Holocaust Survivor Esther Clifford Testimony | USC Shoah Foundation

This testimony by Jewish survivor, Esther Clifford, is from USC Shoah Foundation's Visual History Archive and is also featured in Echoes & Reflections: A Multimedia Curriculum on the Holocaust. For more information, visit: www.echoesandreflections.org
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[@dab7963]

She is so kind and beautiful. So refined. She speaks of such horrors so calmly. It's beyond belief.

[@marieb6813]

I can listen to her voice all day. So eloquent and lovely.

[@r.a.8026]

Right?! I’ve listened to this dozens of times because her voice is so soothing

[@sjp4u338]

Yes….such a beautiful lady. 🌷

[@teatimetours2551]

Totally agree!

[@nightwish1000]

@@r.a.8026 it's her cute hessian accent.

[@SwimKam]

I am so thankful to the Shoah Foundation for curating these Witness and Survivor Testimonies. They are Sacred Texts and the courage to Tell is a powerful Teaching

[@thescentman3678]

It s very important that nothing get s forgotten and that this kind of atrocities NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN! LOVE & PEACE FOR ALL HUMAN BEINGS

[@sjp4u338]

…..and the camps are holy ground 🙏🏼😢🙏🏼

[@MartyCostello]

What a humble person. I would have loved watching her on the big screen. So sad that all of that creativity and dreams were crushed. Blessings to her and her family. You are a valued person who didn't let that nightmare ruin your life. You are BEAUTIFUL.

[@bacaworld7095]

Lovely and dignified woman. I am so grateful for the survivors.

[@BeckBeckGo]

The same. And I’m so glad survivors weren’t JUST those who successfully hid from the Nazis (which many managed to do) because we now have firsthand accounts of things that happened behind the fences. These kinds of atrocities right now happen in DPRK. And the defectors are so valuable as storytellers. They’re scared but they talk.

[@marvinfrancis7599]

Such a sweet lady! So glad she married and had a family and substantially overcame her unimaginable trauma.

[@Mary-rg4tl]

This lady is a LADY! She is/was so beautiful inside and out! Her make up, hair, nails, clothes, jewelry and even the chair she was sitting in all matched. She speaks eloquently and she is soft spoken. I don't believe she realized how brave she was during that horrific time. Rest in peace Dear Sweet Dear 🙏 May God bless your son and his family. If you read this somewhere out in cyberspace, Thank you so very much for your story. 💗

[@searchforthetruth9836]

I agree with you, Mary, 100%. Thank you for putting in to words what I have been thinking. God bless you.

[@gonefishing167]

Couldn’t say it better. That was beautiful and, yes, I hope she does read it out in cyberspace. Hopefully reunited with lost loved ones 🙏🙏🙏🙏🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@blancabulgrin5560]

The colors you see are fron the 80s n 90s dusty rose n desert soft colors ! She's a wonderful lady !

[@janetblanc7658]

The impression I have from listening to numerous survivors is one of great dignity, humility, decency and of course a high level of education and culture.

[@debbiezimmerman2643]

What a graceful, elegant woman..

[@hiddengemali8262]

I can not imagine what it was like to be so young , alone ,separated from family and having to make grown up decisions whilst living in threat of your life . Unimaginable anguish and suffering only to find out your family are gone and worse not actually knowing the facts only statistics and horrendous accounts made by others during this time . Love thy neighbour comes to mind , what a safer place this world would be but sadly atrocities continue today . ✊ to this lady telling her incredible journey .

[@lakenrosekendall5449]

Such a dignified lady

[@helend80d.64]

What a lovely lovely lady!!!!!! Our little everyday problems look so unimportant when you listen to stories like this!

[@Yo_mama_wears_combat-boots]

Such a beautiful and articulate woman. I feel so sad that she had to experience inhumanity.

[@jasminejones9937]

Esther said she was 14 in 1935 which means she was born in 1921 which means she was 74 when this interview was conducted in 1995 Wow she looked fantastic for her age !!!

[@CRMcCue123]

She was actually born in 1920 so even older. She does look great!

