry’s new job to create a custom desk, under the watchful eye of an SS Guard. Henry begins to have alarming health problems.

An Unbroken Chain - Part Six

An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt

10/29/07 • 20 min

Chapter 5 and 6: Henry describes the devastation of being turned down by the consulate to leave Germany (prior to their imprisonment), but recognizes that the late date (June 1943) for being sent to the death camps helped save his life. Henry and his brother Kurt are sent to Auschwitz in October 1944. The train car ride was indescribably inhumane. Henry and Kurt are tattooed, their names no longer allowed in the records.

An Unbroken Chain - Part Five

An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt

10/29/07 • 42 min

Chapter 4: SS Nazi Guards break down the door to Henry’s family apartment and tell them to prepare to leave. Henry, his brother Kurt and Kurt’s girlfriend Sonja are sent to Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia. They were processed and sent to live in horrid conditions. Henry describes the meager food offerings and how to try to gain nourishment through other means. The Nazi’s use this camp to spread propaganda to the international community.

An Unbroken Chain - Part Four

An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt

10/22/07 • 20 min

Chapter 3: It’s now 1943, Henry’s mother had been working in a forced labor camp, but she is now imprisoned full-time. There is a terrifying experience with SS Guards hunting down friends while Henry flees and is just feet away from being captured.

An Unbroken Chain - Part Three

An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt

10/22/07 • 14 min

Chapter 1 and 2: In this episode, Henry describes working at a weapons factory illegally nearly starting the factory on fire. You’ll also hear how Henry’s skills as a furniture maker were put to use but nearly at the expense of being sent to a place called Auschwitz-Berkinau.

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FAQ

How many episodes does An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt have?

An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt currently has 13 episodes available.

What topics does An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt cover?

The podcast is about Survivor, Society & Culture, History, Podcasts and Holocaust.

What is the most popular episode on An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt?

The episode title 'An Unbroken Chain - Part Twelve' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt?

The average episode length on An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt is 19 minutes.

How often are episodes of An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt released?

Episodes of An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt?

The first episode of An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt was released on Sep 5, 2007.

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An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt

Dr. Henry Oertelt

Top 10 An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt have?

What topics does An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt cover?

What is the most popular episode on An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt?

What is the average episode length on An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt?

How often are episodes of An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt released?

When was the first episode of An Unbroken Chain - Dr. Henry Oertelt?

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