Inheritance - Beyond the Film With James, Monika and Helen - POV | PBS

Inheritance filmmaker James Moll was joined by his subjects, Monika Hertwig and Helen Jonas, at a special screening of the film in December 2008. Watch an edited version of the conversation that took place after the screening and hear about where Monika and Helen stand with each other now, and how future generations should deal with the legacy of the Holocaust.

[@marisawoods]

I'm sure Helena never imagined that Amon Goeth's daughter would one day comfort her in the very house he tormented her in. Their courage is admirable.

[@andywood375]

You’d naturally think a child would take just after their parents. But.. the reality is, a lot of the time this just isn’t true. A child can be vastly different to how their parents were.

[@ryanheffel]

"A son is not responsible for the crimes ofthe father"- Jon Snow

[@HettiedeKorteDiplomaat]

I feel so bad for Monika. She looks like she’s carrying a heavy load because of her father. She’s totally innocent.

[@jkm6112]

Look at the body language!! Monika clearly feels guilt and shame. It's not her sin. Bless her.

[@toofunny7318]

I don’t feel sorry fo her, she has a biracial daughter and gave her away....

[@milanamughal]

She has her coat on, her purse. She is ready to flee.

[@jonnysupreme]

@@toofunny7318 yes,because it was best for the baby not Monika you utter bellend. As the other comment says, are you perfect? Now get down from your high horse you fucking arsehole! "Too funny" never seen so much irony in a name you unfunny twat

[@toofunny7318]

@@jonnysupreme poor bastard

[@chrissybrown9205]

@@toofunny7318 Monika gave Jennifer up not because she was biracial, but because Monika knew that she couldn’t raise her baby.

[@fabricatedreality8218]

Monika seems like a good person. I can't stand when people try to blame her for things that had nothing to do with her.

[@laglendareed8086]

I just wonder why she chose to give Jennifer up for adoption instead of letting her Nigerian Father take her to his Mother so that his Mother could care for her. Why? This is what Jennifer shared in her book titled: My Grandfather would have shot me.

[@k.c.decastro6135]

@@laglendareed8086 since it is said that Monika experienced abuse by the man, she may have been fearful of her daughter being around a man who is capable of such things. Sure, his mother could've cared for her, but where would he be? Would he have just dropped her off and then disappeared from her life? It's highly likely that he would have been around during her childhood, and with his presence there is the possibility of abuse taking place. This is all just speculation on what may have been on Monika's mind when she made the decision. Regardless, she made her decision because she felt that it would be for the best for all parties involved.

[@deidrelorenz8851]

Rest in peace, helen! You were a strong, brave & beautiful woman! Monika you are a beautiful, strong woman, too. You are nothing like your father! His sins & wrongdoings are not a part of you. I pray you will find peace, monika. I pray for all the holocaust survivors & their family. And; I pray for the millions of beautiful people who lost their lives in the holocaust. What a horrific time in our history. I pray we don't repeat the past.♥️

[@andrewblack293]

Well now in 2023 there are A LOT of jew haters now..:(

[@mariavieira9600]

Monika put her mixed race daughter in an orphanage. I am glad Helen does not know about it. Monica’s daughter name is Jennifer Teege, she is an autor. She is also a survivor of the Goeths. Jennifer’s book title is “My grandfather would have shot me”. I recommend the reading. Monika is not a murderer, but she is a very cold woman.

[@mariavieira9600]

I do believe that history will repeat itself.

[@carrieannkouri2151]

Monika carries a heavy burden of her father, but his evil actions do not define her. I hope she has found peace.

[@michaelares4240]

Yrs they do

[@foxycat8751]

@@michaelares4240 No they DONT. Keep your bitterness to yourself.

[@MontagZoso]

@@michaelares4240 No, they don’t. If one of your parents did despicable and horrific things, you think that defines you?? 😒

[@alexblack6421]

Michael, you poor napoleonic man…

[@kimono7350]

I read that Monika has had great struggles with alcoholabuse. Who can blame her, w that monsterfather and her mother committing suicide? I feel so sad for her...

[@jonicompton7457]

I feel sad for both of these women. I feel sorry for Monika as I can also see and hear her pain regarding coming to grips with her Father's evil as well as her Mother closing her eyes to what was going on during Amon's reign of terror. They are both very damaged individuals with their own private pain. God bless these women for bringing this to the viewing public with such bravery and frankness.

