Mrs. Weiss lost her family and her innocence, but she still has her humanity. Despite being emotionally “stuck”, she exudes wisdom, kindness, humility, and strength without a sign of malice. Thank you, Anderson and Mrs. Weiss, for this interview. May the memory of all of your loved ones be a blessing.
My mother is on the German side of this horror, same age as this woman, and they did not support Hitler…they laughed at him and thought he would never get anywhere. Sound familiar!? My mother is very stuck and has become so bitter in her old age. I would tell this woman a part of you is stuck still but you have grown into a wise wonderful insightful articulate teacher to us all! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I have studied and read so many stories of the Holocaust and have often wondered what the German people thought. For the first time to read RomyHouston remembering her mother saying that they laughed at Hitler and never thought he would get anywhere. Sounds scarily familiar.
I cannot be the only one crying for that thirteen year old innocent girl - what a woman she became, how brave and strong - we thank you for sharing your pain with us, Irene.
Everyone, no exception, should watch this amazing interview. I just read Jody Picoult’s “The Storyteller” and I highly recommend it. I will never forget this interview 💚 God bless you both and your families.
Thank you for letting HER speak! So many interviewers speak over and constantly interrupt trying to assert what great interviewers they are. Letting them tell their story, continuously, far better. I hope people are listening and taking these words to heart. Bless her. ❤
We are living in perilous times. It is critical that we remember this tragedy, this loss, this inconceivable horror. If we turn away, if we pretend it didn't happen, we risk having it happen again.
@@Ilovemybojwhy do you say I am turning my head? You don’t know me or what I am fighting for. It is insulting to assume that someone you don’t know is turning their head.
One of the most moving, important interviews I've ever seen. This woman, Irene Weiss survived 18 months in concentration camps and, with her sister, were the only two of her entire family to survive. She is now 93 years old, highly intelligent, and so clear about how easy it is for the "thin veneer of civility" to be pierced and how quickly everything can change into darkness when humans become violent and evil. Anderson Cooper does such a great job in his conversation with her.
You are articulate and eloquent sir! Canadian here. You are correct about her clarity. It was chilling. Her comment about having permission to do evil made my spine feel ICY. at 1:30 to 2:00. and you are of course right. Cooper's empathy enhanced the dialogue. Brilliant comment. thank you.
As I listened to her speaking of all the extreme physical, psychological and emotional suffering she and her family went through, I felt she could as well be talking of the indescribable pain and suffering the Palestinian people are experiencing as we speak.
It doesn’t matter Jewish, Palestinian, any group. Horror is horror. I can’t help but thinking sometimes what if women were in charge. Golda Meir who was Prime Minister of Israel in the 1950’s said “when they love their children more, then they hate us, there will be no wars”. This does not belong to one ethnic group. It belongs to humanity. But it is the words of a woman. We don’t need winning ego. We need to see our children put on a warm sweater when it’s chilly outside. All races. All religions. All humanity. Please.
well war still commited by the same tecniques i wonder why Americans just adore to interview just jews of that time since such people have been making wars world over with odd resuts meaning the art of killings still in
If you are interested, there is a book titled "All but my life" written by a woman, Gerda Weissmann Klein, about her experience as a concentration camp survivor. I recommend it as a book deeply rooted in the human spirit.
@sydneyevans2637 Gracias, do. I so pray more stories of the Holocaust is heard on TV, YT n all social media to remind those whom dismiss the reality of this possibility happening in our Nation. Sadly, Trump is too happy in voicing how he worships Hitler & encourages his followers via KKK. Open the vault of documentaries of The Japanese encampment after Pearl Harbor, the encampment with Latinos, primarily Mexicans/Mexican Americans & so many other groups our Govt horribly committed & inhumane treatment. Trump WILL do worse. He already tried to sell Puerto Rico & Puerto Rican's excused him. He's a businessman at heart, greed will always be what attracts him, drive him to control. Padre God help us all 🙏. "Isa"
@@aimiamano1628 Your comparison is ignorant and disgusting. Pre-WWII Jews did _not_ attack and terrorize Nazis. They did not have a creed to eradicate Nazis like Arab Muslims have against modern-day Jews. Your thinking is biased and backwards.
When you witness antisemitism, do something. Don't be silent. Speak up! There are very few Holocaust survivors left. It is our collective responsibility to tell their stories to the younger generations. That thin veneer is never going away, and history can repeat itself. Thank you to Mrs. Weiss and Anderson Cooper for this important and thoughtful interview.
My condolences to you and us all😢 We feel your pain and also have our own Deep pain with the Black Slave trade. Maybe not the burnings, but whipping, lynchings, dragging behind cars, separating families, and free abusive labor. The Maga folks and Project 2025 folk are erasing these stories and banning books about the Slave Trade. Are they banning books about the Holocaust? I hope not, but we need to help one another heal from these types of atrocities. Along with ensuring we vote to never let these things happen again! EVER!
Why? So that you can pass on the intergenerational trauma and never heal? So that you can make victimhood your identity? That is psychologically so unhealthy.
Anderson is so good at this. He doesn’t interrupt her at all. He asks measured question when she ends a portion. He is so sensitive to other people’s tragedies.
I was impressed that several times she said: ‘That’s a very good question’, seeming to indicate she had never been asked that before, and / or had never thought of it before. He is a very thoughtful, gentle, patient interviewer; the best in my opinion.
Yes, the same American that annihilated a culture of people within 100 years, remove their children from their parents and sent them to isolated slaughter houses where their children were raped, beaten and killed. The same America confiscated lands property resources, and the government assisted in handing that over. I’m not trying to be rude ma’am. I’m just trying broaden the conversation, and I agree with you that we need to cherish and hold onto Democratic values. But right now that line is barely holding…🙏
@@brown-eyedgirl858 nazi party came outta americum fir sure ...I am hoping to do a big art project on stone mountain too .both Cherokee nations agree too .I hope to make very artisty fartsy too... theme melting pot ...
@@jacquelineduplantier5563 You mean Netanyahu. A lot of people in Israel have wanted him gone for a long time. Hamas brought this on themselves. The US does not control Bibi and is not fighting in Gaza and Lebanon. Vote Blue to put a stop to it.
This wonderful, in-depth interchange between Anderson and this wonderful Holocaust survivor, conjured up an old memory of 50+ years ago. When I was an Army Captain during the Vietnam War and stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in DC, I experienced an interaction with the 1st American military hostage that was finally released from "Hanoi Hilton", as it was called then. This soldier had been reduced to 'skin and bones' over his years in captivity. I was on his medical team to 'shepherd' him back to full health. Amongst the doctors, psychiatrists, physical therapists, etc. -- I was the Registered Dietitian on that team. When a person experiences extreme food deprivation over a long period of time, the digestive system suffers extreme changes and shutdowns -- wherein, after the fact, the body will reject "normal" food as we all know it to be. It takes a careful dietary "re-introduction" regimen over a long duration for normal digestive functions to resume in its entirety. This lovely lady Holocaust survivor emigrated from Poland (via Germany?) to the USA. My soldier(patient) and she BOTH suffered at the hands of "THE enemy" in countries that, today, are our allies!!! NOW we, the voting populous in this country, must NEVER come to the point where we feel (or believe) that foreign enemies, like those of yesteryear, could NEVER invade OR infiltrate our shores. ERGO: If/when you educate yourselves with the CONTENTS of Trump's PROJECT 2025, you will learn what Totalitarianism/Dictatorships can do. History tells us how g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y that can happen ANYWHERE in the world, barring none. When a candidate for higher office says WHAT he'll do, if elected = BELIEVE HIM!!! Vote BLUE up and down the ballot this time around folks❤.
