"Relentless Fight For Freedom" A Holocaust Documentary Trailer

My parents were Holocaust survivors, German refugees.My mothers parents lived with us in our small New York City apartment. Oma and Opa (Moms parents) never learned English, so I was a bilingual youngster. Most of Moms relatives survived the Holocaust. I have many happy memories of family celebrations with wonderful food.
We were usually joined by her sister Selma and her husband on family outings, even vacations. I had a very close relationship with Aunt Selma, and called her my second mom. My mothers brother Sol, his wife and three daughters were frequently included for family events like Passover Seders. I always felt blessed with a relatively large extended family.
Dads only relative was Uncle Sam, who took the subway from Brooklyn once a month to have dinner with us, followed by his smoking a stinky cigar, then falling asleep in an armchair. It delighted him to give my brother and me a dollar, saying, Buy yourself a lollipop.
I had a nagging feeling that something was missing. At age six, I began questioning my father about the rest of HIS family. My questions went unanswered. He said his sister had died, but she got him out of Germany. She found a sponsor willing to post the $100,000 bond required by immigration. I yearned to learn about Dads family, especially about his sister. I believe I would have been as close to her as I was to Aunt Selma. Dad continued his silence; he never even told me her name.
My dad had a daily routine of a first breakfast around 5:00 AM, juice, coffee, rolls, butter and jam. He said this reduced morning headaches, feelings of pressure in his head. I often joined him; it was OUR time. No doctor ever diagnosed the cause of air in his head. When I studied psychology in college, I discovered that many Holocaust survivors suffer from phantom pains such as headaches or tummy aches, caused by survivor guilt. The pains often decrease with psychotherapy sessions. In one of our morning chats, I told Dad he could not have helped his sister because it was too late. A week later, I asked about his morning headaches. He was surprised to realize they were gone!
Still, he refused to discuss his life in Germany, or to talk about his sister. So, in 1985, I visited his birth place, the small German village of Wenkheim. With the help of strangers, who became colleagues and friends, I researched my Aunt Renates history. We now have a full length documentary of her Holocaust journey, Relentless Fight for Freedom.
We interviewed my father on film in 2007. He began sharing his secrets. Finally, I understood the reason for the magnitude of his distress.
I realize how much of MY life is linked to my relationship with Dad. He was the reason I became a psychotherapist. I continue his tradition of a daily 'first breakfast'.
Dad passed away last year at age 93. I miss him so much!

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Relentless Fight For Freedom
• Fight for Freedom
• Manfred Greenbaum
• Manfred
• Holocaust Documentary
• Holocaust
• Documentary
• Trailer
• Survivor
• Holocaust Survivor
• Germany
• Immigration
• Wenkheim
• Journey
• Holocaust Journey

[Sliv20]

Aww, this was so sad. It really makes everything seem more real when you can put a face to somebody who suffered. He looks like such a sweet elderly man. =)

[shelleynes]

Hi Susan, I just wanted to let you know I really enjoyed watching this video, and I read the text. Thank you for sharing this with me. It is really nice to see your dad here.