A Holocaust survivor returns - Margot Friedländer in Germany | DW Documentary

German Jewish Margot Friedländer nee Bendheim survived the horrors of Nazi Germany. In 1946 she moved to the U.S. with her husband and lived there for many decades. She decided to return to Berlin in 2010 in order to tell her story in Germany.
Margot Friedländer is a remarkable woman. The Holocaust survivor is an honorary citizen of Berlin, a recipient of the Federal Cross of Merit and in November 2021 she celebrated her 100th birthday. Margot Friedländer wrote a memoir, is a public speaker, and has visited many German schools to talk with children and teenagers. Her hope is that by sharing her experiences and recounting her personal history, she can help prevent something like the Holocaust from ever happening again.
Born in 1921 as Margot Bendheim to Jewish parents, she experienced the full horrors of the Nazi regime in Germany and witnessed the persecution of Jewish people first-hand. Following the deportation of her mother and brother to Auschwitz, Margot Bentheim spent years in hiding until she was herself deported to Theresienstadt in 1944. There she found Adolf Friedländer, whom she already knew from Berlin. They survived the concentration camp, married and emigrated to New York in 1946. After her husband died in 1997, Margot Friedländer, following several visits to Berlin, decided to return to Germany for good in 2010.
Filmmaker Thomas Halaczinsky has spent years recording Margot Friedländer’s life and memories.
#documentary #dwdocumentary
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[@GeorgiaYoung-r8l]

I admire her courage returning to her native city and educating young Germans about what happened in their country during the Hitler years. A remarkable woman.

[@Magazinelady]

Thank you, Thomas Halaczinsky for giving Margot a platform to tell her story. This documentry is beautifully done. Margot, you may feel like you have done very little. The thing that struck me is that you are doing! You are such a great example to all of us. You have courage and inner strength. You could have quietly retired. Instead, you are educating the young people and well, all of us. You are a 102 now. May God continue to bless and protect you. Thank you for sharing your story!

[@seemarajderkar3019]

Holocaust survivor Margot Friedlander's life story from Berlin to New York and then back to Berlin for good, is very touching and very inspiring too !! Hats off to this super courageous lady!! Margot, the grand old lady, if still alive, must be 103 now !!

[@patriciaoreilly8907]

Margot a beautiful strong woman 😊

[@hereandnow_2024_]

This precious lady is still alive - 102! We need to talk about the Holocaust, and all human tragedies, now more than ever... Our world needs a path to Peace. Thank you Margot for your valuable contribution to awareness.

[@daryl6957]

Agreed👍!!!

[@woodenseagull1899]

Germany is beyond forgiving.!

[@rosemimi973]

She just made it to the cover of German Vogue. Best cover ever!

[@LauraMetz-qv7kl]

No.we have no power over the past. Only the present. Learn, remember, and never repeat. Education is the key. ​@woodenseagull1899

[@hereandnow_2024_]

@@LauraMetz-qv7kl and that would be my point of talking about it, to remember and learn from it...

[@javiersoto651]

Margot Bendheim (Friedlander), a German-Jewish survivor of the Nazi Holocaust: An extraordinary woman who has made her life a permanent crusade to keep the memory of this vile genocide alive for the current generation of Germans, so that they, in turn, pass on that message to future generations.

[@shaunmulligan8717]

“The only lesson from the Holocaust must be the unconditional defense of human rights for all.” (Deborah Feldman)

[@donnahague8983]

Every time I watch one of these I am in awe of the strength and courage of those who went through such an awful thing. It is so important they tell their stories so this never happens again… it’s important we hear the pain and see the survivors.

[@coyotedust]

I'm 63 and my neighbor helped liberate Buchenwald Concentration Camp for Patton's Army. He died a few years ago in his mid 90's. He wouldn't talk about what he saw, but his wife told he I could come look at his album. It was just like the movie reels. He told me that Patton wanted everything documented by all his soldiers, and Patton ordered Eisenhower to bring a delegation to the camp and have it filmed for posterity. Dwight Eisenhower was shocked. He ordered his generals and other staff to come document the camp, and the entire village of Germans nearby to walk through the camp.