HORRIFIC! We can NEVER allow this to occur again! We are moving in a very scary direction in life all over the world. She's an incredible woman who survived conditions no one should endure! Thank you Mrs. Weiss for telling us your story. Many prayers to you and your entire family!
It is going on right now. I would recommend that you watch it live instead of listening to her. See the pieces of the children's bodies, the agony and the pain of parents. Losing all your family members, your home. living without food, water, medicine, hospitals, and constant bombing.
@@niveax6112 You're getting your "facts" from a terrorist organisation that orchestrated and carried out the Oct 7 massacre, uses its own people as human shields, steals humanitarian aid packages, and shoots anyone who tries to leave. Where does that put you?
@@niveax6112 Yes, you are correct. It is going on right now and has been for years. Unfortunately, many events are not shown on the news or we focus on them for only a short time. Interviewing people who are experiencing horrific events should be showcased more often so we hear their perspective. Every night when I watch the news from all around the world, I see the horrors you describe. It literally makes me sick. What do we do about it? How can we help? How can we stop the hate and evil? How do we save all of humanity?
I wanted to write you back because I care and thought you might be experiencing some of this horror yourself or your family. I pray that you stay safe. If you want to share, I'm here to listen.
@@jeanninebode7781 No, I am not. I see it happening live on the internet, and I see the people's silence. I am ashamed of all humanity and their silence is disgusting .
My dad would never talk about it. Only towards the end of his life, he started opening up. It was really devastating for me to hear the pain Irene endured. I never thought of my dad holding this pain throughout his life. He never showed it. I always saw him as strong and successful. He lost his mom, dad and baby sister.
Likely - and mercifully - most people's brains didn't allow them to comprehend the trauma. It's a survival technique out brains do to keep us alive. My grandmother lost her family in the Armenian genocide and described it that way to me.
My grandparents would never speak of it either! I remember asking my Aunt Rose why she had a tattoo on her forearm and I got in so much trouble. I was told never to ask about tattoos that were on anyone.
What an HONOR to be in this humans company and to interview her.. my greatest honor working in healthcare was taking care of a patient who had also been a victim of Hitler. I was helping him get cleaned up and saw the tattoo on his arm. I was so astounded and asked him, "You were in a Nazi camp" and he said, "Yes, in Auschwitz" and started crying, and then I started crying, and my 1st thought, which I said as I hugged him, was that God had a special place for him and all that had suffered. I'll never forget him. I sadly can't remember his name, but I'll never forget that experience or the feeling I had being one of those that had the honor to take care him. Being in the company of the biggest celebrity on earth couldn't compare to the honor I had just helping this man to the bathroom. I just can't explain what it meant to me. But after learning about the war and what happened then, in my 6th grade history class.. seeing the news reels of the atrocities of what happened back then, man.. nothing has affected me so deeply, other than losing my son. What horrors these humans endured, I can't even comprehend. The ones that are left are like jewels in the human race, and deserve our utmost respect and kindness. And we NEED to KEEP LISTENING TO THEM.. i never could imagine how other humans could allow this to happen AND GLADLY TAKE PAY IN IT, but in our current political climate, I know can see it. If we don't change, it very well could happen again. 😔😢
What are you talking about? It IS happening again only this time perpetrated by Izrayli jews against arabs. Do you feel the same horror at that? Do you feel tge same "honour" if you come across a Palestinian who has lost family members, their home, their country? Smh
I appreciated your comment until I got to it could happen again. It is happening right now for over 12 months! The victims have become the perpetrators!
Everyone should see this. This beautiful woman has had her soul torn from her body and she has found a way to persevere... the evil that man commits against his fellow man is never far away from any of us. God Bless you Irene Weiss and you too Anderson Cooper. May this never happen to anyone, anywhere, ever again.
I am so grateful that I came upon this conversation. I am so grateful that Mrs. Weiss survive this horrible tragedy and shared her story. We must not forget we cannot forget
We had a lady across the street from us that I had become close to in the early 80's. Must have been 7 or 8 yrs old. One day, we were sitting on her front porch, and she reached out to get her coffee, and that's when I noticed her tattoo. I've always been a book worm, and yes, at that age I was aware of its meaning. I immediately broke down in tears, and she asked me what was wrong, and I was unable to tell her, so I pointed at her tattoo. She grabbed me and hugged me, and we cried together and told me I was too young to know its meaning. When the tears stopped, I looked at her and simply said thank you for making it out of there and expressed how much she meant to me. Im 51 now, watching this brought all those tears back, all the emotion of that young man. Eisenhower said it best. "Get this all on record because someone later on will try to convince us this never happened."
I'm 61 and grew up in Manhattan, there was a man in my building named Mr. Tyson, and was really good friends with my Mother and Father , he told us the story about his family. He was tattooed as a boy. I won't forget.
This beautiful woman endured so much horror, but still retains her humanity. It's difficult to watch without feeling her broken heart, and pain, but it's an honor to hear her story. Thank you ☘️
Thanks for your fine story and the true humanity it voices... I love the young person who gave her that moment in her life and I'm grateful that you gave it to you, too! This present earth contains horror but it also contains you and her and your moment together as true human beings.... And, it also contains the hope of an earth where the moment you had in both your hearts is the status quo of human hearts all over an vastly improved earth. The earth we inhabit today is described accurately at 2Timothy 3 :1-5 in the Bible, but the earth just ahead of us is one where her suffering and yours for her can heal. (Revelation 21 :1-5)
There is nothing one can say to Mrs. Weiss except to thank her for having the courage to go on living the best life and raising the best children she can. In this, at least, she has defeated those who did such evil to her life. Crying somehow feels like something from which one could possibly be comforted, as well as tacit acknowledgement of the reality she was experiencing -- which was too horrible to fully allow into one's conscious mind. Numbness helps to block out pain, even if it is not a healthy long-term response. She is right about never being really happy. When one lops off feelings, one cannot tell the heart how to lop one feeling but not another. So, when you find a way to deny pain, you also lose great joy. One can have years of therapy which helps, but, as Mrs. Weiss says, it never really leaves your soul. We all cope with emotional pain, but few to the level Mrs. Weiss has been forced to deal with for most of her life. She is a beautiful human being.
I am from former Yugoslavia/ Serbian. When the war in The 90s starter I was 15 years old. Thank you Irene. She is absolutely right! That war and atrocities can happen in such a short time. Something you can't imagine before it happens to you, in that moment. Our country went from prosperous and normal in to caos and murder in a just fer weeks, after several years of division, spreading hate and flas narratives , us against them. Fear and shock description is 100% accurat. Thank you Irene and Anderson ❤ hope it does not happen again.
Exactly. Peace is the only sustainable way forward. We can never let leaders succeed in brainwashing, regardless of the painful past. Our children deserve better.
And it's not as though leading world governments did not see it coming and couldn't have prevented it. It seems the peacekeepers are always too late doing the right thing to intervene.
I'm so very sorry you went through this. I can only imagine, but even our imaginations are limited - it's beyond human comprehension until you live it. Like Ukraine and Israel and Palestinians. Why do we repeat the most horrible mistakes? 🙏
This could even happen in America if Trump, the felon wins the election. He cannot accomplish this alone but others that are just as evil will pick up the torch and join which we already have in MAGA followers.
