A Holocaust survivor recalls hiding from Nazis with 17 people and a dog — its silence saved them all

Holocaust survivors hold the trauma of a lifetime, but also had vivid experiences that taught them much about life, love, family, and more. One of these people was David Gurvitz. Sharing with the USC Shoah Foundation, he revealed how on the day of “Yom Kippur” in 1941, the man hid along with 17 other people in the Wilno Ghetto in Poland. Along with the terrified people was a dog, who also remained there, unsure of what was going on, likely more confused than the people. In the clip shared on February 27, the survivor revealed how fear plagued them as Nazis looked for Jews. It was the furry babe's simple act that brought relief in those horrifying moments. 

According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Gurvitz is a Jew who was born in Poland in 1924. One morning in 1941, the man learned that people were going to be “picked up” from their apartments. With a need to quickly find a hiding place, the man, along with 17 others, took refuge in a small closet in the apartment where they squeezed themselves in, along with a little dog.

As the day went by, Nazis came up and around the house, doing their rounds to look for Jews. The 18 people, shriveling with fear, remained inside, but what about the canine? He had no idea what was going on. Yet, for the duration of 7 hours, he remained there with the people and didn’t bark one single time. 

Gurvitz was stunned that, despite the dog having no clue what was going on, or that the people coming in were “liquidators of other people,” he remained quiet so as not to compromise the safety of everyone. What surprised the survivor was that the dog used to bark frequently before. However, on that day, when a single bark would end them all, he remained as silent as the others.

Not a whimper, not a growl, nothing. “It shows the amount of wisdom a dog has to defend the people that he belongs to,” Gurvitz added. Studies have long shown that dogs understand and fight for their humans. This brave guy was a charming example. 

A survey of 1,000 American dog owners, done by Preply, revealed that canines don’t just make for adorable pets; they also count as smart ones. An average dog in America knows around 18 words. 77% of respondents said they felt heard because of their pets. The top word these paw pals know apart from commands is “Love.”

It’s likely this silent command that pushes them to act out of empathy on several occasions; it's possibly this very factor that made that dog stay silent for 7 hours, decades ago. 62% of pet parents admitted they feel their dogs know what they’re thinking or feeling without saying anything.  

Nearly 3 in 5 dogs provide comfort to their pet parents when they sense something’s off. It’s not just a sentimental statement — it’s scientifically proven that a dog is truly man’s best friend. Along with Gurvitz and the 17 survivors, even the internet is grateful for canines like that brave guy. @staycc7 wrote, “This is a beautiful story. Dogs have such an unbelievable instinct and are so compassionate.” @dont_bully_my_pitbullbuffy added, “God bless dogs. They are a gift to humans.” 

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