Zlatke
Shnaiderhoiz-Pikliuk
AS A MIRACLE
THOUGH SEVEN HELLS
Our transport moved toward the road and pushed 6 or 7 people in a
sled,. Afterwards I paid a look to the
very well known streets and houses, where I went for a walk so many times, and
now here everything disappears. We
passed in front of my school (where the old Seminar was) at the end of
Dombrowsky St., where I studied so many years. I remember that when leaving the
school in a cold winter day, we used to requested to peasants that accidentally
passed with their carts, that they bring us some steps near our home. Who of
those unworried children could imagine that same peasants with their carts and
sleds, would drive us to our final road?.
But is not possible to think too much of our recent past, . Now this it
is our reality with all it's terror.
We arrived to Lineve's train
station. Here a load train was already parked, we were pushed, and were tight
as herrings in a barrel, more than 100 people in a boxcar. Doors were closed
tightly and the train moved.
Happy is the people that didn't experience such a tragic trip as this
one. It was difficult to tolerate, and
death didn't arrive so easy. Outwards was tremendous cold, and of our
faces fell drops of perspiration for the heat that dominated inside boxcar. Of the dirty and blackened walls,
vapor dripped. Mothers wet their fingers in that humidity and they brought them
to the mouths of their thirsty children. The thirst was felt every time more. People
took turns to come close to the two small windows fenced with bars, to aspire
some air.
Once, when we stopped in the road, I tried to request to the German that
watched over our boxcar to give us some ice of the floor, and I don't know why
happened. Was the murderer maybe pity of us? In a few minutes, we received
through the window a piece of ice. I will never forget as we all rushed at the same time to receive a piece. In that moment, for sure, all forgot toward
where we were taken and what was
waiting us. The desire of each one was
only a little bit of water.
When we refreshed a little, we began to wonder: where to they take us?
In what address the train travels? When we passed by Treblinka, the hope born
again. We traveled in address to Krakow.
Certainly. After two days and it's nights, the train stopped. Suddenly,
opened up the heavy doors thoroughly, and we descended. Weakened, like after a
severe illness, we could hardly stay on our feet. Now we observed that some
deceased were hurtled of the boxcars, small children's bodies and old men. My
grandfather that died in the road, was among them.
On platform were staying satisfied Germans, ready to begin their
"work". Was listened an order: "men and women separated!".
Later they separated most young men and women . We cried, we said goodbye. The
Nazi sticks hit right and left. Me and my sister should form the line of the
young girls. We were hardly able to
kiss my mother and my small brother. I no longer saw my father and my brother.
They were among men.
It doesn't exist force that can erase of my memory my mother's aspect in
the moment to said goodbye. A terrible
expression of sadness and pain covered her pale face. We should be stronger that the iron, so that the heart doesn't
explode. But we were strong. The Nazis "encouraged" us with the sound
of their orders. We went to the
concentration camp.
In Auschwitz
Near train station to which we arrived, was Birkenau camp, that was a section of Auschwitz. To the entrance
on the hall door, there was an inscription "ARBAIT MACHT FREI" (work
is liberator). Along a double line of
electrified wires that surrounded the camp separated by 50 meters
approximately, was a surveillance tower with an armed soldier. We walked in
straight line. The surface was divided in two parts. On one hand was seen a
line of blocks of materials , and of the other side were wooden houses with
better aspect. There lived detained Germans. In the road we met young Pruzhany
women of first two transports. The
following day arrived the rest of few Ghetto
Jews, that waited until the end. It was a very small quantity.
We found out that TZIVIE RYBNIK requested to murderers that they allow
her to go with the youths, but regrettably Nazis never satisfied a request.
Neither even when the request was the opposite, to stay close to most dear
relatives to die together. They made us enter the bathrooms. Here we undressed
all we possessed. Then they cut us whole hair, they gave us a cold shower, and
tattooed us the number on left arm. After registration was done, we received
clothes: a pair of wooden shoes, old soldiers pants, a blouse, a light coat and
a handkerchief for the head. With this aspect we hardly recognized ourselves
one to another.
