Jewish Survivor Dina Gottliebova-Babbitt Testimony Part 1 | USC Shoah Foundation

[@Riververchi]

I can listen to this lady's voice all day. So relaxing and beautiful.

[@hpg2u]

Sucker for suffering, get over it: plant a tree!

[@tillietrue9397]

Dina is such a lovely, kind and a woman of class. I have watched many of these interviews and I just love Dina and listening to her stories. I would love to have known her. I must say I am very angry with the interviewer, as she seemed so cold and matter of fact and at times disrespectful.( I have heard her on other interviews😠). She kept Dina bouncing around in time periods, instead of just letting her tell her story. She wasn't paying close attention at times to Dina, and kept repeating questions. This woman (Dina) gave 6 hours plus, of her life story. You could tell at the end she was so worn out. I am sure it brought back to the surface so much emotion and pain to relive and tell it all. Thank you Dina, I just loved listening to every word. I think that this story needs to made into a book. I couldn't quit listening to Dina. I stayed up until early morning listening to all 6 hours. My heart hurts for you, your family members, friends and Carl, for what you all had to endure. For all those souls that didn't make it, RIP. You are loved and not forgotten. May God bless you always, lovely Dina 💖💖💖

[@natlyfranks6856]

TOTALLY AGREE!!!

[@hansmahr8627]

I mean, I also had that impression of the interviewer but it needs to be said that this is not a normal interview, it's conducted based on the methods developed in the field of oral history. That's why there's an emphasis on detail and chronology and it's also why they're so thorough when it comes to names and dates. I also believe that interviewers in that field are supposed to remain objective which may come across as cold and unfeeling at times.

[@marymarmande8446]

@@hansmahr8627 listen again!! She asked him a question over and over and over and stops him because she has to get in track then she keeps asking questions that were all just answered many times more than 1 when doing this and they keep asking the same question again thank she just literally answered. LET THEM SKE

[@milliejohnson6245]

Part part 3

[@elisabetosthsvanberg1095]

Agree! And the interviewer is rather horrible.....

[@djholliday4413]

Dina is so beautiful, classy & fascinating. I appreciate her testimony so much. The love story between Dina & Karl Klinger brought tears to my eyes. You always hope for a happy ending. Thank God Dina survived, & was able to share her experiences through her art. God bless.

[@pepelepeau]

I keep coming back to Dina's testimony year after year...it's so heartfelt and I feel a connection as an Artist...God Bless Her!!! RIP!!!

[@angelinaanderson481]

This woman is absolutely the most amazing woman I have listened to. She is beautiful, funny, intelligent, witty and so positive. She found the good parts in all that hell and tragedy. You can’t get much better.

[@luciasaunders9736]

I was born and raised in Czechoslovakia during communism. I left for Canada in 1991. Communism was very oppressive and degrading. However, I grew up knowing very well about holocaust and atrocities during WW2 very early in my childhood. It was compulsory.

[@zxy78267]

@@luciasaunders9736 I wish here in the US it would have been more important in education. I learned much more after high school through my own research. I made sure to teach my children about the Holocaust and slavery and slave ships because I knew they wouldn't learn as much in school.

[@sabreecarpenter4285]

​@@zxy78267 Thank you for teaching your children these things, the Holocaust and Slavery were such travesties in history. Such dark and difficult times to be alive. Now everyone gets a participation trophy.

[@cmariah80]

It ain't no way she's 75!!!! She's gorgeous 😍

[@ohmyzeus966]

Agreed

[@carlfernandes1275]

I once danced with a 70 year old lady the whole evening 👍

[@annalampugnani2642]

@@carlfernandes1275 so what? Do you want a medal?

[@carlfernandes1275]

@@annalampugnani2642 My crown is in heaven with Jesus Christ 😇😇😇

[@NickieLee-kk1ge]

​@@annalampugnani2642jealous wap Anna the pug 🐶luny. Mui fangu

[@MorganMcGinnis]

I miss you so much Dina! you were such a light for Karin, Angela & Fig... you were such a sweet soul.

[@frenchartantiquesparis424]

What a lovely lady.... I'm up to 3rd hour, and I could listen all weekend to her and her stories.