[@gregrak9389]

WHO CARES?? she said she was born in 1920, quit with the "knit picking," you're just as bad as this interviewer was, making this elegant, classy lady, repeat herself over dates, names, spelling of names, etc.. I'm finding that a lot of these interviewers are putting these fine interviewees through this verbal torture!!

[@ingridwatsup9671]

@@gregrak9389any ounce of positivity in you?

[@schelliegris7481]

She was born in 1920, as she said.

[@schelliegris7481]

​@gregrak9389 these interviews have a historical purpose.

[@gonefishing167]

What a beautiful lady and I thank her for her testimony. How hard it must have been for her and she did it with such Grace. We must remember , it’s vital for our existence also, that we don’t forget. It did make me smile when she mentioned ‘meals on wheels’ because that’s what I’m having for my dinner tonight. We have meals on wheels on Australia and thrust do a marvellous job. Even though I’m 200 odd k’s from the capital city, it’s still available for many. So, thank you for that. You survived against horrendous odds and you’ve raised a lovely family through whose veins flow the genetics of both yours and your husbands beloved family. If one can call you being a winner - you are. You beat an evil man. He has no family to follow on from him ( perhaps thank goodness) but you do. Blessings up you and your family. Thank youn🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺👵👵

[@skipmullen7047]

What a beautiful woman. I thought my life was tough but there is no comparison. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

[@Gigiroo]

What a kind hearted sweet woman... Her soul is so pure. I do hope she had a good life in America.

[@kellybourque5391]

God Bless you Sweet Beautiful Lady She is Gone to Heaven , she would Be 100 years old today. 🇨🇦🇨🇦❤️🙏🌹

[@eddieespinoza4241]

When did she passed away

[@monatingbjr6636]

God Bless her❤️

[@eddieespinoza4241]

@@monatingbjr6636 yeah God bless her I wonder what she saw

[@aishabenmoussa557]

Thank you so much for your testimony.

[@BlueSpruce60]

So amazing what they went through. She is excellent!

[@pattimcquearythomas536]

Shes such a beautiful lady inside and out.

[@shawnaallen5978]

She was so beautiful ❤️. Thank you for sharing your brave story ❤️. Watched in 2021

[@alexismello8735]

Very nice lady. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@karenembury6467]

Such True class and beauty. A .generous of spirit . A lovely lady . Bless . May more be like her ....

[@carlaskillings9055]

Beautiful well spoken lady.

[@fuensantacampillogomez3288]

Thank you very much for editing the video with subtitles. An example of overcoming. You have created a beautiful family. Grateful for your effort and tenacity in spreading your testimony!

[@davidpaul5338]

She is so elegant and a credit to humanity.

[@cherylstaples1790]

She was certainly beautiful enough to have been a movie star, or at least a super model!

[@deecawford]

Such a proper lady. Very elegant and classic, just a classic beautiful woman. Wow she has aged very well. She is so well spoken and after such a horrible part of her life, she still seems like a very kind person. Bless you sweet lady. I’m sure she’s probably passed by now 10/2023 but I am extremely grateful for her telling her part of this time in our world. I’m sorry for what humans are capable of.

[@rastim8952]

What a wonderful message at the end of this record.

[@wendyhannaford7696]

What a beautiful lovely woman! I really enjoyed listening to her , it must have been very difficult for her, I am thankful she was able to escape and make it out!!

[@shantakrishnasamy7783]

What a beautiful lady. She suffered so much. I too do not understand why some people are capable of killing someone because they were of different faith.

[@cignoazzurro9403]

Ester really touched me. What a beautiful lady inside and out!

[@dp6970]

She’s lovely 💖

[@ajkalwaysneedsmoreinfo.576]

The sad thing about this episode in human history is that we will repeat it sooner than later...

[@gonefishing167]

Sadly , yes. As an evolutionary experiment we have been a disaster. Dinosaurs were around for 200 million odd years and we probably wouldn’t even be here without that asteroid. What have we done - kill each other and hate each other. So sad. If we don’t learn we are doomed 👵👵👵🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@teemarie5478]

@@gonefishing167 sadly humans have been doing mass murders for all of time. I really don’t see it ever not being a thing😓 it’s really sad that people can’t accept when others are different!

