2022 First Person with Holocaust Survivor Halina Peabody

Halina Peabody was about nine years old when the Nazis carried out their first mass execution against the Jewish people in her town of Zaleszczyki, in German-occupied Poland (today, Zalishchyky, Ukraine).
Hear Holocaust survivor Halina’s experiences in her own words recorded on February 16, 2022. First Person is a monthly hour-long discussion featuring a live interview between journalist Bill Benson and a survivor and including questions from the audience, available on the Museum’s KZbin channel.
Learn about Jews Who Fled the German Invasion:
encyclopedia.ushmm.org/conten...
Read about the Invasion of the Soviet Union:
encyclopedia.ushmm.org/conten...
Learn about Ghettos in German-occupied Poland:
encyclopedia.ushmm.org/conten...
Explore Halina’s Reflections on A Small Loss:
www.ushmm.org/remember/holoca...

[@chrisstone8210]

What I find amazing, over and over again, when listening to the stories of these survivors, is the lack of hate and bitterness, despite all they've been through. Good, honest, intelligent and caring people.

[@india1422]

I’m bitter just listening to it. I don’t think I would have survived long.these men, women and children are. Heroes

[@corneliakobilke4638]

Because they understand you can’t fight fire with fire and hate and bitterness is how it even happened in the first place

[@noreenwhiting9530]

Absolutely.. Such a lesson, hate breds hate,

[@annedwyer797]

I agree; I've listened to several survivor stories in this series and I've also been struck by the grace, sometimes even humor and the lack of bitterness in these amazing folks. Perhaps it's because they were children (some of them very young) at the time of the war?

[@evelyncase681]

well, we don"t know that, I believe they had PTSD and work through the different phases of rehabilitation. Or only the ones actually in the camps for yrs.

[@cooksmary]

Thank you, Halina. It is a blessing that you survived, and that you are sharing your experiences with us. God bless your amazing mother.

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Mary nice meeting you here

[@nicoleconnolly1596]

My grandfather was a Jewish boy when we was took into a camp his father (my great grandfather) was gassed and my (great grandmother) died of an illness in the camp. My grandfather was treated horrible he was only 10 years old...please never let this happen again god!

[@birdyfilovingheart6365]

How was he not gassed also? Children weren't allowed to live.

[@nicoleconnolly1596]

@@birdyfilovingheart6365 don't ask me I'm not a historian but I am just thank full he was not

[@Justme-np3di]

My grandparents left to America 2 years before the holocaust happened thankfully 😊 Also yes They were Jewish :)

[@birdyfilovingheart6365]

@@nicoleconnolly1596 something fishy about this sorry.

[@nicoleconnolly1596]

@@birdyfilovingheart6365 what so fishy? Because it's unclear to me

[@anasol8115]

Excelente!!!! No me canso de escuchar sobre la audacia, valentía y amor de las familias perseguidas !!! Gracias y saludos desde Argentina

[@sandyangel4243]

Ike never wanted us Americans to forget. I cañt believe people would say it never happened. For myself I will never forget and will continue to fight for all our Jewish brothers and sisters. Bless God for giving me truth and and insight

[@sandyangel4243]

@Sunshine Baby we fully understand it happen to anyone who were not in agreement with Hitler. The majority were Jewish. But you have to admit it's the Jewish community that continues to educate us. This has got to be very painful for those who were victims to relive. The positive thing for them is it takes them out of being victim to being educators.

[@sandyangel4243]

@Sunshine Baby I am one of the many people who are still horrified about what happened to so many good people.. My heart is with you and all the families still struggling. I would like to believe I would of been one of those people who helped. When I was younger I question it because I was gullible. Today tho I know I would do all I could to help. This time tho it is pointed at anyone who worships God. Christian and Jewish a like . I have complete faith God is very active and he will not allow it to go that far. What I say next please don't take wrong. Just like Jesus had to die for our sins the Holocaust had to happen. For a couple of reasons I can see. One would be the Jewish got their land back . Another would be to show us people no matter how advance we think we are we are still capable of horrible wickedness. I just wish mankind were not so evil. I love the Jewish people and am very grateful for the victim still educating us. Most of all I love them for my God. Christian's would not know God without the Jewish people. My God is their God. I will tell you tho I would be very much involved in an underground if it becomes needed today. I stand we God and I stand with his people. We gentiles are here today to stand for Isreal and his people. Isreal is FOREVER. AMEN

[@janetblanc7658]

@@sandyangel4243 if Jesus died for our sins, it unfortunately did not prevent most of us from sinning. I don't believe there can be anything to gain from so much suffering. Hopefully we shall all believe in the one Creator one day without the intermediary of the various religions, which cause so much division.