After a whole day and half night of staying, hungry and thirsty, we
finished the procedure. Outwards was very cold. We were almost naked. We felt
cold in the head, which was without hair. The block to which they took us, did
not have an aspect better than a stable. Walls were black, without floor
neither a ceiling. For the holes of the roof,
fell snow. The windows were almost without glass. Near the walls and in
the middle of the place, were rough old beds of three levels, simply of wood,
and of square format. Some twelve to thirteen women occupied a bed, we were one
above the other. Noise was atrocious. The nerves were tensed. Some women almost
got mad. One of them was DOBKE YALOWKSY: the guardian of the block retired her of the group.
Portions of food were scarce, but to us, as it was the beginning was too
much, because most got sick of dysentery and
they only drank. In the morning we received some coffee, of lunch some
soup, at night 200 grams of bread with a piece of margarine or a spoonful of
marmalade and another coffee.
Working as slaves
After a week, we were designated block workers. Of Pruzhany we were me
and my sister, three sisters
FROIMTSHIK, two sisters GUREVITZ, PEHSKE BEIZER, FEIGL AVERBUCH (of Dobuchin),
FEIGUELE LIEVITZKY, LEAH YABLONSKY and others.
When passing new "housing" threshold, we were amazed of what we
saw. Detainees since much time ago, were very busy in lice self cleaning. When
observing our astonished faces, they tranquilized us, and told us that we would
not be an exception. Some no much time later, this task was our routine. Every
free minute we used to inspect our clothes and to evict "undesirable guests" that fed of
our lost weight bodies.
The camp day began at 5 a.m. Who didn't rise immediately after maid's
scream; "get up, take coffee, prepared to pass list", was helped with
some blows. Many of our youths perished for the murderous Czech Jews that were
old residents of the concentration camp, and had higher positions in the
blocks. They were representatives, scribes, maids, and were in charge of night
surveillance.
We were staying usually two
hours in the line in which our presence was controlled,. The quantity was
coincident. Otherwise, as punishment, we continued staying whole half-day, or a
whole day. In winter days, of intense cold, we crowded together one with the
other, and this way, cold frozen , we waited the whistle that indicated the end
of this discipline. In spite we felt that our legs were stacked to floor for
staying so much time, we found strength to begin to run and to hide. The
"Kapos" caught us for working, and we ran stunned, without being able
to decide to which group we had to present, which "Kapo" was better
and did not hit so much, and as much we looked for a better one, the result was worse. Formed in groups from
80 to 100 women, we were accompanied by some "Kapos", three or four
armed soldiers and enormous dogs.
We left far from camp this way
every day for diverse works. The road
was large and difficult. Was necessary to walk with quick step, and the excited
dogs assaulted whom was retarded. Without paying attention to feet bloody
wounds that caused us wooden clogs, we ran as pushed by an invisible force. Our
only objective was to escape from danger. But regrettably, death was in narrow
relationship with us.
Once in the morning, after our formation as every day, 10 Jewish youths had to go somewhere with a
group of other 50 Aryan women. We had decayed encourage, because we foresaw
that we would be the victims of that day. It was a terrible time in the camp.
The Nazi soldiers felt they had to distinguish among themselves, bringing as much as possible murdered
people, to receive prizes. We arrived
to a place where were many stones, and enormous beams. We had to order them.
Each beam could hardly be lifted by four men. And us four loaded them with our
last forces, from one side to another. The guard that controlled us, sharpened
his teeth as a wild tiger. Before lifting the heavy load, already his stick hit
our curved backs.
