Holocaust Survivor Renée Firestone Testimony | USC Shoah Foundation

This testimony from Jewish survivor, Renee Firestone, is from USC Shoah Foundation's Visual History Archive. Renee is a member of the "1939" Club.
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USC Shoah Foundation - The Institute for Visual History and Education develops
empathy, understanding and respect through testimony, using its Visual History Archive of more than 55,000 video testimonies, academic programs and partnerships across USC and 170 universities, and award-winning IWitness education program. USC Shoah Foundation’s interactive programming, research and materials are accessed in museums and universities, cited by government leaders and NGOs, and taught in classrooms around the world. Now in its third decade, USC Shoah Foundation reaches millions of people on six continents from its home at the University of Southern California.
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[@maxl5112]

That's my great aunt!

[@stephaniealexander3314]

L046zebra Sooo glad she survived!🙏🕊✨💖

[@musicgirl999]

That’s awesome! Was her brother Frank your grandpa?

[@piustwelfth]

Max, You should be very proud. Your great aunt is an amazing woman. Nobody has done more to educate America about the Holocaust and ensure that we NEVER forget! I hope she's in good care.

[@MonicaM444]

Lovely lady Grateful for her sharing a painful story. May The Lord bless all her kin, always. By the way, this wonderful person (Renee)is still with us on this earth. She is 96 now. 😊🙏🏼

[@nadiasantos8383]

❤❤❤🙏🏾

[@amybrown7729]

Amazing how someone can go through so much and still be so kind and calm what a beautiful person ❤️😢

[@lisamartin3734]

I really found Renee Firestone to be incredibly kind and listening to her story was very interesting. She seems to have been able to go on with her life, without being taken over by anger or resentment. She has a very educational way of explaining her story. She makes you want to listen to her story of survival, I enjoyed her personality, she has a peaceful calm about her that is amazing. Thank you for educating me and touching so many lives. Bless you.

[@mootar1]

I won't forget. I'll remember for you! You are precious Mrs. Firestone!

[@teemarie5478]

I will never ever forget 😓🤞🏼

[@lisaburke6331]

I will remember for her.

[@bebacaribena]

I am impressed by her detailed memory and how calmed she is describing this horror....😭

[@ballantine58]

I know !!! I don't think i could ever go back after what she lived through and as a child she endured that living hell.

[@debrafirestone861]

So sorry you had to go through this. The most awful things that must have gone on there may your soul be in comfort every day

[@luciusjohnson384]

People must remember.The past has a way of repeating itself.As recent as 1994 genocide still happened in Rwanda and still today.These interviews are very important.

[@ishka3405]

It's happening now with medical coersion and segregation across the globe

[@Dawnsdelightsart]

It also happened in Russia, before and after their collapse. China red gaurd, Castro Fidel, to name a few.. Anytime a government pits its people against each other disaster will follow. There aren't any winners when people don't have empathy for their fellow humans.

[@chelselove3731]

@@ishka3405 medical coercion?

[@piustwelfth]

Also is happening today in Ethiopia and of course in Bosnia during the 1990's.

[@fizz3030]

I randomly came across this video on Memorial Day and watched it all the way through. I admire Mrs. Firestone's strength and thank her for telling her story so that future generations will remember these events. May God bless her and her family.

[@liliabrankovich8741]

Just to add, i am not Jewish but thankfully my grandmother did what little she could to hide a Jewish family in the cellar of her home in Serbia what a risk she took, had she been caught i would not be here to wright a comment, bless her soul and all the people who did what they could to help in a small way and as Renee stated if you help one life you help many

[@stephaniealexander3314]

lilia brankovich GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR WONDERFUL GRANDMOTHER 👵🏻 MY COUSIN WAS HIDDEN UNDER A BED AS A TINY BABY IN POLAND AS WELL SHES ALIVE WITH A HUGH FAMILY🙏🕊✨✨✨💖❤️💜

[@ShyAnn291]

lilia brankovich I know this is old, but your grandmother sounds like an amazing lady!!

[@air2091]

This is why the Israelis love serbia

[@heidichilders6007]

God bless her heart

[@jodea2017]

Dearest Lilia, Thank YOU for writing this and bless your grandmother. If Yad Vashem, the official Holocaust Memorial Centre in Jerusalem does not know about your grand grandmother, it would be my honour to connect the stories with them or just contact them. She will receive a proper honour for her risking her life for HUMANITY. Much love from me in Israel, Shalom (Peace and hello) to you 💓 🌹 💓

[@Sealegs1988]

The strength this woman had to go back to that place of hell is so admirable. I may not be Jewish but I sympathized and felt in my heart all the pain I could see in her eyes. In the end we are all human, and are all the same. I promise, I will never forget and if I am blessed with children, I will make certain that they will never forget. God bless everyone who suffered these atrocities.

