Interviewed by Claude Lanzmann for the Shoah documentary, Rudolf Vrba clearly resolved not to appear weak. Other interviewees expressed some vulnerability, or some subservience to the interview process, but Vrba was aloof and dressed better than Lanzmann. He was not about to be intimidated by someone who had not experienced Auschwitz first-hand. The result is a clash of egos. Rather than subscribe to the director’s cajoling to be confessional, Vrba easily deflects Claude Lanzmann’s aggressive questioning with his rational, scientific mindset. So it is that Rudolf Vrba gets the last word…

It’s the manners of the two men that is more interesting than the content. [To see subtitles, start the video, then click the little “cc” box near the bottom of the screen. The auto translation is misleading and inept at times, but it helps. ] Please note this website provides a full transcription of all comments made by Rudolf during the Shoah documentary. See VRBA IN SHOAH.