But even worse was the case of
stones. A youth should load a
stone without taking in consideration it's size. We had the terrible feeling
that will never be able to forget. A youth of Byalistock's group called FREIDL (she was in Pruzhany's Ghetto) could
not lift a heavy stone. The German came near her and began to hit . Suddenly she acquired an unheard force,
lifted the stone and felt with her. The dog, attentive to owner's signs, rushed
to the youth and pulled up pieces of her body. The young poor person screams
cut whole place. We were not able to
stop neither one minute, we should continue our work. Very soon arrived
silence. It was so deep that one could hear our hearts palpitating . FREIDL
laid in a blood river, very silent, with broad open eyes. Her eyes expressed a
lot of fear and suffering, which will never allow us rest in peace.
The second victim this day was FEIGUELE LIEVITZKY, a youth of Pruzhany,
a weak creature murdered by sanguinary Nazi watchers. Felt after being
hit with the stick.
The way back to the camp,
approximately 3/4 km., was very difficult. We 8 youths, should load the
two cadavers. To none of Christian women was allowed to help us. Days like these repeated continually in all work places.
We entered the camp marching, conforming a trembling picture. Each group loaded with some deceased, and
many times was difficult to recognize them, because they have been tortured. It
was a mixture of blood, mud, and broken clothes. Fell this way daily dozens of
women, and our quantity was every time
less..
Also, accelerated our death the conditions in those we lived in camp after
work. The whole place was loamy, in the
humid climate earth was sticky, the clogs sunk in mud without being able to
take them out. There was not water to drink, neither to be washed. When after some months we could take a bath,
we ended dirtier that before (washing us almost without soap).
Next to the bathroom, out, was a faucet. Christian women put on in line,
filled bottles with water and sold them in Jewish blocks for bread. We
exchanged very happy , because we could
not eat for the thirst. In all our food German added a powder that burned in
the stomach, and for that reason we looked for some water to any price. It
could be of a dirty faucet, a piece of ice or snow. The food was scarce, and to drink unhealthy water made us sick of
dysentery. The bowels contracted every time more, the organism weakened, the
feet almost did not move. The body happened to be only skin and bones, cheeks
were sunken, and eyes seemed they
wanted to leave their orbits.
Block 25, the death
Under these conditions, was already impossible to go to work, and they
didn't allow us to stay in the camp. It was a risk, because frequently entered
in the blocks Information Services Chief called TAUBER, and gathered all women in the block 25 - which
was that of death - , and of there the road took to the crematory. Here was the
place where many finished life of thirst, hunger and desperation.
In that time the camp didn't
have hospital, and only a small ambulance assisted light wounded women.
Frequently, these same patients were later the first ones to be killed during
selection. Some women were sometimes not able not to go to work, and to stay in
the line next to ambulance, but they should take care of not falling in
TAUBER's hands.
I hoped the best, but without having another alternative one day I left
and said goodbye to my young sister, that was already very weak due to dysentery that produced her the dirty water.
While I advised her not to drink, she found a solution. She hid a bottle of
water, and at night while I slept, she drank it. She stayed in the line next to
the ambulance, and I left the camp without her for the first time . Our eyes
crossed again, in the distance. I was afraid of thinking what could happen. The
day stretched like an eternity. I already returned to the camp. I was the first
one in running to the block. NECHELE
was not there. I looked for her, but was vain.
I don't know where from came forces to write today about this, because
it is the most tragic happening that I survived in the camp, and this so fresh
in my memory, as if it has happened yesterday. I cried whole nights, without
being able to live in peace, with the idea that never I will see her again. The
youths of my "bed" consoled me. They were also already alone. Of
three sisters GURVITZ left one. MINDL GOLOBRODKIN (of Byalistock that was in
Pruzhany), did not have her older
sister.
Day after our day the quantity of our people diminished, near and well-known beings fell dead in work for
murderous guards and their dogs, and also happened cases of those that
went voluntarily to death, for not wanting to fight without hope. Most
disappeared in the frequent selections that
were made almost daily. During mornings, in the lines organized for presence control, many sat down in the
floor, resigned. Was allowed to them to be seated, and they avoided this way to
stay on their tired feet. Some dawn I found seated one of the group called
ETSHE RUDNITZKY, and another dawn to CHANE and FEGL RYBNIK.