[@katydid1600]

@@jonicompton7457 lo

[@BrookelLakeKC]

And that her mother was never truly a ,owing or emotionally a available mother. Which then led Monika to end up in an abusive relationship then to give up her only daughter as well. A daughter born from a brief love affair with a Nigerian man which Monika’s father would’ve killed them over. Both of these women are courageous for facing their pain from the past that was no fault of their own.

[@chrissybrown9205]

@@BrookelLakeKC actually, Monika has another daughter that I know of who she raised. And as of inheritance she’s raising the 2nd daughters son

[@charlesw9875]

Monika wants connection because she knows so little of what went on at the camp involving her father, and she wants to know more. Helen, in contrast, knows too much about what happened, and wants to avoid being reminded of it.

[@sunlitrain]

I am a bit floored by some of the comments below. I have watched extensive interviews of both of these women. I think it is fair to say that most of us have ZERO concept of what either of them has been through or what it is like to live inside of their skin each day. I don't see a need to compare suffering, but I do find it rather offensive that people will put one down in order to support the pain of the other. To see that someone below wrote that another commenter should die faster is extremely bewildering, when the whole subject revolves around the effects of someone who made it his life's work to make a multitude of people "die faster." Come ON, People. Please. Please show a modicum or respect to someone that lived to see human beings shredded to death by attack dogs on the veranda daily, and more. I think of all of the relatives I have seen interviewed, Monika seems to have had a very hard time wrapping her head around what her father actually did. We are all wired differently. I can see from her interviews that she has really struggled to reconcile the idea she had of her parents being one way growing up and believing whatever they told her; and what she learned about her father later. People process very differently, especially traumatic information. She is not her father, that is for sure. I suspect some of the public gets angry upon hearing what sounds like denial; but wherever she is at in this process, she seems to be doing the best that she can. I am very lucky that I do not have to have lived with the burdens that either of these women bear.

[@mumv2089]

sunlitrain very well said. We should also note that English is not Monikas first language and it seems to me she struggles to convey what she is trying to say. Not all the children fallowed in the parents footsteps lucky for her.

[@katydid1600]

Wonderfully said.

[@badfingersmith3876]

Exactly! my heart goes out to both, we still live in a hatful world, I listen to Helen talk AND DAMMIT! SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO VENT. I friends who are fools they try telling me the holocaust never happen.

[@zolfodor4835]

Perfectly put ❤️❤️

[@Pinayukoz4108]

If you see both of these ladies, you all can see who’s VICTORIOUS, Helen Jonas a survivor, hardened her heart because of the evil things she’s experienced and seen but Monika also is in pain here her body language looks like she’s gonna melt anytime oh God bless both of you

[@luv2travel2000]

Monika's daughter Jennifer, who she gave up for adoption, is a kind, well spoken person. I hope one day Monika builds a bridge with her daughter. Her daughter is lovely and I think if built a relationship it would bring some healing to Monika. It is her father who did the crimes, not her. Her mother was terrible to her as well. So sad for Monika what her parents did to her. 😥

[@badfingersmith3876]

I hope i get this right! I seen that interview Monika's daughter is half black if Goth was still alive he would shoot his granddaughter

[@isabelpontes2313]

Why did she give her daughter up for adoption??

[@alphabogeyman7462]

@@isabelpontes2313 her father was a Nigerian student.

[@garolyes]

@@isabelpontes2313 her daughter says her mom’s husband was an abuser and Monica had very hard life… perhaps Monicas was not mentally strong enough to rise Jennifer. At the end Jennifer is strong and seems that her childhood with her adoptive parents was healthy and happy.

[@cay820]

She’s 77 years old now. Hope it’s soon enough. Usually the children have to make it happen.

[@pawsandclaws2417]

both very damaged people, and both very brave to speak, monika comes across as quite fragile, i hope both can find peace.

[@ricdavid7476]

you can say that again the one on the right is a man dressed up in womens clothes. someone thought it a good idea to perpetuate this scam for some reason and that is very sinister.

[@ricdavid7476]

@dorothy dustbin Yup look up Jennifer Teege too another one with a made up past . they both have giant heads and boxers shoulders and massive hands and feet .

[@5d512]

I agree. Monika seems cloaked in shame.

[@malibustacy3606]

Helen lived to be 93 before she passed away, hopefully at least part of her life was worth living.