[@teemarie5478]

It makes me beyond depressed that in the US they starting to teach CRT Critical Race theory. I fear that will cause terrible destruction in the near future, most whites people despise other races for it & most POC despise white people. I try my best to be good to all people.

[@bellamoore8247]

YOU ARE A WONDERFUL INTELLIGENT WOMAN THANK YOU FOR YOUR STORY

[@robynholliday4794]

Thank you Esther - you are amazing - resilient lady.

[@janicemetzger6338]

What a beautiful lady. I can't begin to imagine what she went through. Disgraceful, evil human beings!! All I can say.

[@farahqureshi1974]

This is why I always sympathise with refugees as no one wants to leave thier home but they are forced to

[@evelynezachary2675]

May God continue to bless you

[@JonHullock]

Mrs Esther Clifford interview is a fascinating and horrifying interview. These interviews of the Holocaust survivers is very important for historical research.

[@ingridwatsup9671]

July 7th 2016: Esther Clifford Eve dies at the age of 95. What a strong and wonderful lady.

[@BrianJuntunen]

She is like my mother was

[@susanmckenna4506]

Such a BEAUTIFUL soul. So tragic what they endured and with such Grace.

[@Majickcharm]

I am so sorry you have lost your family.

[@noracathrine]

Fine lady and so elocuent giving details of all what she remembered. Horrible what she had to live being so young

[@jazmynbrown6820]

That's a beautiful woman.

[@middle-ageaintnothinbutanu4129]

The sweetest woman ..she endured so much .Young persons her age could never endure what she did. So much did the black and brown people who were brought to this county to be beasts of burden because of the hatred of their existence for being a different race unlike them.😔

[@tearbag]

What a beautiful lady. Her husband was a handsome fella, too!

[@susanparker1374]

Such a fine lady. Bless her

[@seanberthiaume8240]

How horrible what was done to those HUMAN BEINGS and couldn't even fight back as they were DISARMED so whenever you hear of more gun CONTROL you better think twice!

[@seanberthiaume8240]

Am here in FREEDOM West Virginia!

[@edwardnewsome7200]

Wonderful lady

[@sjp4u338]

A lovely lady 💕💗🌸

[@neshama44]

such a beautiful lady heartreaking

[@maureenmckenna5220]

England after the war was still on rationed food for quite some time. They were smart to come to America. And, New York City was a true melting pot. Esther is a smart, brave woman who suffered greatly. She survived and eventually thrived. Of course, she is correct in that you do not ever fully recover from this kind of trauma. She is a lovely, cultured woman who has let her testimony stand for itself.

[@theresaholguin699]

Beautiful lady may she rest in place

[@pamelacorbett8774]

What’s with the spelling obsession? She even asked the poor lady to spell ‘Leo’!

[@rojaabtahisharifzadeh8919]

Sometimes it appears that the interviewers don’t even listen as they keep asking the same question :(

[@jacquesmunier1199]

I totally agree with you. This spelling obsession is rather unpleasant and it gets on my nerves.

[@leahmpalzer]

They are keeping a record and she is doing her job as an interviewer to keep the interviewee on track. Every interviewee has the same major questions asked and then can elaberate and tell their story. I shouldn't have to say the obvious.

[@jt8162]

No one made you post anything and that wasn't even a proper answer.

[@BreaMichelle3]

Omg all these old interviews from the 90s, this interviewer is ALWAYS interrupting and asking for them to spell things. Some of the interviews are much worse than others. This one isn’t nearly as bad as some others I’ve seen with this same interviewer, but still so bad!. I hope someone told the interviewer to stop.

[@katyhemsley6846]

Your Amazing wow

[@ap333ful]

She is right. Family is life.

[@ladylibertywdc8324]

Pls edit out tone w color bars at start.

[@lalaopenshaw7368]

How each survivor handle's themselves is absolutely amazing. They lived through hell and came out as humbled as ever. And here we are complaining àbout everything,..

[@MicharlMcGarry-pn1fd]

Elegant lady...

[@marekdudek]

She is beautyful and very smart.I wish have wife like her.