SHULAMIT SURANOVSKY my friend, tried to convince me of going together
with her, because anyway we could not survive. I also did not believe I could
survive that hell . But I lacked the capacity to go voluntarily to death.
Two sisters (I believe their last name was ATTIN) surrendered to block
25, because one of them was already very weak. In those days, waiting the
arrival of the cars that would take them to death, the sick sister died. The
second wanted to escape, but was already impossible; she achieved to escape of
there, but regrettably death pursued her, and in the second selection was taken
to death.. This was told by my cousin ZLATE KULIHSEVSKY
The "selection"
The selection was frequently made in front of exit to work front door ,
when returning to the camp after a day of exhausting work. When entering we
should run one after the other , and thin and weak women were stopped and
separated, they had already drained their work force, now served only for gas
cameras, and her fat was sent to make soap (R.I.F.) to wash us, and were
fertilized fields of milled human bones.
The biggest selection was made when suddenly the order was (in German)
"block shpere" that means "to stay locked in the blocks".
We should later leave the blocks to the street naked, where TAUBER and his
collaborators revised us as one who observes a horse in the fair, and
"said" with a finger where we would go, right or left. Were separated all those who had thin
bodies, who had a wound or a grain, ,
then registered her number tattooed in
the arm, and her destiny was confirmed
.
TAUBER, the beast of human appearance, felt in his appropriate role.
Tall and thin, with cold murder look, he passed among the lines with the
highest serenity, with neither a grimace in his face. Who cried or protested
against his verdict, remained silent when he came close. An atrocious fear appropriated our bodies not only when he came close, but also when
we listened his damned voice. When he saw the smallest movement, whipped and
tramped without pity.
On Sundays, if we didn't leave to work, they found some task in the
camp. Behind the blocks were sand mountains that we should take outside. For
this objective they ordered us to put on the coats reverse, with the back to
the front, and grabbing the borders of the coat, they threw us three or four shovels
of sand. Staying one in a line , we
loaded sand some hundreds meters and then we threw it. This way were we going
forth and back without stopping, and without eating the whole day. We were also
accompanied by lashes and of humiliations of German "kapos". This was
another of the methods to torture detainees.
Certainly, not all tolerated such a difficult day. Our quantity was
every time less. The block 25 was open in front of us, waiting for us. Who was
very tired, found her "redemption" in "that" block. There
left life youngest of three siblings FROIMCHIK, and also my school friends SIME
FURES (these they are only those I remember).
"Budy"
camp
An different chapter was for us - those of Pruzhany - the "Budy" camp (near
Auschwitz).
One morning, suddenly, young women were joined to be transported. Many
ran voluntarily, with the hope that
they would be better. there. A group of some 100 women left. Nobody knew
where they were taken. We doubted about if it would be a camp, or German were
going to annihilated them directly. The
enigma was clarified when after some months: some youths of so numerous group
appeared in our camp. Among them were FEIGL LEIZEROVITSH and two sisters CHAIE
and SHEINE of Popeliev.
Through them we found out how terrible was the form by which were
eliminated our near and well-known people, among them were JUDIT and RESHE
BOREISHO. "Budy" was not an organized camp, only a camp which had
some blocks, and all the attention of guardians, inspectors and bosses was directed
to Jewish youths. Women made the work
of horses, they dragged trams with stones, rubbish and sand, at the same time
that Germans hit them without pity. After some short time, lived only the few
ones that returned to Birkenau.
FEIGL LEIZEROVITSH told us that she was an entire night in a shanty
where were gathered deceased, unconscious under a mountain of cadavers. After
the blows she received she regained consciousness, and crawling abandoned the
place.
