What Were The Camps Told Through The Eyes Of People Essay Example

people from looking out. The train was traveling at a considerable speed and we had no knowledge of the countries we were passing through. The train did not make any stops until we reached Auschwitz (Ow-Switch) in Poland at four o'clock the following afternoon. Upon arrival, we briefly contemplated attempting an escape.

However, we were aware that in Germany, the majority of Germans would betray us to the authorities in exchange for a reward such as money or food. We were uncertain if the Poles would behave any differently. We needed someone to conceal us or provide us with sustenance. Unfortunately, we lacked funds to cover our accommodations. As a result, we ultimately abandoned any thoughts of trying to flee in order to stay together as a family. Eventually, the doors of the cattle car were forcefully opened.

The initial sound we heard consisted of people shouting, "Leave as quickly as possible, leave. Leave behind your belongings." In spite of this, we managed to grab whatever we could and gather outside. In front of us stood a massive rectangular piece of land enclosed by electrically charged barbed wire. This was the Auschwitz death camp. We were lined up in long rows and directed into the camp by the troops of the SS special death-head division. For about four or five hours, we were marched back and forth along a wide street lined with posts of barbed wire featuring a large sign that read, "Extreme Danger: High Voltage Electrical Wires."

We observed guard towers situated high above us, in which men armed with machine guns were present. However, even at that moment, we were unaware that we were residing

in a death camp. Continuously, we were being moved back and forth, without pause. As the time approached one o'clock in the morning, our desperation grew more intense. The pleas for food became increasingly audible.

Finally, large boxes were placed where everyone had to deposit their valuables. Both women and men were compelled to remove their wedding rings and surrender cherished items such as lockets containing the faces of deceased loved ones. We lost everything we possessed. Those who refused or delayed in surrendering their belongings were subjected to beatings. Subsequently, we were divided into groups based on gender and led to the B camp of Auschwitz.

The women's camp was distinguished from the men's camp by a spacious road. There were approximately 24 barracks for both genders. The individuals in command were referred to as barracks' elders or capos. They consisted of German convicts transferred from prisons in Germany to supervise the inhabitants of the barracks.

They once again forced us to pass by a crate and confiscated our valuable possessions. The only item they were interested in taking from me was my leather jacket. I shared my sadness with my father about having to give up my jacket. In response, he made a promise, saying, "My child, if we manage to escape this place, I will purchase ten jackets similar to this one." There were three levels available for sleeping arrangements: lower bunks, middle bunks, and upper bunks. The mattress consisted of burlap stuffed with straw. We hadn't eaten yet and were informed that we would not receive any food until the following morning.

In the morning, we were provided with metal cups and spoons

along with two slices of bread. We had the option to spread either margarine or marmalade on the bread. Unfortunately, the coffee was prepared using toasted acorns but it had an unappealing flavor. As for lunch, we were offered potato soup that potentially contained a small portion of meat.

Potatoes and beets were the main food in the Theresienstadt ghetto, but they were the kind of beets that were typically given to cattle. Hunger was already a problem for us there. In Auschwitz, our situation worsened as we began to starve. In the evenings, we only received a slice of bread and some coffee, with no marmalade, butter, or any other extras. Every morning, the prisoners had to go through a counting process.

We were organized into groups of five, each group positioned closely together. The SS trooper would approach and initiate a headcount, starting from one and continuing until reaching five. If he made an error in counting, he would start over. Occasionally, we would remain standing for two hours. I found myself questioning why none of us attempted to overpower the solitary guard armed only with a small pistol. However, the obstacles were daunting – guardposts flanked both ends and high tension wires stretched between them.

We would have all perished if we had known that Auschwitz was a death camp and that we risked being executed. However, we were aware of a constant nauseating odor in the atmosphere. Additionally, we witnessed a continuous flow of smoke from a prominent chimney and observed German military ambulances marked with the Red Cross emblem shuttling back and forth.

In an attempt to deceive both prisoners and

passing airplanes, the Germans camouflaged their true intentions by painting symbols on the vehicles. Little did we know, these seemingly innocent ambulances were actually transporting either military personnel or containers of cyanide poison gas destined for the gas chambers. However, amidst these harrowing circumstances, we made an effort to find solace. Our younger brother successfully hid a book written by German poet Goethe during this time. We managed to read it twice.

Not only did we read it three times, but we also memorized it and quoted from it while simultaneously having a deck of cards.

Due to the lack of alternative activities, we were compelled to engage in card games. Eventually, my brother was able to obtain employment constructing a stone road, which included a slightly larger ration of food. Nevertheless, the job proved exceedingly challenging and physically demanding.

