Stories of the Holocaust

Every year, there are fewer people alive to tell their stories. This program records the heartbreaking and sometimes heroic memories of Pittsburgh-area people who experienced the Holocaust. Among those who share their memories: Fritz Ottenheimer, who escaped Nazi Germany in 1939 and returned as an American soldier; Moshe Baran, a Jewish man who fought with the partisans against the Nazis; Sam Gottesman, who survived Auschwitz and other labor camps with his father, Isaak. From the WQED archives, this compilation was originally broadcast February 14, 2011.
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[@matthewhendy5785]

What I find amazing is that the people that survived this horror kept their own humanity, faith in and kindness to others.

[@glendaharris7219]

They thrived after the war...most had children.. those children often gave survivors grandchildren.. Hitler did not win.

[@CrystalDMay]

I don’t know why I watch so many documentaries on the holocaust (I think maybe my brain has a hard time accepting that level of evil as a non fiction event), but everytime I listen to their stories, the survivors absolutely fascinate me. They truly were warriors in every sense of the word. They battled through hell on earth & fought against all odds to survive, saw the worst possible things a human could see…and remained beautiful strong souls able to still see the world as mostly good. I have a hard time seeing this life as worth living, and nothing terrible has even happened to or around me. I don’t think I would be able to go on living after seeing something like that with my own eyes. To call them inspiring is not enough, really. Their indomitable spirit is absolutely legendary.

[@redwater4778]

I have been watching documentaries now about the ethnic cleansing going on in the Ukraine during the war years. Jews and Poles had to flee. The Germans and Soviets gave them refuge. Many volunteered to go to work camps or farms in Germany . They were given food clothes and housing and work.

[@roshniiqbal8591]

Watch gaza

[@kathybaker4782]

I agree! I don't know why I watch so many stories either on the holocaust it's so heartbreaking. But, I think I'm amazed at how people survived this horror and went on to lead productive lives and the survivors have such a quiet inner strength. I don't know if I could be so calm and resilient...

[@f.frederickskitty2910]

My family was from Mutterstadt, Germany - some immigrated to the US but not all of us survived or made it out. Please take a moment to honor and remember those that suffered or lost their lives in the inhuman, inhumane hell holes of the death camps. ❤

[@lorithompson7943]

Beautifully told examples of heroism & survival.

[@kikishoshannacarter3089]

Beautiful story.

[@lalithabaggu6514]

No this is horror bul story

[@kryssie1866]

Thank you for this docu ❤

[@vickiecochran1527]

Thank you for sharing your story

[@robertafierro5592]

I'm so.glad there are some happy reunions! My Grandfather was a Battle Wounded WW1, Foot Soldier, he emigrated to the USA with my Grandmother literally on foot

[@natalieneumann8875]

what a wonderful man i cant stop crying

[@brendalandes1813]

Great heroes. I agree that many of our “ soap flake “ youth could not cope( I think) I hope they never will have to face such horrors, However we all should appreciate everything we have today, and help the starving by sending donations.

[@anonyvatedalexander5902]

These survivors are sooooo remarkable. They are still good people who choose to love. I haven’t heard of any of them resorting to drug abuse upon return. They aren’t filled with evil and revenge. They are all class acts who speak eloquently. They are an era gone. Americans with all of their petty complaints have zero clue what these people endured and rose above. America is trying to destroy the family life. Everyone is a victim of something. Americans because of what Hollywood chooses to mold us into is slowly devolving into a moral-less, crass and crude swearing, not valuing family, drug abused, mental health riddled country who values anger speech, oversexualization of people and children, faithless (devil-worshipping now) country. It’s going to get worse and worse. They have no clue what matters. They only think of selfies. So sick.

[@margyeoman3564]

Well spoken!! True spoken!! Makes us ill all over North America. Year after year.

[@anonyvatedalexander5902]

@@margyeoman3564 thank you Margo. At least our own families still maintain these values. I’m grateful for that ❤️

[@robertafierro5592]

They don't make People like this anymore..long gone, Stand up Men, to say the very least! See how Life is when People care about you and you, them..? Some Families are and always be Toxic, others see the real value in time wisely with your folks especially if you can see its over..People are dying younger folks, especially,..

[@tamathalamb9193]

I agree with you! Until we realize and go back to family first our country will continue on as it is 🤦‍♀️. I shudder at what would happen if our youth had to go to war these days…. We would be doomed. They would be crying calling their Momma’s. These folks went through pure hell on earth . There is no excuse for humanity to allow this to happen.

[@packisbetter90]

People around during great depression and world war II were definitely built different.

[@geraldinepetress3766]

You know it's a sin to let someone go hungry, it's a shame. 😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@user-yy9oz5dt3u]

My grandma was born when her parents where running away from the holocaust😢

[@seemarajderkar3019]

Amazing story of struggle, survival and triumph narrated by Sam. Very touching incidents and memories. Thanks for sharing your story, Sam!! One request/ suggestion to the makers of these films..... kindly do add subtitles in English,because sometimes some of the spoken words, the pronunciation of words, even though in English, is not audible / understandable.Thanks.

[@WQED]

Thank you! If you select the closed captioning option located in the bottom right corner of the video, you'll be able to select captions for it. :)

[@natalieneumann8875]

i cant imagine never knowing if i’d see my dad again ugh

[@alisondalglish6250]

What a beautiful man❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@margyeoman3564]

Sam Gottesnan seems so like an Irishman, both in looks and warm charactor. Even his cheerfulness. At the end Fritz Ottenhiemer says he learned the 'sfate of the German population was not that they were 65 million murderers, but that they were 65 million bystanders. This is what we can see coming in our North American countries. Political, social and moral corruption and, in Canada, far too many unawake and unaware bystanders not understandung evil agendas.

[@grannysfamily8804]

I wonder why they would send them to a hospital? When they were trying to starve them.

[@gavinpennington4710]

Whos that ? LOL

[@kevinbrown9597]

It is all very sad but we must put the past behind us. Lots of bad things happened in the Past. Bengal Famine where 10 million died in 1770 .. 6 million perished in Congo between 1997 and 2005. 3 million in Cambodia in 1977 to 1982. We have to forget it and move on.

[@Mohawkwarrior999]

So Jews should just “forget “ this ever happened! You mad? What happened to these people should NEVER be forgotten.

[@robertafierro5592]

@@Mohawkwarrior999 I think what he's saying, might be more against the lines of getting over something, the something has become, in some ways of course, a money making series of traveling museum shows and other events, which are now the main source of income for some people now, when one profits from Tragedy, there's never going to be one way to look at that. All Mr. Brown is saying, in my opinion, of course, Never Forget, but for some, the Hocaust is becoming a Movement. Let's try to focus on the Present. How can we bring g about Peace, just for today? Are we able to put our anger aside for the sake of Peace today? Can we stop bombing each other TODAY? TODAY is the Present.

[@ICee712]

@@Mohawkwarrior999 wasn’t just the Jews. But yes. The past shouldn’t be forgotten. Although nobody in modern day should be persecuted for the sins of another.

[@chrispbacon3042]

NO Kevin Brown you are dead wrong! There is no way this should forget this and matter of fact it need to be spoken of loudly & clearly otherwise another Hiltler or Starlin will strike.

[@duncanchizizi6543]

@@chrispbacon3042 this is true. forgetting is being stupid.