The crematories
When returning we were told that
here we were in a paradise. Can you imagine a paradise where crematories burned daily 24 hours without
interruption, and swallowed hundreds of people daily?
Only wire fences separated us of
a crematory , and we saw very well what happened in the yard. Some motorized
men leave continually of inside with small carts, they threw something (for
granted, human ash), and returned with
elements empty.
We saw burning fire that raised more of a meter high, in the great
chimney. We feel and we breathe the thick and black smoke making circles until
arriving to sky.
Daily arrived new transports of all Europe corners. Last months was
placed a train that enters the camp, and goes directly to crematory entrance.
This way, no people could know until last moment the final point of his trip,
because through boxcars windows they saw many Jews in the camp. Frequently, of
each transport they chose a young group, fresh energy in exchange for detainees and eliminated.
There was a time when the four crematory had "work excess".
Then a part of those gasified was burned in blazes. For this end, constantly
arrived trucks loaded with logs and tree branches.
To small children, beasts threw them alive to the fire. Once broke the
silence of the night the warm innocent cry of our brothers and sisters. After this, we didn't sleep many nights, we
didn't cry because we no longer had tears to cry our great misfortune.
After first mid 1943, most of Pruziners were no longer. Remaining alive
was a small group, which had the aspect of alive-dead. When I passed in front
of a window and unintentionally was reflected, I got scared of my own
aspect.
Greetings and help from people close to us
A time later camp conditions improved a little. The mud disappeared
after asphalting paths among blocks. Were built some bathrooms with many
faucets where each one could wash after
work. The frequent selections were also interrupted, and was closed block 25.
Our happiness doesn't last too much. Some weeks later, camp leaders renovated
the bloody work.
At 1943's end, arrived greetings from Pruzhany's men, and a new hope
woke up in all, maybe is alive some near relative, a friend. There, I found out
that my two cousins were living: ISER KULISHEVSKY and LEIZER ZHUK of Malech. I
saw them in some opportunities. They survived Auschwitz and later perished in
the tragic march from Poland to Germany.
We listened and saw our men's self-denial and abnegation, and - who
could do it - helped known women with
groceries packages. This process was secret and arrived through diverse means.
The portion of bread and some soup was
insufficient to calm hunger. Therefore, a "trade" happened in the camp. The higher "value"
was given to bread. Were many work
places. and detainees furtively took out diverse articles as: clothes, shoes,
sweaters, cigarettes, and diverse groceries. We exchanged it and we also made
money. Same thing happened in women and men camps. But not all were capable to
"self organize" (according camp language). Then if somebody received
an unknown man's help, it was with a
lot of pleasure.
In the "Revir" (the hospital)
After a year of exhausting work, under the sky in days of intense cold,
rain and mud, I achieved to be accepted
to work in "Revir" (the hospital), that then already occupied many
blocks and numerous personnel. Each one of us dreamt of having a roof on the
head.
I received a clean bed to sleep, a little more food, and most important
was that I should not present myself to selections since I belonged to stable
personnel.
The treatment received from block leaders was more human, and it encouraged me, in spite that at the
beginning I had a very difficult task, as night surveillance is. I assisted
sick persons at night, I was very efficient, and very soon I gained block's superior sympathy. Was changed my
shift, and I worked during the day as nurse assistant..
In more than one opportunity I thought: what for is useful the whole
ceremony with the "Revir" if
sick persons hardly receive help? And there were sick severe illness as
typhus, dysentery, scabies, and infected grains. They were rarely treated. Most
died after terrible sufferings or were moved away after frequent selections.
In those occasions, TAUBER entered as gale among patients, and threw
them of beds as they were balls. In the death block, many sick persons acquired
suddenly renovated forces, and they ran to hide. Some dressed hospital
personnel clothes, but it was difficult to escape from TAUBER's view.
