"Women’s experiences are different" | Gerda Frieberg | Women’s History Month | USC Shoah Foundation

“Women had different experiences in [the] camp. Women were beaten by men. Women were afraid to be raped. Women were in the camp - the young married women, mothers - the children were torn away from them. And there, they saw German children walking with their families. Women had been put to work in places where men couldn’t work, that it was too difficult for men. It was a very different experience to be a woman prisoner than it was a man prisoner. I’m not minimizing the men’s experiences, but there was a difference.”
March is Women’s History Month in the United States. Today, we feature the testimony of Jewish Holocaust survivor, Gerda Frieberg. In her testimony, Gerda highlights women-specific experiences in concentration camps, including sisterhood, menstruation, childbirth, and sexual assault.
On January 9, 2023, we lost Gerda, a 97-year-old outspoken and inspiring speaker/activist. As a teenager, Gerda’s chutzpah (Yiddish for boldness, audacity) contributed greatly to her survival. A self-proclaimed “troublemaker,” Gerda took risks to save her and her sister’s lives.
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#GerdaFrieberg #WomensHistoryMonth #JewishHolocaustsurvivor #sisterhood #childbirth

[@ursulaoreilly3013]

'because I found other ways. I don't give up. I never did. I never will.' Inspirational words from an amazing brave survivor. Fantastic lady. Bless her and all survivors of these horrors.

[@terrilowe3530]

Bearing witness to her story. And all the stories of these survivors. The Shoah Foundation deserves so much honor for recording them. And all these years later to find them on KZbin. Thankful.

[@Nina_Olivia]

“The world wants to forget and I won’t let them”. What a remarkable woman with such strength, resilience and honour!

[@deniseb.5883]

Remarkable. Gutsy, intelligent, brave, loyal to her family and her commitment to telling this story, over and over, is courageous and spiritually generous.

[@meadowgisi8038]

I think that an interesting observation from this survivors account is that this testimony had less brutality in it. And therefore, you can see the devastating loss of family and place. It's a brutal torture of the mind what these people lived through. It helps me as a survivor with grief and loss in my alcoholic family: the financial destitution, homelessness, the lack of parenting and an undying grief. Those who suffered genocide know torture in discusting quantity. I love the resilent!! To the grandchildren and children of this woman: I wish you peace through intergenerational trauma. Thanks for helping me consider my son as a survivor. We thank you for lighting a spiritual lamp for us. Thank you Gerda!!!!!

[@gonefishing167]

How beautifully said. You put in words that I could not. Thank you 🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@duckiegirl58]

The raw emotion had me choked up. She's a great voice for the survivors.

[@gonefishing167]

What a brave lady. As she said, she was lucky and she did come across some good Germans. Time and circumstance perhaps. However, she survived and built a life with her husband, her beloved mother and children. I can’t imagine going through all that and then you are left alone in a strange country, probably not knowing the language, to give birth to a child. So brave. So happy you managed to retrieve at least a little jewelly, it’s not the worth of it that matters, it is the priceless heritage of it. Like so many who give testimony, the eyes are so sad. It must be so hard to speak of these horrors and the remembering of them. It’s always with them I think. Thank you Mrs Frieberg, the world must listen to you if we are to survive. Blessings to your family and families.🙏🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@Paula_Shelton]

What a beautiful, strong, intelligent woman. I wish I had known her and I hope many generations hear her testimony.

[@marymoriarity2555]

Omg this woman’s bravery, to even talk about the past, obviously hurt a lot, but her story is so important to the youth of today who do not understand what is people went through. I met a survivor, one time in a years ago, who still, of course, had the tattoo number. This was a gentleman whose granddaughter was brought up in the United States, and he was so proud of her. It made me cry.

[@laurap.5804]

that is the most amazing family story I have ever listened to!!!! What a father!!!What a mother!!! What this LadY!!!! Astonishing.

[@nwadi6408]

“No one can live without hope.” So true.

[@hopefulagnostic336]

May her memory be a blessing.

[@fuensantacampillogomez3288]

A lifetime dedicated to the memory of the Holocaust deserves all my respect and consideration. Their fight will not be forgotten.

[@rescuepetsrule6842]

Yet another testimony from a true survivor that beat all the odds. There's an old saying: "Women are like Tea bags- you never know their strength until they're in hot water." Without self-respect, which the Nazis destroyed in most, and faith in one's self, it's impossible to survive so much boiling water. SALUTE!

[@renataloren2384]

Amazing story brave lady. Thank you for sharing your horrific experience. May God bless all who did not survive. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️

[@helenh493]

Again, I have to say I really liked your story of testimony, but more, I loved what you said at the end of your story. It was so heart felt, so passionate and straightforward, and so True, of what can happen again, and hopefully will not as this last Holocaust, but if we don't take notice and take note to not hide our heads in a hole like an ostrich but to do or at the very least to say something.. speak out and be counted, speak for the ones who can't, or who are too afraid to. Be their Champion.. be Humane.. and Speak Out against Injustice.

