Jewish Survivor Ida Schwarz Testimony | USC Shoah Foundation

You are watching Ida Schwarz, a Jewish Holocaust survivor. To learn more about Ida and explore the stories of other Holocaust survivors and witnesses, visit vhaonline.usc.edu.
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[@Pattiepies55]

Ida is so sweet and gentle and deserves sensitive interviewer. This man comes across as rude and abrasive.

[@mrbatman4robin]

The interview was done 25 years ago, in 1997. This interviewer is excellent in keeping Ms Schwarz on track, in chronological order, asking also for further facts, names, dates and details. Everything expected from a testimony of a survivor or a witness.

[@RD-0101]

​@@mrbatman4robin He could have done that in a softer compassionate voice.

[@mrbatman4robin]

@@RD-0101 I agree that things could have been handled better but criticism comes too late because sadly, time is against us - and no more interviews can be made. Also, it was a gigantic worldwide and costly project making it challenging to find suitable interviewers who were doing this free-of-charge.

[@eilishkelly3050]

Such a strong lady to have survived so much . So pleasant and we must never ever forget. So pleased she managed to hold on to the watch. Such a shame about the interviewer so rude, no compassion. He should be ashamed of himself.

[@lisaherrling6880]

This dear lady is amazing. I did find the interviewer quite rude, though.

[@ilenekaplan109]

Yes, she was very patient with the interviewer who I found quite rude. It seems like she was being interrogated with no compassion. Interview your interviewers before letting them being face to face with these unfortunate souls. They have been through enough.

[@pamelacorbett8774]

Her story is made difficult by an interrogator who has missed his calling. He does not deserve this gentle lady’s good manners. His memory is not as good as hers, either, as he is constantly asking her to repeat her sister’s names etc. So disrespectful.

[@franco898]

such a beautiful woman and amazing testimony, truly a classy lady for keeping her cool with the disgustingly rude interviewer....

[@mrbatman4robin]

The interview was done 25 years ago, in 1997. This interviewer is excellent in keeping Ms Schwarz on track, in chronological order, asking also for further facts, names, dates and details. Everything expected from a testimony of a survivor or a witness.

[@sandraprice6132]

Another lovely lady telling her personal story and experiences. I commend all these brave people who went to hell and back and lived to tell the tale. Although her memory was slow at times and her speech a bit hesitant, she did very well. I thought the Interviewer could have adopted a softer tone at the start of the video and not come across as rather brusque.

[@nowyouknowrealestate5703]

What an amazing story and precious lady. Thank you Ida for sharing.

[@PlatinumIrishrose]

Jeesh, this guy interviewing her, he asked her about 4 times what her sister was doing for a job. I was doing laundry and I could still hear her when she answered that her sister was sewing. When he asked her a third time (1:38:32), I was indignant and looked at my phone and said, "HEY BUDDY! WHY DON'T YOU LISTEN TO HER THIS TIME!! SHE WAS SEWWWWWIIINNNGG!" Then he double sneezed at least two times, not repressed choking sneezes but Covid-19 spreading sneezing. Sheesh. Mr.. . . Her sister was sewing, ok?

[@nancyp2992]

Such a lovely lady - so happy she survived - and so did her watch - wish i could have met her

[@148ESTHER]

I will repeat myself over and over, I have been listening to many of those precious testimonies and most interviewers are so insensitive, it is chocking knowing that this subject would have commended not only some professionalism and intelligence but mostly caring and kindness. This guy is rude and inappropriate. I hope that he will read my comment one day. I am really thankful to S. Spielberg for putting together this project, this is a treasure that must be shared over and over. Still he should have insisted for a better selection of interviewers. They might be volunteers and did it to support the project but who cares, it is distracting from the original intent to have rude and thoughtless people asking many time stupid and unnecessary questions with a stone cold tone.

