What historically important object did Ruby Wax discover in her parents' attic?

Ruby Wax's Jewish parents fled Vienna and the Nazis for America in 1938. 'They took the war with them and brought it to our kitchen,' says the comedian and mental-health campaigner at the start of this remarkable episode.
They raised their only daughter in a dramatically dysfunctional household - Ruby's father was volatile and her mother 'hysterical... screaming in the street.' Ruby wonders if her own mental illness had its origins in her upbringing and the trauma her parents went through, or whether it is in her family's genes.
Ruby journeys to central Europe, where she learns about her parents' flight and the distressing fate of family who remained in Vienna during the war, and she makes a startling discovery about her great-aunt and great-grandmother, which is both harrowing and surprisingly affirming.
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[@CatLovezASMR.Funny.Shorts]

I think her dad didnt tell her anything bad about his time in prison because he didnt want his daughter to know about what he suffered maybe he couldnt talk about it cause it was too painful to remember and talk about.

[@susannefitzpatrick9955]

You're right BUT from the child's point of view, it's like living with strangers, trust me. Hellish.

[@seafishingfool3146]

My grandad fought the Japanese in Burma and refused to talk about it .All he would say was he will never buy anything made by those bastards. The wartime generation went through hell but never ever spoke of their suffering

[@POGGIOALSERE]

Agreed, I used to try to ask my uncles and brother about their experiences fighting in Europe during World War II, Battle of the Bulge/Normandy and they never would talk about it and never wanted to. Furthermore, my family loved to travel, but they never went back to Europe for any reason whatsoever because of what they, experienced during the war.

[@lewis8423]

My grandfather was in Burma. And would tell us tiny bits of what went on. He revealed just before he died that what he told us was the tip of the ice berg

[@Austin8thGenTexan]

I had no idea whom Ruby Wax is, but I am now very glad to know. I stress very heavily to everyone with family photos to write who the people are on the back of their photos - and the year / location if known. It makes me sad to come across old "orphaned" family photographs in thrift stores - no one knows their identities. 🖼️

[@jennrobi38]

The world must NEVER forget!😢😢

[@padghd]

They forgot and they are repeating it!

[@michaelschuberth7802]

the world has forgotten and it sadly NEVER learns from it's mistakes......

[@CanMoose]

It should be taught in history class in all schools

[@CanMoose]

​@@michaelschuberth7802yes..history will repeat itself if forgotten

[@fabigrossi2976]

Here in Germany many of us started saying recently: Never again is NOW.

[@fionnagrant6636]

The aerobics instructor thing, is a similar response to the story portrayed in the movie Life is Beautiful. He was protecting Ruby and himself from reliving the horrible past. It is a kind of rebellion, refusing to give credence to the horror.

[@nancyhuffman5802]

I understand why they probably didn't mention their horrific experience because they didn't want their children to suffer too. My father was a POW and never talked about it with his children. It was his friends who told me some of the stories about what they went through. They felt they survived because of mybdad.

[@Consrignrant]

Her parents were abusive. For whatever reason, it wasn't to protect Ruby.

[@patrickwalker2357]

My grandfather never spoke about it , but most of his family disappeared in camps , or just did not come home in Budapest in 44/45 ., we did not discuss it or talk about it . Though we went often to Budapest in the late 1960 s to 1970 s and saw old cousin’s it was not talked about , so much was the pain !.

[@TheAmtwhite]

I do wonder how anyone could be so naive about the Holocaust. Is that an American thing? I learned about so young as a Canadian.

[@Commenting-answering]

We learned about it too. Ms. Wax seems to have issues poor woman. Her parents were obviously disturbed.

[@caglmdpoof9119]

Not an American thing. Signed, Marylander, US

[@lynnhubbard844]

of course not...we know

[@melissabakewell2433]

An American thing? Really? You’re basing one woman’s personal journey of her family history for a whole country’s knowledge? Is that a Canadian thing?

[@TheAmtwhite]

@@melissabakewell2433 No the assumption that American's are not very knowledgable about the rest of the world, or world history, is a Canadian (and worldwide) thing.

[@NG-cx1mm]

Unbelievable that she did not know

[@lynnhubbard844]

how can she not know? Doesn't everyone?

[@7135HOLLY]

"Do you think he was scared"? Ruby comes across as absolutely batsh@t crazy.

[@RichieRich1234RICH]

Yep. It’s always been part of her charm to be honest. Zany. She’s the person who asks the the daftest questions and doesn’t care. She’s hilarious the way she sees the world. She also was born way after the war so her growing up is completely from a different perspective.

[@CATAGUILAR]

She certainly is scary !

[@Consrignrant]

​@@CATAGUILAR No she's not. She's a lovely interesting woman. She also has clinical depression.

[@CATAGUILAR]

I just read that Ruby Wax is bi polar … Well that explains a lot !!!

[@eyeswideopen7777]

Beautiful treasure box stoll filled with memories

[@WhereThatLongGrassGrows]

The funny thing about that generation is that they knew unspeakable suffering; so, they simply never spoke about it. They left gaping wounds in their children's hearts, just trying to do what they thought was best. How sad.

[@lynnhubbard844]

why keep showing her feet? Walking, sitting...weird

[@barbaracarlson1331]

Which scented geraniums do you have? No one carries those any where near me and I so want a rose scented geranium again!

[@CH-od8ni]

May I ask where this quote is from? I would love to understand it

[@barbaracarlson1331]

This was my statement and was supposed to go on a gardener’s channel! I have no idea how it ended up here. Sorry to confuse anyone. Sometimes things get ready messed with on line.

[@naesynaenae9385]

"Don't mention the war" indeed

[@stevengatti7261]

You've chopped these up so badly, with no sequence numbers, impossible to follow.

[@laurencaulton103]

There was no invasion. The Austrians were welcoming of the Nazis. It was called the Anschluss. This poor woman seems to know nothing about the Holocaust. She has trauma, even if she did not know their past. Many people don't pass on this type of personal history.

[@Bill-cv1xu]

As if the Austrians had a choice. The Nazis would have steam rolled over them if they were opposed...😮

[@tjs114]

She's willfully ignorant. She said admitted it, "I don't even watch ww2 movies." Or words to those effect.

[@soulembodied]

She is heavily traumatised. You clearly know nothing of Ruby's past, so I would politely suggest you refrain from passing judgement.

[@Tawadeb]

No Austrians weren't welcoming

[@sabraeast]

@@tjs114you must not be the grandchild of holocaust survivors

[@semsemeini7905]

Weird her family were silent. All my family did was speak about it. And they fled Vienna just before the Nazis took over. Actually there were some who were ordered to jump out of the window at the Hotel Metrople where the Gestapo had their headquarters.

[@kikidevine694]

Different people deal in different ways

[@asicdathens]

My grandmother hated Germans with a passion.

[@semsemeini7905]

Ditto. And Austrians...........................Viennese.......................

[@eyeswideopen7777]

Still operating as Nazis 2024

[@Galva26]

So sad what people to do each other, and now Zionists doing the same to poor people of Palestine.

[@user-xt3gh6du9r]

Ruby needs a make under

[@michelles2299]

How rude