Jewish Survivor Erica Lawson Testimony | USC Shoah Foundation

[@djpanda255]

What a precious woman. After all she has endured, she is so sweet & kind. This lovely woman literally had to tell the interviewer to wait a minute. She interrupted her so frequently, and aggressively. Horrible. I just wanted to hear her speak. Blessed to hear Erica Lawson's courageous testimony. Rest in peace.

[@Albertwildhorseshoer]

I enjoyed Erica Lawson's personality so very much. Her interviewer, especially toward the end of this interview, troublingly cut her off too often. There were soft comments toward Erica, but too many times the interviewer almost bantered Erica. Erica was patient. The ego health of the interviewer is crucial. Erica's story, thankfully, is indestructable. I am so thankful for the possibility of hearing Erica's story. This interview with Erica was overmanaged. Firing questions to Erica interrupted Erica's train of thought too frequently. Rudely in my opinion - rude to the interested listener and to Erica. Erica was brilliant during this interview.

[@amyschwebke4007]

Good Lord, would the interviewer please SHUT UP!!!! Let this marvelously brave woman speak her story! The best interviewer is one that is NEVER SEEN NOR HEARD.

[@laurakirk9988]

Lovely delightful lady! An still smile and so full of life. May she be remembered forever and her memory cherished.

[@yvonnebranston6220]

I could listen to this ladys voice all day and night bless her xxxx

[@kittywaymo]

Yvonne Branston same ❤️

[@riamelo3531]

The interviewer doesn't even give the poor women a moment to take in or grieve having to relive the horrible things shes seen. Don't be so detatched and pushy. Gosh, she makes it overwhelming. Poor women has patience, my heart hurts for her.

[@ROYinka]

I knew she was Hungarian as soon as she started talking and the way she speaks is so adorable . Reminds me of my grandpa- he was also Hungarian - May he rest in peace. What an incredible lady - thank you for sharing your story

[@tinaxtony]

I hope this lady had lots of happiness after her dreadful experiences and lived to a ripe old age Bless her

[@louisemurray2461]

A Survivor! And Yes Steven Spielberg deserves every praise and accolade for encouraging and making these witness testimonies possible!

[@helencoven]

What a testimony this lady gave!its amazing she had such strong emotional resilience after the depravity and hell she had to live in!🙏🏻👍🏻🙏🏻👍🏻

[@JimVonSchmittou]

My heart goes out to her.

[@Miesss63]

I don’t even dare to imagine the horror this beautiful soul had to go through! I Will never forget her and her lifestory for as long as i live.

[@13realitytest13]

What's worst about the interruptions is that it makes Erika lose her train of thought. She's clearly already highly stressed out by retelling (and reliving) these events and struggling to remember details. and chronology. That means that the interruptions are especially destructive for her. She's already suffering to collect her thoughts. (And she wants, needs to get it out!) Of all the witnesses I've heard, I don't think I've yet heard any more distraught and frantic than Erika. It was painful to listen to, especially (I'm not yet even half way through) when she comes to a scene she finds most disturbing. (Like about the two toddlers being killed by the Germans - she can't actually utter the words of just what they did to the little ones.)

[@shaunalea823]

Such a neat lady, thankyou for sharing your story with us.

[@lisaineastcentralohio6805]

Thank you for theses stories,they are too important to forget,I am ,60 years old this is something we must never forget,It hurts my heart that they do not teach about , Hitler in school anymore.Lisa in East Central Ohio

[@lindaozana1850]

What an amazing human being. I fell in love with that lady. I wish I could have sat with her to hear her story, or do something nice for her. It s not hard for Spielberg to be Spielberg (without taking anything to his talent and the beautiful things he has done) but I think that she is the one deserving all the honors a human could get. What a beautiful soul!

[@ruthstclaire9247]

Yes the interviewer lacked training. The survivor showed superior social skills. Many of us might have been tempted to suggest the young lady take a hike!

[@valpurves45]

Interviewer Interrupts too much. This lady is lovely dignified

[@harriettemorgan6886]

What a wonderful smile.

[@meli2180]

I don't find the interviewer annoying like many say, however, I adore Erica. I only wish I could meet her face to face and listen to her speak forever. Most of the survivors say they don't feel like heroes, where in fact, in my view they are superheroes! How could humanity be so rotten? I'm listening to all these stories and still find the inhumanity, evilness, cruelty incomprehensible.

[@revitalsela4063]

Erica's testimony is the most heart breaking one I've hears and I've heard hundreds. My heart goes to her. The interviewer helped her with questions to help her remember.

[@debbiestreety2986]

Horrible interviewer and this precious lady who went through such unimaginable horrific treatment I think she desire the right to tell HER story as she see fit . but one thing I learned is to listen quietly to someone when they are sharing from their heart just listen

[@lindyashford7744]

I think these interviews are to create a historical record as well, the interviewer should not be criticised for trying to establish an accurate timeline of events. I am sure these testimonies will be used by other families to help recreate a picture of the pre war Jewish communities and show how events occurred to those communities. She is not interrupting, she is guiding the interview. This will absolutely be with the consent of the subject who will be fully aware of why they are offering their testimony.

[@dmc414141]

2:58:57 Good for her telling that interviewer to wait a minute. The lady won't let her get a word in edgewise geez!

[@linseyskelly9524]

Wonderful that she told her story! I wish the interviewer would let her finish her sentences. It's irritating. And we missed out on all the stuff she wanted to share with the world. Terrible interviewer!!