[@annedwyer797]

Halina looks amazing for almost 90! Absolutely incredible that Halina's father was able to get a letter(s) to his family from a Soviet gulag. That literally seems miraculous to me.

[@Snoopcat_1114]

These stories and amazing people never cease to amaze me. What they have endured is beyond human. I think it is a disgrace that we did not educate our younger generations more about this . Furthermore i believe they, along with our service people, should be honored everyday in this world.

[@margaritacontreras2735]

Thank you, Halina, for sharing such a brave story, the strength and bravery of your mother and yours. I am writing from Santiago, in Chile, and will be sharing your story with the pupils I tutor in English. I am so happy you met good people who helped you, and sad at your mother's early death. But she lives in you!!!

[@noreenneary140]

God bless that woman i could hug her i am in awe

[@alissagordon9138]

@@noreenneary140 ql

[@LouLou-bu2th]

What an interesting story - thank you for sharing it. What a wonderful and strong mother she had. We must continue to tell these stories. 🙏🏻

[@tammikit5310]

Thank you for sharing your story. Beautiful Lady❤️

[@eclecticdeb4394]

God bless you, Halina. Your story is absolutely amazing.

[@maggiebrown9674]

Such a sensitive interviewer and lovely lady.

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Maggie nice meeting you here

[@GdHr-oz5ph]

Another wonderful beautiful survivor. Amazing story, especially of their bravery and boldness.♥️♥️♥️

[@Vilelyn]

Thank you Halina.

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Vilelyn nice meeting you here

[@MaryKane-qv5vz]

Greetings Halina from Ireland. Praise God you survived.

[@MJ-bv8yx]

Thank you so much for sharing your story

[@m.buckosalo9619]

Thank you. Bless you

[@ionciobanu7502]

Thank you Halina ! God bless your amazing mother !

[@shanellelum6712]

Praying for you 🙏🏿 sending love too you and your family

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Shanelle nice meeting you here

[@abbiekenyon5942]

Prayers for each other to : Listen, Do (what is right and avoid what is wrong (avoid what is not kodesh / Chodesh) ; and Believe what is right in the Creator's sight.

[@colettegillard]

Amazing lady to have survived the Holocaust, some never survived due to diseases & fever or hepatitis, etc or due to the freezing cold weather! The didn’t have mattresses on their bunk beds, in their sleeping barracks, they were treated cruelly, how anyone could be so cruel is beyond me! It’s not human in my view! It’s disgusting! But these officers need to be accountable to god for what they did! 🌷🦋

[@margretrussell3997]

Helena thank you so much for sharing you sad story i cannot begin to imagine how you and your family suffered along with alk the other people I hope we can all learn from your story to respect and care for everyone and that racism with respect for each other will onedau be no more I am an Australian living in Turkey Best wishes to you

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Margaret nice meeting you here

[@ruthless9604]

Thank you to all.

[@linak7155]

Halina must have been a very young girl when these horrendous events unraveled.Most of the Holocaust survivors I have watched for years are dwindling. Thank you for keeping these stories in the forefront. 💕🙋

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Lina nice meeting you here

[@samcoon2005]

Its crazy that they got away with what they did for so long and amazing how they survived

[@tovaassor9206]

Toronto listening to you

[@filmsbynix]

I listen to these testimonies when i get ready for the work in the morning and at night after work or on weekends. Much love from South Africa

[@alidaramos7227]

Good testimony 👏

[@saidamorales2573]

Sending love💖💖💖💖💖💖💖🙏

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Saida nice meeting you here

[@kimberleyhollyman90]

Thank you. 🇨🇦

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Kimberley nice meeting you here

[@kimberleyhollyman90]

Hello

[@justiceharrison5142]

@@kimberleyhollyman90 how are you doing today?