[@pliny8308]

An extraordinarily strong woman, down to earth, sassy, witty, humorous, and absolutely direct and honest. She told it all, warts and all, not sparing herself or her own people. I almost lost it when she bent her head and said, turn it off, bkz she started crying. The darn interviewer had to be asked twice! Why they couldn't find enough intelligent, perceptive, compassionate people to do these interviews? So often when watching these interviews I feel that these Europeans of the prior generation have so much more not just intelligence, but depth, understanding of the world and people.

[@sabreecarpenter4285]

I agree, most all survivors that I've listened to have that depth of knowledge and understanding. So mature at such a young age. Loved her story about milking the cows and feeding all the animals, even cleaning the pig sty. Maybe their strong attributes was because they weren't sitting in front of the babysitter, (television).

[@christinefougere1444]

I can't stop laughing at her childhood antics, especially the chocolate on the radiator, LOL, What a lovely sweet woman.

[@maryconway3200]

What a classy lady who went through such terrible times. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@harrywilson404]

What a lovely lady, a good sense of humor!

[@catwilk8213]

God bless this woman for sharing her story otherwise it would have been lost in time

[@n.l.vannstallings4664]

I love her personality and sense of humor.

[@guffmanvansickle8386]

Does the interviewer work for Dragnet?? Gosh! After hearing s heartfelt, endearing story she barks "what date!?"

[@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780]

Dinah could have well be a movie star the class the charm the effervescence beauty of this lady is amazing

[@adambrocklehurst4211]

I love how earthy and human this woman's testament is, humour is so important in surviving difficult times, even in times of unbelievable evil.

[@sabreecarpenter4285]

I often wonder how my demeanor would have been like in such a place as Auschwitz, would I have just shriveled, or would I have been one to help and encourage. I've been a caregiver all my life, so I'll guess the later. Thank you for your comment.

[@FlakMagnet11]

What a wonderful woman. A truly fine soul! Her sense of humor was completely lost on this interviewer, which is very very unfortunate. She could have tuned into that and gotten more beautiful stories out of her, I'm sure, she wanted so much to share! Not to cheapen the stories of heartbreak and loss that so so many others went through, but it's nice to hear the little things in between too. Be them humorous or not-Not all interviews need to be as forensic as this, as someone mentioned earlier. Regardless, we wouldn't have this woman's story without this interviewer so thank you to them both for taking the time to document such an important time in our history. 🙏🏻

[@jeanhenderson1277]

Such a kind caring lady who certainly didn’t lose her sense of humour even after all she has been through x

[@mindurbiz6502]

What a terribly cold interviewer. Such a lovely and beautiful woman.

[@tillietrue9397]

D M ...I have to agree with you about the interviewer. She seems so cold and matter of fact. I watched another interview with her, and I felt that she was even more cold with the woman she was interviewing. She even snapped at the woman that..."she needed to stay focused". So disrespectful !!!!!

[@johnclifton857]

Was hoping she would have shared a picture of Karl. What an amazing woman.

[@lorebeth]

Wow what an authentically beautiful woman. I’ve just started listening to her and was so stunned when she said her birthdate I stopped to comment. Even taking into account good genes, it would be rare if not impossible to look like that on the outside at the age of 75 unless the “inside” is just as beautiful. Soft and natural beauty, from giving and receiving much love.

[@carolblair5514]

She is gorgeous and looks so young 😍

[@BeckBeckGo]

I refuse to believe she is 75 here 😊 You know who she looks like… Rue McClanahan circa golden girls heh.

[@sabreecarpenter4285]

​@@BeckBeckGo Yes, I thought that too.

[@risingsunist]

Ive watched many of these testimonies and found this classy lady just delightful! Thank you for sharing your story, wonderful storyteller ❤ these thhings that happened is horific but sadly human beings do not learn and quickly forget.

