Saving History One Story at a Time

Consider This from NPR
Hosted by NPR
Release Date: July 2, 2025

In the episode titled "Saving History One Story at a Time," NPR delves deep into the urgent need to preserve Holocaust testimonies as survivors age and Holocaust denial gains traction. Through historical recounting, personal stories, and expert insights, the episode underscores the critical importance of recording and sharing these firsthand accounts to prevent history from being forgotten or distorted.

1. Historical Context: Murrow’s Reporting from Buchenwald

The episode begins by transporting listeners back to the final days of World War II. CBS News correspondent Edward R. Murrow was among the first journalists to report from the Buchenwald concentration camp, providing harrowing details to his audience.

B (Edward R. Murrow): “There were two rows of bodies stacked up like cordwood. They were thin and very white… All except two were naked.” [00:47]

Murrow was profoundly affected by the atrocities he witnessed, taking three days to compose his report. Despite his efforts, he feared public disbelief.

B (Murrow): “I pray you to believe what I have said about Buchenwald. I have reported what I saw and heard, but only part of it. For most of it, I have no words.” [01:19]

2. Present-Day Concerns: Rising Holocaust Denial and Fading Memories

Fast forward eighty years, and Murrow's anxieties seem prescient. The episode highlights a disturbing rise in Holocaust denial, partly fueled by fringe ideologies and certain political administrations.

A (Narrator): “Multiple members of President Donald Trump's administration have expressed support for Nazi sympathizers and people who promote antisemitism.” [01:30]

Historian Rob Williams from the USC Shoah Foundation voices concerns over the dwindling number of survivors who can relay their experiences.

C (Rob Williams): “Generation or the survivor generation who are still with us. And if we are unable to not only record their stories but share them.” [02:01]

The episode emphasizes the race against time to capture these vital stories before they vanish.

3. The Story of Andrew Roth and Jack Moran: Survivor and Liberator

At the heart of the episode is the poignant meeting between Andrew Roth, a nearly 100-year-old Holocaust survivor, and Jack Moran, an American soldier who helped liberate Buchenwald.

Andrew Roth: A Survivor’s Journey

Born in Hungary in 1927, Andrew Roth and his Orthodox Jewish family were subjected to Nazi persecution. Roth recounts the harrowing separation from his family upon arrival at Auschwitz.

B (Roth): “Made a life and death choice. All those who went to the right were gassed the same night. And I went with my uncle the other way and here I am.” [07:28]

Roth survived the brutal conditions of Auschwitz and Buchenwald through sheer resilience and resourcefulness.

B (Roth): “I was just very resourceful and very lucky most of the time.” [08:17]

Jack Moran: The Liberator’s Perspective

Born in Wisconsin in 1925, Jack Moran endured intense combat during the Allied march to Germany. He recalls the immense loss and psychological toll of the war.

B (Moran): “Life was so cheap and death came so easy, so, so sad.” [05:37]

Moran describes the harrowing Battle of the Bulge, where he and his comrades were trapped in a frozen foxhole, barely surviving the brutal onslaught.

B (Moran): “I saw grown men at the after battles crying like a baby, saying, I can't take this anymore. I can't stand this anymore. I felt the same way.” [05:15-06:03]

Their Reunion

In April 1945, both men found themselves at Buchenwald—a place of unimaginable horror and a site of liberation. Their meeting symbolizes the convergence of suffering and salvation.

B (Moran): “Unreal. Unreal. Unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. How man can see so mean to his fellow human beings.” [08:32]

Roth cherishes the day of liberation as his birthday, signifying a new beginning after immense loss.

C (Roth): “With most of his family murdered, Roth was forced to do hard labor in the camp. And death was everywhere. Every day.” [07:41]

4. The Imperative to Preserve Memories

Historian Rob Williams emphasizes the broader implications of losing Holocaust memory. Understanding these events is crucial for shaping a just and humane modern world.

B (Rob Williams): “I hate to be pessimistic, but I don't think it's any coincidence that just as we are casting doubt on the value of democracy or on the value of human rights, that we're also beginning to witness a decline in understanding and memory of the Holocaust.” [09:57-10:13]

The episode highlights recent antisemitic incidents in the U.S. and the dangerous spread of Holocaust denial online, underscoring the urgent need to preserve survivors' testimonies.

5. Legacy and Reclamation of History

The reunion between Roth and Moran also serves as a platform for Roth to reclaim his history. Through official documents and testimonies, Roth confronts the erasure attempted by the Nazis.

B (Narrator): “With him is, in a certain sense, a way to let him reclaim his own history, a history that was ripped away from him by the Nazis.” [11:14]

Roth’s documentation of his arrest solely for being Jewish stands as irrefutable evidence against Holocaust denial.

C (Document): “Reason for arrest? In cursive lettering, it says, only being a Jew.” [11:22]

Conclusion: A Race Against Time

"Saving History One Story at a Time" not only recounts the harrowing experiences of individuals during the Holocaust but also amplifies the critical need to document and remember these events. As survivors pass away, their stories become irreplaceable pillars of historical truth and moral lessons for future generations.

Notable Quotes:

• Edward R. Murrow (CBS Correspondent):
  “There were two rows of bodies stacked up like cordwood. They were thin and very white… All except two were naked.” [00:47]

• Jack Moran (Liberator):
  “Life was so cheap and death came so easy, so, so sad.” [05:37]

• Andrew Roth (Survivor):
  “I was just very resourceful and very lucky most of the time.” [08:17]

• Rob Williams (Historian):
  “...understanding the Holocaust is crucial to understanding the modern world, how it led to the United Nations, international treaties on the treatment of refugees and against genocide.” [09:03]

By weaving together historical reportage, personal narratives, and expert analysis, NPR's Consider This episode compellingly illustrates the imperative to "save history one story at a time." The episode serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of memory and the enduring responsibility to honor and preserve the truths of the past.