[@jackmanjack211]

what a fine woman. i do hope her chidren see this podcast. wonderful spokeswoman

[@Ferp50]

up the volume. were can no t hear.

[@RowanWarren78]

Try earphones, that may help

[@chrissims3810]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am so sorry this happened in your life.

[@maxinerowe2925]

Brilliantly spoken

[@TeatimeThotsWithMorgan]

The opening moments made me feel really nervous and sad. Her eyes were so sad and scared. She clearly didn't like talking about this. But she also understood the importance of doing so. I've seen those eyes before in people in my own life. It hurts to see it. She's very brave.

[@Bridgette_1111]

Remarkable warrior woman 🙌❤

[@helenh493]

I have read several testimonies/documents, they are all good and very much appreciated. However, some are more liked and appreciated than some others, favored, not for what you went through or didn't go through, or if you experienced more or less, they are all tragic, traumatic, and heart wrenching. My favorite testimonies are on how you carry-through with telling your story, and what you are trying to get your readers to understand out of your story, besides "Never Again" which is important, although it is becoming very clear that history does indeed repeat itself, which it is around the world now. But, what I really liked in this testimony is the "True Fact" about WOMEN relating in all aspects. Women feel, see, assimilate, comprehend, experience, and relate with, etc. (not in any given order, but as much as can be taken in at once), its different than men in tragic and stressful times like what they had to go through. They did have to go through same experiences, but differently. Even the taking away from loved ones, and especially of their parents and children... the children are our Hearts if not out Souls as well. We are bonded with the women in our families, through blood and through generations, we are all one. Men are different, they are singular, men may bond but more loosely. Blame it on science between women's hormones and men's testosterone. or, of how fathers and Grandfathers teach their boys to be the providers and pillars in the family, and mothers and Grandmothers teaching their little girls to become mothers and nurturers with dolls and younger siblings. Also, I want to mention, this brave woman of testimony, who wasn't shy to speak out about the fear of Rape. It doesn't make any difference, if by the SS guards, or by their Russian victors. I know its happened, it has always been so throughout centuries of time, and these dark times of the Holocaust years were no different. There were many testimonies by Holocaust surviving women, who had not only mentioned this as well, of the rapes, but in some instances have witnessed it, either by accidently coming upon it happening, or by watching their friend or daughter being grabbed and carried away by a group of guards or other such men, in unorderly approaching way and manner, taking (carrying) a young woman to a different place separate from where they didn't usually take the women prisoners to question or otherwise. These unfortunate young women were never seen again. These were real testimonies by surviving holocaust women, who saw these happenings.. and these young women were Jewish. . B

[@MaryDeliaLynch]

You are so gifted, Madam. God be with you always.❤

[@bridgethickey4953]

This Ladie is by far the best witness I’ve ever heard on the Holocaust. God Bless her.

[@OttoByOgraffey]

Rest in eternal bliss.

[@raquelarchuleta6430]

Much respect to this woman and and all Holoucaust survivors ! I will not be silent I promise you that, if this happens again . And I hate to say it but it starting to happen again… It’s ridiculous ! I stand with my Jewish friends and the people ❤🙏

[@terencecollins196]

What an incredible woman! She kept her Faith and persevered in life.

[@laurasating9828]

Great interview. God bless.

[@corrinebayraktaroglu5695]

Amazing woman .thank you for sharing .

[@cristinaalvarezarena5202]

Too bad the sound is so low

[@brunosieder7915]

Unglaublich diese Zeit noch einmal wider so zu erleben.

[@helenblake9811]

I just loved this woman's story. She was feisty and logical even at a very young age. Maybe, some people don't see God in her story , but I do. What a wonderful woman. Loved listening to her.

[@olympiahendrix4392]

I see it big time.

[@MaryDeliaLynch]

Beautiful,heroic, blessed. Such a witness God remain with you !

[@diannehalliday2165]

May God continue to bless you in your wonderful example of humans overcoming in spite of pure evil coming at you/us

[@ceciliagonzalez7010]

We Will Always Remember!!!!

[@blancabulgrin5560]

Thank u beautiful lady for your wise words !!!

[@Ellieangel777]

Please make the volume higher before uploading these, it ruins the whole experience tensing to hear.

[@trisbon1]

Amazing, amazing woman.

[@MrAnyoneman]

Words cannot express how brave this lady was

[@dorothycullen7689]

Loved what she said at the end More people should watch the end

[@meretsteiner3124]

One thing: it is remarkably silent. Otherwise such an impressive video. Thanks.

