Holocaust Survivor Shares Experiences

[The Instructor]

Holocaust Survivor Shares Experiences

Woman survived Nazi concentration camp
By Lori Kersey (Contact) | The Tribune

Published Sunday, May 9, 2010


Irene Zisblatt had a simple message for everyone who heard her story Friday: Do not forget.

“We must learn the lesson of the Holocaust,” said Zisblatt, the only member of her family to survive a Nazi concentration camp. “Never forget what hatred leads to.”

The author of “The Fifth Diamond,” Zisblatt spoke with high school students from Ironton, Dawson-Bryant and Chesapeake Friday morning and again for the public later that night.

Zisblatt’s experience with hatred began when she was a child. A Hungarian Jew, she was thrown out of her school at the age of nine.

“From that day on my life changed and so did the world,” she said.

After spending some time in a ghetto, Zisblatt and her family were herded onto a cattle train and told they were going to a vineyard. The cattle train cars were packed with 100 people. For five days they traveled with no room to move around and only a bucket in the center of the car to use as a restroom.

“When the little pail filled, the smell was unbearable,” she said.

Instead of a vineyard, Zisblatt and her family found themselves at Auschwitz-Birkenau, a concentration camp in Poland. There she was separated from her parents and her five siblings. It was the last time she saw them alive.

She was able to keep her mother’s diamonds throughout the ordeal. She wears them around her neck.

While her family presumably died in the gas chambers, Zisblatt miraculously survived, having escaped with the help of one of the gas chamber operators.

While on a death march in 1945, Zisblatt and a friend escaped and were ultimately saved by American soldiers.

After the war, Zisblatt’s uncle in New York took her in. She did not talk about her experiences in the Holocaust for 50 years until her son was working on a history project about World War II.

These days she spends her time speaking about her experiences, part of a promise she made to honor the memory of her family and other victims.

“I don’t want the world to forget what happened to us because I don’t want it to happen again,” she said.

The history club at Ohio University Southern sponsored the event. Club president Sybrina Hodges said it is important for today’s youth to Zisblatt’s story.

“We need to know the truth and that genocide happens,” Hodges said. “They need to be vigilant in making sure that doesn’t happen in the future.”

http://www.irontontribune.com/news/2010 ... /#comments

[The Instructor]

I wish I had known this was taking place.

I would have gone to hear her speak.

[mstangmom]

Have you ever been to the Holocaust museum?

It is reallly cool to see. very sombering too but the things they have in there and the recordings and videos really make you stop and think. If you go through it and you don't get a least a tear in your eye you are not human. that is for sure.

my daughter and I both made sure we grabbed a persons name booklet at the beginning and I would not let her read it until we were almost done with the tour. her person did not make it, mine did. thier stroies were facinating to say the least.

[Rhiannon]

My son's 10th grade history class went to see her. He said she was an excellent speaker and it was sad what she went through. He really enjoyed listening to what she had to say.

[Orange and Brown]

A neighbor of mine who I used to spend a lot of time with Liberated 3 different camps. He told me the things he saw and it made me sick. He is in his 80's and he says he still wakes up with cold sweats and nightmares over what he saw in those camps.

[The Instructor]

Have you ever been to the Holocaust museum?

It is reallly cool to see. very sombering too but the things they have in there and the recordings and videos really make you stop and think. If you go through it and you don't get a least a tear in your eye you are not human. that is for sure.

my daughter and I both made sure we grabbed a persons name booklet at the beginning and I would not let her read it until we were almost done with the tour. her person did not make it, mine did. thier stroies were facinating to say the least.

No, I haven't been there but would like to go.

I took a class at Shawnee several years ago on the the Holocaust.

I read books and watch every movie I can find on it.

I recently watched "The Paper Clip Project" documentary which is very good.

[Space Cowboy]

My uncle was in Pattons 3rd Army. I never heard him say anything about the death camps until I enlisted. The inhumanity that he witnessed, when he spoke about it (which was rarely), would make you break down and cry.

