Messengers Without An Audience

| Length: | 52 min |
| Released: | 2003 |
| Ages: |
College Adult |
Buy Online Streaming
Messengers Without An Audience is a gripping documentary about the heroism of a handful of eyewitnesses who brought the first devastating reports about the Nazi atrocities to the West. Why did such a large proportion of the world ignore the genocide of millions of civilians in Europe? Did people not believe what was happening in Europe or was their indifference plain anti-Semitism?
These questions are addressed in the documentary through interviews with four men who tried to warn the world: Jan Karski, Gerhart Riegner, Jan Nowak and Wladislav Bartoszewski. The documentary examines the reasons for ignoring the Nazi's murderous actions. Anti-Semitism was common at the time not only in Europe but among high officials of the American State Department. Was it shared by President Roosevelt? We do know that the State Department suppressed information, delayed action and directed consulates in the field to refuse refugees life-saving visas.
Also interviewed are William Slany, the former Chief Historian of the State Department and Stuart Eizenstat, former U.S. Under Secretary of State. Slany's is the first testimony by a former top official of the Department. He speaks candidly about the catastrophic mistakes and the significant anti-Semitic attitude of that era. Stuart Eizenstat who published the Nazi-Gold Reports, discusses American responsibility for this tragic history.
These questions are addressed in the documentary through interviews with four men who tried to warn the world: Jan Karski, Gerhart Riegner, Jan Nowak and Wladislav Bartoszewski. The documentary examines the reasons for ignoring the Nazi's murderous actions. Anti-Semitism was common at the time not only in Europe but among high officials of the American State Department. Was it shared by President Roosevelt? We do know that the State Department suppressed information, delayed action and directed consulates in the field to refuse refugees life-saving visas.
Also interviewed are William Slany, the former Chief Historian of the State Department and Stuart Eizenstat, former U.S. Under Secretary of State. Slany's is the first testimony by a former top official of the Department. He speaks candidly about the catastrophic mistakes and the significant anti-Semitic attitude of that era. Stuart Eizenstat who published the Nazi-Gold Reports, discusses American responsibility for this tragic history.
"This film leaves no doubt that the world indeed hear the truth that it did not want to hear." Alexander Rolfe, George Fox University, for Educational Media Reviews Online
"The documentary is well scripted and well produced, and the technical aspects are good. An excellent choice for schools with Holocaust curriculums and for libraries with Holocaust collections."
School Library Journal
"The documentary is well scripted and well produced, and the technical aspects are good. An excellent choice for schools with Holocaust curriculums and for libraries with Holocaust collections."
School Library Journal
Berlin Film Festival, 2003.
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