The Unbelievable Reality of Auschwitz | The U.S. and the Holocaust | PBS

Summary

This excerpt from the documentary 'The U.S. and the Holocaust' provides a chilling first-person account of Eva, a Holocaust survivor, recounting her traumatic experience at Auschwitz. She reflects on the harrowing separation from her family, the brutal treatment of prisoners, and the cruelty of the Nazis. The narrative also touches on the impact of the Auschwitz report released to the American public, revealing the shocking scale of the atrocities and the difficulty many had in grasping the true extent of the Holocaust. The film explores the American response to this information and the struggle to comprehend the enormity of the genocide.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Geiringer family was rounded up by the Gestapo and deported to Auschwitz, but they were fortunate to avoid being sent to Treblinka, where no one survived.
• 😀 Upon arrival at Auschwitz, the family was separated, leading to a heart-wrenching farewell with the father telling his daughter, 'God will protect you.'
• 😀 The protagonist, Eva, was saved from immediate death due to a 'miracle' when the camp doctor mistakenly believed she was older due to her hat's brim.
• 😀 Eva’s family was killed in the gas chambers shortly after their arrival, and she was left to face the horrors of Auschwitz.
• 😀 The prisoners were stripped of their identities, tattooed with numbers, and forced to shave their heads and be naked, signifying their dehumanization.
• 😀 The barracks in Auschwitz were overcrowded and uncomfortable, with stacked bunks resembling cages, where prisoners were confined until their death.
• 😀 In late October, John Pehle received reports from Auschwitz escapees, providing detailed testimony of the atrocities, which was shared with the American public.
• 😀 The Auschwitz report's release by the War Refugee Board made it difficult to dismiss, as it came from a governmental source, not a Jewish organization.
• 😀 By late 1944, 76% of Americans believed the reports of Jewish murders in concentration camps, but many struggled to comprehend the scale of the genocide.
• 😀 A poll revealed that only one in five Americans could fathom the scale of the Holocaust, with many unable to grasp that over five million Jews had been murdered by that time.
• 😀 The film 'The U.S. and the Holocaust' explores how the American public struggled to understand and respond to the magnitude of the Holocaust.

Q & A

What was the initial reaction of the Geiringer family when they were deported to Auschwitz?

The Geiringer family had no idea where they were being taken or what would happen to them. They were initially unaware of the horrors awaiting them at Auschwitz.

Why were the Geiringer family fortunate to be sent to Auschwitz rather than Treblinka?

Auschwitz was considered 'luckier' than Treblinka because, unlike Treblinka, where entire transports were sent directly to the gas chambers with no chance of survival, Auschwitz offered some chances for survival, such as being selected for forced labor.

What emotional moment occurred when the family was separated at Auschwitz?

The family was separated upon arrival, with men and women sent to different sides. This was a heartbreaking moment, as it was common for families to never see each other again. Eva's father, in an emotional moment, told her, 'God will protect you.'

Why did Eva's father say, 'God will protect you,' despite not being religious?

Eva's father said this because, in that moment, he realized that no one else could protect his daughter, and he was placing his faith in a higher power as a last hope for her survival.

What was the significance of Eva's hat and coat?

Eva's mother gave her a hat and coat, which she didn't want to wear due to the heat. However, her mother insisted, suggesting it might be useful later. This moment turned out to be significant, as the doctor who evaluated Eva did not see her age because of the large brim of the hat, which helped her avoid immediate selection for death.

What was the first 'miracle' that occurred when Eva arrived at Auschwitz?

The first miracle was that the camp doctor, who conducted a quick selection process, did not notice Eva's youth due to the size of her hat, which saved her life by preventing her immediate selection for death.

What happened to the Geiringer family's relatives upon arrival at Auschwitz?

Upon arrival, the family was told that they were going to a 'shower,' but it was actually a gas chamber. Within 15 minutes, all their relatives were killed.

What were the living conditions like in the barracks at Auschwitz?

The barracks were low wooden structures with bunks stacked three high, resembling cages. The conditions were overcrowded and harsh, and the barracks had a central chimney.

What role did the War Refugee Board play in exposing the atrocities of Auschwitz?

The War Refugee Board helped to release detailed reports from survivors of Auschwitz, including firsthand testimonies, which highlighted the atrocities committed there and played a key role in informing the public in the United States.

What was the American public's response to the reports about Auschwitz in late 1944?

While 76% of Americans believed that the Germans were murdering Jews in concentration camps by late 1944, only one in five believed that more than a million Jews had been killed, despite the actual number being over five million.