The courage and dignity of Irene Weiss, to give this very personal interview about the inferno she endured is very very moving. Her testimony must be watched and felt by everybody so that history won’t repeats itself. She’s right: « civilisation’s veneer is very very thin ». We must take good care of it.
Wow. Anderson Cooper at his best bringing out the important story of Irene Weiss. He helped her discuss this unimaginable experience with such honesty and compassion. A must watch.
A huge thank you, Mrs. Weiss for going to that horrible dark place in your memories to warn us all of what can happen when evil is not stopped! I hope it's not too late for this country and I pray, after hearing your words, hearts will be changed and people will reject evil at the ballot box. God bless you for having the courage to share your story and through your example, bring hope and comfort to thousands of people with deep wounds. Thank you for bringing healing to my life as well! ❤
Deeply painful and amazing interview. That calming behavior in somebody who was able to came back from horror. Thank you for the life lesson. It's in all of us to learn it.
What an incredible profound interview ! I cried listening to Mrs Weiss; for the indescribable pain she, her sister their family and all those beautiful families, men, women and children suffered and endured. I cried hearing her wise words reminding us all, how very quickly life and peace can unravel into chaos, hate and mayhem. I cried because sadly despite the lessons of the past, there are still those who have forgotten and choose to make the choice to hate others they view as different from them. The statement she made “who is the enemy, who is to be hated, who is to be excluded…as soon as permission is given from higher up, it accelerates..permission is very important” Let us not forget, let us not go back💙💙💙 Thank you Anderson and Mrs Weiss!
This couldn’t be more timely. I’m afraid for what I see coming, what is already here. The storm clouds are brewing. Thank you, Iren Weiss, for telling your story. She made so many good points. Why is this violence in us humans? Why are we so self-destructive and just destructive in general? It doesn’t need to be this way. Blessings to you all 💓
Thank you for posting this. I keep hearing that the young generations question if the Holocaust really happened, as they didn’t learn about it in school. How is this possible? Shocking as that is, we then need more posts like this to go viral, and to check into what our schools are teaching and not teaching?
What a fascinating, yet terrible conversation. I am close to tears hearing it. How in God's name have we in the United States forgotten this???!! How in the name of humanity can an entire political party in 2024 lean unmistakably in the same direction? How can these people still be viable candidates? What have we become?
I am following the current american election closely. I am german, and I was taught at school about the nazis, and we were taken to visit one of the concentration camps turned into museums. I vividly remember standing before that huge pile of shoes, left by the victims. This interview brings that back, but I want to thank Mrs Weiss for her amazing strength and willingness to talk about her experiences. This is an extremely important and moving interview. But - I do find it incomprehensible how in a country like the usa the same type of speech as was used by the nazis is tolerated today again, coming from one of the presidential candidates. It is horrifying.
@@BezayneIn a world of scarcity populated by human beings whose nervous system is wired for survival and to detect any and all threats this noxious philosophy will continue to rear its ugly head.
Memory of my father came to me watching this interview. He was in the camps for seven years (four camps starting at Terezin) but survived only due to being a musician and the will to find a way to make it through. Thank you Anderson for bringing this part of history that we should never forget. Mrs Weiss is an amazing women with a lot of courage to talk about her experience which the totally opposite of my father who did not want talked about it.
Would you agree your father afterwards was stuck in a state of stymied development - as was described by Irene's and Anderson's accounts of trauma - and in a constant state of emotional survival mode?
To go home with others living there, and to go in the garden with the fruit on the ground. That got me to my core. Thank you Mrs. Weiss, your life is cherished!
I cannot be the only one crying for that thirteen year old innocent girl - what a woman she became, how brave and strong - we thank you for sharing your pain with us, Irene.
Every entitled feeling teenager should have to see this video. IT is so compelling and eye opening to us all, even to those of us who barely escaped this torturous time by being born 8 years later. So very lucky we were. I at 80 y/o cried as I watched this.
OMG, I cried throughout this whole interview. I feel so bad for this woman, and all the jewish peoples who endured & died from this time in history! She looks so beautiful for 93 years old...she is truly an old soul who has suffered and endured to tell her story:)) Altho I am not Jewish, my heart goes out to her in every way. When I lived in NYC back in the early 70's in Washington Heights area..The Jewishish Delicatessens were the very best, and a favorite of mine to go too. I am Part Cherokee Indian, German & Irish....and I loved the NY Jewish people I met and made good friends with. I am an Empath. I have strong psychic senses. Good interview Anderson Cooper! Thank you.
What an extraordinary woman Mrs. Weiss is. She is amazing that despite all the horrific memories she is burdened with, she has the love in her, to spare her children any feelings of guilt for being blessed in their lives. Just unselfish love in her, to be aware of that, and practice that in her life. I also feel as she does, that the present-day environment in parts of this country (USA) is ripe with propaganda dehumanizing ethnic groups and blaming them for economic loss and crime. I hope that millions of people watch this and heed her warning. Thank you, Anderson Cooper, for introducing this remarkable woman to us all.
Every year my body suffers from remembering the death of my 16-year old son. My blood pressure surges, I am teary and depressed. Then, after the anniversary period, I become myself again. Thank you for talking to us about the truth of your life with such depth.
'Stuck there', that really struck a chord. I feel that this is the same with most traumatic events in your life, especially when you are a child unable to process them, i.e. abuse, loss, abandonment etc. I should imagine 'stuck there' in her case is ramped up 100 fold.' 'Existing in a kind of melancholy' again relatable to especially early traumatic events. The veil of humanity is very thin', this also struck a chord. This is so spot on, and lastly it only takes a 'hint of permission' for the veil of humanity to come down. Again any type of bullying or abuse, it takes others to stand by while this happens and do nothing for this to be successful. This was an extremely informative interview.
God Bless Ms. Weiss 💙 This is so terrifying. I've read so much about WWII. My mother escaped communist Cuba, but there is no comparison to the unspeakable evil of Hitler and the Nazi's. It is very scary that I see the same casual cruelty that kicked off in Germany in the 30's which led to the Holocaust, happening in our country today. I pray that we are able to heal as a nation and avoid anything even close to this horror.
It was such a privilege to listen to this. I feel so empty and ashamed that we - the world - have so totally failed to honour your losses and ongoing suffering by changing, or, at times, even recognising those things. I wish i could find a way to say how deeply I respect how you have managed to continue living, and even explain this to us now. In the words of Job, I place my hand over my mouth.
@@niveax6112 unfortunately responses like this - that distract/re-focus and even victim-blame - are part of the human failing that enable us to avoid fully absorbing what happened in the holocaust and responding appropriately, including ensuring such events cannot happen again... including the likes of what is happening in Gaza.
@@niveax6112Israel was attacked by murderous terrorists and is retaliating. Someone you know extremely well is very obviously a graduate of the University of Social Media, Gullibility, and Conspiracy Theories.
Absolutely incredible interview! Thank you for this! As a Canadian and Catholic, visiting the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC was one of the most profound experiences of my life. It was so devastatingly moving. I’d highly recommend everyone that can go, to go. Life can change in a moment, but like the frog in boiling water, it doesn’t happen in a vacuum or all at once.
Remarkable. So well spoken. So generous to have shared this horrific perspective. My mother never spoke of her experience in Hungary which was similar. Sending Love ❤️
The end of this interview, with Andersen showing such understanding - and explaining his own pain - elicits such honesty that I found it the most moving part of the conversation. Thank you, both.
