THERESIENSTADT -- danske børn i nazistisk fangenskab, Kapitel 5 - Ankomst

Summary

The narrator recounts their arrival at Theresienstadt, a concentration camp, where they were forced to surrender valuables and wear the Jewish Star. They describe the eerie emptiness of the town, the harsh living conditions in military barracks infested with lice, and the desperate struggle for putrid food 'Grauben'. The experience was marked by fear, as they were told to memorize their transport numbers to avoid execution. The narrative conveys the dehumanizing and brutal reality of life in the camp.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ Arrival at Theresienstadt: The narrator describes arriving at a place called 'Die Schleuse' in Theresienstadt.
• 🛂 Forced Confiscation: Upon arrival, valuables such as money, gold, and other items were confiscated by soldiers.
• 🔥 Destruction of Valuables: A shoemaker, Mr. Choleva, burned a 100-kroner note, highlighting the desperation and the futility of holding onto wealth.
• 🏚️ Desolate Town: The town was described as empty with boarded-up windows and flapping curtains, indicating a lack of normal life.
• 📛 Jewish Star Requirement: The narrator and others were forced to wear the 'Jewish Star' with all six points visible, under threat of execution.
• 🔢 Importance of Transport Number: The narrator emphasizes the significance of their transport number, XXV-3-129, as a vital part of their identity.
• 🍽️ Distribution of Unpalatable Food: 'Grauben', a type of food, was distributed, which was initially rejected due to its horrible smell but later desperately consumed.
• 🛏️ Harsh Living Conditions: The living conditions in the military barracks were described as infested with lice and fleas, and extremely cold.
• 🤒 Health Deterioration: The narrator suffered from severe bites and infections, reflecting the poor health conditions in the camp.
• ⏳ Waiting and Hopelessness: There was a sense of waiting with nothing to do and little light, indicating a state of hopelessness and despair.

Q & A

What was the first place the narrator and others were taken to upon arrival at Theresienstadt?

Upon arrival at Theresienstadt, they were taken to a big hall called 'Die Schleuse'.

What valuables were the newcomers required to hand over to the soldiers?

They had to hand over money, gold, and all other valuables they might have.

Why was the act of Mr. Choleva burning a 100-kroner note significant to the narrator?

It made an impression on the narrator because it demonstrated the forced relinquishment of personal property, which was also their fate as their valuables were taken.

What was the unusual condition regarding the Jewish Star that the narrator was told about?

The Jewish Star had to have all its 6 points visible and should be placed above the left breast. If not, they were allowed to be shot.

What was the significance of the narrator's transport number, and what was it?

The narrator's transport number was a vital part of their identity, and it was Jytte Bornstein, XXV-3-129.

What was the reaction of the narrator and her mother to the food 'Grauben' when it was first offered?

They were repulsed by the smell and did not want any, even though they hadn't eaten for many days.

How did the conditions in the military barracks where they were lodged affect the narrator?

The conditions were harsh, with infested straw, infections, and freezing temperatures, which caused physical suffering and discomfort.

What was the initial reaction of the children to the food 'Grauben', and how did the narrator's perception change?

Initially, the children were fighting over the food with great eagerness, which the narrator found odd. However, she soon found herself doing the same due to hunger.

What was the purpose of the coupons mentioned in the script?

The coupons were likely used for rationing and controlling the distribution of resources within the confines of Theresienstadt.

What did the narrator's mother emphasize about the importance of knowing one's number?

The mother emphasized that if the narrator couldn't say her number right away upon being woken, they were allowed to be shot, highlighting the strict control and surveillance they were under.

How long did the narrator stay in the military barracks before being moved?

They stayed in the military barracks for about 3 weeks before the Germans decided what to do with them.