[@Mike-01234]

What an amazing story of courage, and bravery. IMO these people were the real heroes of WW2 they were unarmed all they had was bravery, and their intelligence to outsmart the Germans to survive.

[@Forheavenssake1ify]

So odd that in war, if you die, you are a hero. If you live, you are not.

[@celestryalcelestryal6690]

Why is it that almost every video story I watch by you I cannot hear it? Right now I have my speakers and the sound on my computer up at 100% and I must sit right in front of the speakers and even then i must strain to hear it. I end up with a migraine. Is there something you can do?

[@graemehutchison5696]

Brave lady xx

[@janiesmys461]

We never heard from Truman. But she tried. She always tried.

[@stefansteigerwald417]

I think I have the same ancestors with your Adler family or they married into my family😃😃

[@OlgaJuarez791]

Me encantaría escuchar en español todos estos testimonios que publican en ingles

[@christinephur9130]

No volume!

[@stefansteigerwald417]

I think I have the same ancestors with your family or they married into my family

[@tamaramorton8812]

I want to listen to her story but I can’t hear it! I have no earphones.

[@alison__16]

Buy some, they're cheap as chips these days

[@cm1642]

What bothers me is that noone updates these videos to fix sound problems! So disrespectful to put these videos out there like this!

[@tamaramorton8812]

I agree! You can always turn the sound down but not make it louder. Whoever posts these should consider that. I’ve watched quite a few of these because a whole branch of my family disappeared in Germany during World War II and I feel like I owe it to them to listen to these stories. So I really am annoyed that I can’t hear this and that’s preventing me from watching it.

[@Mike-01234]

You have to understand this was the mid 1990's these were not made last year. The project goals were to capture the testimony of 50k Holocaust survivors in the 1990's before they were too old or passed on. They sent out 100's of people all over the world to get these videos done in a short amount of time. The equipment back then was big and bulky not an iPhone with a Bluetooth lapel microphone. Easy fix put on some headphones and turn up the volume.

[@cm1642]

@@Mike-01234 Thats got nothing to do with fixing the sound quality today. The technology is there now and it can be done!

[@RowanWarren78]

Try earphones

[@lindachambers6053]

Can't hear it

[@maxinerowe2925]

You do matter

[@janetpattersonskene6854]

This woman has moved mountains: she will not allow mankind’s fickle tendency to look away and forget about the unspeakable horrors that have happened to these millions of completely innocent people!! Gerta’s determination is most admirable: she has been wholehearted - and completely successful in her endeavour to guarantee that we will Never deny what happened - and we will Never forget. She is correct. Survivors are never liberated - Not in this lifetime. They are still there and they remain there until they find some way to resolve these things. And i don’t believe that can be done while in this world. How can they? The cruelties and inhumanities are too overwhelming. We don’t have enough love or mercy to absolve it! I like to think of her, and all the others, together again in heaven. I most sincerely believe that there is such a place where we go after this life is finished. There is no death and no darkness there. We meet our maker and we are healed. Our brokenness is lovingly mended. Any and all events that do not directly contribute to our positive development - are washed away - totally forgotten. We all volunteer to come to the evolutionary worlds to learn. But after, we return home where there is absolutely No suffering. To the place where there is only love. Where our loved ones wait for us.

[@wandahegens1337]

Most of these interviews can hardly be heard. The column is too low.

[@maxinerowe2925]

I never miss a vote

[@spiralrose]

It is impossible to hear the people being interviewed or the interviewer. Maybe something is wrong with their mics

[@alison__16]

Probably because the interviews were recorded decades ago when technology isn't what it is today

[@debbrunette650]

Please fix the audio. Thanks

[@vanessabee2093]

I’ve had good luck with earphones. It is probably because the sound equipment they used back then was not as good as what we have now

[@Ana-sk4wx]

Amazing story! Except the fan fact : the American army raped 3000 women in France in one day during the liberation. It has been a common thing, the Russians have not been an exception. After all, they liberated most of the Europe and one should show some respect to those brave people. Instead, as I see racism never dies.

[@apippin774]

I have the volume up to max and i can barely hear her or the interviewer, this is bad!

[@alison__16]

Earphones solve that

[@laviadellacabala970]

Very bad interviewer. She kept on interrupting. So annoying

[@jamiedalton2623]

The audio is dreadful

[@teresalacaze9241]

Man I feel like a woman!

[@frankcaciques1318]

Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: For the wrath of God is upon them to the uttermost. "Let His Blood be upon us and upon our children"

[@kaudsiz]

✋🦻

[@marl6908]

1:12:40 Oy Vey! Not the money!

[@alisonabuhadema659]

You're a terrible person!!!

[@joanthompson5606]

What's YOUR DAMAGE, evil sicko?