Irene, thank you for your courage to share these horrific experiences that you and your family suffered. We must never forget these evil human atrocities and do everything in our power to prevent them in the future. Unfortunately, I am recognizing this same “thin veil” of civilization in the US. May God Bless us all and see us through toward peace and love🙏🏼❤️
Thank you for this interview...I am not Jewish but my heart breaks and I cry with every story that I hear and see. How utterly horrific to have lived through this and to have these memories the rest of your life. 😢 Her story needs to be heard by everyone.
Thank you so much for this!! We are losing the remaining survivors of this horror - the ones who lived/survived. We need to record/save as much of this as we can. She is such an amazing woman - in so many ways!! I'm going to save this. 😢 Sadly, we know Germany and it's people aren't some kind of One Off.
I know this will not ease her pain, but I wish I could give her a hug and thank her for living long enough to tell her story for all of us! I am in tears and this story will stay with me forever!
Anderson, thank you so much for this interview with a beautiful soul. She may not agree but Mrs. Weiss is resilient. You are resilient. I am resilient as my father died in an airplane accident when I was four. You hit the mark when saying you haven’t allowed yourself to experience great joy. We can’t because we know how quickly it can be taken away. For me, it is a fear that it will be taken away, just like that. Deep down I am still that small child who didn’t face the pain. Thank you. We’re part of a club that no one wants to be part of.
Superb interview. Evil walks the earth every single day. And Mrs. Weiss, what I understood from you is experiencing that pain and melancholia never fully goes away.... it may diminish... but it is always there. Thank you for your highly articulate description of your experiences --- which were riveting. And a clear reminder this could happen again -- right here in this country. That is not an exaggeration or embellishment. Take the blinders off America before it is too late !
This interview was intelligent, informative, and very emotional for me. Thank you Mrs. Weiss for teaching us and showing us. This needs to be shown in every high school across America. Thank you Anderson for bringing Mrs. Weiss and her story to light.
So powerful - what an incredible woman, you left a huge impression on me. Such crime was committed - because they were given permission - what does this tell us about humanity ?
Wow...this was heart wrenching...she has not allowed herself to grieve because she had to raise her family but she struggles with the reality of what happened to her family in Germany...her life was forever changed when she was 13...
Thank you, Irene Weiss❤ You are an extraordinary human. Our world today, must never, ever forget the atrocities during the Holocaust. May God bless all those people who suffered that hell on earth. It was beyond evil. Thank you, Anderson Cooper, for your gentle self in asking such poignant and insightful questions. At 69, I teared up thinking about my own father dying when I was 7. How close to the surface that pain and sorrow dwells. Sending prayers and lots of love to all🙏🏻❤️
Incredible interview. I delivered mail for years to some holocaust survivors ... who wore numbers on their arms. I felt terrible for them, but this interview made those numbers mean much more. Mans' inhumanity to man. Unbelievably sad.
So true, I saw my mother die in front of me in a car crash when I was 7 years old, I was asked , at the time, if I wanted to go to the funeral and that's it, no more talk about it afterwards ever, I am still in that 7 yo mindset, sad most of the time and never feeling joy, and cast off as snobby and excluded from everything.
Mrs. Weiss lost her family and her innocence, but she still has her humanity. Despite being emotionally “stuck”, she exudes wisdom, kindness, humility, and strength without a sign of malice. Thank you, Anderson and Mrs. Weiss, for this interview. May the memory of all of your loved ones be a blessing.
Wow. Beautifully expressed.
Beautifully said. Thank you!
Very well said. Thank you so much for comment.
Such admiration for this woman.!!
Dette gjorde så vondt i hjerte å se på.
My mother is on the German side of this horror, same age as this woman, and they did not support Hitler…they laughed at him and thought he would never get anywhere. Sound familiar!? My mother is very stuck and has become so bitter in her old age. I would tell this woman a part of you is stuck still but you have grown into a wise wonderful insightful articulate teacher to us all! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I have studied and read so many stories of the Holocaust and have often wondered what the German people thought. For the first time to read RomyHouston remembering her mother saying that they laughed at Hitler and never thought he would get anywhere. Sounds scarily familiar.
Thank you for writing, and I’m so sorry about your mother, but your story is very enlightening.
How does it sound familiar
I cannot be the only one crying for that thirteen year old innocent girl - what a woman she became, how brave and strong - we thank you for sharing your pain with us, Irene.
@@cyano741 youre kidding right?
If your soul has that life experience and you live to 93, you have done so many things right. Beautiful person, heart and soul.
yes but also people like this won the genetic lottery
@@matureyoungmanThe genetic lottery indeed. And the luck to have so-called non-Jewish looks so vital at those barbaric selections
Everyone, no exception, should watch this amazing interview.
I just read Jody Picoult’s “The Storyteller” and I highly recommend it.
I will never forget this interview 💚 God bless you both and your families.
@@matureyoungmanwho wants to win that lottery the ones left behind have it harder than the ones that died!!! It’s always that way !!
but thats to say the little kids that died young most did something bad... you worded that poorly.
Thank you for letting HER speak! So many interviewers speak over and constantly interrupt trying to assert what great interviewers they are. Letting them tell their story, continuously, far better. I hope people are listening and taking these words to heart. Bless her. ❤
100%
We are living in perilous times. It is critical that we remember this tragedy, this loss, this inconceivable horror. If we turn away, if we pretend it didn't happen, we risk having it happen again.
@@susanobisedonait is happening right now in Gaza, YOU are the one turning away! How don't see this explains how history repeats itself 💔
@@Ilovemybojwhy do you say I am turning my head? You don’t know me or what I am fighting for. It is insulting to assume that someone you don’t know is turning their head.
My heart hurts for her❤
One of the most moving, important interviews I've ever seen. This woman, Irene Weiss survived 18 months in concentration camps and, with her sister, were the only two of her entire family to survive. She is now 93 years old, highly intelligent, and so clear about how easy it is for the "thin veneer of civility" to be pierced and how quickly everything can change into darkness when humans become violent and evil. Anderson Cooper does such a great job in his conversation with her.
Beautifully said. Thank you for your comment.
@@January. Thank you
You are articulate and eloquent sir! Canadian here. You are correct about her clarity. It was chilling. Her comment about having permission to do evil made my spine feel ICY. at 1:30 to 2:00. and you are of course right. Cooper's empathy enhanced the dialogue. Brilliant comment. thank you.
As I listened to her speaking of all the extreme physical, psychological and emotional suffering she and her family went through, I felt she could as well be talking of the indescribable pain and suffering the Palestinian people are experiencing as we speak.
It doesn’t matter Jewish, Palestinian, any group. Horror is horror.
I can’t help but thinking sometimes what if women were in charge. Golda Meir who was Prime Minister of Israel in the 1950’s said “when they love their children more, then they hate us, there will be no wars”. This does not belong to one ethnic group. It belongs to humanity.
But it is the words of a woman. We don’t need winning ego. We need to see our children put on a warm sweater when it’s chilly outside.
All races. All religions. All humanity. Please.
Anderson is so tender. The right person to interview this beautiful lady.
"The pain was too big for crying." -Mrs. Irene Weiss
Wow!
The crying was left for the survivors
Every human being should watch and listen to this fine woman’s interview.
well war still commited by the same tecniques i wonder why Americans just adore to interview just jews of that time since such people have been making wars world over with odd resuts meaning the art of killings still in
I also think all high school students should have to watch Schindler List
@@firecracker8071We did when I was in 9th grade
Excellent interview by Anderson Cooper... thank you for providing this important piece of history from someone who actually lived it.
As a conclusion they should have stated the monstrosities that happen today in Gaza by the Israeli government!