Outlines

00:00

🚶 Arrival at Theresienstadt

Upon arrival in Theresienstadt, the narrator describes being taken to a large hall called 'Die Schleuse,' where they were forced to surrender all valuables. A vivid memory is shared of a shoemaker burning a 100-kroner note. The atmosphere in the town was eerie, with empty streets and boarded-up windows. The newcomers were informed about the town's rules, including the need to wear the Jewish Star correctly or risk being shot. The narrator, a child at the time, recalls being given a star and memorizing a transport number to avoid punishment. The harsh reality sets in as the group is exposed to terrible living conditions and food scarcity. The description of the initial food offered, which smelled awful, and the desperation of other prisoners for it, underscores the dire circumstances. They were lodged in overcrowded, lice-infested barracks with poor sanitary conditions, leading to severe discomfort and wounds.

05:03

🩹 Struggle and Survival

The narrator continues describing the harsh conditions in Theresienstadt, detailing the severe physical ailments suffered due to the poor environment, such as infections on arms and wrists. The freezing temperatures inside the quarters exacerbated the suffering, compounded by the sight of half-dead people who had arrived earlier. The narrator portrays a sense of hopelessness and monotony, with nothing to do but wait in dimly lit conditions with only a small crack in the ceiling allowing some daylight.

Keywords

💡Theresienstadt

Theresienstadt, also known as Terezín, was a ghetto and later a concentration camp used by the Nazis during the Holocaust. It was presented as a 'model Jewish settlement' to deceive the Red Cross and the world about the true nature of the Holocaust. In the script, the narrator describes arriving at Theresienstadt and the harsh conditions they faced, highlighting the camp's role in the broader narrative of the Holocaust.

💡Die Schleuse

Die Schleuse, mentioned in the script, refers to the 'lock gate' or the entry point where new arrivals were processed. This term is significant as it marks the beginning of the narrator's ordeal within the camp, symbolizing the loss of personal belongings and the start of a life under oppressive conditions.

💡Valuables

The confiscation of valuables such as money, gold, and other possessions was a common practice in concentration camps to strip individuals of their wealth and dignity. In the script, the narrator recalls having to hand over these items, illustrating the dehumanization and the extent of control exerted over the victims.

💡Jewish Star

The Jewish Star, or the yellow Star of David, was a badge that Jews were forced to wear in Nazi-occupied territories to identify them and segregate them from the rest of the population. The script mentions the requirement to wear the star with all six points visible, under threat of being shot if not complied with, underscoring the constant fear and the oppressive measures used to control and dehumanize Jews.

💡Transport Number

A transport number was a unique identifier assigned to individuals upon arrival at concentration camps. In the script, the narrator mentions her transport number, 'XXV-3-129', which became a vital part of her identity within the camp system. This number represents the depersonalization and the reduction of individuals to mere numbers in the eyes of the Nazi regime.

💡Grauben

Grauben refers to a type of food, likely a low-quality, unappetizing substance provided to the prisoners. The script describes the initial aversion to its smell but the eventual desperation that led to prisoners, including the narrator, fighting for even the smallest portions. This term highlights the extreme hunger and the struggle for survival within the camp.

💡Military Barracks

The term 'military barracks' in the script refers to the overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions that the prisoners were subjected to. The narrator describes sleeping in bunk beds infested with lice and fleas, indicating the inhumane treatment and the lack of basic hygiene and comfort.

💡Lice and Fleas

The infestation with lice and fleas was a common health hazard in concentration camps due to the unsanitary conditions. The script mentions the narrator's legs being bitten so badly that they were weeping wounds, which not only caused physical suffering but also increased the risk of infection and disease.

💡Half-dead

The phrase 'half-dead' is used in the script to describe the state of some prisoners who had arrived before the narrator. It conveys the extreme physical and mental exhaustion, as well as the hopelessness, that prisoners experienced due to the harsh conditions, lack of food, and constant threat of violence.

💡Waiting

The concept of 'waiting' in the script reflects the sense of helplessness and uncertainty that prisoners faced. The narrator mentions that they 'just waited' with nothing to do, which underscores the lack of control over their lives and the constant state of anxiety about their fate.