[@thinghammer]

I can't imagine what it would be like to have had a father in the SS, much less one made infamous by a very popular movie. What a legacy. Helen is such an amazing woman. Here's wishing them both peace.

[@connynielson8686]

She is. I like that bit where he lines them up and says " one of you will be lucky girl, there an opening at the villa away from back breaking work to be a cleaner, who's got cleaning experience? " and everyone puts hand up except her...and so he picks her.. quite witty .

[@joannapederson7795]

Poor Monika just gets more and more beaten down throughout this interview. She could've gone off and never spoken about her father, but she's publicly bearing the family's shame. People are still bundling her with her father.

[@Isond-ox3ye]

It's quite sick that Monika is made to feel shame. She never did anything mean towards the Jews or anyone, only her father. Why do people accept that children of nazis should be shamed and guilted for something they never did? That is evil.

[@andywood375]

At least it's good to know that evil doesn't run in the genes. People seem to have this belief that if a parent behaves a certain way, the child will follow in that behaviour. I read a lot about Amon Goeth and he was quite possibly the most psychopathic and sadistic person that ever lived. How he is portrayed in Schindler's List doesn't even come close to showing how monstrous he was in real life. Even the Nazis couldn't tolerate his treatment of prisoners. It's amazing how Monika was able to live any kind of normal life at all given what she inherited from her father. Maybe the way she was raised had protected her from going down the same route.

[@izabelamaria1400]

Jews are like that - they not only never forget but also never forgive, at least 3 generations back.

[@johnnyplatis]

@@izabelamaria1400 well, that was the stupidest thing you could possibly say. Jews are like this, Spanish are like that, Eskimos are like something else. Idiot.

[@davidmorris3981]

@@johnnyplatis 100%

[@keithad6485]

Monica must have agreed to this presentation so must have felt she was up to the undertaking on an emotional level. I suspect she has come to terms with her family's past and has an inner strength to allow her to cope with such a public scrutiny as this video. I do feel for her, she has a burden to bear that most of us will never have to endure. More power to you Monica. Helen Jonas and Helen Hirsch did what they were forced to endure at the hands of their captor to survive, and did manage to survive the war when so many millions of innocents did not. May you Rest in Peace Helen.

[@SeanRCope]

Poor Monika, she will never be free of him. She can’t forget and is reminded by the victims who understandably will never be free of him either.... I hope you can find peace Monika.

[@mirfir]

Sins of the father…

[@Chanesmyname]

This is how we learn, it is so important this open examination of history happens.

[@mjs6157]

Its a draining of emotions to constantly live out someone else's sin. Monika can never explain away the suffering and pain her father caused, regardless of how much sympathy and sorrow she tries to express. Because in Monika the victims will always see and be reminded that a part of him is still alive and striving.

[@foxycat8751]

Monica never attempted to “explain away the suffering her father caused”. Its NOT her bloody story and it’s NOT her crime to carry. Grow a brain.

[@mjs6157]

@@foxycat8751 Monika is the victim of her parents past. She has to face the distain and contempt that should be aimed at them. Just as most German people of today are held liable for the nazi regime of their countries past. My sympathies are for her as the child of mass murders who's constantly reminded of it. My intent was to point out she's also a victim.

[@mjs6157]

@@foxycat8751 i agree, but society never let her forget who were parents were. Millions were killed, although she didn't have any responsibility in it. The idea that these mass murders(her parents) survived and reproduced is just to emotionally overwhelming for the survivors if those death camps.

[@monicacalifornia9693]

My heart goes to both of them and I wish a therapist/ mediator for both was present even just holding both their hands ❤️ Provide opportunity for both to heal such as hugs, words of affirmation, puppies etc. something. Helen needs to feel safe and not attacked even by Monikas appearance. A mediator that can help Monika express her feelings of her love for life, people and help her empathize but not getting trapped in victim mindset for being daughter of Nazi

[@g.kneewhoudini4869]