If you are interested, there is a book titled "All but my life" written by a woman, Gerda Weissmann Klein, about her experience as a concentration camp survivor. I recommend it as a book deeply rooted in the human spirit.
@sydneyevans2637 Gracias, do. I so pray more stories of the Holocaust is heard on TV, YT n all social media to remind those whom dismiss the reality of this possibility happening in our Nation. Sadly, Trump is too happy in voicing how he worships Hitler & encourages his followers via KKK. Open the vault of documentaries of The Japanese encampment after Pearl Harbor, the encampment with Latinos, primarily Mexicans/Mexican Americans & so many other groups our Govt horribly committed & inhumane treatment. Trump WILL do worse. He already tried to sell Puerto Rico & Puerto Rican's excused him. He's a businessman at heart, greed will always be what attracts him, drive him to control. Padre God help us all 🙏. "Isa"
Absolutely. Bravo Ms Weiss and Anderson Cooper.
@@aimiamano1628 Your comparison is ignorant and disgusting. Pre-WWII Jews did _not_ attack and terrorize Nazis. They did not have a creed to eradicate Nazis like Arab Muslims have against modern-day Jews. Your thinking is biased and backwards.
"I'm different normal, not normal normal." Mrs. Irene Weiss. So wise, such a beautiful person.
When you witness antisemitism, do something. Don't be silent. Speak up! There are very few Holocaust survivors left. It is our collective responsibility to tell their stories to the younger generations. That thin veneer is never going away, and history can repeat itself. Thank you to Mrs. Weiss and Anderson Cooper for this important and thoughtful interview.
My condolences to you and us all😢 We feel your pain and also have our own Deep pain with the Black Slave trade. Maybe not the burnings, but whipping, lynchings, dragging behind cars, separating families, and free abusive labor. The Maga folks and Project 2025 folk are erasing these stories and banning books about the Slave Trade. Are they banning books about the Holocaust? I hope not, but we need to help one another heal from these types of atrocities. Along with ensuring we vote to never let these things happen again! EVER!
It is not only antisemitism. It is Racism, it is anti-muslim, it is anti-immigrant, it just goes on and on.
Amen!
And not just anti-Semitism. Anti-humanity in any form.
And it doesn't always require speaking up. Sometimes a dirty look will do.
Why? So that you can pass on the intergenerational trauma and never heal? So that you can make victimhood your identity? That is psychologically so unhealthy.
Anderson is so good at this. He doesn’t interrupt her at all. He asks measured question when she ends a portion. He is so sensitive to other people’s tragedies.
Piers Morgan should take lessons from Anderson Cooper!
Anderson is one of the best interviewers. I love how he allows people to speak and listens to them.
I was impressed that several times she said: ‘That’s a very good question’, seeming to indicate she had never been asked that before, and / or had never thought of it before. He is a very thoughtful, gentle, patient interviewer; the best in my opinion.
Remember this America
Most aren't aware, don't care, or are graduates of the University of Social Media, Gullibility, and Conspiracy Theories.
Don't vote for trump 😮
Yes, the same American that annihilated a culture of people within 100 years, remove their children from their parents and sent them to isolated slaughter houses where their children were raped, beaten and killed. The same America confiscated lands property resources, and the government assisted in handing that over. I’m not trying to be rude ma’am. I’m just trying broaden the conversation, and I agree with you that we need to cherish and hold onto Democratic values. But right now that line is barely holding…🙏
@@brown-eyedgirl858 nazi party came outta americum fir sure ...I am hoping to do a big art project on stone mountain too .both Cherokee nations agree too .I hope to make very artisty fartsy too... theme melting pot ...
@@brown-eyedgirl858 no comparison possible
Thank you for this. Wake up, America. We're just inches away from repeating this.
America has already repeated this in Gaza, and now Lebanon.
Not the same…@@jacquelineduplantier5563
@@jacquelineduplantier5563 You mean Netanyahu. A lot of people in Israel have wanted him gone for a long time. Hamas brought this on themselves. The US does not control Bibi and is not fighting in Gaza and Lebanon. Vote Blue to put a stop to it.
Yes, too close.
This wonderful, in-depth interchange between Anderson and this wonderful Holocaust survivor, conjured up an old memory of 50+ years ago.
When I was an Army Captain during the Vietnam War and stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in DC, I experienced an interaction with the 1st American military hostage that was finally released from "Hanoi Hilton", as it was called then. This soldier had been reduced to 'skin and bones' over his years in captivity. I was on his medical team to 'shepherd' him back to full health. Amongst the doctors, psychiatrists, physical therapists, etc. -- I was the Registered Dietitian on that team. When a person experiences extreme food deprivation over a long period of time, the digestive system suffers extreme changes and shutdowns -- wherein, after the fact, the body will reject "normal" food as we all know it to be. It takes a careful dietary "re-introduction" regimen over a long duration for normal digestive functions to resume in its entirety.
This lovely lady Holocaust survivor emigrated from Poland (via Germany?) to the USA. My soldier(patient) and she BOTH suffered at the hands of "THE enemy" in countries that, today, are our allies!!!
NOW we, the voting populous in this country, must NEVER come to the point where we feel (or believe) that foreign enemies, like those of yesteryear, could NEVER invade OR infiltrate our shores.
ERGO: If/when you educate yourselves with the CONTENTS of Trump's PROJECT 2025, you will learn what Totalitarianism/Dictatorships can do. History tells us how g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y that can happen ANYWHERE in the world, barring none. When a candidate for higher office says WHAT he'll do, if elected = BELIEVE HIM!!!
Vote BLUE up and down the ballot this time around folks❤.
HORRIFIC! We can NEVER allow this to occur again! We are moving in a very scary direction in life all over the world. She's an incredible woman who survived conditions no one should endure! Thank you Mrs. Weiss for telling us your story. Many prayers to you and your entire family!
It is going on right now. I would recommend that you watch it live instead of listening to her. See the pieces of the children's bodies, the agony and the pain of parents. Losing all your family members, your home. living without food, water, medicine, hospitals, and constant bombing.
@@niveax6112 You're getting your "facts" from a terrorist organisation that orchestrated and carried out the Oct 7 massacre, uses its own people as human shields, steals humanitarian aid packages, and shoots anyone who tries to leave. Where does that put you?
@@niveax6112 Yes, you are correct. It is going on right now and has been for years. Unfortunately, many events are not shown on the news or we focus on them for only a short time. Interviewing people who are experiencing horrific events should be showcased more often so we hear their perspective. Every night when I watch the news from all around the world, I see the horrors you describe. It literally makes me sick. What do we do about it? How can we help? How can we stop the hate and evil? How do we save all of humanity?
I wanted to write you back because I care and thought you might be experiencing some of this horror yourself or your family. I pray that you stay safe. If you want to share, I'm here to listen.
@@jeanninebode7781 No, I am not. I see it happening live on the internet, and I see the people's silence. I am ashamed of all humanity and their silence is disgusting
.
My dad would never talk about it. Only towards the end of his life, he started opening up. It was really devastating for me to hear the pain Irene endured. I never thought of my dad holding this pain throughout his life. He never showed it. I always saw him as strong and successful. He lost his mom, dad and baby sister.
Likely - and mercifully - most people's brains didn't allow them to comprehend the trauma. It's a survival technique out brains do to keep us alive. My grandmother lost her family in the Armenian genocide and described it that way to me.