[@christychristina292]

Such an elegant and graceful lady. I felt so protective of her watching this, even knowing [obviously] that she survived. That her 'Christian' neighbor asked her if he could be of help when her family was deported and she was in shock, then instead of giving her money took the opportunity to rifle through her apartment and basically loot it says it all.

[@gaillamont9134]

I can’t understand how people could be so cruel by choice . Like the man said you don’t have to give up the apartment . He showed compassion . Why are some people born so cruel and others so compassionate .

[@patriciacole8773]

I believe it’s probably because of narcissism. Also it’s a spiritual battle over worship.

[@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780]

Mum and dad also are survivors

[@elizaraj3974]

💗

[@sandyhicks2740]

I must have missed it somewhere..can anyone tell me how she got papers to travel to Munich and back and to prove that the apartment she was in and signed over to the nazis was hers?

[@heathermariesmith5267]

They all speak this

[@evelynezachary2675]

I'm so sorry that you're having to deal with this it was horrible 😡

[@466glen]

what is this spelling for?

[@zbigniewsas-jaworski699]

Before end of ww1 Poland did not exist for over 100 years. So coming from Warsaw before 1919 meant coming from the russian or german occupation zone.

[@juliaturner6658]

Thank you- American schools dont teach this geography or history.

[@christinephur9130]

Sound too low!!

[@farahqureshi1974]

😥

[@atomicboo3453]

Ayy Tone

[@robertconnolly7265]

Imagine such lack of rights these high achieving sucessful people endured! I'm baffled by the overwhelming achievements jewish people are known for yet germans just ignored this fact and threw away a massive asset a growing nation should embrace and encourage ,a smart leader rewards such sucess and urges all to engage in the same format as the results are a huge indication of sucess and progress!hitler was a boob that history will regret forever,his followers are a sad reminder of human ignorence and blind trust

[@ladygagafans731165]

Remarkable life....inspires us to fight for survivel....survival.... for sharing with us.....why the lord allowed evil ? He ordained it....remember secret things belongs to our father in heaven....we will understand it when we meet him after death.....if you are saved by messiah while alive

[@patriciacole8773]

Yes. Remember the fourth commandment KJV

[@andreadelafuente4194]

I always think how God allowed this to happen. There's nothing wrong with these people. They are like me and you. Just regular people to suffer this way. How can one man have so much power? He was the anti- Crist. To be so young and go through this. Seeing and experiencing the worst in humans beings. Not understanding what was happening and why. So sad.

[@jazmynbrown6820]

God? Humans did this to each other. Humans are the blame, not God.

[@trishayamada807]

@@jazmynbrown6820 because god is imaginary.

[@jazmynbrown6820]

@@trishayamada807 yet and still humans hurt each other

[@trishayamada807]

@@jazmynbrown6820 it’s human nature. It has nothing to do with magical supernatural beings.

[@jazmynbrown6820]

@@trishayamada807 you're angry for what? must really hate God

[@timheasman2984]

Did she ask her to spell Munich ? 😳

[@debbabbit9283]

I know. It's amazing how many people can't find Africa on a map.

[@andanotherthingwithhollypa9775]

They ask the person they are interviewing to spell hometowns and names for absolute accuracy in this eyewitness account. The woman interviewing Esther knows how to spell Munich.

[@MonicaM444]

I think it is for future reference. Many young adults and children do not know this history. I taught my daughter at home about it. It’s very important to have it all on the record for historical purposes. 💜

[@gigiderrota8063]

Why she keep asking the spelling? Esther pronounce every name very clearly.

[@millers3888]

48:28 my god I can’t imagine being a child and hearing some big man barking at me and my mother “your heads will roll like these chickens”. Absolutely terrifying

[@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780]

Oh. My god my dad was saved at birth y a prince inouïs en velais in Auvergne cleont ferrant is inn the north maybe it is the same priest my'god

[@rescuepetsrule6842]

How tragic! Her parents leave Jew-hating Poland to go to Germany for better educations only to have their children kicked out of school. At least they tried moving away from anti-Semitism, only to find they had gone from the kettle directly into the flame. Such a lovely woman has such a horrible childhood, but she seems to have beaten the odds- the best revenge is living well.