Like most people already said, you can see both of these women have been severely traumatized, obviously. It's a shame that predators like Goeth have resounding effects on their victims, even after death. The documentary was amazing. I have such sympathy for Helena, who is visibly retraumatized by Monika, even though she knows it's not Monika's fault and I see the trauma in Monika wanting to make it better, but not knowing how, and feeling guilty but not understanding why, not ever being able to understand who she really is because of her connection to a monster. Ironically it would be the biggest slap in the face to Goethe for these women to be friends, for his daughter to embrace one of his victims and reject him. Well, theoretically, but perhaps a psychopath doesn't even have the capacity to feel slighted. I hope they can stay in touch and develop a friendship, but not at the expense of retraumatizing Helena over and over. I would be so interested to hear what Gabor Mate would say about this situation, and any input he could give on healing. He's the first person that comes to mind. Interestingly, I see two women, who both lost their parents to murder in a way, only one of them had loving parents and the other had a psychopath and a narcissist. One had to live through the horrors of being a slave and torture and being helpless, and the other had to live through growing up without any love and a lot of self hatred. I'm not trying to compare the trauma, just to relate it. I think that what Helena has as a result of this that Monika doesn't, is a greater sense of self. I think that's why Monika was in such wonder at how Helena had survived, commenting in the film to Helena about how she never could have endured such a situation. I think that Helena had a good foundation of love an support, that was tragically ripped away from her, but that carried her through the most difficult atrocities. Even though Monika never had to experience the holocaust, there is a deep sense of sadness that she never had that to begin with. I'm really proud of both of them!

[@marysunshine2498]

Gabor Mate.......an enemy of the Jewish State of Israel, a self-hating, confused, torah-ignorant Jew; full of himself and his biased opinions.

[@pierrettedecinti573]

I can’t believe everyone pitying Monica more than Helena. She heard what he did, but Helena lived through it. What does everyone expect, for them to be friends? Does everyone want Helena to forgive and forget? I wouldn’t. That seems to be what Monica is looking for. That is not reality. Get real people.

[@alicemi4155]

Exactly!!! People are just out of touch with reality.

[@anovemberstar]

Any shame does not belong to Monica one bit. Her fathers actions have nothing to do with her - she is very much a victim and arguably has suffered more

[@malypejsek8510]

Suffered more? I am sure Monika has had a difficult life but you cannot compare it with Helen's.

[@marynosa6159]

True

[@marynosa6159]

So true I feel sorry for both women

[@curtisdalrymple42]

Really? What a horrible thing to say! She did NOT suffer more she was not tortured physically and mentally everyday for years. She did not lose her whole family in a traumatic way. She never knew her dad. Her mom took her life, when she was a middle aged women, which is tragic but she was not murdered

[@scoopbls]

The shame belongs to you for saying this

[@marijanmanuel6469]

Brave ladies bless them both

[@annstanislaw7437]

Why does no one ask what happen to her half brother and sister from her father’s second wife Anna Geiger ?

[@donberg01]

Silence is not an option when it comes to genocide.

[@dannyhughes4889]

There was/is [?] a Video on KZbin about something called The Paperclip Project which is really worth looking at. It refers to a project undertaken by a High School in rural and insulated America to broaden the understanding of the students in relation to the Holocaust.

[@aideyeye1087]

Donde puedo ver estos videos en espanol?

[@ruta6945]

I feel for Monica. I agree she isn't her father.

[@gazza363]

where can i find the film online?

[@NoldorianElf]

Try to find it on Netflix or Amazon prime.

[@auldreekie7768]

My father was a nazi commander 2019 youtube

[@desirecloete6654]

Can't find the movie or documentary

[@gfree4173]

Bits and pieces on KZbin.

[@UitdenOosterhout]

Oskar Schindler had a choice and he used it wisely.

[@badfingersmith3876]

I feel for Monika it was not her fault! Helen is my hero I mean we are talking about the boogieman (Goth) children are so afraid to look under their beds and closets at night afraid of the boogieman. but Helen had to live with him, it was a miracle not by chance by Gods grace for Helen to lives to tell the tell

[@monicaswavel6074]

So brave and honest. Praying for the healing power of God to overtake you and bring full and complete healing and recovery in the mighty name of Jesus! Thank you for sharing the truth no matter how horrible. People must understand the truth that evil exists and CAN overtake people if ALLOWED TO...

[@balijit3700]

Inheritance as full film is not available online.

[@melanielazare9]

It's on Netflix

[@makeamericakateagain]

It’s on Amazon Prime. I believe they charge $4.99 to watch the documentary.

[@mthomas3547]

It was a rough life for both. They were dealt a lot because of ONE MAN. Now, it's a matter of what you do with that. No one blames Monika. She blames herself.