@ Thank you 🙏
My grandparents would never speak of it either! I remember asking my Aunt Rose why she had a tattoo on her forearm and I got in so much trouble. I was told never to ask about tattoos that were on anyone.
@ so sad
I hope EVERYONE is or has watched this interview. Most important at this time in history!!
What an HONOR to be in this humans company and to interview her.. my greatest honor working in healthcare was taking care of a patient who had also been a victim of Hitler. I was helping him get cleaned up and saw the tattoo on his arm. I was so astounded and asked him, "You were in a Nazi camp" and he said, "Yes, in Auschwitz" and started crying, and then I started crying, and my 1st thought, which I said as I hugged him, was that God had a special place for him and all that had suffered. I'll never forget him. I sadly can't remember his name, but I'll never forget that experience or the feeling I had being one of those that had the honor to take care him. Being in the company of the biggest celebrity on earth couldn't compare to the honor I had just helping this man to the bathroom. I just can't explain what it meant to me. But after learning about the war and what happened then, in my 6th grade history class.. seeing the news reels of the atrocities of what happened back then, man.. nothing has affected me so deeply, other than losing my son. What horrors these humans endured, I can't even comprehend. The ones that are left are like jewels in the human race, and deserve our utmost respect and kindness. And we NEED to KEEP LISTENING TO THEM.. i never could imagine how other humans could allow this to happen AND GLADLY TAKE PAY IN IT, but in our current political climate, I know can see it. If we don't change, it very well could happen again. 😔😢
What are you talking about? It IS happening again only this time perpetrated by Izrayli jews against arabs. Do you feel the same horror at that? Do you feel tge same "honour" if you come across a Palestinian who has lost family members, their home, their country? Smh
It's happening in Gaza
I appreciated your comment until I got to it could happen again. It is happening right now for over 12 months! The victims have become the perpetrators!
Nope, the Jews are fighting to prevent it happening again in Gaza
😢❤
Extraordinary woman hard to believe she is 93 so sharp and clear in her description.
God bless her and may she be free
Now last sentence brought me tears!
Thank you for letting her speak. Never forget.
Everyone should see this. This beautiful woman has had her soul torn from her body and she has found a way to persevere... the evil that man commits against his fellow man is never far away from any of us. God Bless you Irene Weiss and you too Anderson Cooper. May this never happen to anyone, anywhere, ever again.
Irene Weiss is an absolutely amazing, and beautiful person. I've watch countless videos and films with her. Her words are a warning.
Yes.
We also need to note and remember the resilience of the human beings who survived.
Me too. She always makes me cry. I know exactly what she means
I am so grateful that I came upon this conversation. I am so grateful that Mrs. Weiss survive this horrible tragedy and shared her story. We must not forget we cannot forget
Incredible. Thank you Anderson for inviting her to share her story with us. She is an absolutely beautiful woman.
We had a lady across the street from us that I had become close to in the early 80's. Must have been 7 or 8 yrs old. One day, we were sitting on her front porch, and she reached out to get her coffee, and that's when I noticed her tattoo. I've always been a book worm, and yes, at that age I was aware of its meaning. I immediately broke down in tears, and she asked me what was wrong, and I was unable to tell her, so I pointed at her tattoo. She grabbed me and hugged me, and we cried together and told me I was too young to know its meaning. When the tears stopped, I looked at her and simply said thank you for making it out of there and expressed how much she meant to me. Im 51 now, watching this brought all those tears back, all the emotion of that young man. Eisenhower said it best. "Get this all on record because someone later on will try to convince us this never happened."
I'm 61 and grew up in Manhattan, there was a man in my building named Mr. Tyson, and was really good friends with my Mother and Father , he told us the story about his family. He was tattooed as a boy. I won't forget.
Wow! This story brought tears to my eyes.
This beautiful woman endured so much horror, but still retains her humanity. It's difficult to watch without feeling her broken heart, and pain, but it's an honor to hear her story. Thank you ☘️
Bless you and her ❤
Thanks for your fine story and the true humanity it voices... I love the young person who gave her that moment in her life and I'm grateful that you gave it to you, too! This present earth contains horror but it also contains you and her and your moment together as true human beings.... And, it also contains the hope of an earth where the moment you had in both your hearts is the status quo of human hearts all over an vastly improved earth. The earth we inhabit today is described accurately at 2Timothy 3 :1-5 in the Bible, but the earth just ahead of us is one where her suffering and yours for her can heal. (Revelation 21 :1-5)
There is nothing one can say to Mrs. Weiss except to thank her for having the courage to go on living the best life and raising the best children she can. In this, at least, she has defeated those who did such evil to her life. Crying somehow feels like something from which one could possibly be comforted, as well as tacit acknowledgement of the reality she was experiencing -- which was too horrible to fully allow into one's conscious mind. Numbness helps to block out pain, even if it is not a healthy long-term response. She is right about never being really happy. When one lops off feelings, one cannot tell the heart how to lop one feeling but not another. So, when you find a way to deny pain, you also lose great joy.
One can have years of therapy which helps, but, as Mrs. Weiss says, it never really leaves your soul.
We all cope with emotional pain, but few to the level Mrs. Weiss has been forced to deal with for most of her life. She is a beautiful human being.
I am from former Yugoslavia/ Serbian. When the war in The 90s starter I was 15 years old. Thank you Irene. She is absolutely right! That war and atrocities can happen in such a short time. Something you can't imagine before it happens to you, in that moment. Our country went from prosperous and normal in to caos and murder in a just fer weeks, after several years of division, spreading hate and flas narratives , us against them. Fear and shock description is 100% accurat. Thank you Irene and Anderson ❤ hope it does not happen again.
Exactly. Peace is the only sustainable way forward. We can never let leaders succeed in brainwashing, regardless of the painful past. Our children deserve better.
And it's not as though leading world governments did not see it coming and couldn't have prevented it. It seems the peacekeepers are always too late doing the right thing to intervene.
I'm so very sorry you went through this. I can only imagine, but even our imaginations are limited - it's beyond human comprehension until you live it. Like Ukraine and Israel and Palestinians. Why do we repeat the most horrible mistakes? 🙏
I’m about the same age. That must have been so terrifying.
This could even happen in America if Trump, the felon wins the election. He cannot accomplish this alone but others that are just as evil will pick up the torch and join which we already have in MAGA followers.
The courage and dignity of Irene Weiss, to give this very personal interview about the inferno she endured is very very moving. Her testimony must be watched and felt by everybody so that history won’t repeats itself. She’s right: « civilisation’s veneer is very very thin ». We must take good care of it.
I admire the spirit of Mrs Weiss. Everyone should watch this. "it is possible"
yes.
same thing is going on right now.
look at your phone and news.
I have her book so sad ureal period in history in which a cult turns on their fellow man
Wow. Anderson Cooper at his best bringing out the important story of Irene Weiss. He helped her discuss this unimaginable experience with such honesty and compassion. A must watch.
How profound, she says the pain is too big for crying. My heart bleeds for you. Sending love , hoping you feel it.
This is heartbreaking. I don’t know how anyone who lived through it could remain sane.
You are not kidding. I don’t know how she has kept it together. She is a very strong woman, it’s beyond horror the scenes she had witness.
I wonder that all the time. My friends grandparents went on to build families
A huge thank you, Mrs. Weiss for going to that horrible dark place in your memories to warn us all of what can happen when evil is not stopped! I hope it's not too late for this country and I pray, after hearing your words, hearts will be changed and people will reject evil at the ballot box. God bless you for having the courage to share your story and through your example, bring hope and comfort to thousands of people with deep wounds. Thank you for bringing healing to my life as well! ❤
Deeply painful and amazing interview. That calming behavior in somebody who was able to came back from horror. Thank you for the life lesson. It's in all of us to learn it.