[@majorcynic]

I agree 100%. I've been watching these all through lockdown and they are amazing, resilient people. The best interviewers pretty much keep their mouths shut after they get the initial information, or just ask for details like names and dates. In this case, the interview seems so disengaged, it's almost painful. In fact, he asked her several times questions she had already answered -- he wasn't even listening to her. This is an historic project, and I have seen so many testimonies - they are heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

[@denisey4287]

Totally agree, I believe he was the worst interviewer of l that I have listened to. He was extremely abrupt and curt when asking questions and when he would interrupt her for more information. This woman was extremely patient with him, could tell by the end though that she was irritated with him also. If it weren't for her story, I wouldn't have finished it. I believe she could have told much more if he would have not been so rude and let her talk more

[@mrbatman4robin]

The interview was done 25 years ago, in 1997. This interviewer is excellent in keeping Ms Schwarz on track, in chronological order, asking also for further facts, names, dates and details. Everything expected from a testimony of a survivor or a witness.

[@skyavalanche]

Until you have conducted such an interview, giving of your time voluntarily, and demonstrating the kind of sensitivity and professionalism you purport, and willing to be harshly judged as you do, I suggest you stay focused on the testimony, and kindly keep your unsolicited negative comments to yourself.

[@bekah728]

Agreeing with you 3 yrs later

[@ivanaramirez6709]

The interviewer sounds more like a prosecutor and makes me very nervous. Thank you for your story.

[@davidrutter9786]

A gracious lady who tells her stories with remembered detail. O don't know how they chose "interviewers", Mr. Brotsky kept asking the same questions, especially the names.

[@hal7ter]

These are all such incredible eye witness testimonies; I am so glad they are available to us. There is much to be learned from what happened back then, and, how it affected these peoples lives and made their futures what they became!

[@andrearonchetti7662]

She's so kind and gentle ..... I did find the interviewer so ......cold. It seems as though he wouldn't be there with her. Anyway there is a lot to learn from each of these testimonies. Never forget .... it happened once ....it may happen again.

[@Kate-fr7qc]

This woman is one of my heroes and a standard for how to live life

[@nohippietruckingandtransportat]

Finally finished the interview. The interviewer couldn't be more disrespectful

[@mrbatman4robin]

Why? This interviewer is excellent in keeping Ms Schwarz on track, in chronological order, asking also for further facts, names, dates and details. Everything expected from a testimony of a survivor or a witness. Incidentally, this interview was done 25 years ago, in 1997.

[@Merula-er1xr]

​@@mrbatman4robin I don't agree. He interrupts her in very important moments, only to ask irrelevant questions. For instance, he interrupted her account about one sister that was taken and murdered, to ask her what was the sister doing at her work -the lady had said many times that she was sewing. And then, he asked her if the uniforms she was sewing were old or new ones. Besides, he didn't ask intelligent questions, only "what was her name", "when did it happen". Nothing else. I usually don't criticise interviewers -I understand they're not professionals but volunteers, but this one got into my nerves.

[@teresawoodward6173]

I agree he was cold and rude to this previous lady!

[@ilenekaplan109]

Interviewer Is too brash has to be taught to show humility and compassion to these survivors

[@mrbatman4robin]

The interview was done 25 years ago, in 1997. This interviewer is excellent in keeping Ms Schwarz on track, in chronological order, asking also for further facts, names, dates and details. Everything expected from a testimony of a survivor or a witness.

[@Chevy120]

The interviewer just ruined this for me. His constant interruptions were to annoying!

[@kittiesshortie5011]

Spielberg has millions .... can he spare some to edit all these annoying color bars and loud tones at the beginning plus all the CONSTANT “we are at the end of the tape” moments .. can’t they edit these down” ??? It seems like these poor people are right at the most emotionally fragile moment and they say ... we have to change the tape.

[@maryrosed8475]

OMG such a rude interviewer. Not pleasant to listen to. She is such a lovely lady.

[@antoniadelaunay8585]

The interviewer! Where do they get them from? Who choses? and no training. Ida, my god, you survived five of the worst camps in modern history. Thank you so much for enduring this interviewer and telling us your extraordinary story of survival. I couldn't have remembered anything if I had've had an interviewer like that launching the same repetitive, stacatto questions. Ida, thank you for surviving - and with your family-precious watch - and showing us that the human spirit is capable of so much more than we can ever imagine. God bless...

[@mrbatman4robin]

The interview was done 25 years ago, in 1997. This interviewer is excellent in keeping Ms Schwarz on track, in chronological order, asking also for further facts, names, dates and details. Everything expected from a testimony of a survivor or a witness.

[@teresawoodward6173]

Was the interviewer ever admonished? He was so hateful! She was so precious she deserved so much more!