[@justiceharrison5142]

@@kimberleyhollyman90 you there?

[@kimberleyhollyman90]

Oh, sorry. I'm up and down during these crazy chaotic times. Ty for asking. How are you?

[@miriambryant6975]

Halina, thank you for sharing your life so honestly. You are a beautiful strong woman, just like your mother!

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Miriam nice meeting you here

[@Betty77168]

Absolutely fantastic video, what an amazing woman, so articulate, so brave, and such a moving account of her mother and her struggles through the war. I don't really understand why that woman asking the question had to announce what her pronouns are! Whatever that means - telling this lady that she identifies as she / her / hers - couldn't she have just kept that to herself, it was so unnecessary to bring it to this forum.

[@Heavenlea1975]

Mentioning someone’s pronouns is actively showing inclusion to all in society. Haven’t we had enough of exclusions of what is deemed ‘normal’ or ‘acceptable’? Hasn’t the Shoah taught the world what happens when we discriminate against people for race/preference/Religion? It takes me no more time to say their’s or his or hers. Humans are humans, it’s not about tolerance it’s not about acceptance it is about respect.

[@Betty77168]

@@Heavenlea1975 I just do not understand what this has to do with people being racist of intolerance, how is saying that you identify as she / her etc anything to do with tolerance, unification, "inclusion" (whatever that means - just another buzz word that means absolutely nothing). Do you think this woman with all that she has been through in her life wants to hear someone saying - hello, I identify as a woman! Really? These pronouns will help to stop racism, and future genocides will they? HOW do they show inclusion? A serious question Heavenlea - how?????? I am deeply worried about what society is doing - they're making up problems where they don't exist!!!! This girl who asked the question, Vanessa, who is she unifying or including? I seriously despair of the way people think with this utter woke nonsense!

[@christafox13]

@@Heavenlea1975 lol these older people, the holocaust survives most likely don’t understand, and don’t have any real need to. If anything being fussy and insisting she use/announce her pronouns for the younger society is unnecessary and disrespectful af. It’s our job to understand her message, not for her to conform to yours. These survivors have been through enough, and almost certainly far worse than any of us have. Teaching the elderly to change pronoun structure they’ve been using for 80+ years is ridiculous, she’s been speaking 2-3x longer than we’ve even been alive 🤷🏼‍♀️ Leave people be, especially when it’s not the time or place to impose something unnecessary

[@Heavenlea1975]

@@christafox13 I absolutely agree, maybe I didn’t make myself clearer - I do that sometimes :/ I was just relaying why the person stated their pronouns is all. If I was interviewing a survivor they could call me whatever they wanted as I would be far more interested to be the provider of another survivors story for the world to hear. ( I grew up with very anti semetic parents. I disagreed with them and it had made me form very VERY different views of equality as I have grown. I made it my payment to the survivors for the ignorance of my parents to listen to all testimonies and speak of them frequently in conversation for others to be made aware.

[@christafox13]

@@Heavenlea1975I dont think anyone should feel obligated to announce their pronouns. Especially elderly populations who have set linguistic patterns. Asking them to remember to announce their pronouns is tedious to an elderly person who’s trying to concentrate on telling their story. If you want to announce your pronouns, great:) I’ll refer to anyone by the pronouns they wish to be called by. But the majority of society, especially older people, find it unnecessary to integrate announcing their own pronouns into their communication skills. Especially if it has never bothered them. Now, if they feel like they want to express their pronouns or find it be beneficial, that’s great too. But it’s not mandatory. Especially when communicating within language barriers, telling someone to explain their preferred pronouns could be misunderstood as offensive. (not this case, but in general)

[@ginawang2692]

Very important witness !!!

[@samcoon2005]

Wow what your mother did was amazing she never ever gave up on you!

[@nilsanarvaez7947]

What an amazing woman!

[@sarahrich5431]

I'm so Thankful you survived. God was with you

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Sarah nice meeting you here

[@lyricalaska]

What a lovely, articlate woman. She explains everything so very well. My heart hurts for all she and her family went through.

