Jewish Survivor Rena Gelissen Testimony | USC Shoah Foundation 

Debra Simons: 'Wonder when she lived in Hvl in relation to the Polish American Club - wNC there until recent years.

sure wish I had. I'm a guy who was mesmerized by study of my dad's generation's war, WWII, since I was eight. I never took a detailed look at Holocaust much until a number of years ago when I really delved into it. My God, what a story. What a horror. And her book is beyond amazing. three years of that. beyond my worst imagination. Then we have our denier up top who says it's all lies. strains my tolerance of the first amendment. How could anyone make up that kind of detail, the tattoo (which I believe there is some sort of record showing her name on actual register at that hell hole assigned that number, but not sure about that).

"strains my tolerance of the first amendment." Great comment.

Her tattoo was removed with no charge by a wonderful hand surgeon in asheville, Bruce Minkin, MD.​@teller121

Esther HV: 'thought they came to the U.S. in 1954.

+Tomczyk Joseph (NMI) : Yes they did, and still lived there when WE lived in the USA as expats from 1996 to 2000.

VOSHOL06 Thank you.

claude: have you read it closely? If so, and you are willing, I'd like to ask you a question about an incident recorded in the book. I asked the Macadam woman but received no answer. there may be no answer available, but I thought I'd mention it. I'm a curious person and esp when it comes to military matters. It has to do with the devastation that occurs to one of the buildings in the camp (Camp I) after the sisters miraculously made it from death camp to camp I (laundry duty). I recall that she is in a basement (I believe bld 4 or 5) when she and others hear a terrible blast and she goes up to see what happened. She states that an adjacent building (either 4 or 5) had been destroyed by the blast. Those slate buildings in camp 1 were pretty formidable structures. I assumed that, since this was late in the book, that it must have been a stray bomb from one of the US heavy bombers that raided the rubber factory at Buna-Monowitz (aka, Auschwitz III) in 12/44 (the only bombing raid in that area during the war), right before the camp was evacuated in 01/45. But Camp I was a good distance from Monowitz and not on target list, of course. Maybe a bomb that didn't fall free when it should have came loose as planes turned back to bases? I dunno. But it would be hard for her to recall such a destructive event, even in her predicament, if it didn't happen. Puzzling and intriguing. It would be fun to get the log from that mission from whatever bomb group it was to see in post-raid brief, one or more planes crews revealed that one or more bombs got stuck on bomb ramp and had to be knocked loose on way back (couldn't land with live bombs back then).

You’re very lucky I read her book and it’s one of my favorite books ever I wish I could have met her

She died in 2006 and her sister passed away in 2012.

They are trying to be objective, but it does sound cold i agree.

you and your thumbs-up ass richly deserve the 666 handle you adopted. Perfect for you. Jerk wad.

She did talk fast and with a very thick accent, but her story is from her heart and it will change your life. She was an amazing woman. BTW I am her biographer, and you can find more information about the first women in Auschwitz on my youtube channel renas promise. Bless you for caring and ignore the naysayers--ignorance is not bliss. hdm

She does talk fast which I find with many very bright people. I’m a bit slow so tough to follow her at first but what she says is very organized, compact, relevant and interesting so peaked me to be alert and even lean forward into the monitor like a dope. But I found I did not have to go back a minute to rehear what she said as it was actually very clear regardless of the speed, accent and somewhat staccato cadence of her speech. With many of the interviews, I have to go back and listen again to many sections that plod along with tortured language. Rena was a thrill to listen to and exciting. Many times she skips parts of her experience with a quick dismissal to keep the narrative flow going which was great and unlike many of the testimonies that drift off with irrelevancies. She has given one of the better testimonies. Very well done. Thanks Rena.

Reading this lady's book at your own pace in your own peaceful solitude I think allows us to absorb the core of her heart and soul. Her story exposes our own decent core of our soul to ourselves. There will be tears, be grateful your heart weeps.

Are you not a native English speaker. She is talking fast but I’m from New York so I guess I’m used to it. And although she’s talking fast and with an accent or language is very clear so I’m not sure where the problem is

During the time this was filmed lots of us “permed” our hair, making our hair very curly. It was before your time! OR, she just had really curly hair. It happens.

religion is a powerful thing and she was brought up in it, under her father's authority. that meant something back then.

How foolish you are to be so harsh on such a young girl who was brought up to respect her father's wishes. This was a different time. Do not judge people by modern standards when few have such regard for their parents

Shame on you. How Judgemental you are. I pray you find peace, grace and understanding.

​@@TheAmandahcwell her father was wrong neither race or religion is importent only love

​@@teller121yes unfortently better now then people think for themselves