Just another reason to distrust moslems when they say the holocaust never happened.
At least, for me.

[kantuckyII]

Do you people know that right now we have an administration that is turning it's back on the Jewish people...right now?! Don't think that this was isolated to World War II, the world still hates the Jew.

Those who pray, pray that those over us will have their heart broken for Israel and realize that these are the Chosen and that is THEIR Land!

[The Instructor]

My uncle was in Pattons 3rd Army. I never heard him say anything about the death camps until I enlisted. The inhumanity that he witnessed, when he spoke about it (which was rarely), would make you break down and cry.

Just another reason to distrust moslems when they say the holocaust never happened.
At least, for me.

I can't imagine seeing what he saw.

I would like to talk to someone like him or a survivor but I realize it is painful to do so.

I am glad there are people who will talk about it like the lady in this article.

[mstangmom]

At the museum they everything on display.

The mattress' they slept on was filled with the hair cut off of those executed,they have one area filled with nothing but shoesfrom those executed. they have a train car there they they were alll cramped into, and so much more a lot of what you see at they museum really puts things into perspective.

[KVDW]

I am glad there are people who will talk about it like the lady in this article.

it seems to me that this sort of thing would just perpetuate the "hate" but thats just me.

[Der_Kommissar1968]

I am glad there are people who will talk about it like the lady in this article.

it seems to me that this sort of thing would just perpetuate the "hate" but thats just me.

Perpetuate the hate? I don't get it. What's not to hate about the Nazis and their extermination of Jews? You've really lost me there.

[The Instructor]

I am glad there are people who will talk about it like the lady in this article.

it seems to me that this sort of thing would just perpetuate the "hate" but thats just me.

Hate for what Hitler did?

Yes.

Hate toward others?

No.

[KVDW]

I am glad there are people who will talk about it like the lady in this article.

it seems to me that this sort of thing would just perpetuate the "hate" but thats just me.

Hate for what Hitler did?

Yes.

Hate toward others?

No.

i seri0ously doubt if hitler harmed many, if any, jews, but his german followers did. so what do you say, let's you and me and der commie go uot and eliminate a bunch of germans today... and mayby throw in a jap or two. they killed a bunch of our boys didn't they. lets hate and eliminate a bunch them too.

REMEMBER THE ALAMO !!!!!

[The Instructor]

You make zero sense.

[Der_Kommissar1968]

I second that Instructor. At first, I thought he was suggesting that Hitler wasn't such a bad guy. Then I started thinking that surely, anyone who has even skimmed a history book couldn't possibly think that. Then I was about to get out my secret decoder ring to translate what his train of thought was here. But you confirmed it, he's just not making any sense.

[KVDW]

the sense is, that if you continue to go around making speeches, writing books, etc, about how a lot of german people ravaged, raped, and killed your friends and relatives ( generations ago) aren't you just perpetuating and prolonging the "hate" for german people in general? there are already hundreds of books and movies, etc. about it for thoser history buffs that are interested. is it necessary to continue to pass that hate on to generation after generation by making speeches to young people about it?

i'm in no way saying that hitler wasn't bad or that the holocaust didn't happen or that it should be forgotten but as you said, if you have ever even skimmed through a history book you know what the holocaust was about so why the need to keep preaching it?

the reason given for the speech was to ensure that it never happens again. do you honestly believe if another person comes along with a "hitler" mindset that he is going to be affected or give a hoot about what this lady experienced, felt, or said? hell, hitler could see first hand the atrocities that was going on around him and it didn't slow him too much so how is a speech going to prevent it in the future?

just perpetuating the hate imho.

(sorry you can't grasp this concept).