[@annewhittingham8823]

Amazing lady

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Anne nice meeting you here

[@maxsmith695]

i never understood living on a bowl of soup and sleeping in sub freezing temps with no heat or protection form the cold, as Kitty Hart explains. The average person dies from hypothermia at 43 F. They lived in -20 F. without heat or blankets.

[@janetblanc7658]

Don't underestimate the power of the mind and the will to survive.

[@jennybhatt9419]

God bless you all our dear friend and sent my deep felt love love Justices to all each and every people of the Jewish people. God serve you all and protect your souls. God bless all souls Jeuses name and the Holy Ghost God Bless all the souls the survivors and bring Justices to all fellow human beings God watch over the vunrable people and peace

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Jenny nice meeting you here

[@jenniferfields1084]

They hurt me when pepper say this didn't happen 😔

[@ambientgamesound]

If you guys need more survivors, there are more in Moldaw Family Residences in Palo Alto. I worked there many years ago, and I believe they are still there. There's also a JCC there that may know many more people

[@sarahrich5431]

Hi I'm from Illinois

[@marthagibbs9478]

From Ga.

[@tinajohnson-bv9yx]

I am British but watching this from Turkey

[@susylove9486]

BEUTIFUL LADY❤

[@chineainguanzo6341]

This is so sad to think of how horrible the Nazis were.there are millions of Nazi admirers in the world.incredible! I'm an avid reader of the Holocaust .

[@sportsfix6975]

Really? Where do you get your info? The holocaust is not what you think....

[@susylove9486]

Yes indeed her story is so different from other single moms. Yes illuminate ❤

[@janetblanc7658]

Joining from Switzerland too. Dear Halina, the stories of all you holocaust survivors break my heart. I have trouble believing that human beings can be so hateful and cruel to others. Be safe

[@joansolomon8667]

She mentioned that her father was in Israel why didn't they go to Israel to stay with him? Also when she went to Israel to play table tennis did she go visit him?

[@justiceharrison5142]

Hello there Joan nice meeting you here

[@Simplytrusthim]

I didn't hear, did she and her sister ever go live with her father in Israel?

[@ravostothesky]

is she halina?? szpilman's siblings??

[@Batyamissima]

I don’t get why you keep saying “Palestine” since the correct name of the country by the Jews was Eretz Israel - the land of Israel. In 1948 the name was shorten to Israel.

[@farapipsqueek636]

I mean, yeah. But at that time, it was Mandate Palestine. We have always called it Eretz Israel. But internationally? It was Palestine

[@Batyamissima]

@@farapipsqueek636 “Palestine” was a name given by the Roman Empire to the Jewish state that they destroyed in the year 70. “Palestine” in the 20th century was all the territories that are today the state of Israel and the kingdom of Jordan. This territory was kept in the hands of the British - so a modern state of Israel will be able to be established. But in 1922 England cheated the Jews and gave the territories that were on the eastern part of the Jordan river to a family that came from what is today - Saudi Arabia - and the British renamed this part of “Palestine” - The kingdom of Jordan. Therefore - todays Jordan is the so called “original” Palestine. In addition - 85% of the citizens of the kingdom of Jordan today are considered to be Palestinians. Therefore - Jordan is Palestine. And leave Israel to the Jews, the original nation that really own the area .

[@miriamwells35]

Actually there was a coin issued in 1934 with the Magen David on one side and the swastika on the other that said “Ein Nazi fahrt nach palastina”

[@arthurmark2013]

Folkdeutsch is somebody who became German. In her case, it could be a Polish man who became a German. Her sister looks very Jewish. As to her Dad, I think, he left the gulag w/ Gen. Anders to fight the Germans in Europe via Palestine where he might have stayed liken Begin…

[@maxsmith695]

survived on less than 100 calories a day and no sleep.

[@janetblanc7658]

The pictures of the survivors taken by the allies at the camps show the starvation they endured.

[@bertplank8011]

My comment about the Deir Yassin massacre has been deleted....Phew! That's a surprise.....NOT!.