[@zxy78267]

I'm nearing the end, and I don't want it to end. I wish I could have met her. She's so interesting and upbeat in spite of all of the tragedy she endured. I think one of the reasons I've enjoyed this one so much is that she's telling her story from the perspective of a very young girl. She's beautiful at this age, so I'm sure that she was lovely when she was transported. The first camp sounds much more relaxed. Young people and children sometimes have a way of adapting better than adults. I think she made the most of a very uncertain, scary situation. When she was talking about her dog, I was crying. I can't imagine someone telling me that we'd have to surrender our dog. It would bring heartbreak to an already terrifying experience. She's not too far into Auschwitz, and I don't think she likes talking about the bad things. She was clearly traumatized by the horrible things, and rushes through them. The last interview I watched was a man, and he was very angry (rightly so) and descriptive, which is quite different. I feel like the woman interviewing her is trying to elicit more information from her about the bad things, and that's just hard for her to express. I also wish the interviewer would have let her finish some of the stories. I know she's trying to get it all down chronologically, but her stories are so interesting, and they didn't circle back and finish some of them.

[@malabhargava]

How sad that this lady is unhappy about her age. How I would have loved to tell her she's very pretty. Doesn't look her age at all.

[@deborahdavis8680]

I'm listening to this wonderful woman and cannot wait to hear more. She is beautiful and elegant and I love it when she tells a story and laughs. What these people endured is beyond anything we can imagine. We cannot let this happen again. My cousin is a well-known political syndicated cartoonist and was one of President Ronald Reagan's favorites. In fact, Gary was invited to the White House on several occasions and commissioned to do artwork for things connected with a Heads of State Dinner. They had his cartoons on cloth napkins, etc., and he was invited as guest at this one specific dinner. God bless this talented, beautiful woman. She is a delight. Also, she said something that helped me. I've always felt drawn to Israel; to the Jewish people. My best girlfriend was only little girl growing up in our Florida seaside town. Yet, I was a Christian. My great grandparents, maternal and paternal, immigrated to the States from Europe. Also, my uncle showed me an ancestry chart he worked on for years and it revealed that at had a relative that perished in a concentration camp. No one talked about any of this when I was growing up. But my father, oh so tall, dark and handsome, was always thought to be Jewish. He was a businessman and these Jewish brothers owned a chain of cafeterias and assumed he was Jewish and let him eat for free. So it's there--the draw to the Jewish DNA. Also, I visited Israel several times and fell in love with it.

[@RamonaRayTodosSantosBCS]

I remember this family. I lived in Felton Grove and on Washington way. I wish they would allow these people to just tell their stories without interrupting them mid sentence. La vitrina! That's a word here in Mexico, interesting.

[@lisaherrling6880]

As I watch these testimonies, I am always moved. I also wonder if, in sharing their stories, these survivors feel somewhat relieved that they have spoken their memories aloud. I wonder if this had a cathartic effect for them. I agree with you, Christine Fougere. The chocolate on the radiator is funny! Dina and her cousin were typical kids. When their aunt asked them what they were doing, they said, "Nothing!"

[@miriamwilson9542]

I just LOVE this lady! What a beautiful person, inside and out!❤

[@lorijohnson1320]

Dina is so beautiful and refined. Her story is extremely moving and interesting. But the interviewer is so rude with her constant interruptions. Her pointless questions are so annoying! 😡

[@JaneDoe-ql7sc]

Dina was so amazing, how she got everyone involved with making plays: costumes, sets, characters... just absolutely wonderful!!!!

[@christychristina292]

This lovely lady [ a true lady if ever there was one] has a page devoted to her on Wikipedia, for those wanting to know more. An outstanding human being. I was very put off by the interviewer- Dina had a very relaxed and conversational flow to her speaking and the interviewer constantly cut off her attempts to round out her thoughts and words. We missed a lot of what she what she was trying to say, I feel, due to the interviewer.

[@davidbenaim9360]

Dina’s testimony is a testament to human endurance, hope and humour … the interviewer had no charm and came across as a civil servant…

[@properlybonafidetv7172]

Good gracious her father was SORRY! But this shows all facets of humanity and how things are mostly the same generation to generation.