[@jackiewhitman72]

you are such a dear strong woman, thank you for sharing. My grandfather was jewish and didn't like telling people that, he was a strong man. I am 56 years old and can't wrap my head around this horror.

[@musicgirl999]

Renee, thank you for sharing your story. I am so sorry for the loss of your sister and other family members. I know they are with you each and every day looking down on you.

[@ballantine58]

Wow !!! to go back after all those years and this place is still almost the same as when she was there as a little girl. What a nightmare she lived. Omg !! Incredible. She is very brave. I would have been in a straight jacket after living through what she has.

[@jamesb.9155]

Somebody with her lovely quality of soul is just so believable and so full of pure class! I hope she may still even be living.

[@rachelmazza4079]

The way she lights up when introducing her husband 🥰

[@InnannasRainbow]

Why is it no one ever interviews former political prisoners, Gypsies or homosexuals that went through it. Maybe they are harder to find. I'm glad Mrs. Firestone shared her story. You need not apologize Mrs. Firestone for your tears.

[@finnfo4]

Google for documentaries or interviews with gypsies, homosexuals, others. Also KZbin.

[@christinacasas7918]

Renee you're an amazing lady thank you for telling your story ❤💔❤

[@teemarie5478]

I will never ever forget what happened. I talk to my kids about the Holocaust often. I want them to remember what happened & how easily it can happen again, to treat people with respect no matter what they chose in life. I try my hardest to be a good person to others😓

[@lisaburke6331]

To hear how it happened so gradually. To understand that in the beginning, they thought, of course, the law would help them. The horror of it all, and to think it could so easily happen again. We are so fortunate to have these memories recorded. Her memories will live on with those of us paying attention.

[@mramirez5140]

I met her. She was one our Resident late 1900’s in PHCC in NJ

[@rachelmazza4079]

The part where she ran into her brother and her father’s dream make me believe in a higher power wow

[@mikeivanov260]

Thank you USC Shoah for posting this. Very moving testimony by Renee Firestone. I know many people lost faith in God after what happened during The Holocaust (and other genocides that took place in recent history), but I believe Renee did not lose her faith in God. I saw a quote from her interview since this video was taken and she said, "I don’t think God is responsible for any of the genocide - God created man and equipped him with a heart, with a mind, with free will. To blame God would let humanity off the hook". That's a very powerful statement especially since it's coming from someone who went through The Holocaust. I'd like to share with Johanna (granddaughter) and others reading this that even though suffering/pain is a very difficult question to answer, I'd like to point out that God is not remained distant from human suffering and pain, but became part of it when Jesus Christ died on the cross - that’s the kind of Messiah that prophet Isaiah records in Chapter 53. Also, the resurrection of Jesus Christ gives hope that there will be a resurrection one day and that ultimate justice will be served when God will judge the world. Again, thank you USC for sharing this video and others.

[@deliciaestes8555]

Mike Ivanov, What a beautiful explanation of Gods love, and understanding that God is not responsible for these atrocities.❤

[@annettegray1843]

Thank you for chronically these individual stories....we will not forget!

[@reneesmith9757]

God bless you. Your voice has been heard

[@amaliaosburn]

Almost always im astonished at these survivors' demeanor. How are you not full of rage? She just has a beautiful way about her.

[@stephaniealexander3314]

God Bless you Renee soo spiritual soo loving strong brave and glad for your sharing your personal miracles🕊🙏✨💖

[@debizito9901]

thank you for sharing your story. you are a amazing lady. God Bless You Every Day

[@amishabhardwaj564]

Try listening with an earphone....best testimony ever.

[@chloeannemarie9191]

The interviewer needs to quit cutting her off. He should have done a better job of interviewing period.

[@rosemaryshores433]

Thank you for your testimony. I will never forget.

[@basedontruths]

Please use kind words! It reflects the person that you are and what you believe in and your upbringing!

[@royshaw7058]

Thank you Renee Firestone for your Memories ..Unbelievable stories,Unbelievable events of Survival and and you are an unbelievable Lady Mtytxxx

[@amandajones2399]

Thank You!!

[@JNeutronFTW]

Hi Renee, I’m watching, listening, and learning…viel liebe Frau

[@lovebug2662]

You give me hope ♡

[@lesliebrown5312]

Recreated inhumanity daily where to go? Blessing to share and listen. Every word thank you millions

[@myrakissick3053]

What an incredible lady ❤️

[@chaudharyrps]

Renee Firestone is an amazing lady ...a beautiful person....tells her story in such a calm manner...devoid of anger and hatred.God bless her.

[@sonia094]

Thank you for these videos.

[@suzanneforgione1018]

She is one amazing woman. The hell she went through was unimaginable. She’s stronger than I ever could’ve been in that situation. ❤️❤️

[@jonpelletier1042]

Your a strong woman thanks for sharing your story God bless you!!!