The desolation of Auschwitz was remarkable. There was no indication of life - no birds, grass, or living beings. Within the B camp, there existed a drainage ditch where SS guards would often send prisoners from various camps to place grass on its edges. Our hunger was so extreme that we were willing to go to great measures for sustenance.

Observing the geese in our village feeding on wild grasses, my mother became aware of the presence of edible plants growing in the soil. She collected these plants and whenever hunger struck, we consumed them.

Although we had been dealing with scarcity for several months, we were talking about our hunger and excitement for food. However, in 1944, there was a small sign of optimism that the war would end soon. In Auschwitz, those who arrived at the camps already

frail would die. The dead bodies would either be disposed of or stacked up at the far end of the barracks row, below the watchtower.

They were arranged in a degrading manner, resembling cordwood, with no one to give them a proper burial. They were piled up to a height of four feet. Every day, a cart arrived and individuals were callously thrown on it, without any consideration or regard.

Despite knowing that they were taken to the crematory for incineration, we were unaware of the gas chambers and the mass killing or gassing of people. Ben Stem, who spent six months in the Kielce ghetto, was later taken to a forced labor camp named Henrykow. In 1943, the Kielce ghetto was dissolved and its inhabitants were sent to concentration camps. In this passage, Ben shares his memories of his time in the Auschwitz (Ow-Switch) concentration camp in Poland.

Prior to encountering Auschwitz, I had only heard whispers regarding the deportation of Jews to this infamous location. The true gravity and significance of Auschwitz remained elusive to me, just as the term "extermination camp" did. Despite others' attempts to elucidate these matters, my understanding and grasp of such a concept proved futile.

We were packed tightly into cattle cars, similar to sardines, unable to move our limbs. We endured a nonstop 48-hour journey in unbearable sweltering heat, enduring both day and night.

Then, one morning at dawn, as we looked through the cracks in the cattle car, we saw the name Auschwitz or Oswiecim in Polish. The sight of it left me paralyzed and numb.

I had no sensation. When morning arrived, the car door was opened and all we could

hear was "Raus, raus, get out of here, get out of here!" I had to crawl over lifeless bodies that succumbed to the extreme temperatures and starvation. We disembarked from the cattle car as swiftly as possible as per our instructions.

A line formed as we passed by SS men dressed in uniforms adorned with skulls on their hats and collars, positioned about every ten feet. The SS officer in charge, accompanied by his German shepherd, stood with one foot rested on a small stool. As we moved along, we walked in an orderly fashion, proceeding past the officer.

Right there the selection took place. As each person passed by him, he indicated a direction - left or right. The thumbs pointing left or right determined our fate. Those sent to the left were led to the gas chambers, while we were directed to the right. They informed us that we would receive new clothing, but before that, we were directed into the showers. Fortunately, when we turned on the faucets, water flowed instead of gas.

As we began washing ourselves, we also underwent delousing to eliminate the lice infestation. Standing outside, one guard applied a chemical to our heads while another applied it under our arms.

Our heads were shaved and we were given prisoner's uniforms that looked similar to the ones worn by prison chain gangs in this area. Additionally, wooden shoes were provided to us, even though they did not fit our usual sizes.

Despite our limited resources, we made the most of what we had. Subsequently, we were reorganized into a single line and received tattoos on our forearms. In my case, I was given the

assigned number B-3348. Subsequently, we were transported to a barracks situated in Birkenau (Beer-Ken-Now), which constituted a part of Auschwitz.

The arch above the entrance had an inscription in German that said "Work Makes Men Free," giving the false impression of a work camp. The camp consisted of two rows of barracks, with a wide street dividing them. Directly ahead, there was a crematorium and gas chambers. The scent of burning human flesh filled the air, unmistakable and unforgettable.

Every morning, our wake-up call came from a German prisoner who acted as the block or barrack captain. Promptly at 5:00 or 5:30 AM, he roused us from our sleep. Our sleeping arrangements consisted of beds stacked three high, with each bed measuring approximately three feet in width and length. These beds were furnished with straw mattresses. We were instructed to vacate the barracks as quickly as possible.

We formed a line and underwent a headcount. Subsequently, we remained in that position without engaging in any activities for an extended period. At around twelve or one o'clock, we were provided with a small portion of soup for lunch. The soup or warm water was served in a metal tin resembling a mess kit. However, it was not served hot.

Despite each of us having a spoon, we constantly searched the soup for any traces of food, only to be disappointed every time. At night, we were allotted a meager quarter-inch thick slice of bread. On Sundays, this meager ration was accompanied by a small amount of margarine and a slice of salami. Occasionally, I would be too ill to consume my portion of soup, but I valued it so much

that I concealed it behind my bunk. Unfortunately, during an inspection, the guards discovered the hidden soup.