In one of those selections, when the block was almost empty, lacked a
sick person according to lists figures
. TAUBER ordered to look for and find her, because contrary case would
catch one of us. We all were still impressed of moving cries of sick women that
already left us forever, and now we should give others to death. We were
staying defenseless, without being able to move of the place. The Block
Superior began to cry, because otherwise she would be a victim as any of us.
Together with us, worked a Belgian Jewish woman, some 45 years old . She
was running as crazy and screamed that Nazis would take her in exchange for the
other one, for her age. She
colored a little her face for not
seeming so pale. We formed the line in front of the criminal, and we hoped to
know on which of us will fall the punishment. He looked one after another, and
in his bestial face sketched a small smile, not very usual thing in him.
What sadistic savage thought in that moment? He left without taking
anybody and we all released ourselves to cry. The oldest lady kissed us happy.
Later was demonstrated that who was lacking had left the block by back door,
and hid in a car under chauffeur's
seat, that was willing take the sick person for himself . When the car returned of the crematory,
was found the woman almost dismayed. When she was brought in front of TAUBER he
said: "if you had such an intelligent occurrence, you will remain
alive". He ordered to cure her, and also gave her good work. The Nazis
were capable of such ironies.
During another opportunity we were ordered to prepare clean beds, and in
a short time were brought some pregnant
women . We were surprised, because in the camp that cases never happened . They
had a special diet, and we offered them the best attention. The childbirths
were in another block, and then they returned together with their children.
Every day came a commission to visit them, and to have fun with the
creatures.
One week later, suddenly arrived a car, parked next to the block and
took all the women with their children to gas cameras. These terrible acts happened frequently in "Revir".
I was satisfied after some time
, because personnel was reduced, and I was excluded together with other Jewish
youths. There worked sisters CHAIE and SHEINE of Popeleiv, LIUBE GERTEK of
Byalistok and MINDL GOLOBRODKIN (all arrived from Pruzhany).
In "Union" ammunition
manufacture
Some days after leaving "Revir", were selected young women to
work in a manufacture. Who could imagine, after surviving most terrible times,
now when I already had a normal human aspect, I would be detained because of a grain in the body that I produced for
negligence?.
In spite that death was our constant company, I never felt it as close
as now, when I saw myself among a group of alive skeletons whose bones stayed together
thanks to the skin. I already "saw" how I will be sent to the
crematory, and would be incinerated as all my dear beings, as millions of Jews.
What for served to suffer so much up to now?
My thoughts were interrupted by a tall Nazi that controlled again those
judged to death. He asked me; what are you doing here? A doctor of Byalistock -
PETE FUCKS - also intervened to my favor, and I left the danger.
After some days, we went to work to the ammunition manufacture. There
worked also men, and among them were MEIR KRASNER and NONIUSH GOLDSTEIN. Of
women we were only some: SHOSHKE GOLDBERG (of Popoliev), NINKE ARGUSHEVITZ of
Hainowka, a lady whose name was DOBE from Warsaw who lived some years before the war in Pruzhany, and me. The
other women were of diverse cities and countries of Europe. At the beginning
was difficult to understand each other because of the language, but we were
close one to another due to same
sufferings.
Next to my work table, most people was of Poland. One of Bochnie, two of
Bendin, one of Sosnovz, one of Krakow, one of Warsaw, two of Byaistock, a
German, a Hungarian, a Greek, a Dutch, and some other ones. The language
considered as most beautiful was our "Litvak (Lithuanian) Yiddish".
All women confirmed it, and we felt proud of our origin.
Union ammunitions manufacture was big, and were about 1000 people who
worked 12 hours in day and night shifts The work was not difficult but it had a
lot of responsibility, and we were watched over very carefully. Germans controlled
us of all sides, and smallest error was considered sabotage and punishment was
very serious.