[@patrickspeedling8599]

Everyone should watch this one first. It’s the most moving one I’ve ever seen.

[@sardarnikaur6258]

My goodness...heartbreaking ...mind boggling....overwhelming!

[@bemo98]

Renee is 98 in 2022! ❤

[@piustwelfth]

I just looked her up and was shocked to discover she is still with us. It's a testament to her strong constitution. Her daughter says the isolation of the pandemic took a toll on her mother. She is now in decline.

[@anikakolagotla4550]

Did that interviewer seriously ask if they "did something nice" for Christmas? wtf

[@bettychisum3229]

I would really like to hear your story but I could not hear anything even with my volume turned up high as it would go. God Bless you and I'm so sorry you had to go through this hell.

[@liamatkinson6718]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY,I HAVE DYSLEXIA,LOWER CASE WOULD TAKE AN HOUR TO COMMENT,PEACE TO YOU SQUIRE.

[@gregsansenbach705]

THANK YOU

[@reginaandkeithferguson1372]

Such an amazing lady. I pray this horror she went through.makes the following generation will learn from this.

[@n.l.vannstallings4664]

I wish they would have put more effort into the audio editing. You can barely hear these interviews and when he is at the camp several hours into the interview you can't hear her at all. I don't know how they could have overlooked that.

[@dolly1333]

Heartbreaking. We must never forget

[@euridicesperaj707]

Wonderful lady. A shame that the subtitler has not done justice to her testimony.

[@doranconroy5107]

THE subtitles or captioning is beyond terrible. Didn't anyone bother to even glance at them before finishing this and posting it?

[@markedwards9247]

It is so important that the testimony of people like Renee Firestone is highlighted. The terrible story of being thrown out of your family homes, and becoming an outcast in your own country. Rounded up and persuecuted for no reason other than the Nazi's hate you. Above the gates of many concentration camps "Never Again", is displayed, so we can never let this happen again. We must never ever forget he plight of .... The Palestinians !

[@xoxoCBJBLBxoxo]

@Lyndle54 you can't say it didn't happen when theres people who lived through it. you cant tell a person "NO YOU DIDNT DO THIS" if you werent alive then to actually know. thats just obnoxious. you cant tell the whole world that you are right when you werent even there to know if it happened or not. plus, there is real evidence and voices to be heard.

[@sereinaglaser649]

Thank you for sharing your story. Never again is now. No antisemitism anymore.

[@maxinerowe2925]

Thank you prayers to you

[@janetsides1796]

What a kind lady.

[@danabrady2936]

It will be very sad to see how God handles those who hate when this world ends. I would be very afraid to harbor hate in my heart. Afraid of the creator that made you, for vengeance IS MINE says the Lord. God help you. ....speaking as a green eyed white American who has nothing but LOVE, EMPATHY and TENDER SYMPATHY for every Jewish, Arab, Black, White, Indian, Asian on the face of this earth.

[@maxinerowe2925]

You are so smart

[@hananeblanton5129]

Did this interviewer know anything or research ? Did they give you anything for Christmas? Seriously?!

[@ballantine58]

I agree. I believe most of these interviewers are morons. It is insulting to these precious humans that survived a living HELL.

[@dleechristy]

He was leading her the way he wanted , telling her the Red Army were all rapists and the Normandy invasions won the war probably having watched the pop history crap produced in the early cold war. She was great and didn't need his help to just tell what she experienced, without him leading her

[@wednesdayschild3627]

Sound is not great, or maybe I am deaf. I don't understand why those tracks were not bombed immediately.

[@sunshine1991sol]

idk and this is just a thought but do you see that mostly woman are survivors and you can see that she says they took her father and brother also from the books i'v read they always took the dads and brothers/son's first? I looks through this there is more woman(not saying there arent men who survived).

[@amishabhardwaj564]

They thought of women as nothing. So they believed they cant do anything against them but men may revolt against them

[@kobi2187]

Hello, we would like to translate this movie to russian, and add subtitles. since it is copyrighted, what is your view? can we cooperate on this? this is not for any commercial use. we can give you the subtitles to add yourself, or render them into the movie, which will then be sent to you. hoping for fruitful reply :-)

[@shanethomas9600]

Cant hear it volume too low

[@cipfalco]

@germankiwigal, I'm german too and I fully agree with you.

[@maxmax6747]

I love this lady

[@TakehikoKun]

if any of you had ever experienced any danger or suffering in your life you would be able to tell the difference

[@saskiawells9472]

Gorgeous lady x

[@corndoggy84]

YOU! BACK UNDER THE ROCK!

[@nicksum29]

I feel very sorry for you.