[@orbitboi63]

She made the best decision ever to go back home.

[@naturesdose]

Epic documentary and a huge round of applause for her endeavour. Her message is simple, those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and for the feedback!

[@tammyleath4964]

Imagine being in Israel and lived through the Holocaust only to hear sirens and bombs dropping.

[@LindsayLarrabeeHeabel]

No kidding. The images from October are absolutely horrifying.

[@Vikki_G_]

What a wonderful and inspirational woman. Her strength will go on through her words for generations to come.

[@christinereece7661]

What a life story. Thank you for bringing it to us.

[@susannjarvis5587]

What a beautiful and moving story. We must talk about the past. We must remember

[@mohahaji3534]

It's happening live in gazzza

[@SolarEclipse1996]

​@@mohahaji3534 Stop gaslighting

[@vincentvanmeow]

The truth doesn’t fear investigation

[@ParisGarces-w4j]

agreed

[@michaelram3411]

It is the best comment.Thank you and you are an honorable person who knows the truth

[@jokervinyl]

09:00 - Margot wears her mother's necklace at the ceremony of her returnment in Berlin.

[@kidmohair8151]

this bears witness to the reality that, it is people who are committed to truth, not states, that forge our collective history. and committed people who take the steps to correct the mistakes and crimes that states, in their ignorance, or hatred, or both, commit.

[@gonefishing167]

Brave woman. I don’t think I would have had the courage , or the strength, to return to Germany. Do you know what happened to the people who sheltered her? I know she sent them a postcard but why has she got the postcard, not them. Thank you 🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@Senacacrane]

Thank you for telling your story, that was beautiful. It is important that we learn from history. We will not do this again.

[@bentutsibensamale7520]

Germany today is a role model Never again will such evil happen there anymore

[@Jppx31]

Wish I could believe that.

[@feulholeclos9807]

Yet it's still happening

[@raquetdude]

Major respect to her for coming back to Germany. West and East Germany both failed these ppl and inturn the people that have ruled the country.

[@pissupehelwan]

Post was Germany was run by wolf in sheep's clothing. All of them blended into the society and turned up to work in suit and tie as if nothing happened.

[@jenniferseals3642]

Thank you for sharing your life. Thank you so much for sharing your tragedies with us. You are incredibly brave!

[@KeefeL]

She's a boss. What a speech on her honorable title

[@ji-ah3186]

Thank you so much. It's extraordinary.

[@albertamartin1750]

It is amazing to me that in this modern age, we still have to remind people that all humans deserve to be treated like humans 😢

[@ba9898]

If this woman can have such a joyful, generous attitude towards life, so can we all.

[@sunitasangma3549]

We must lift humanity . It is only through people like Margot we come to learn that we've the potential to become unruly beast erase what we call human . ❤

[@johnishikawa2200]

Knowing about the holocaust , and of other genocides and of the persecution of people right here in America , like those of the KKK and what they have done to people and the hideous injustices perpetrated against African Americans , I have developemented a visceral loathing of ' tribalism ' and of bigoted people and of willfully ignorant people .

[@1CFcooper]

Can I get this book in English?

[@ingridarcher69]

What an Amazing, Resilient and Respectful Human Being💫❤️

[@abboudshaheed6483]

"There is no Christian, Jewish, or Muslim blood. There is only human blood." I believe that those who truly suffered during the Holocaust would not wish their experiences to be used as a justification for inflicting suffering upon others.

[@jm4236]

She's still alive at 102!

[@Sue-k2w]

Thank you for telling your story.

