The truck came to a shuddering halt. The back door of the vehicle was opened and a tall, imposing man, with a thick moustache ordered us out. As I went to move, I saw a large rifle tucked underneath his arm, and prayed he need not use it.
When the truck had been emptied, we were ordered to stand in lines. I could see others glancing terrified at the twelve or so wardens, all looking similar to the first, each holding one of the heavy black guns.
After a few minutes, a man in a sharp khaki uniform exited the large building and walked towards us. He was the commander. His shoes rapped on the flat stones beneath him and the sound seemed to echo round the open courtyard. His voice was harsh, precise, and well trained. He told us we were here to work for Germany and the ‘Glorious’ Nazi party. If we did our share we would be kept alive. ‘Those who cannot work for our victory are not needlessly fed. Those we exterminate.’
He then proceeded to strut down the lines, ordering us into two groups. When he came to me he gave me a withering look, ‘Your age?’
’16 ……….. sir’
‘You are willing to work?’
‘Of course sir’
‘To the left please.’
I joined the group he had indicated and knew I was safe. The prisoners around me were strong and healthy looking. The other group consisted of weak, elderly and the very young.
When the selection had ended he turned to the wardens and barked, ‘Take the unnecessary to the chamber.’ Four of the wardens marched towards the weaker group and shepherded them into the gassing-house. Later that night I could still hear the horrendous screams as the last prisoners took their desperate, ultimate breaths.
The main building, called the ‘lebenhause’ (life house) was where we slept and ate. The first floor was used as accommodation for the wardens. The commander’s office was also on this floor and it was said that this was where he raped the female prisoners. The humiliation was worse than death.
The second floor was out of bounds. There were rumours among the campmates about what was on the second floor but nothing to justify them.
We slept in the basement. It was one large room which smelt of damp, death and demoralisation. At one end was a pit which we were expected to use to relieve ourselves. We slept on the floor, crammed together, though there were many nights I was glad of other’s body warmth. Lea, my sister, had a fever and was giving out heat like a fire. I feared how long she would last in these harsh circumstances and worried the guards would take her to the chamber to face the same fate as the others.
If they remembered, we were fed once a day. The wardens shared the bread evenly between us, though many stole and fought each other for more. We were given access to plenty of water but often the wardens had urinated in it, or worse.
It was like hell on earth. The days seemed to drag into nights and into days again. We spent most of the daylight hours digging graves. Mass graves. Probably our own.