💡Light from a crack

The mention of 'a little light from a crack in the ceiling' symbolizes the scarcity of hope and the oppressive darkness that pervaded the camp. It serves as a metaphor for the limited visibility and the prisoners' longing for a glimpse of freedom or relief from their dire circumstances.

Highlights

Arrival in Theresienstadt and the initial process in 'Die Schleuse' hall

Description of the process of surrendering valuables

Incident of Mr. Choleva burning a 100-kroner note

The confiscation of a shiny metal powder box

The eerie emptiness of the town and the boarded-up windows

Instructions to wear the 'Jewish Star' with all six points visible

The importance of knowing one's transport number to avoid execution

The distribution of food and the initial reluctance to eat 'Grauben'

Observation of prisoners fighting over food despite its foul smell

Adaptation to the harsh conditions and eventual consumption of 'Grauben'

Living conditions in the military barracks with lice and fleas

The physical toll of the infestations and the cold environment

The presence of half-dead people and the sense of helplessness

The monotony of waiting with no activities or light

The psychological impact of the environment on the prisoners

The overall experience of arrival, processing, and life in Theresienstadt

Transcripts

Arrival

We arrived in Theresienstadt -

- and were let into a big hall called 'Die Schleuse'.

I recall the long tables and the soldiers sitting at them.

You had to tell them your name and whether you had any valuables.

We had to hand over money, gold and all other valuables we might have.

And I vividly recall Mr. Choleva, a shoemaker -

- going to the ... it wasn't a toilet, to the latrine -

- and he pulled out a 100-kroner note and burned it.

It made quite an impression on me, because I had a new powder box -

- of shiny metal, and they took it. They thought it was valuable.

We were led through a town. There were no people in sight -

- only shadows that quickly disappeared.

My mother said: ''What is this place?'' Windows were boarded up -

- and in some houses there were only curtains, flapping back and forth.

They took us to a sort of military barracks -

- and we were told to wait there. On the ground.

They told us that we had reached a town called Theresienstadt -

- and that we would get coupons and had to wear the 'Jewish Star'.

The Jewish Star had to have all its 6 points visible -

- and should be placed above your left breast, and this was important -

- because if you couldn't see all 6 points, they were allowed to shoot us.

I saw the others get one, and I said I wanted one, too.

They gave me one, and I put it on my clothes.

Everyone had a Jewish Star. It was placed on the left side of your chest.

When we returned to our places, my mother said to me in a grave voice:

''If I wake you at night, you must be able to say your number right away.

If you can't, they're allowed to shoot you.''

I had only learned letters, and these were Roman numerals.

My transport number is a vital part of my identity.

I am Jytte Bornstein, XXV-3-129.

Then some prisoners came in with big food containers.

They looked strange with grey faces and wearing odd clothes.

Some had a spoon, others a mug and yet others a plate.

These prisoners came and said : ''Grauben, Grauben'' -

- as if this was the most amazing thing in the world.

And they wanted us to smell it and taste it. It was food!

My mother and I did go take a look, but it smelled so horrible -

- that even though we hadn't eaten for many days, we didn't want any.

Suddenly the prisoners who had been in Theresienstadt for a while -

- threw themselves at the food and grabbed as much as they could.

And I looked with astonishment at the children who were all over the food -

- feet barely touching the ground -

- struggling to get the last scraps of food -

- and I found that very odd and wondered why they did that -

- and how they even could, because it smelled so awful.

But it wasn't long before I, too, threw myself on a bucket of 'Grauben'.

We were lodged in huge military barracks with big dormitories.

We stayed there for about 3 weeks -

- until the Germans figured out what to do with us.

We were sent to a loft in a military barracks, and we slept in bunk beds -

- on straw infested with lice and fleas.

I was bitten so badly that I had big weeping wounds on my legs -

- and I couldn't wear socks, because they got stuck.

Arms and wrists were infected, too. And it was freezing in there.

There were half-dead people in there who had arrived before us.

We just waited. We had nothing to do.

Only in daytime would we see a little light from a crack in the ceiling.