[@peterlombard2292]

Both women demonstrate great bravery, each in their own way. Certainly it would wrong to punish the child for the sins of the father and it would be equally wrong for anyone to deny, deminish or obfuscate the true horrific nature of that time in history. 'Sounds like this film tells an important and valuable story. Is the film still available to watch somewhere? 'Not sure if we have PBS in the UK.

[@Evolutionnow45]

did anyone heard a tone? Me not. It' s more than a pitty. It' s more than this. Don' t have a soundmaster?

[@jackies56tbird]

you see how Minika almost keeps her face hidden with her hair. She still feels the shame

[@d1st4rbed]

where can i watch it online?

[@sherry3035]

d1st4rbed it was on Netflix at one time but it’s no longer there. I can’t find it anywhere anymore. It is a very compelling documentary. If you can’t find it watch CHILDREN OF HITLER. It’s on amazon prime documentaries.

[@emmemagnolia]

Sherry Lewis it’s on Tubi

[@sherry3035]

Emme Magnolia thank you. 🙂

[@worldtraveler134]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH7PoK18g9uipKc

[@jonnysupreme]

Both stories are horrific, I'm not on one side more than the other at all but man, I feel so bad for Monika she feels she has to carry her fathers crimes as her own. 😢

[@maureenpetson9435]

Helen says she doesn't hate and we have choices she chose to take her pain on monaka I feel so very sorry for theses two tortured people monaka has suffered for something that isn't her fault Helen has suffered and it wasn't her fault I hope Helen learned before she died to except that monaka is also a victim great blessings on both

[@tuckermoreland147]

helan you are heard. monica you are also heard. tears come. cant say things are equal. thats impossible. but i have empathy for you both. helan suffered insufferables. monica you suffered lies. one is literally life and death or worse. the other is the option of parental goodness versus badness thru verbal fantasy. i will say you helen are a striking beauty seemingly unaffeced by your horrific past. monica you have your fathers size and are in no way unpleasant to look at. but carry a heavy burden. best wishes to both of you

[@virginiaallenby2508]

I think the survivor is very brave

[@hinaynihorvath3926]

the demon man has been dead for years but he was so spooky he haunts his daughter & Helene

[@metronetrail]

Monika guilt and shame, might be due to have a mixed race child who she gave up at birth, Her daughter is half Nigerian, fascinating story. a shame when her daughter reached out to her and she did not want to be in contact with her daughter.

[@laglendareed8086]

I just wonder why she chose to give Jennifer up for adoption instead of letting her Nigerian Father take her to his Mother so that his Mother could care for her. Why? This is what Jennifer shared in her book titled: My Grandfather would have shot me. Maybe she was ashamed be cruel to chose adoption over family.

[@Sigridovski]

We are spiritual beings; not bodies. We have a body but we are a spirit. And us as spirits are in different mental conditions; the worst ones suppress others and will do what almost nobody else would do in a situation where he seems to have power; only it is not true power.

[@agunahadvocate6301]

Monica’s daughter wrote a nook as well…my grandfather would have shot me

[@bass13mary]

My keyboard went nuts. Ms. Jonas is a bully to poor Monika who is clearly suffering for events over which she had no control. Monkias suffering is every bit as real as Helena. Like she chose her parents.

[@Anna-ef4dv]

Mrs Jonas is not a bully. Yes, she might have been a little kinder, she might have skipped the remark about Monika looking like her father, but she was trying to explain herself. She 'sees' Amon Goeth, even though she knows Monkia is not her father. Mrs Jonas was honest, she could not offer help or friendship to Monika, not because she disliked Mr Hedwig but because keeping in touch would evoke further trauma. I question James Moll for bringing them together like this again. I wonder if these wounded women felt coerced into having this encounter. And reading under the lines, here and elsewhere, it is clear that most, if not all commentators feel for Ms Hedwig. Since some of the commentators are themselves grandchildren or children of Holocaust survivors, I think that she she should feel not only absolved, but that she was never really blamed. On the contrary, her woundedness and courage are recognised.

[@nicoleapril4477]

I agree..Monkia has a big heart she is nothing like her father...

[@jkm6112]

It's sad, yes about Monika's guilt. Remember, we're all responsible for our thoughts and therefore our emotions. She could have chosen freedom from guilt!!

[@alicemi4155]

Ms Jonas is a bully??? What are you on? The monster's daughter wouldn't even have survived such a meeting in many other cases. Personally guilty or not, she's just very lucky she had Helen opposite her.