Horrific situation, yet she is able to live with purpose and love ❤️
I find it amazing that she’s so well spoken, intelligent, and insightful after all she endured. Amazing.
She's prayed and done a lot of spiritual and psychological work. One must do that to live and the desire to live is a powerful thing.
She was spared so she could do this. To tell us all...what happened.
@@yvonneplant9434So those who died had any less value to be spared? No, she wasn’t spared she survived. What a ridiculous statement
Incredible woman and so graceful. This interview will stick with me for a long time. Thank You.
What an incredible profound interview ! I cried listening to Mrs Weiss; for the indescribable pain she, her sister their family and all those beautiful families, men, women and children suffered and endured. I cried hearing her wise words reminding us all, how very quickly life and peace can unravel into chaos, hate and mayhem. I cried because sadly despite the lessons of the past, there are still those who have forgotten and choose to make the choice to hate others they view as different from them. The statement she made “who is the enemy, who is to be hated, who is to be excluded…as soon as permission is given from higher up, it accelerates..permission is very important”
Let us not forget, let us not go back💙💙💙 Thank you Anderson and Mrs Weiss!
This couldn’t be more timely. I’m afraid for what I see coming, what is already here. The storm clouds are brewing. Thank you, Iren Weiss, for telling your story. She made so many good points. Why is this violence in us humans? Why are we so self-destructive and just destructive in general? It doesn’t need to be this way. Blessings to you all 💓
To answer: Greed and the quest for personal power,
Sending so much love to Mrs. Weiss. Thank you for sharing your story. And thank you Anderson.
Thank you for posting this. I keep hearing that the young generations question if the Holocaust really happened, as they didn’t learn about it in school. How is this possible? Shocking as that is, we then need more posts like this to go viral, and to check into what our schools are teaching and not teaching?
What a fascinating, yet terrible conversation. I am close to tears hearing it. How in God's name have we in the United States forgotten this???!! How in the name of humanity can an entire political party in 2024 lean unmistakably in the same direction? How can these people still be viable candidates? What have we become?
I also ask myself the same questions. I’m horrified by the thought of a Trump presidency.
How can we ignore Gaza?
Please America, try to remember. Love from Canada.
I am following the current american election closely. I am german, and I was taught at school about the nazis, and we were taken to visit one of the concentration camps turned into museums. I vividly remember standing before that huge pile of shoes, left by the victims. This interview brings that back, but I want to thank Mrs Weiss for her amazing strength and willingness to talk about her experiences. This is an extremely important and moving interview.
But - I do find it incomprehensible how in a country like the usa the same type of speech as was used by the nazis is tolerated today again, coming from one of the presidential candidates. It is horrifying.
@@BezayneIn a world of scarcity populated by human beings whose nervous system is wired for survival and to detect any and all threats this noxious philosophy will continue to rear its ugly head.
Anyone who has experienced childhood trauma chooses to live in that middle safe zone. Joy and pain are too frightening. Great interview.
❤
Memory of my father came to me watching this interview. He was in the camps for seven years (four camps starting at Terezin) but survived only due to being a musician and the will to find a way to make it through. Thank you Anderson for bringing this part of history that we should never forget. Mrs Weiss is an amazing women with a lot of courage to talk about her experience which the totally opposite of my father who did not want talked about it.
Would you agree your father afterwards was stuck in a state of stymied development - as was described by Irene's and Anderson's accounts of trauma - and in a constant state of emotional survival mode?
*an amazing woman
Same here my family refused to talk about the shoa and we were not allowed to ask about the numbers on their arms!
@@kimbarnett619 Chilling. So sorry.
@@kimbarnett619🙏💔
Thank you, Anderson, for bringing her on. Thank you, Mrs Weiss. Never again!
We should listen and learn from our elders. She is wise and absolutely incredible
To go home with others living there, and to go in the garden with the fruit on the ground. That got me to my core. Thank you Mrs. Weiss, your life is cherished!
Oh Anderson! This interview is so moving. Such profound emotions were shared and explained. This will stay with me for a long time.
Should we all be so eloquent and mentally spry when we reach 93!
Don't even try to read Elie Wiesel's book. It will haunt you till the day you leave this Earth. 😩 Heartbreaking. I couldn't get through it.
Same.
I cannot be the only one crying for that thirteen year old innocent girl - what a woman she became, how brave and strong - we thank you for sharing your pain with us, Irene.
@@mrkmywrds Same comment on 4-5 replies? Are you fishing for likes or trying to get attention? Bot.
Every entitled feeling teenager should have to see this video. IT is so compelling and eye opening to us all, even to those of us who barely escaped this torturous time by being born 8 years later. So very lucky we were. I at 80 y/o cried as I watched this.
Thank you for telling your story Mrs Weiss
One of the best interviews I have ever heard. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
We must talk about and always remember these terrible events and experiences. We must never let them repeat 😔🖤
It is vital to teach the next generation this history. Censorship is a springboard for ignorance.
Here we are w/,trump! What do u mean.
Are y’all serious?? Forget trump, these same people escaped and have been doing the literal same thing that happened to them to this day smh 🤦🏽♂️
It is happening again. Just ask the Palestinians.🙏🏿✝️
@@mananimal3644 exactly!! Thank you!
OMG, I cried throughout this whole interview. I feel so bad for this woman, and all the jewish peoples who endured & died from this time in history! She looks so beautiful for 93 years old...she is truly an old soul who has suffered and endured to tell her story:)) Altho I am not Jewish, my heart goes out to her in every way. When I lived in NYC back in the early 70's in Washington Heights area..The Jewishish Delicatessens were the very best, and a favorite of mine to go too. I am Part Cherokee Indian, German & Irish....and I loved the NY Jewish people I met and made good friends with. I am an Empath. I have strong psychic senses. Good interview Anderson Cooper! Thank you.
What an extraordinary woman Mrs. Weiss is. She is amazing that despite all the horrific memories she is burdened with, she has the love in her, to spare her children any feelings of guilt for being blessed in their lives. Just unselfish love in her, to be aware of that, and practice that in her life. I also feel as she does, that the present-day environment in parts of this country (USA) is ripe with propaganda dehumanizing ethnic groups and blaming them for economic loss and crime. I hope that millions of people watch this and heed her warning. Thank you, Anderson Cooper, for introducing this remarkable woman to us all.
Every year my body suffers from remembering the death of my 16-year old son. My blood pressure surges, I am teary and depressed. Then, after the anniversary period, I become myself again. Thank you for talking to us about the truth of your life with such depth.
Perfect timing! every thing going on in the world seems like we never learned from history
I have been VERY critical of CNN but this is brilliance. And real journalism. Thank you. Human nature can be very, very dark.
'Stuck there', that really struck a chord. I feel that this is the same with most traumatic events in your life, especially when you are a child unable to process them, i.e. abuse, loss, abandonment etc. I should imagine 'stuck there' in her case is ramped up 100 fold.' 'Existing in a kind of melancholy' again relatable to especially early traumatic events. The veil of humanity is very thin', this also struck a chord. This is so spot on, and lastly it only takes a 'hint of permission' for the veil of humanity to come down. Again any type of bullying or abuse, it takes others to stand by while this happens and do nothing for this to be successful. This was an extremely informative interview.
Outstanding interview, still reeling from "all man needs to kill is permission"
Most honest Holocaust interview I’ve heard.