[@jenniferbaragar9315]

Great job Ida. David was rude.

[@esmevanzyl7198]

Very unprofessional person. He should not do this job

[@Yvonne-hg7id]

Awful interviewer

[@catherinel4713]

where did this interviewer crawl from under ? It's an interrogation not an interview.

[@ina-kristinschneider2887]

He would all the time annoyingly interrupt her just to get the most necessary information: What was his/her name! and once again, two seconds later, "what was his/her name?"

[@mrbatman4robin]

Yes, excellent in asking for clarifying details, names, dates and facts #NEVERFORGET

[@beverleygailluen4714]

I wish the interviewer was a bit more patient. She is not young and and remembering this pain can’t be easy. She did amazingly x

[@stevesebaoun6555]

Wow she survived Tarnow Ghetto, Plasow where thank Gd she never encountered the monster Amon Goeth , then Aushwitz, Bergen Belsen , Mauthausen , really an amazing testimony leaves you speechless

[@gbk1t]

Extraordinary woman. Unfortunately the interviewer was very curt.

[@emmaburgess4320]

This interviewer should be ashamed of himself!!! I hope they never used him again!!

[@mrbatman4robin]

The interview was done 25 years ago, in 1997. 25 years. Actually, this interviewer was excellent in keeping Ms Schwarz on track, in chronological order, asking also for further facts, names, dates and details. Everything expected from a testimony of a survivor or a witness.

[@sewcool132]

I think the questioner is very abrupt & rude.

[@lesleymenzies2278]

Such valuable testimony. The interviewer needs some manners, though.

[@janetblanc7658]

Another beautiful, gracious lady. Such dignity despite the horrors she went through.

[@nohippietruckingandtransportat]

I guess there is no need for me to mention the interviewer since everyone else has the same opinion

[@colleenillsley7759]

Beautiful, gracious, articulate lady!! Thank you so much for sharing your story. The interviewer is unprofessional & very difficult to listen to. I found myself becoming more & more uncomfortable with his rudeness & disrespect. However, the resilience & perseverance of this gracious lady's spirit overcame his lack of professionalism.

[@jennifermendoza9579]

Thank you.for your beautiful story of survival. I am sorry the interview was a jerk, but I loved listening to your story. And seeing that life goes on with your beautiful children and grandchildren

[@teresawoodward6173]

I agree with new technology I wish they could replace his voice! If I was her relative I would have complained severely about his rude attitude and lack of empathy to her!

[@kittiesshortie5011]

It would be so good if the Foundation could go through all these tapes and eliminate the annoying color bars and loud tones at the beginning, and the super annoying announcements that “we’ve come to the end of this tape” followed by MORE blank space that happen constantly. There must be a way to make them more streamlined. I know it’s too late now, but MOST of the interviewers are super abrupt and rude. Probably all volunteers, but still distracting.

[@andy148]

I think it's mot really that important to edit the video's. Imagine how much work that would be. You can click the video forward any time you want

[@zulmabontiffe487]

" YES... ABSOLUTELY 💯

[@mrbatman4robin]

Great idea! Maybe you could volunteer and offer to do or finance the work for the Foundation.

[@ericaamerica8379]

I messaged them on KZbin and emailed the foundation itself offering to do captions but haven't heard back. I'd gladly do it at no cost.

[@betsybabf748]

You are listening to the hell these people went through and first thought to comment on is the bars being distracting to you and criticizing the interviewer, nitpicking? Wow.

[@tinamann3400]

When the interviewer is this rude I cannot even listen .

[@m.c.7119]

Although not God’s gift to interviewing (my appraisal of the majority of the interviewers in this series), the elegance, tact and class of the survivors being interviewed only make their interviewers shortcomings stand out even more.

[@barbaracastelli9695]

I just started listening to this lovely lady. I really want to hear her testimony but I can't handle the way this man is treating this survivor. Does he realize this is hard on the Holocaust survivors to share there stories. I hope he did no damage to her speaking out. I don't know much I can watch. If his triggering me off, it's affecting me on my abuse listening to him, its causing me to have anxiety. I couldn't trust him or feel safe. I can't imagine how she's feeling. If it was me I would walk out. If there's any family member there, they ask him to leave. They need to screen these interviwers better. I don't care if it's his personality or his volunteer to do this. This lady is such a gentle lady and that's what he needs to give to her out of respect for she's gone through.

