Jewish Survivor Sonia Bielski Testimony | USC Shoah Foundation

It took a lot for these survivors to take the time to relive and share such a horrible past. I felt the very least I could do is listen to each and every one of them. Each and every one has been an honor and a privilage to hear, but this one is one of the best. How they managed to keep things together with over a thousand people for over three years in the forest.........I have no words. Truly a remarkable testimony of leadership and courage..... a true survival story of those who did whatever it took to live and help others to make it through a living hell. Thank you for sharing the good and the bad with us.

I love this lady. She reminds me of my great grandma who spoke 6 languages and English was her least proficient, but her force of will and zest for life made up for it and then some. What a fantastic human being she is. The interviewer as many have commented actually prevented her from telling her story by asking utterly inane questions repeatedly.

Thank you for your testimony.

Sad, beautiful, haunting, horrific story.  Today we complain about traffic - look what these once young people had to live through.  Blessings Mrs. Bielski, and thanks to all who posted this.

A strong, intelligent, honest woman.

I was terribly impressed with this interview. The interviewer helped Sonya say on track and helped with the translation. I also loved hearing the boys praise their parents. I think this family has something in America we call grit...real true grit. May we all be thankful they have shared and documented one of the most unusual and captivating stories of the Holocaust. May God bless and be with the children of these families!!!!

It's a shame the interviewer was so terrible. She asked Sonia the same questions over and over. For example, she must have asked 4+ times if the Bielskis worked on joint missions with the Russians. It obviously became frustrating for Mrs Bielski and it was even more frustrating for the viewer. I also can't count the times she asked about who made decisions which Sonia said in the beginning was the 3 Bielski brothers. Of coruse Sonia's testimony favors her husband but that is expected.

A very proud woman...

The interviewer is way louder, I wish the camera man did a better job with the volume. So frustrating

The movie Defiance made me want to learn more about the Bielskis- there is a lot about them online. Lillian, Tuvias wife, also gives her story and helps fill in info not in this interview.

OMG! Interview? Interrogator!

How incompetent these interviewers are .. it’s a real disgrace that these people have to suffer again with their incompetence!!

Great testimony but interviewer was extremely annoying with her repeated questions. Train these people before letting them interview these survivors who have already suffered so much. Let them tell their story and then ask questions so the survivor doesn’t lose their train of thought. This is Not an interrogation. I do not like the way she was talked to. Interviewer is very pushy in the way she asks the questions.

Wow what a brave woman. Her story is amazing. I know they all went through Hell, but she's inspiring.

This is the same interviewer who did a miserable job while interviewing Mr. Aron Bell. She does not let the speaker finish the story, neither does she let them remain on track. She constantly keeps interfering with irrelevant questions. It sounds like she's just not competent enough to extract a story, and keeps asking same questions and loses track of the trail. Almost feels like she's not interested and just keeps asking for no reason, just because she has to. Very very poor service.

My mother was born in Lubcz too

Shoha foundation, from where you discovered this hilarious interviewer?

Of Sonia Bielski: Peter Duffy, author of the book

Her story sounds like the movie called Defiance

That interviewer needs lessons in manners.