Discipline was very severe and we worked as robots. Were made frequent
inspections when entering to the manufacture and when leaving it. In one of
those controls was found hidden gunpowder among clothes of some women. One of
them was a granddaughter of the YAGLOM family of Pruzhany. During a lot of time
they were tortured in the "bunker" (a small camera where the person
could only be bent or staying, and could not receive food). But later they were
hung in camp yard, in all detainees' presence. This impressed us terribly, and
during a lot of time we were sunk in bereavement.
Neighbors of the manufacture had a carpentry shop where worked a group
of men of Auschwitz camp. Behind wire fences I frequently saw ISER KULISHEVSKY,
HERSHEL VORAVSKY, LOSIE and ASIE VELIENIETZKY.
With this last one happened a misfortune, since in the work one machine
amputated him the fingers of one hand, and I saw him with a bandage sustained
in his shoulder. When we could do it, we maintained brief conversations and we
consoled one another with good news .
Bombings happened in last months of 1944 were very encouraging for us.
In our hearings sounded as the most beautiful music. With a contained happiness
we saw as Nazis ran to hide in the refuges.
In spite that walls of manufacture trembled for close explosions, our
hope was at any time was stronger. At the same time, we were scared by the idea
that Germans would annihilate us before the end of the war. Possibly, would had
happen this way if allied armies had not come close to us in such a short time.
The evacuation
January 18 1945. Moved us the news that we would be evacuated of
Auschwitz. In the camp dominated a disorder. At evening Nazis ordered us to
form lines, and to be prepared to leave marching. After distributing only a
portion of bread, we moved away from the camp. We marched: all those of
Auschwitz and Birkenau, men and women in separate groups. Sick persons were left
in the "Revir" and nine days after leaving the camp, we were liberated by Soviet army. Was so close the redemption, that they had
us far from knowing this issue..
It was a cold, icy winter night, and we had heat, for the quick step.
Germans hurried us because the enemy was coming close to us. The march was
every time more difficult, we took out our clothes ,and even the bread was
heavy. The shoes, pressed inflamed
feet.
Many of the group began to stop marching until they fell. Germans shot
them.
After walking 70 km., Nazis put us in opened load boxcars, some 100
people in each boxcar, and staying,
tight as herrings, we traveled toward Germany's inner lands. In Frankfurt we
were stopped for constant bombing. We were amid the fire, and it was for me an
enigma. How could we leave here without damages? After some days of trip, we
arrived to the field "Ravensbric" where I met BEBE EPSHTEIN (the
pharmacist's daughter) that had arrived there from the field "Raiska"
(near Auschwitz).
After six weeks of hunger, they passed us to another camp called
"Malchov" in which hunger was worse again. A certain day, they chose a group of women through the Red Cross,
who were sent to Switzerland. Among them was PELTE POMERANIETZ of
Pruzhany.
Then they transferred us to Leipzig.
Most of women were here Polish.
They received us with exclamations: "Jewish Ladies : It's a long time we
do not see each other"! Later the treatment with us was not very kind, but
that doesn't last much time, because bombings were very frequent, and we left
the camp.
Death march
This happened April 1945. We walked trough fields and forests days and
nights, without rest. At the front of the group a German managed his motorcycle
to inspect the road.. This gave us
courage. But forces abandoned us because of hunger. Constantly we left
behind our deceased, and dispelled who
were shot. After some days of walking, Germans allowed us to sleep in a field,
and immediately all collapsed in a deep dream. When waking up, we were wet by
the rain, but we didn't feel it, because we slept so good as in the most
fluffed bed.
Do you think that is possible to sleep walking? Yes! We slept in lines
of five, but not all together, only of two or three.
Hunger tortured us every time more. It was necessary to look for a
solution. It was at the beginning of spring, on the fields already grew grass
for domestic animals. We found a vegetable spice with a thick shaft, we
discarded the leaves and the skin of the shaft, and it had a light sweet
flavor. With that vegetable we nurtured ourselves many days. Also picked up
with our hands recently sowed potatoes which we ate with it's dirty skin. But
we did not get it so easy. It was a fight between living or dying, because when
we ran of the road to the field, guards shoot us. Many women deceased laying on
the floor with a potato in the hand.