[@fada7903]

Thank you, dear Mrs Ida, for telling us your story. Forever grateful 🩷

[@beckyjoppich1782]

This would have been much better if the interviewer wasn't so rude and annoyingly interrupting constantly

[@scarletibis3158]

This interviewer needs major sensitivity training. He sounds pompous, entitled, and impatient. if he talks to his wife the way he talks to this lovely woman, god save her.

[@katarinasvensson9801]

Maybe he is afraid of his wife so he bully an elderly lady instead.

[@wlouise1960]

The interviewer is very rude. Why would they hire such a person. He asks unnecessary questions! She is so sweet.

[@mrbatman4robin]

Do you realise this interview was made 25 years ago, in 1997? Actually he is excellent in keeping Ms Schwarz on track, in chronological order, asking also for further facts, names, dates and details. Everything expected from a testimony of a survivor or a witness.

[@binkytube]

@@mrbatman4robin You must be the interviewer. You are wrong, he is absolutely rude.

[@janetblanc7658]

@@binkytube judging from their family names, I believe all of the interviewers are also Jewish so I'm sure they were not lacking in compassion for the victims. They probably lost some family members themselves. They probably needed to stay businesslike.

[@TheLindaEdit]

Ida did a wonderful job telling her story of survival during the Holocaust. It made me so happy that she was able to keep her precious watch and family heirloom despite great threat to herself. I must say that the interviewer was horribly RUDE! He kept interrupting her and asking irrelevant questions. He showed no respect to this sweet woman. Shame on him.

[@teresawoodward6173]

I hope the people in charge note how rude he was to her! They should apologize fir him even though it’s been long ago!

[@bud64lynch]

Ive listened to most of these...I wonder why nobody stopped this one to pull the interviewer off of her....he was awful.

[@margaretchadd7630]

The person who interviewer needs some manners....

[@cherylstaples1790]

There should have been a rehearsal interview before he put this woman through such hell.

[@doranconroy5107]

Once again a horrible horrible interviewer damaging a very important record ! At about 120 minutes in he becomes so bad you almost want to reach through the screen grab him by the collar shake him a bit and say ""STOP INTERRUPTING !" She is NOT rambling and needing direction but you interrupt at some of the critical moments of her interview to ask her such historically important questions as " were the uniforms you sewed for the soldiers NEW uniforms or old?" ( Never mind that she had JUST begun to tell the story of how her sister returned to German Occuppied Poland from Russian Occupied Poland a decision that would take her life. He CRUSHED that to ask "WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO SEW?" You can see by this poor ladies face from time to time the absolute agitation that SHE feels with this guy and almost wished SHE would have just ignored him and continued going !

[@sergiouribe8491]

The interviewer is brash, has no sensitivity for someone who went through this ordeal, sometimes he even asks something twice that was already answered, which proves he was not listening carefully at some moments...very rude man.

[@mrbatman4robin]

The interview was done 25 years ago, in 1997. This interviewer is excellent in keeping Ms Schwarz on track, in chronological order, asking also for further facts, names, dates and details. Everything expected from a testimony of a survivor or a witness.

[@patriciabeyer8029]

Thank you for sharing. ❤❤

[@keithcitizen4855]

One of the most incredible stories of survival- did the best she could under the circumstances at each time period of the awful experience.

[@luisga3709]

may their memories be blessings Z'L''

[@zulmabontiffe487]

This interviewer sneezed several times and NEVER excused himself. That's NASTY..

[@cmariah80]

Wtf is wrong with the interviewer?? Is he even awake or listening??

[@michael.whelan2537]

Who the hell selected the interviewers for this project? So many of them seem downright rude, not to say insensitive and disrespectful. It compounds the sorrow and pity I feel for these victims.

[@glorias3838]

The tone used by this interviewer is not warm. This dear lady is recounting horrible details.

[@basialaufman6365]

i wish the interviewer show some emotion in his voice, wile conducting the interview

[@lindaroberts2297]

Let us be tolerant and supportive of the interviewers, I really only hear the Survivor's words, they are so powerful ............ must be hard to listen to such horror & not be able to 'react,' otherwise, the interviewer may be seen as showing bias to the Survivor Testimony .. ..