[@BeckBeckGo]

When I heard her dog bark in the background, my heart soared. She won’t have to hand her dog over ever again. ❤

[@cherylstaples1790]

I just love this wonderful lady...she reminds me of my gramma...the same age as she who died last year at age 95. The dachshund puppy story was sad but a tiny bit funny because of the way she tells the story. I know he was happier in the country. 😪

[@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780]

I hate the interviewer s offensive questions li'e a freaking interrogation at a police station but because Dina has so much life into her and class she went ahead smoothly

[@jilldyhrkopp5244]

Whoever is interviewing her is completely rude

[@EstherSuzNotJustCatsDogs]

Such a lovely lady 🌅

[@sreckosx]

She looks exactly like Evelin - mother of Charlie and Alan Harper from Two and a half men. Incredible, twin sister ...

[@tinekedijk7385]

It would improve the interview if an older person of a more sensitive nature would more sensitively ask the questions !

[@elenadavies1616]

I could not believe that I would be able to hear Dina's interview. I was doing my assignment 2 years ago in Belfast School of Art. I chose to take on the art of the holocaust. I remember her work in the book of The Art of holocaust very well. She is amazing. She is a hero , she is a star.

[@sabreecarpenter4285]

What an experience you had, not only in achieving your dream in art school, but choosing the art of the Holocaust and seeing Dina's art work. I'd like to see both of your works. Best wishes.

[@DeeNailsX]

I want to look like that at 75. She has a magnetic personality

[@luciasaunders9736]

Charisma.

[@JR-br8du]

I want to gag the interviewer so Dina can tell her story as she wants to. I’ve watched many of these. Dina is my favorite

[@yourgirlme9163]

Gorgeous straight talking lady. Unique. ❤️

[@kemwittalltree9650]

Honey, you don't look a day over 45 years old!

[@shabbirbnadaf3186]

Why these all interviewers wants much more about pre-war life of survivors ( or kind of dragging them in to only pre-war life ) despite survivors wants to explain their hardship during war. 😨😡

[@MrPickledede]

When they did these interviews they felt they had to be formulaic so as to be "scientific" but has since been excoriated by historians for being too interrogative

[@tanyasky7488]

Because we want to hear how their life was before War. And only focusing on the dark part will make them depressed all over again .. so they are also asking the light questions

[@marymarmande8446]

So many beautiful stories from her lost due to this horribly rude interviewer you can absolutely tell that she was affected by the way she kept cutting her off not to mention the ignorant questions she asked totally breaks my heart the way she was treated after surviving hell on earth aka Auschwitz concentration camp

[@emmawoolf8685]

The interviewer is bad. She keeps changing tape at crucial moments - it is infuriating.

[@janeaparis]

She does not look 75. Amazing.

[@angelinaanderson481]

This interviewer is the worst I’ve seen. Interrupting constantly without allowing her to tell her story. Asking leading questions about art as if they were there celebrating culture.

[@Squeekyleaks]

I couldn't love this woman more!

[@drjulia6860]

Amazing lady. But the interviewer was incredibly rude and abrupt.

[@MrsAi84]

When she said “boze muj” it’s said the same way in polish , and lightening or thunder is also said almost the exact way.

[@malagarava4451]

same is Yugoslavian ...make smile on my face

[@joanflint7209]

I wish the interviewer wouldn't have interrupted the subject right when she almost got exterminated.

[@monatingbjr6636]

Fantastic woman

[@sarahnewton2550]

The interview is great, the interviewer - lacks sensitivity! I remember in the 90s having video camera tape that went on for two hours. How did they have to change the tape every 30 mins!

[@jessangela9617]

These testimonies are to show that these generations : baby boomers, gen exers ,and milenials , we are so spoiled,without purpose and ungrateful... maybe Covid-19, economic chaos, actual civil unrest and all the madness of Trump’s presidency suits us well. I doubt any of us will have the Grace, bravery, standing, and the heart as this lady had during the war of her time. This testimony should be shown in ALL social media platforms... and is amazing that even though Miss Dina went to hell and back she doesn’t look more than 50 years old! And when this video was filmed she was 74!!!! A warrior. A triumph. Unforgettable.

[@patriciasalassbirthdaysala4963]

Maravillosa señora, a real lady. Distinguida y hermosa. Cuanto dolor tuvo que padecer. Mucho amor para ella y su familia!!! 🇮🇱🇪🇸

[@wwayne2318]

Superhero, Love and respect...

[@bethmendoza1847]

No matter how many times I save this video, it doesn’t show up in my saved videos, even though it says saved.