[@absolutelyfreestockshots1931]

This is really trying to heal.

[@DM-ye5qo]

Monika could not control who her father was. Helen is holding a grudge with Monika.

[@abbe1abbe156]

I don't believe Helen had a grudge with Monika personally, however, Monika bears a strong resemblance to her father which would remind Helen of her trauma. I understand why she could not stay in contact with Monika. She had to protect herself psychologically.

[@hinaynihorvath3926]

it's very good that Monika never met her father or she would be killed by him

[@Tony63909]

It's too bad that the man in the middle was the center of the story. The video should have had the questions of all of the audience.

[@mnpd3]

+Tony63909 I agree. Monika is many years younger than Helen, but looks much older and weather beaten. Helen is beautiful even in old age, possess grace and wears appropriate clothing for the occasion. She appears to be the product of a cultured and affluent upbringing. She sits comfortably with poise. Monika in contrasts slouches and fidgets when she sits, dresses cheaply like she's going shopping at the Salvation Army, has unruly hair, not a stitch of makeup, chain smokes and seems to be a product of the working class.

[@judyschultz5815]

+Obvious Troll Here. Amen! 👍

[@TheFoodieCutie]

mnpd3 I never thought of it that way. Those are good observations. I wonder if goeth had a crystal ball to see into the future how his actions would impact himself his legacy and his daughter 60 years later if he would have changed. If not, then he is a well and truly evil man, but only god knows. I feel terrible for Monica after what you said because it appears to be all true. She didn't even come dressed for the occasion as you said.

[@bobtucker8705]

@@TheFoodieCutiePerhaps that is her only clothes. My God the cross that woman bears. Her fathers sins are not hers and tho I understand the other lady being cool to Monica after all she went through with her father I can only think of the grace Corrie Ten Boom would have shown to her. We are all sinners and fall short, hard enough to account and deal with our own shortcomings let alone answer for our parents.

[@XiloChannel]

We are all sinners. We sin in various ways. I appreciate when after years we atone and change. That’s what’s important. I say that as a victim of bullying and other things that people I wasn’t strong enough to fight against. I understand that the comparison isn’t even close isn’t even close, but she ought to be forgiven on a case by case basis, this horrible situation of guilty by association unless the accused stands by it, is ancient and needs to go away.

[@nycapplesJH]

Did Monika ever say why she gave up her daughter Jennifer Teege?

[@nitalopes515]

I don't think that she has spoken about it I might be wrong

[@LlamaLlamaMamaJama]

I think the correct answer is “it’s nobody’s damn business but her own.”

[@omidfarpour9466]

واقعا تاثیر گزاره

[@ronabaquero2043]

Monika was born after ww2 so she dont have any idea wat was goin on she just siscovered bit by bit his family hx i think so hard for her

[@liberte1334]

Goes without saying how much pain Helen has carried but I do think she could be more benevolent to Monika. Monika is right to say that their meeting is for the lives lost and pain caused; their embrace is representative of a healing process. But Helen is not letting this happen and comes across as almost hostile at times towards Monika. She is not helping her move on and start to heal. I feel for Monika so much, she seems so alone with it all. Sympathy is naturally with Helen. Yet Monika comes across as the stronger of the two in the here and now,

[@kristinabayer3280]

Helen was affected much more directly and that is why she cannot allow herself to open hersellf to the memories as much I think. It is different when you experience something yourself vs.when you are wrought with guillt because you are someone's child. Monika is simply more distant, because she is not him after all. I think this becomes obvious when you go down one generation further - her daughter, Jennifer Teege has written bout finding out that her grandfather is Goeth and again its totally different. One cannot request forgiveness, it needs to be given and I think Helen is taking a big step already by educating Monika.

[@curtisdalrymple42]

Sympathy is naturally with Helen? It sure doesn’t sound like you feel that way.

[@liberte1334]

curtisdalrymple42 then you clearly didn't read my words.