[@saskiawells9472]

You both look lovely x

[@crkxza]

i saw renee earlier today hehe XD

[@amishabhardwaj564]

Interviewer is great

[@basedontruths]

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.James 3:6

[@dleechristy]

The interviewer (58:14) in true cold war style, assumed the Red Army soldiers were all rapists. Earlier, when leading up to the liberation, he talked about the war winding down with the Normandy invasion (as if that won the war). It would be laughable, if not sad. Either they should have had real historians do interviews, or, better yet, just let people tell their stories without their personal suggestions (or as a lawyer would say, without leading the witness).

[@amandablevins322]

Please report GB

[@stephaniealexander3314]

Amanda Blevins I did dear but you can report a person by touching three dots on the RT

[@ladygagafans731165]

Remarkable life....we will not forget. Although young. I will never forget the sufferings

[@iKiLLA94]

@extremlybored45 she seemed pretty real.

[@iKiLLA94]

@extremlybored45 she seemed pretty real

[@ScottyEmmett]

but how do you know?

[@szultan44]

Communism was before WW2 in Russia, from about 1920.

[@nicksum29]

But I AM a woman - and I can't stop being one. And I still feel very sorry for you.

[@antoinette20twelve]

She states she was an athlete, looked "Aryan" and was very young. All of the survivors had to be physically and mentally tough. Corrie ten Boom, author of The Hiding Place, states it was because of her sturdy physical constitution that she, and not her delicate sister Betsy, survived the inhumane conditions of Ravensbrück. You deniers look for anything to pick on, any minutiae -- so determined are you to discredit the survivors of this worst catastrophe in the hisitory of the human race.

[@piustwelfth]

Also the fact that she was living in Hungary and was not deported to the camps until 1944. She is obviously a very strong person. She's still alive today at age 98!

[@extremlybored45]

@iKiLLA94 did u really meet her?

[@Enochulate88]

I wonder how the train operator felt wonder If he felt like a gangster

[@Enochulate88]

Google shielding approach

[@Gusty85]

Those in power of Israel should watch this and ask themselve, what are we doing to the Palestine people?

[@davidnecowitz1966]

😊

[@hudthestud6758]

51:28? Is he serious? 😂

[@12gabbie12]

Seriously? Do you not have anything better to do with your life then go around heckeling about people that are trying to warn you about how your future could look??

[@sophiabishop5702]

? So WHY r u watching this again????

[@air2091]

What

[@XXxvampiregirlx]

alot of them were imprisoned but you most remember alot of the soldiers were young teens conscripsted ive heard of jews tell of nazis who helped them from my knowledge the female nazis were the worst so i have heard

[@ninninin656]

"Physical enough"? Lol, woot? That's not even an argument... I don't even know WHAT it is. You are fighting a lost battle, just give up and accept that you are wrong, my friend. It's fine - anyone can be wrong sometimes. Just make sure to apologize to the people whose suffering you have dismissed as untrue.

[@RositaAHuff]

Where was God...any God...of any Religion....where was God.....???????

[@aliceshepherd9965]

Wow kinda cool they have American names my cousin is check and my grandpa is full blood German didn't get American names until they came to America would love to have our true names back but my cheka cousin they keep last names but our German side had to change whole name because of what happened in war war one they moved here to get better life my grandpa would not ever talk about it to us no matter what but he was fighting on USA side think God he was on this side and he would say I'm fighting for American's he was full blooded German fighting Germans imagine if you American going to another country fighting American's kinda crazy but he loves USA and he hated Hitler I know that because he told me himself I would ask about the war but he would not tell me nothing wish he would tell me but had ten kids here and we always had a fun loving Life he was a good man good heart wish more men like him in this world but few guys I know as loving caring as him look around I don't see but about 3 in my whole life

[@amishabhardwaj564]

Kashmiri Pandits vanished...all of a sudden. How?

[@2932mike]

Two studies have been conducted that attempt to number the natives killed by the United States. The first of these was sponsored by the United States government, and while official does not stand up to scrutiny and is therefore discounted (generally); this estimate shows between 1 million to 4 million killed. The second study was not sponsored by the US Government but was done from independent researchers. This study estimated populations and population reductions using later census data. Two figures are given, both low and high, at: between 10 million and 114 million Indians as a direct result of US actions. Please note that Nazi Holocaust estimates are between 6 and 11 million; thereby making the Nazi Holocaust the 2nd largest mass murder of a class of people in history.

[@ashyclaret]

What about Holodomor?

[@amandajones2399]

There are, however, some that claim, for various reasons, that Jesus was not a Jew. Unfortunately, there are also some that seem to take offense, for outwardly religious or racial reasons, that the basis of "their" Christian faith was Jewish: I guess you cant handle that your faith came from US...THE JEWS

[@debrafirestone861]

He was a Jew

[@saskiawells9472]

How terrible

[@lucossska]

wait wait im here the racist? you are sick