Her insight into living after the Holocaust is the most valuable !
What a wonderful articulate woman. I am lucky to hear her story.
What an interesting response....but I too think that I am lucky to have heard her and her tragic story.
God Bless Ms. Weiss 💙 This is so terrifying. I've read so much about WWII. My mother escaped communist Cuba, but there is no comparison to the unspeakable evil of Hitler and the Nazi's. It is very scary that I see the same casual cruelty that kicked off in Germany in the 30's which led to the Holocaust, happening in our country today. I pray that we are able to heal as a nation and avoid anything even close to this horror.
Thank you Anderson for this interview! We must never forget from South Africa
It was such a privilege to listen to this. I feel so empty and ashamed that we - the world - have so totally failed to honour your losses and ongoing suffering by changing, or, at times, even recognising those things. I wish i could find a way to say how deeply I respect how you have managed to continue living, and even explain this to us now. In the words of Job, I place my hand over my mouth.
seriously ?!!
Exactly same situation is going on in G@Z@ !!!!
g@z@ ?!!!
Yet they are doing worse things in Gaza.
@@niveax6112 unfortunately responses like this - that distract/re-focus and even victim-blame - are part of the human failing that enable us to avoid fully absorbing what happened in the holocaust and responding appropriately, including ensuring such events cannot happen again... including the likes of what is happening in Gaza.
@@niveax6112Israel was attacked by murderous terrorists and is retaliating. Someone you know extremely well is very obviously a graduate of the University of Social Media, Gullibility, and Conspiracy Theories.
What a beautiful gracious lady. So easy to feel her pain, even with her elegance. A great meaningful interview. Thanks Anderson
Absolutely incredible interview! Thank you for this!
As a Canadian and Catholic, visiting the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC was one of the most profound experiences of my life. It was so devastatingly moving.
I’d highly recommend everyone that can go, to go.
Life can change in a moment, but like the frog in boiling water, it doesn’t happen in a vacuum or all at once.
"The thin vaneer of civilization"
A great interview. It's miraculous anyone lived through that horrific time.
This is so true about man…when you give excuses to cruelty and disregard bad things happen. This is where we are.
Mrs. Weiss is absolutely beautiful inside and out. Thank you Mrs Weiss for sharing your story
Anderson, through his own grief journey, is doing the most important work of his career.
Yes, and he is a sensitive interviewer.
And I've been thinking that he is finally processing his own father's death because HE has become a father . . .
@@andreaspeth9478 It’s been amazing to watch his evolution over the years.
What a gentle, respectful, impactful interview.
Remarkable.
So well spoken.
So generous to have shared this horrific perspective.
My mother never spoke of her experience in Hungary which was similar. Sending Love ❤️
I've never met a less Than brilliant Jew
The end of this interview, with Andersen showing such understanding - and explaining his own pain - elicits such honesty that I found it the most moving part of the conversation. Thank you, both.
Thank you for remind us. Never forget.
So much wisdom for her 93 years. What a great interview. Thanks for sharing with us.
Irene, thank you for your courage to share these horrific experiences that you and your family suffered. We must never forget these evil human atrocities and do everything in our power to prevent them in the future. Unfortunately, I am recognizing this same “thin veil” of civilization in the US. May God Bless us all and see us through toward peace and love🙏🏼❤️
Thank you for this interview...I am not Jewish but my heart breaks and I cry with every story that I hear and see. How utterly horrific to have lived through this and to have these memories the rest of your life. 😢 Her story needs to be heard by everyone.
Thank you so much for this!! We are losing the remaining survivors of this horror - the ones who lived/survived. We need to record/save as much of this as we can. She is such an amazing woman - in so many ways!! I'm going to save this. 😢 Sadly, we know Germany and it's people aren't some kind of One Off.
@@cecileroy557 I’m sure there were and are so many Germans who experienced the same horrors and were horrified by what the Nazis did
I know this will not ease her pain, but I wish I could give her a hug and thank her for living long enough to tell her story for all of us! I am in tears and this story will stay with me forever!
you should watch her tell her entire story here on youtube. she is amazing and deserves to be heard over and over again.
I lost some of my family, thank you for doing this. Everyone should watch. Never again!!!
What a beautiful and brave woman! We need to pay attention to her words. She knows of what she speaks. 💙💙💙💙
Thank you, Beautiful Lady.
Anderson, thank you so much for this interview with a beautiful soul. She may not agree but Mrs. Weiss is resilient. You are resilient. I am resilient as my father died in an airplane accident when I was four. You hit the mark when saying you haven’t allowed yourself to experience great joy. We can’t because we know how quickly it can be taken away. For me, it is a fear that it will be taken away, just like that. Deep down I am still that small child who didn’t face the pain. Thank you. We’re part of a club that no one wants to be part of.
Her story is beyond heartbreaking and tragic. Thank you for sharing it. Her insights are invaluable.
Handpicked by God to survive and share. Anderson Cooper blessed to listen and be an AMAZING human💙
Superb interview. Evil walks the earth every single day. And Mrs. Weiss, what I understood from you is experiencing that pain and melancholia never fully goes away.... it may diminish... but it is always there. Thank you for your highly articulate description of your experiences --- which were riveting. And a clear reminder this could happen again -- right here in this country. That is not an exaggeration or embellishment. Take the blinders off America before it is too late !
She is beyond remarkable. Thank you for sharing. ❤️
This interview was intelligent, informative, and very emotional for me. Thank you Mrs. Weiss for teaching us and showing us. This needs to be shown in every high school across America. Thank you Anderson for bringing Mrs. Weiss and her story to light.
I could listen to her all day. She is very engaging and charismatic. How wonderful is this interview!
So powerful - what an incredible woman, you left a huge impression on me. Such crime was committed - because they were given permission - what does this tell us about humanity ?
Wow...this was heart wrenching...she has not allowed herself to grieve because she had to raise her family but she struggles with the reality of what happened to her family in Germany...her life was forever changed when she was 13...
My Respects to this beautiful Lady. God Bless.
She’s incredible.
What am extraordinary women, showing how resilient women are. Hoping to see 93 with the same sturdiness and a sharp mind just like Irene Weiss.
she is talking for my ancestors. What an amazing woman to be able to speak about it.
Thank you Anderson.
Thank you. This woman does not see how remarkable her strength and insights are.
Thank you, Irene Weiss❤ You are an extraordinary human. Our world today, must never, ever forget the atrocities during the Holocaust. May God bless all those people who suffered that hell on earth. It was beyond evil. Thank you, Anderson Cooper, for your gentle self in asking such poignant and insightful questions. At 69, I teared up thinking about my own father dying when I was 7. How close to the surface that pain and sorrow dwells. Sending prayers and lots of love to all🙏🏻❤️
Incredible interview. I delivered mail for years to some holocaust survivors ... who wore numbers on their arms. I felt terrible for them, but this interview made those numbers mean much more. Mans' inhumanity to man. Unbelievably sad.
Crying comes when you know you are safe to grieve.
Yes... it's heartbreaking that this incredible woman's soul is still at 13 & never will be safe enough. What a powerful human 😢
Are you really ever really safe?
So true, I saw my mother die in front of me in a car crash when I was 7 years old, I was asked , at the time, if I wanted to go to the funeral and that's it, no more talk about it afterwards ever, I am still in that 7 yo mindset, sad most of the time and never feeling joy, and cast off as snobby and excluded from everything.
WOW! What a great and necessary interview… the heart can go on, but the soul is marked forever!