[@pamelacorbett8774]

So honest, this admirable lady! Deserves better than this interviewer, who keeps cutting her off to ask inane questions.

[@lovesmesomemaine]

What an amazing woman!!! I agree the interviewer is very rude to her! I watch all these historic videos so we never forget this horrible time. God bless them all!

[@juliaturner6658]

I hate to say I have a favorite testimonial; alas this is it. Dina is so articulate, gorgeous, strong, so full of heart and humble. But she dont take no crap and her cuss words are even endearing🤣 What a woman. When she talks about the scene of the mother adjusting the child's scarf minutes before being gassed as juxtaposed w the SS soldier smoking a cigarette unconcernedly it is just jarring .

[@BlessedFloridaMom]

Her testimony even addresses the fact that even the pets were traumatized 😢.

[@pamneff7541]

Bravo

[@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780]

Feels like freaking interviewer doesn't believe Dinah the way she asks her questions man that bothers me

[@Knochhouse]

Such a beautiful lady

[@JaneDoe-ql7sc]

please, interviewers might wish to use word, "chosen" rather than "selected" when discussing actors for plays.

[@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780]

Dina you look fabulous fabulous I wanna look like you in twenty years what a classy lady you are honey hope you're still alive and well ❤️🙏

[@yadhae34222]

So according to her age - which should now be 90 y o - this documentary was filmed in the year 1998. Right?

[@RamonaRayTodosSantosBCS]

Yasar Habashneh amazing how time flies huh! My mom was born in 1923 also and passed in 2011- twenty years more I'm next give or take! It really puts life in perspective.

[@sheronmckenna5815]

Very beautiful lady.

[@JaneDoe-ql7sc]

Wait, wait! What happened while Carl was holding the horse that Dina was painting? (at 2:30 on this video) then the tape had to be changed yet again! Please let us know what happened! 🙂

[@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780]

Iam amazed this is my first like

[@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780]

Dinah would be 96 today

[@lucerorios1863]

💔

[@allandavis6116]

At 3:41:03 she describes her experiences teaching kindergarten at Auschwitz.

[@revitalsela4063]

Did you actually listen to her?? The people from teresinstat were at the family camp in auswitz, there were children there and also at the gipsies camp and at mengele's experiments barracks.

[@tatonemio6388]

No, she didn't , she painted the children block....yes the children that were gassed with the Terezin transport of September 1943

[@tearbag]

She’s hilarious! The drawings in terezin!

[@JaneDoe-ql7sc]

Hey, interviewer, i hope you will later ask Dina to continue her story of why young Misha credited her with having saved his life!!!! Why did you stop her? All those questions you asked her about sex & abortion. The way you took her back more than once (2 or 3 times!) to having just disembarked from the train at Auschwitz & "what was it like?" what in the hell? Why? We already know all about it. Please, please let that beautiful gifted woman finish speaking of those things that light up her face & were meaningful to her during her wartime experiences. Thank you 🙂 Also, IMPORTANT: please, try using 60 minute tapes! It seemed the tapes were maybe each only 15 minutes long before the good woman's narrative was interrupted, again & again.

[@emmawoolf8685]

It is infuriating beyond belief. It always seems to happen at crucial moments

[@robertcarli5803]

The morbid curiosity of these interviewers- not to be too critical- is annoying

[@Somelady464]

She certainly does not look 75! I would guess 60

[@redremi83]

The dog agrees she would have made a bad capo...he doesn't listen at all.

[@EmmaGnillot]

2:01:30

[@englishlady8863]

So rude to ask people's age. She was hesitant to say.

[@pamkydes3311]

Video is dark-saw nothing!!

[@johnmacdougall7442]

Bb’

[@denisetaylor-crommett4781]

What a ridiculous question about avoiding pregnancy. You don’t have sex or the guy pulls out….duh!

[@dautrung7042]

dauquangtrung01.ageny

[@hpg2u]

Get a life: plant a tree!

[@RamonaRayTodosSantosBCS]

Harald Glass ??? What are you referring to Señor Glass?

[@RD-0101]

Herr Glass, were you a Hitler's Brown Shirt or a young SS? You look about 100 years old, so it must have been you,not your father.