[Orange and Brown]

the sense is, that if you continue to go around making speeches, writing books, etc, about how a lot of german people ravaged, raped, and killed your friends and relatives ( generations ago) aren't you just perpetuating and prolonging the "hate" for german people in general? there are already hundreds of books and movies, etc. about it for thoser history buffs that are interested. is it necessary to continue to pass that hate on to generation after generation by making speeches to young people about it?

i'm in no way saying that hitler wasn't bad or that the holocaust didn't happen or that it should be forgotten but as you said, if you have ever even skimmed through a history book you know what the holocaust was about so why the need to keep preaching it?

the reason given for the speech was to ensure that it never happens again. do you honestly believe if another person comes along with a "hitler" mindset that he is going to be affected or give a hoot about what this lady experienced, felt, or said? hell, hitler could see first hand the atrocities that was going on around him and it didn't slow him too much so how is a speech going to prevent it in the future?

just perpetuating the hate imho.

(sorry you can't grasp this concept).

I think most people get what you are saying.

They just don't agree with it.

Good news for you though!!! It won't be long and there won't be any one left alive to talk about it.
Do you really think people went and listened to this lady and then decided that all Germans were bad?

We should just not talk about 9/11, or Slavery, or the Civil Rights movement. Don't want to touch womens suffrage.....

My point is, It is hard to believe I have one but still! My point is this, It is one thing to read about it. Tommy to Cool reads all about the Holocaust in his History book. He says "Gee that sucks"...."Man I really need an A on this test."

Sally goes and gets a chance to hear a first hand account from a real person how it was. Sally says with tears in her eyes"That was awful, How could they treat them like that?"

Now we can get to my point for real!!
The difference is that Sally will never forget what she heard and/or seen that day. Tommy to Cool forgot about what he read in his History book it before the test!

[The Instructor]

Wonderful post Orange and Brown!

We have students in high school who idolize Hitler and his Nazi Regime.

I showed two of them actual film footage from a concentration camp.

Some of the footage was of the Nazis shoving skinny, nude, shaved, dead Jews in huge pits with a bulldozer.

It opened their eyes and I am glad it did.

They also did not realize there are survivors of the Holocaust alive today.

They thought it was a long time ago so they must all be dead by now.

Let's not forget that Jewish people were not the only people targeted by the Nazis.

They targeted Roma (Gypsies), the disabled, and some of the Slavic peoples (Poles, Russians, and others). Other groups were persecuted on political, ideological, and behavioral grounds, among them Communists, Socialists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and homosexuals.

The number given for those killed is usually 6 million which is those who were Jewish. But the total of those who died is closer to 11 million. Hitler targeted not only Jews but everyone who he didn't like or thought was different. They were executed, most of the time violently.

Jews- 5.9 million
Soviet POW's- 3.3 million
Non-Jewish Poles- 1.8-2 million
Romanis ('gypsies')- 220,000- 270,000 (but even the higher figure may be too low)
Disabled- 200,000 - 250,000
Homosexuals- 5,000 - 15,000
Jehovahs Witnesses- 2,500 - 5,000

So, does this need to be taught and talked about today?

Yes.

Does it make me hate Germans?

No.

The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor but I certainly do not hate Japanese people today.

Is their a reason to talk about these kinds of things?

I feel the answer is an overwhelming "YES".

By the way....

Sorry, you can't grasp this concept.

[KVDW]

have you shown your kids actual film footage of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center and the people jumping out of the windows from near the top of them? do you see films and movies about it on TV every other day? NO. are there literally thousands of books and accounts about it? NO. Are there people travelling around the world making speeches about the horrors and inhumanity of it? NO. in fact, you seldom even hear about it any more.

Why??? Because the US government and some American people don't want to further enrage people and perpetuate the hatred of the Muslims. why the double standard?

by the way... where did i say i didn't grasp your concept. i just don't understand why people feel the need to keep portraying it over and over and over.
it was horrible. we get it already. all the books, movies, preaching and speeches in the world aren't going to change it......NOR is it going to prevent some like minded nut from doing it again. in fact, it is going on in the world right now and people are just looking the other way. why don't you read up on all that kind of thing that is going on right now in the world and try to do something to help stop it rather than lamenting something you can't change ?

oh, i grasp your concept ok. i just don't get your reasoning for it.