[@cheshirecat1212]

I’ve watched dozens of these testimonies and the vast majority of them have comments criticising the interviewees for their insensitivity. People need to understand that the interviewers aren’t journalists conducting an interview. The purpose of these interviews is to record history. The interviewees understand and support this. Again, I’ve watched dozens of these interviews. I’ve seen many breakdowns as memories that have been repressed for 50+ years come back with force about people they lost and the disturbing things they witnessed and experienced. Not one of them have left without finishing their testimony. Even with the most ‘insensitive’ interviewer. Also, I think a lot of this issue comes down to culture. One thing I learned about Jewish culture from living in Israel is that they are very direct. Jewish-Americans are similar though not as severe. White American culture avoids confrontation and prioritises ‘keeping it sweet.’ So by American standards, Jewish-Americans are still more direct. More often than not the interviewees will reciprocate this. The best example of this point that I’ve seen so far is the last 30 minutes of Brian Bergman’s testimony, which I highly recommend.

[@jlcollins7673]

The person doing this interview is very cold and rude. I have noticed that in several of these videos.

[@astark4077]

Yes david was rude don't let him conduct another interview. I could not stand him.

[@teresawoodward6173]

The interviewer sounded mean and demeaning to her! I despised his attitude! She deserved better!!! Whoever he was should be filtered out and another voice inserted!

[@andy148]

Interviewer has a winning personality

[@katarinasvensson9801]

Your sarcastic right

[@binkytube]

Sure, religion makes you feel united and hopeful, but these testimonials make you realize how misogynistic, exclusionary and silly most religions are; not eating kosher when you're starving, not shaving your beard when your family is in danger, not riding in a vehicle on Saturday when your life and your child's is at stake, and on and on. I don't see this as bravery, just foolishness. But, what a sweet woman. Much love to Ida.

[@RD-0101]

I agree with you, extremism in all religions is not good. All religions should be moderate.

[@janetblanc7658]

I'm inclined to agree. Our different religions have always set us apart from one another. There can only be one Creator; personally I bypass religious intervention and go right to the Top.

[@juliaturner6658]

HORRIBLE INTERVIEWER

[@mrbatman4robin]

Horrible? I actually found him excellent in keeping Ms Schwarz on track, in chronological order, asking also for further facts, names, dates and details. Substance. Everything expected from a testimony of a survivor or a witness.

[@MLove5357]

He lacks professionalism. There are better interview techniques he could benefit from.

[@robert-pj3bc]

I don't think the interviewer is bad, he's trying to get a factual record of this woman's story. He's documenting.

[@AB-fp2dq]

Very sad story

[@lottaholgersson5090]

I´m sorry I could not finish listening to this intervju. Ida is a lovely lady and i would have liked to listen to her story but that intervjuer made it hard to listen to it. He rushed her and was impatient and it made it hard for her to get in to her story and get a flow in the telling of her story. It is more him telling a story than her. Not at all proffesional. I am sorry... That is the first video of theese that I could not finish.

[@teresawoodward6173]

I agree but listen to her she was so precious! I am so proud of her despite her rude interviewer!

[@lottaholgersson5090]

Absolutely she is a wonderful lady . And her story is as important as all of them. I will try again at another time and see if I can see past the intervjuer, And I am sorry for him to maybe he did his best and was nervous or something, I dont know.@@teresawoodward6173

[@clairebeaumont5290]

What an awful person doing the interview, won't give the lady time to think....staccato questions fired at her like a damn rifle!!! Not good.....no empathy.....

[@brigitteswanepoel2464]

Does the foundation take any notice of how rude unkind uncompassionate the interviewers are that they employ. Gosh the survivors deserve so much better

[@CynthiaBillingham]

Why does she seem so confused about her sister the “bookkeeper “

[@ecb8995]

Please can Some body hit the interviewer? What a horrible way to interview people that suffered so much pain

[@janetblanc7658]

The interviewer is abrupt but it's necessary to get the facts straight for posterity. Only the survivors know the full story and the world needs yo hear it.

[@jenniferbaragar8254]

Great job Ida. David was a jerk.

[@tedgoldman9786]

Bbb

[@sueannebrown2709]

Bad, bad,bad interviewer. Ida was scared to death of him! Disgusting!

[@gonefishing167]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