[@curtisdalrymple42]

@@liberte1334 Yes I did read your words you said and I quote “ Helen is not letting this happen ( healing) and comes across as hostile at times to Monika” . She is not helping her heal and move on. How is Helen supposed to help Monika heal? She did not cause her pain and embarrassment her father did because he was an evil, infamous person . Sorry if this sounds harsh, but it really doesn’t sound like you can comprehend the trauma Helen went through. If you did you might be just a little more understanding why she was not all warm fuzzies, hugs, and smiles towards the child of the monster (who reminded her of him) who tortured her everyday. This poor woman not only lost everyone she loved in the world she also saw people being murdered everyday and small children torn apart by dogs. Some people who go through trauma like this are changed forever and never smile again and often come across as cold and harsh to other people. It is not Helen’s place to help Monika heal. She didn’t cause her trauma, or contribute to it either.

[@liberte1334]

curtisdalrymple42 I did not say Helen was to blame for Monikas pain any more than Monika is responsible for Helens pain! It is not a competition for suffering! To me, Helen did not appear to express the mutual compassion required for both to deal with their respective tragedy. This is how it seemed to me. It is not a diminishment of what happened to Helen of which I am well aware. It is merely an opinion.

[@blue3381]

Monica looks very heavy laden. Another sad victim of WWII

[@artonodarmodjo6154]

Helen did not even look at Monika for most of the interview

[@joxp6971]

It's very interesting how Schindler's list movie came about.thomas Keneally was approached by a jew who had emigrated to Australia and asked Thomas to read his story thus he wrote Schindler's ark this Spielberg made his movie based on that novel

[@vincenthewlett4329]

Sorry, Monika didnt really have a chance to say much she was hunched in her chair at times, i feel for Helena as well and the millions of people murdered by the germans, it was not just the jews who were slaughtered......but here in this video i see 2 victims not one.......just my opinion......

[@missh.307]

#NeverAgain

[@samarlaska8334]

His talking Moore than them

[@ashimsen6408]

What Monica iconfronting is her destiny only. Ancestral sins is matters also.

[@Ai-he1dp]

Have lessons been learnt?...look around you, do we not live in a far more fragile and by far a more dangerous world, as we breath power has been amassed to destroy not only humanity but change the planet never to be recognised as it is ever again...now ask yourselves what lesson has been learnt?

[@katydid1600]

James, you did not speak to Monika as much. As you and Helen talked it looked like Monika was shrinking in her chair. Why do you want to keep putting her through this in public. I have always sympathized with the Jewish people, but I feel like Monika was just as much a victim. I sympathize with Helen for what she went through during the war and with Monika for what she is going through now. Like Monika said, she is not her father.

[@dm-gq5uj]

No, Monika was not "just as much a victim." Helen saw people murdered in front of her and lived in fear every day during the war. Goeth beat her regularly. I have great sympathy for Monika since it cannot be pleasant for a sensitive person to find out her father was a mass murderer, but I don't see anybody blaming Monika for her father's crimes. Yes, it looks like she feels shame, but she is putting that burden on herself . And she could have very easily turned down the request to appear on stage. Remember, she wanted to meet Helen, she wanted to appear in the documentary. James didn't force her to do anything.

[@georgeharvey3062]

dm I think Monika is trying to atone for the sins of her father. I would not be surprised to find she had the same fate as her mother. Helena seems to be a much stronger woman. God bless them both.

[@zapdunga12]

Monika never knew her father and he never knew her. She was born in 1945 and he was killed in 1946. God knows how many girls Amon impregnated who will never know who their father was. Better for them. He was probably the worst Nazi of them all because he did his own killing. Innocent men, women and children. Hundreds maybe thousands by his own hands. Even Hitler didn't kill with his own hands. And GÖTH loved it. He told them "I am your God!". Meaning he has the power of life and death. What a monster. His last words before he was hung was "Heil Hitler". A Nazi to the end. No remorse. He was hung and his body cremated. He got off easy. He should have been handed over to the survivors and suffered a very slow painful death. Maybe they all could have thrown darts at him. 😮

[@michaelares4240]

The sins of the father are visited upon the children

[@gabe-po9yi]

Not to take away from Monika’s history, but she never met her father. He never laid eyes on her and she did not live in the villa on the grounds of the camp. My guess is that her horror actually lies mostly with her mother for loving and being so devoted to a sadistic madman and turning a blind eye to the atrocities he and his staff perpetrated right under her nose. Perhaps he was such a tyrant that he wouldn’t let her mother, his mistress, be in charge of the villa, where she could’ve made the two Jewish girls who worked there lives better. Maybe he was abusive to her and that’s why she constantly made facial mask recipes and lay in bed with them on her face. Cold cucumbers over the eyes can help reduce swelling from being struck.

