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Voices on Antisemitism: Helen Jonas (Holocaust Survivor)

Series: Voices on Antisemitism
From: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Length: 00:07:08

When Helen Jonas speaks of SS officer Amon Goeth, her voice still bears traces of the horrors she witnessed as his house servant at the Plaszow Concentration Camp. Sixty years later, Jonas met with Goeth's daughter Monika, a meeting recorded for the documentary film Inheritance. Read the full description.

Voa_small When Helen Jonas speaks of SS officer Amon Goeth, her voice still bears traces of the horrors she witnessed as his house servant at the concentration camp in Plaszow, Poland. Goeth was commandant of the camp, which was portrayed in the movie Schindler's List. And it was Oskar Schindler himself who eventually saved Jonas from Plaszow. After the war, Goeth was hanged by Polish authorities. Sixty years later, Jonas met with Goeth's daughter Monika, a meeting recorded for the documentary film Inheritance.

"
As a survivor I can tell you that we are all traumatized people. Never would I, never, believe that any human being would be capable of such horror, of such atrocities. When we saw him from a distance, everybody was hiding, in latrines, wherever they could hide. I can't tell you how people feared him."

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Piece Description

When Helen Jonas speaks of SS officer Amon Goeth, her voice still bears traces of the horrors she witnessed as his house servant at the concentration camp in Plaszow, Poland. Goeth was commandant of the camp, which was portrayed in the movie Schindler's List. And it was Oskar Schindler himself who eventually saved Jonas from Plaszow. After the war, Goeth was hanged by Polish authorities. Sixty years later, Jonas met with Goeth's daughter Monika, a meeting recorded for the documentary film Inheritance.

"
As a survivor I can tell you that we are all traumatized people. Never would I, never, believe that any human being would be capable of such horror, of such atrocities. When we saw him from a distance, everybody was hiding, in latrines, wherever they could hide. I can't tell you how people feared him."

Broadcast History

Broadcast on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Web site.

Transcript

HELEN JONAS:
As a survivor I can tell you that we are all traumatized people. Never would I, never, believe that any human being would be capable of such horror, of such atrocities. When we saw him from a distance, everybody was hiding, in latrines, wherever they could hide. I can't tell you how people feared him.

ALEISA FISHMAN:
When Helen Jonas speaks of SS officer Amon Goeth, her voice still bears traces of the horrors she witnessed as his house servant at the concentration camp in Plaszow, Poland. Goeth was commandant of the camp, which was portrayed in the movie Schindler's List. And it was Oskar Schindler himself who eventually saved Jonas from Plaszow. After the war, Goeth was hanged by Polish authorities. Sixty years later, Jonas met with Goeth's daughter Monika, a meeting recorded for the documentary film Inheritance.

Welcome to Voices on Antisemitism, a podcast series from th...
Read the full transcript

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
Sevani Tsorgnorsner 35th Parallel Crossing Painted Islands. 2006 00:00

Related Website

http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/focus/antisemitism/voices/transcript/?content=20090226