[@suvairin]

There is no single word that the Soviet soldier gave her the freedom

[@debbiemohiosen147]

Margot Freedlander is a beautiful, intelligent woman very brave .The heroes of our planet.💕

[@RJ-pd7je]

Japan : Forgive and Forget DE : No Forgive No Forget

[@arrolindark4877]

Never again can't be empty words. Vigilance... voice.... will lead to victory. I'm not a jew but their voice and storys were heard. Our generation must not falter for it can happen again.

[@bogantellectual]

And yet it is happening again in Palestine. Most of thee victims speak a different language and pray to a different God, but apart from that they are more similar than they are different.

[@chuki6545]

What a beautiful person and a a very very good documentary. I love her.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@michaelram3411]

Watch Europa The Last Battle(documentary)

[@kishwer-w9k]

you are not only great human being but also "100 percent respectful beautiful lady". you will get a fine man in the heaven. amen

[@AstridSchlegel-u9z]

Love and sympathy from me to you about the horrors you had to go thru

[@lucianavieira2576]

DW stop deleting comments. Why do you only keep the recent ones (6 days old) ?

[@DWDocumentary]

Hi! If a comment doesn't appear, it may have been held by KZbin or removed because it violated our community standards and guidelines. Please read our netiquette policy here: p.dw.com/p/MF1G

[@bnhietala]

What an incredible lady! Still bearing witness to unimaginable evil, even at 102. What an important mission. May she continue to have such an enormous impact for as long as she's able to share her experiences and beyond. Autobiographies such as hers should be required reading in schools all over the world. The Holocaust must never be allowed to repeat itself.

[@Konstantin127]

I’d really like to met her or an other witness one day. It’s so sad that the next generation probably isn’t able to meet one

[@mamnan8953]

As a non jew I passed the truth on to my children as my parents passed it on to me. Now my granddaughter is in high school, and my son will pass it on to her. It's vital not to bury this. It's important never to forget

[@englishlady8863]

Her parent's would be so proud of her. She's an amazing lady.

[@andrewwright.]

and the polish and russian dont matter ...30 sec into this....already know the content

[@mohahaji3534]

😂😂you're anti-.....?

[@elabuterin7150]

Two wrongs don’t make a right. History is history. Yet politicians keep making the same mistakes. Why? Why do you feel the need to point out certain groups? Oppression and persecution of any kind is wrong!

[@johnrees7706]

What an inspiration and a reminder of the ATROCITIES once again committed on October 7th 2023. Let us ensure that this hatred will be brought to justice this time

[@IngridC-m4t]

What would it feel like to know your grandparents were involved in this horror against humanity. My mother was a German / American. I was born in 1951! Although she said she had empathy for the lost souls in the Holocaust. I wonder! She was bi-polar and depressed most of the time! Cold and mocking towards my six siblings and me all our lives! I just find it hard to believe she had empathy towards children period! I didn't want to hear it. So I didn't listen with much trust. Horrible to never trust one's own mother! My Dad was Irish and we loved him dearly! He lived his faith! He told me at eight everything I wanted to know about the Holocaust! Be cause I asked and wanted to know! My father was incapable of hate or prejudice! I chose to be like my Dad ❣️🙏🇺🇸

[@Saurabh-p5y4i]

this documentary depicts the understanding of past is essential so that we don't make similar mistake...

[@kristijohnson1216]

I ADORE her fashion sense. I am taking notes.

[@KonglengLee-t6l]

There will be millions margot alike in gaza if someone chose to write. The irony of it all

[@hourbee5535]

Freedom independence and sovereignty for Palestine now

[@jennbeth1]

Heartless.

[@edgarmwanguhya]

​@@jennbeth1Margot should tell bibi to stop doing what was done to her. It's a genocide now

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

How is wanting freedom for oppressed people heartless? ​@@jennbeth1

[@R.PMcMurphy]

Virtue signaling😂

[@scm98]

@@edgarmwanguhya it's not a genocide or even Germany was genocided during WW2 when the allies attacked

[@mylifeasasociopath]

DW docs usually have tons of comments. The fact that there are so few means that most are getting removed.. interesting.