In an opportunity, was seen a peasant with a cart loaded with onions who
went to sow his field. The whole hungry crowd rushed in that address, and at
the same time the Nazis opened fire against us, and fell many victims. To
FEIGL LEIZOVITCH, a bullet perforated the towel that had in the head instead of
a handkerchief, but didn't happened her anything. To LEIKE RUBIN, a youth of
Kosovo who was in Pruzhany Ghetto) a bullet penetrated her leg. She fell over
the field. What happened with her?, we don't know it.
In the course of the march we wondered: where Germans were taking us?
Will this finish at some time?
After 13 days of wandering, we were taken to a walled field with several
lines of spiked wires, near a town. Here we should rest, to be able to
continue. Other groups also arrived, and in total we were some 10.000 women of
different nationalities.
Our Chiefs ordered town inhabitants to bring us groceries immediately.
The whole day German - men and women -
, came with cars with products. We put on in a line and they began to
distribute rice and some potatoes, little by little. When they were near my
line, suddenly began a tumult. We listened the noise of airplanes and began a
strong bombing. We went to bed in the yard, and the SS also looked for to be
protected among us. Continuous bombs explosions were listened. All surroundings
were in flames. We had only one desire: to receive some food, since if we have to
die, at least to die satisfied.
After a short time, returned the silence. We received the food, and we
began to cook a soup of rice with potatoes. We found an old can and we used it
as pot, and now lacked water and logs. With great effort we got it.
We were allowed to rest an whole day and night, and later we continued
walking. We rested in several places, but we didn't receive food. We cooked
thistles with water and nurtured ourselves. Finally we arrived to our destiny.
It was next to the Elba River. April 22
1945. They brought us here to pass to
the other side of the river with the Americans, because this side of the river would be occupied by Russian. There was only one bridge to cross the
river, and we were left for the end. Here were concentrated a multitude of
people. First passed the military, later the population of cities and near
villages. At nightfall, we were not able to pass the river and were taken to a
near barn, where we fall asleep on the fresh straw.
When waking up during the morning we didn't find none of the guards. It
was incredible. We were free. We kissed each other and we cried of happiness.
The first thing we made was to look for food, and we found a well in which were
kept potatoes. We made fire and we roasted the potatoes.
We are able to silence the
hunger a little. Suddenly we listen a German voice. Appeared an armed man, he
insulted us, and screamed that we should go to the river as soon as possible,
because here was not our place. Before abandoning the barn he shot some shots
that impacted in a woman that died at once. We went disappointed again to the
place we were previous night. We found the same picture: surroundings us was a
great quantity of militaries and civil men. All ran toward the other side of
the river, and our turn did not arrive yet. When began to be dark, I listened
airplanes noise, and strong bombing. All escaped toward different addresses.
All surroundings were left empty.
We, a small group of women, entered a near yard, and we stayed there.
After mid night silence was complete . Wrapped by darkness, we waited next
events. It hardly began dawn and we listened distant echoes, every time higher
and stronger. Suddenly: HURRAH!! HURRAH!! Is it a dream or do we really listen
it? These screams were known for us. Pruzhany's population received this way red army in 1939.
I tremble of emotion, and tears of happiness flow on my eyes. After a
short time, a Russian soldier was next to us. He recognizes us for our aspect
and he knew who we were. He ordered us to change our clothes, eat, drink and
rest.
We left our hiding place toward the same road where two days before we
were pursued and mistreated by the Nazis. We leave and we look continually
around, to know if somebody pursues us.
Is truth that we survived? In spite
that each one of us had the aspect of skeletons, our step is strong and
lively. I feel as my blood is renewed, and I recover new forces. The road is
full with military. We greet them crying of happiness. We continue ahead as
recently born people, free people.