[@maggieG53]

God I hope the interviewer NEVER interviewed anyone else ever again. She wouldn't let her finish her stories properly🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️..Erica would start and that fool would cut her off😐😐...

[@Jenjenilou]

The interviewer talks far too much. Constantly interrupting. I've watched dozens of these interviews but this one is by far the worst. Erica's story is fascinating one, such a pity it is so fragmented with the incessant interruptions.

[@paulcannon5065]

Agreed. How do they find and why do they use these interviewers?

[@Mike-01234]

@@paulcannon5065 This was more then 20 years ago 1997 probably not easy to find lot of people who are experienced in interviewing for low cost. My guess the interviewer is just a college graduate in history. So many documentaries about the lives of criminal nazi's but no one even knows what the lives of the victims were like. I think that is what the interviewer is trying to get as much detail out of the survivor as possible. We can make a connection to the survivor how they had normal lives before invasion of Nazi's.

[@MiLa-ro3xw]

Her story was great but she needed a better interviewer

[@naeemtahir2012]

Love this lady.so sweet she seems to be.

[@joaniehgh165]

What a (real) beautiful lady

[@sineadmolloy4055]

What a wonderful lady. !! But the interviewer is dreadful. Never letting Erica finish a sentence, without interrupting every few minutes.

[@donnamcdonald3709]

The interruptions are so annoying. Let this poor lady complete her sad story!! We want to hear the lady! Who cares about food and silly details when your father has been tortured?

[@DyanabIT]

The absolutely worst interviewer I have ever seen! Ms. Lawson continued on in spite of the awful interviewer.

[@MariaAlvarado-zw7lj]

Thank you for sharing

[@themamachar]

Precious lady.

[@kittywaymo]

I love this adorable woman ❤️

[@laurap.5804]

why the interviewer kept asking: how long.....when this beautiful nice Mrs Lawson kept answering: Sorry, I don't remember????

[@louisemurray2461]

Fabulous Lady! Interviewer abysmal !Stops when not happy with Erica ! Almost censored, Want to say BBC controlled! So disjointed in places! Erica looks almost scared in places in case of not pleasing interviewer! Think so much has been lost due to method of interviewer or censorship by others! Many Blessings for Erica. But censorship is disgusting!

[@cynthiaswenson3262]

"1 teaspoon each of sugar, and our sores healed in a few days, don't say sugar is bad". Interesting!

[@loonylinda]

how rude to keep interrupting the lady, over trivial details

[@MariaAlvarado-zw7lj]

Much love ❤️

[@williamarthurfenton1496]

This isn't just a conversation, it's also an important record, which is why it's appropriate for the interviewer to try and keep her story in line and chronologically consistent.

[@sweetorchid28]

Great story. I wish I could’ve watch everything but the interviewer was just too annoying.

[@kashesan]

God bless Mrs Lawson. But the interviewer is a little abrupt.

[@manueladarazsdi9675]

This interviewer better keep her day job.

[@godsvibrations7878]

Interviewer was impatience which made her soooooo rude!! Ugh 🤦‍♀️ I love this lady’s heart and her energy is so soft and sweet inspire of all she experienced. Too bad the interviewer botched the interview. God bring this wonderful lady peace wherever she may be. To the interviewer if your reading this PLEASE FIND A DIFFERENT PROFESSION. You ruined this nice lady’s testimony. 🤦‍♀️

[@MattRichardsonX]

2:58:54 3:46:04 Indeed...

[@tinytotsrebornnursery1438]

My dads family is a lawson .. my daddy told me and my siblins that the lawsons are from england and on my moms side lewis or from germany ... we was born and raised in the united states we speak english ... im so sorry the holocaust happend i always read up and watch stories of survivors and what happend in the death camps thats wrong we are all gods ppl we all have the same blood color we are speak different languages we all have diffent tyed of skin color

[@carole5447]

Interviewer is horrible. She keeps in interuppting her. Cannot even watch it. The lady is older and you are asking questions from how many years ago. Had to shut it off.

[@robbie_]

I thought the interviewer was fine. Not sure what all the criticism is for. Otherwise, so sorry about what happened to this woman and her family. We must do everything we can to make sure such a thing never happens again.

[@helencoven]

Well said!👍🏻👍🏻I think the interviewer was completely fine as she was trying to get every piece of info. In some sort of chronological order!So appreciative these testimonies are here to allow this never to be forgotten!🌸🙏🏻👍🏻

[@kaycox5555]

Amazing story...I only wish things were spelled....like family names, citites, etc.

[@doribellan]

In the video’s description, it explains that these interviews are indexed at the given url.

[@mosquito5]

See Erica still has to hesitate in speaking the political truth I think this is the fall out from survivors having being Made to feel they can not or should not speak the truth only the real survivors has the right to speak I hope if Erica is still alive maybe not .. if not she will in be in the arms the everlasting father .where there is no crying .. Only happiness and joy ..

[@janewinkles8859]

A lovely lady

[@lonnykalf4104]

Such a Sweet woman

[@mariekatherine5238]

Encephalitis Lethargica, aftermath of 1918 Spanish Influenza.

[@RamonaRayTodosSantosBCS]

The Torah! It's the Bible!

[@tinytotsrebornnursery1438]

Yall aret to read that one aboult kitty on this channel its so sad