[@Kroogles]

I like how you use hard numbers to engage in your obviously bigoted conspiracy theory bullshit.

[@9mmsleepingpill851]

@@Kroogles Do you wear a tiny little hat perhaps?

[@Kroogles]

@@9mmsleepingpill851 No, bigot.

[@9mmsleepingpill851]

@@Kroogles Thank you for the compliment, tiny hat wearer.

[@PatsyColetta]

A very touching testimonial and you have to wonder how she spent all those years in the US.

[@annm9589]

Judging by her dress she has some means. Either her husband was successful or her own book provided late in life success. Whatever the case, I’m happy she found her peace.

[@chiggins4399]

This is an important lesson for our youth here in America. It can happen again if eyes are closed to the truth. All history needs to be out in the open for us all to come together.

[@dosang1953]

What happened was happened. No further mistakes? You never know that might be happening in the near future. DW developing a good sense of humors. Keep it up for the earthly Peace!

[@francesbernard2445]

Thanks for your leadership in refusing to stay silent while becoming only more indifferent and bitter at the time.

[@SaSa-qj8mt]

What an angel ❤

[@dasreich5126]

And now Anthony Blinken is a war criminal. What irony.

[@warager4753]

And now you're an idiot. No irony.

[@vincentvanmeow]

How did so many people survive?

[@TheStockwell]

What do you consider "many people"? 🧐 There are 200,000 American veterans of WWII living in the United States. Is THAT "many people"? 🤔

[@fatimaperez9181]

They went to Palestine

[@pissupehelwan]

Did you mean the blond hair blue-eyed ones who escaped to Argentina?

[@vincentvanmeow]

@@TheStockwell how did so many people survive? They were in the camps and trapped. The Germans had them. How did so many survive?

[@vincentvanmeow]

@@TheStockwell How did so many people survive? I mean, the Germans had them, why let them go?

[@mamnan8953]

What an incredibly strong woman. After ALL you SUFFERED you survived. Kudos to you. Apologies for your suffering. I'm a disabled bedridden pensioner. How can I help you? considering what's happening in Britain today. In my humble opinion, your religion has suffered enough. First the Jews then whose next. For me rightly or wrongly it's about ignoring people's threats and suffering. If you ignore and turn your back on ANYONE who is frightened, intimidated, tortured and murdered.....then in my humble opinion you are selfish and complicit. Deaf and blind to what's happening. It's the government's that make war in my humble opinion not us citizens. yet we fight one another instead of focusing on the truth and unite in peace and love. I do wish and pray for peace love and respect for everyone 🎉

[@kegarner1012]

Danke

[@bastianpate-uc5hd]

Winners write history

[@lindacosta5688]

And your point is….?

[@arianarodriguez9935]

We need to talk about these truly heroes

[@cheetabis]

why does british royal is silent about the holocaust?

[@lucianavieira2576]

Yeah, maybe I didn't get it. Why didn't she forgive the US for ?

[@gitaamini2683]

She was unable to forgive the US who blocked immigration at the time of greatest need - she felt that if allowed to immigrate her mother and possibly her brother would have survived

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

A thrilled watching documentary,

[@SublimeLyfeNow]

What I will never understand is the hate humans can and do have even today for others different from themselves

[@EdnaShaw-qu1dl]

Sad I am glad she made it bless her HEART

[@MemphisBrown-wy9es]

this is beautiful, what an awesome lady you are Margot! Lest we forget❤

[@dianalongo6154]

Remarkable women! To make such an inpact later in life. God Bless her.!!

[@andrzejbiesiadecki9192]

Do not forget about Poles, Ukrainian and Russian!!!!!

[@angelahambley1113]

God bless her ❤

[@hankochai]

Not a lot of gratitude to America for giving her a home for 60 years.