[@christinanemcikmongold9683]

I wish someone could determine what happened to her parents and brother.... Don't they have records of when they were deported from the Warsaw ghetto - and where they were transported to? Which camp at least?

[@nicholaswarrington9090]

They died in the ghetto I found on the internet. They wrote a letter saying they we’re starving and we’re never heard from again.

[@tristen7085]

From my understanding they died in the Warsaw Ghetto and would not have been accounted for on documents. Those deported were documented by the Germans at the camps for some weird reason

[@FFGG22E]

Thanks for the opening feedback blast. My ears really appreciated that. Isn't it weird that the world was so afraid of Germany with their blitzkrieg and technology, and their unlimited capacity for monstrous crime, couldn't manage to kill off a bunch of children during their 'reign of horror'?

[@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780]

In my Jewish family the ré is a lot of hate

[@janetblanc7658]

It's understandable

[@eduardomarcelino1980]

In the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses they practice rejecting the blood and body of Christ in the Lord's Supper!

[@eduardomarcelino1980]

the only problem for Jehovah's Witnesses is not to take as an example what Jesus instituted in their memory, which was to eat and drink the emblems in the Lord's Supper! for it is one baptism and one hope of eternal life. Ephesians 4: 4-6 note 4- There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called in a hope to which you were called; 5- one Lord, one faith and one baptism; 6- God, unique and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in all.

[@Petal4822]

Why didn’t they get out of Germany in 1933-34.

[@tristen7085]

No one realised what was coming. They had a life and businesses..

[@karenembury6467]

So many male camp survivors were once in America drafted and died in Korea. Wonder how truly random that selection was. During the war in the U.K. was detention or army . But what the Americans did after seems more cold blooded. Shame on all countries that closed their boxer and quotas . Britain really was struggling but America ... bring me your poor hungry ... such cold hypocrites!, America ? Shame on them then and now .

[@celestialgoddess4615]

Shame on Germany

[@tadeuszmierzecki5917]

1912 roku nie było Polski,tylko Rosja carska,a pogromy nie były w Warszawie tylko na wschodzie dawnej Polski (Ukraina) inspirowane przez carat i kozaków.

[@karo1564]

Your claim isn't correct. There was a Poland in 1912. Please check the map here: commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Polska-ww1-nation.png

[@alonsosevilla2301]

The joyous sword hisologically double because sun fortuitously fail lest a keen cormorant. unsightly, ad thumb

[@sharese81]

🤷🏿‍♀️

[@alexanderordinary2110]

Interesting; these people keep saying that they wanted a better life. Why did they move to europe, when its clear even waaay back the europeans didnt treat them well?? Strange. And many are still living in europe.

[@jt8162]

People often say they want a better job but remain with the same company and don't try and get hired elsewhere. Fear of change can limit people in many ways. Perhaps too over a long period of time they just got used to it and accepted it as a part of their lives. There were many Jewish people not giving up even after being in one of those nightmare camps for years. So sad.

[@bonita784]

"My parents called him (Hitler) clown" well.....if this doesn't sound like Trump!

[@MultiDonkeyface]

Ivonne V. K. You got that right

[@rachelpack4089]

Ivonne V. K. which is mire terrifying. "he said he wouldnt last but he did." just like trump

[@jgiza8888]

Sounds like your brain is fried by the Media.

[@norml6874]

Tramp Stamp are they comparing or saying some things are reminiscent of these times and maybe we don’t realize how easy it is for things like this to happen

[@joycerachaels]

@@norml6874 Oh ya cause it's the Democrats trying to take our guns away just like Hitler did. Hitler was a socialist just like the Democrats. Hmmmm But President Trump is the bad guy. Wake up!!!

[@bennyblanco6317]

i don't believe it

[@ROYinka]

What part ?

[@bennyblanco6317]

@@ROYinka ALL

[@ROYinka]

@@bennyblanco6317 ehm…….. ok

[@bennyblanco6317]

@@ROYinka yeah ok is right.

[@teatimetours2551]

if you dig deeply and listen to many survivors testimonies, read a lot on the subject etc, you wouldn't be able to say that anymore. It would be Nice if it didn't happen, but I'm afraid it's all true :(

[@petergarbe2459]

Lügen.....