Despite the forbidden presence of soup in the barracks, I was subjected to a brutal beating upon discovery. The force of the blows rendered me unconscious after only three strikes. Mercifully, a friend came to my aid and offered me coffee, which saved my life as it alleviated my debilitating sickness. Thanks to the coffee, I regained enough strength to stand when the camp officials conducted their subsequent inspection of the barracks.

Anyone unable to leave their bed was removed. Throughout the day, German guards in trucks would occasionally pass by, instructing prisoners to board. I was once selected to assist with carrying steel beams. This occurred during the cold winter season. About fifteen or twenty individuals were assigned per side of the beam, due to its width. At the end, we were ordered to place it in a designated location.

However, our attempts to remove our hands from the steel beam were unsuccessful due to them being frozen and stuck. As a result, our skin peeled off and began bleeding. The authorities forbade us from covering our hands with any type of fabric, so we were forced to endure the pain without protection. The following day, we were required to return the same beam to its initial position. We remained there until the conclusion of 1944, when the Russians began driving the Germans towards the western front from the eastern front.

The SS transported us in cattle cars to Sachsenhausen, a forced labor camp in western Germany. Unlike other camps, Sachsenhausen lacked a crematorium, providing some relief. I stayed there for

approximately one to six weeks until the end of 1944. Then I was relocated once more, this time southwards to Dachau (pronounced Dock-ow), a German concentration camp near the Austrian border. By that point, I had become nothing more than a mere skeleton.

Shortly after my arrival, the camp officials made the decision to evacuate due to the sounds of machine guns and booming heavy artillery, indicating that the Allies were nearing. We were instructed to march, covering a distance of approximately five kilometers to reach Allach, a small camp. Unfortunately, I eventually collapsed, unable to continue walking any further.

Despite the Germans killing all those who continued walking, I managed to survive the death march as I was unable to walk. In 1942, my brother and I were taken from the Bochnia ghetto, where we had resided for approximately two years, to the Auschwitz (Ow-Switch) concentration camp in Poland.

When we were taken out of the ghetto, we were placed onto cattle trains with 100 to 120 individuals crammed into each closed carriage. There was a lack of food during the train journey, but luckily it only took us approximately two days to reach the concentration camp. However, for those coming from farther eastern or southern regions like Greece, the train journey could extend up to ten days.

Many individuals on these trains did not make it through the journey. Upon arrival at Auschwitz, we were required to remove all our clothes and assemble in a queue in front of the gate. We were organized into groups of five. A Nazi officer directed us by indicating left, right, right, left. Thankfully, I ended up on the right side.

Both

groups were divided; those on the left were sent to the crematorium while those on the right were taken to the camp. Despite the darkness, I could discern that the individuals on the left comprised predominantly of elderly and young children, indicating that we were being led into the camp. Once inside, our hair was forcibly shaved while we stood completely exposed, and our bodies were marked with tattoos.

I am 161253. They provided us with cold showers during November when it was bitterly cold.

After being dressed in striped uniforms, we were taken to Birkenau, also known as Beer-Kin-Now, which was the killing center in Auschwitz. I consider myself lucky because, after spending four weeks there, I was among several hundred men selected to be transferred to a labor camp called Bunno, which was another section of Auschwitz. At Bunno, we received slightly improved food and the barracks were slightly more comfortable.

There were approximately 300 to 400 men in each barrack, with double or triple bunks serving as single beds for two people. Every morning at five o'clock, the capos, who were fellow prisoners responsible for overseeing the barracks and work groups, would wake us up.

Mostly Germans, Poles, and Jews were assigned by the Nazis to guard us. In the morning, they provided us with a piece of bread mixed with sawdust for eating, along with a portion of margarine and a cup of coffee that was not authentic.

Work until the evening was required. In the evening, soup was provided. Occasionally, we were lucky to find some potatoes and meat in the liquid. However, most of the time, it consisted only of hot water and a

few potatoes. The labor lasted 9 or 10 hours per day. Initially, our work involved unloading gravel and coal from trains.

If you failed to complete your assigned task, you received a beating. Our clothing consisted of an undershirt and a thin, striped coat. We would work outdoors even when the temperature dropped to 10 to 15 degrees below zero. Many individuals succumbed to freezing to death. The level of hunger was also incredibly severe. We would scavenge for even just a potato peel and engage in disputes over it.

We were continuously hungry, day and night, with constant thoughts and dreams about food. To survive in Auschwitz, finding a relief was crucial. I was fortunate to encounter a friend from my hometown who provided me with the name of a long-term Auschwitz prisoner, a family friend. In Auschwitz, this individual was responsible for overseeing fellow inmates.

When I visited him, I requested that he assign my brother and me separate tasks. Fortunately, he assigned us the task of fabricating metal cabinets. Our responsibility was primarily to transport items. Although we lacked expertise in cabinet making, we focused on the lifting aspect. Additionally, the work environment was indoors.