[@amitmangsulikar7153]

You deed great work next time whenever you go to the concentration camp take some flowers keep their & pray for peace both soul i. E. Victims & Nazi

[@laglendareed8086]

I just wonder why she chose to give Jennifer up for adoption instead of letting her Nigerian Father take her to his Mother so that his Mother could care for her. Why? This is what Jennifer shared in her book titled: My Grandfather would have shot me.

[@richwebb4436]

wow. u just dont get it......so i wont waste my time arguing with a child

[@bass13mary]

He Jewish woman is kind bully. Like Monika hadroover evet she child

[@liverbird_55]

I feel so sorry for monika carrying the burden of her monster nazi father and her mother who turned a blind eye to the killings but when her and hellen went back to the house were her father shot the jewish people going to work in the camps i think helen didnt have to be so graffic shouting everything to monika like when monika says but my mother told me she didnt know anything then helen would shout at her saying your father shot people from the window and your mother was right there watching and did nothing and your mother would lay on the bed with a face mask on while your father did terrible things to the jews and your mother had everything she wanted and your father pushed me down the stairs your standing on, its is not monikas fault and it was very shocking for monika and you could see she was truely upset and hurting but helen shouldnt of kept pointing all these things out as monika is his daughter and wasnt even born and she didnt know any of these things till she herself was older and her father never brought her up only her mother as she says she would always ask her mother why dont i have a father like other children and her mother told her he died in the war fighting for his country, so hellen i think was wrong in the documentry and yes she obviously has every right to be upset and disturbed by what amon did to her and she should of said it all to the camera man but instead she was quite agressive in the way she would shout things to monika when monika is clearly disturbed herself and i read she suffered depession and was an alchoholic because of her parents, so sad that monika offered a friendship to helen as she just wanted to help helen but understood that in return helen didnt want anything to do with her and helen couldnt see the suffering in the child monika, instead helen rudely says infront of monika i dont want to see her face as a reminder of amon, a very sad story for both women and they both suffered in different ways from children by this nazi monster. But helen was definately wrong in persecuting monika when she has done nothing wrong to helen except offer kindness.

[@mumv2089]

The sins of father are not hers. I agree seems Helena has misdirected anger. We don’t pick our parents, anymore than we pick our skin color or if we look like them or not.

[@ballantine58]

Monika looks like a dude.

[@eviken1982]

Those memories came back in that house. Monika tried to deny things like Germans did.

[@chrissybrown9205]

@@ballantine58 no she does not!

[@curtisdalrymple42]

Wow you sound like you have no sympathy at all for the hell that old lady went through. Yes, it was not the daughters fault, and yes I am sure she feels terrible about what her dad did. But unless you have been a victim of severe trauma you should not judge the Jewish lady either, in fact, Monika does look a lot like her dad. In fact, to me she looks like a female version of him. Not that she has any control over genetics, but that doesn’t change the fact it was obviously very upsetting for Helen. That plus being in the place where all the trauma happened was too much for Helen. Plus the fact that Monika was in denial Helen may have perceived it as Monika defending her parents which would have obviously outraged Helen. Until you lose your entire family in the most cruel way possible and at the same time get horribly abused physically, verbally and emotionally everyday you have no right to judge.

[@connynielson8686]

You know I just watched a documentary about the rise of Hitler, and it seems it was arms dealers that were behind Hitler, his bosses in fact, stockpiling tonnes of arms and telling Hitler to say " if the Jews finance one more war they'll be trouble.." and the british and the French did a big song and dance about pretending to be upset about Czech and Poland.. but the second they declared war on germany, all.shaking hands with their own dealers and being all.jubilant...that changed for the french when they got occupied, ie, "lost" and then claimed to be victims..seems all.sour grapes to me...when is the real stories about these arms dealers pulling the strings going to be told? .

[@ballantine58]

Monika looks like a dude. I am on Helenas side. I would hate Monika too and not want to keep intouch with her either.

[@lunalima7864]

Hate her? What did she do? You loonie.

[@alinaknox5773]

You’re mental, fuck off.

[@eviken1982]

@@lunalima7864 Maybe she sees Amon's face in her.

[@eviken1982]

@@alinaknox5773 Maybe she sees Amon's face in Monika.

[@rhubencollins8603]

Another one with nazi ideology. The people in this thread are mentally challenged.