[@fobbitguy]

She never could forgive America for not letting her in earlier? I guess it was America's fault and not the nazis

[@debbiemohiosen147]

What on this earth do you mean? "Gratitude"??? She owes nothing to nobody after how she had been treated by humanity WE OWE her, humanity owes her and can never begin to compensate for what she endured ,and yet she continues to make brave effort and generosity to present her story. What's wrong with YOUR head it lacks respect for the suffering heroic brave.Shame.

[@dg1006]

@@debbiemohiosen147”We” don’t owe her anything. The US didn’t have to let in a refugee after WW2. She could have went back to battle/scarred Germany to exist or Palestine, America doesn’t and didn’t owe her anything.

[@sojedoje]

Are u joking?

[@bogantellectual]

Insensitive much? They declined her family's refugee visa application before they were sent to concentration camps, where her whole family except Margot died. So it's understandable that she felt some resentment at only getting a visa afterwards.

[@michaelbatarick9617]

Maybe some Palestinian will have some documentary about themself walkin around Gaza one day.

[@feulholeclos9807]

I was wondering that too. 😢

[@alaster67]

Free Palestine ❤

[@dosang1953]

What a difference between East and West, NHK for the Peace? Let them learn from you DW..

[@moshing4christ754]

My 106 year old great-grandfather died of 'Covid-19', recently. He faught against the Russians during WW2 and helped found NASA when he returned after the war. His biggest dying regret was refusing to get the 'jew Jab' (That's what he called it) ..It's sad that so many people like him like to deny 'climate change'! I stand with Ukraine, etc.

[@michelblot6316]

When you see the photos of this beautiful family how was it possible what exuse to arrest these smiling people

[@marlenebjork7277]

Wow..she's just amazing ❤

[@RGRGJKK]

Porque no hacen documentales sobre el infierno que viven los palestinos en el campo de concentración de Gaza y como los testimonios del holocausto tiene un mensaje vacío de cero enseñanzas por el respeto y tolerancia a la vida de los demás sin importar su cultura o religion para el estado genocida de Israel :(

[@rodolfo5022]

Ok anti-semita na_zi

[@heathercontois4501]

​@@rodolfo5022 You do know the Arab nations are Semitic in language and national origin...right? Seriously, you can look it up. No one will ever deny the cultural and religious unrest between the countries, but that is totally different than the conflict between Israel as a nation and Palestine as a nation. Both contain all three of the major religions that originated in the same areas all claim is theirs.

[@j1st633]

If she resided in America for 64 years, why not speak English?

[@dasreich5126]

She dislikes America but lived there for 64 year. She's Quite arrogant

[@Magazinelady]

The documentary was set in Germany. German was and is her mother tongue. I don't fault her at all for speaking German. Plus, she is showing that a German-Jewish woman is a survivor. The impact of her story, when she visits the schools, would be greater when told in German.

[@immaggiethesenilegoldenret7918]

Because she’s back in her native country.

[@ba9898]

@@dasreich5126 Arrogant? No, Her whole family was killed because America refused to let them in. That is a hard thing to live with, and it was needless.

[@pyr3x849]

How long are the Germans required to submit to German shame? I cannot fathom having to be held responsible for the sins of my ancestors. I understand that it's wrong but for how long must the generations that come after be punished? How long is good enough?

[@albertamartin1750]

Forever, to make sure that it will never happen again.

[@alaster67]

Punished? No. I appreciate Germany's humility and accountability. I hold the Germans in high regard. Then again, If Germany does the opposite -- that is something to be really shameful of because it will happen again.

[@frogdogink4415]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@smudgeeee6259]

Still alive at 102 - just wow!

[@Gorilla007-r6t]

Wonderful Lady. !

[@abdulahaduygur6811]

Why did you delete the documentary you made about Uyghurs?

[@heathercontois4501]

The platform may have taken it down because it can claim anything in order to do it.