I believe I wouldn't have made it through the winter if I had to do more outdoor work. He, in my opinion, saved my life. Approximately every few months, there was a process known as a selection, where they entered the barracks and chose individuals who appeared extremely thin and were no longer able to work. They examined you, and if they determined that you didn't have much fat, they recorded your number. The following morning, trucks arrived to transport these

individuals directly to the crematorium.

It was a tragic event when the Russian offensive commenced in January 1945. As the Russians neared Auschwitz, the Germans forced us to leave the camp and led us on a westward march to escape the advancing army. We were moved in a sorrowful and arduous march.

We marched all night to Gleiwitz, a Polish city approximately 70 miles away. Throughout the journey, my brother continually urged me to escape. However, I repeatedly responded that it was not yet appropriate as we were still in German territory. I warned him about the unfriendly nature of the local population by asking, "Where will you find a hiding place?" Despite my warnings, he disregarded my words and eventually disappeared from sight. Since that moment, I have been unable to locate him.

I was by his side throughout our time in Auschwitz. We were forced onto a cattle train in Gleiwitz and transported to Germany, which took 10 days. We were crammed into each car with approximately 150 individuals and provided no food.

Thankfully, the cars were accessible and everyone had eating utensils. I happened to have a string. During the nighttime when the German guards were asleep, we used the string to connect a plate and collected snow.

Survival depended on it: the ability to procure water. Although one can endure without bread for an extended period, the same cannot be said for water. Eventually, we arrived at Nordhausen, a sizable German concentration camp, where we remained for approximately 10 days before being transferred to Dora, a mountainous camp. The Germans utilized this location for V2 missile production, and our grueling tasks involved excavating

tunnels within the mountains.

From the end of January until April of 1945, we were employed there. Bluma Goldberg, who was born in Poland, specifically in a small town known as Pinczow (Pin- Shawv), had her hometown invaded by the Nazis in 1939, resulting in the destruction of much of the area. As a consequence, Bluma and her family had no choice but to seek shelter with an uncle.

During World War II, Bluma and her sister went into hiding in the forests near their village due to rumors of the Germans targeting Jewish people. However, after someone betrayed their location, they voluntarily surrendered to the Nazis. As a result, they were sent to a labor camp where they worked in a factory producing bullets for a period of two years. Eventually, as the war turned against Germany and the Russians advanced from the east, Bluma and her sister, along with other factory workers, were relocated to a city closer to Germany. Despite the changing circumstances, they continued their grueling schedule of working twelve-hour shifts, seven days a week.

After three months, they were once again relocated, this time to the Bergen-Belsen (Burg-In Bell-Sen) concentration camp in Germany. Bluma recounts her experiences in this camp. The Germans gathered all the inmates one day and transported them by train. They took this action as the Russians were approaching, and they deemed it necessary to transport us to Germany. We had no knowledge of our destination and upon our arrival in Bergen-Belsen, we were deprived of all our personal possessions.

They provided us with prison attire, which included a striped dress, shoes, and socks, without considering whether the sizes were suitable.

Additionally, any jewelry we possessed was confiscated.

They brought us to the barracks, which were nothing more than vacant rooms. Each room housed approximately forty girls, enduring the bitter cold of winter.

In regards to the living conditions, there was a lack of water and bathrooms. Our mornings began at five o'clock with a roll call, followed by a cup of coffee. As for lunch, we were served a watery potato soup consisting of potato peels and a piece of black bread. In the evening, we were given only a cup of black coffee.

In Bergen-Belsen, diseases spread rapidly, causing numerous individuals to fall ill with typhoid fever. Several individuals experienced mental breakdowns, engaging in self-conversations and incessantly pacing. The Nazis' sole intention was for the people to perish from starvation and illness at the camp.

The task that occupied us was transporting a pile of rubbish from one location to another. During the three-month period we spent there, we all experienced significant weight loss. If our stay had extended another three months, I doubt anyone would have made it out alive. Our bodies were infested with lice, and despite my best efforts, I was unable to eliminate them.

I shed many tears and felt a deep desire to end my life due to the harsh conditions of cold, hunger, and disease. However, our fortune changed when a German military commission appeared, seeking laborers for an airplane factory.

As we passed by, we were observed by them. Certain individuals were instructed to proceed to the right while others were directed to the left. I was fortunate enough to be among those sent right, and eventually, my sister followed suit.

They relocated

us from Bergen-Belsen to Burgau, where we were involved in aircraft manufacturing. I was responsible for painting the airplane numbers. This new place was significantly superior to Bergen-Belsen.

Accounts sourced from: South Carolina Voices: Lessons from The Holocaust
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