[@dafnimbus]

I am a German Jew and a liberal Jew and a progressive Democrat. I am a zionist from Massachusetts who is going to be 72 years old on April 29th. In June we are going to Israel for a wedding and perhaps to Petra.

[@alikhanmoazzam]

Congrats on bringing disgrace to ur Ancestors sacrifice

[@bogantellectual]

real 'progressive' supporting a state that's literally in the middle of committing Genocide* with your tourism dollars. *Yes a Genocide. Yes, exactly like the one Margot talks about surviving in this documentary. Never Again or Never Again (with conditions)

[@suronohage8624]

Apakah di benarkan komunitas yg gembar gembor sbg korban genosida merasa sbg komunitas yg teraniaya oleh superioritas etnis arya jerman tapi sekarang dgn bengganya melakukan genosida kpd kelompok yg lain ...FREE PALESTIN❤

[@zhenc6479]

long live and more power to you Margot! ❤❤❤❤

[@mamnan8953]

When did the change creap up on us unnoticed (scary)? Why can't people peacefully accept and respect other religions and respect all humans and all nature as decent people do. Help one another no matter what. One day you may need help from that very same person. Karma has a way to bite you back. PEACE PLEASE PEOPLE 🙏

[@LenutaSilvestru]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😢😢😢😢😢

[@joslynandcarltonramsubhag1836]

Very interesting❣️ love learning of holocaust survivor stories👍

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@sujumongge6987]

❤️

[@KailashthakurThakur-vf6pj]

Germany did in past it is never old and past never erase

[@leea3531]

Free Palestine 🇵🇸

[@andrewreynolds912]

Free palestine this could not have come out at a much more stranger time

[@jennbeth1]

How inappropriate of you to post this here. It speaks volumes about you and your cause.

[@andrewreynolds912]

​​​ how? Germany said they support Israel to try and make up for what they did back then but they learned nothing and are supporting a gen'ocide on the palestinians so sh'ut tf up because this person has a right and this vid was posted at such a strange time for what is happening right now if you say we shouldn't care for what's happening in Israel than we shouldn't care about the holo'caust being a'nti zion'ist isn't a'nti Sem'itic or an'ti Je'wish mind you Israel litterly stated on camera what they were gonna do it is rare to see a state be so open about what it's gonna do with its cri'mes

[@Wildrover82]

Not relevant to this story at all really. If you think about it...

[@siemhussain7550]

I see no problem

[@fatmah5673]

What about Gaza?

[@fobbitguy]

?????

[@lindacosta5688]

Gaza needs to learn a lesson, not to mess with Israel😂😂😂

[@fatmah5673]

@@lindacosta5688 may GOD show you a bad lesson for making fun of the civilians🤲🏼..Ameen

[@ecuadorexpat8558]

This woman has nothing to do w Gaza so STOP IT !

[@fatmah5673]

@@ecuadorexpat8558 im saying nothing about this woman, im just reminding people that the same thing is repeated in GAZA NOW!!!

[@ДенисДементьев-т3о]

Save GaZa children now!

[@lindacosta5688]

Tell that to Hamas

[@arianarodriguez9935]

Margot I love you 😢❤❤❤❤❤

[@rustynail2648]

The victims of yesterday are the predators of today.

[@shaunmulligan8717]

Die Verfolgten werden zu Verfolgern / The persecuted become persecutors.

[@DaveIsALegendPeriod]

So many survivors huh? 🤔

[@FMmffmFM]

Very few. Many died. Get an education

[@DaveIsALegendPeriod]

@@FMmffmFM youuu liiiie! Really?

[@FMmffmFM]

@@DaveIsALegendPeriod I Wish i could live a life in total ignorance as you do

[@chrisfreeman9960]

​@@FMmffmFM"Ignorance is bliss", as the old saying goes. I'd rather be unhappy living in reality...and then working to improve situations...so the results could be encouraging and gratifying...than simply be living in an ignorant bliss.