A Holocaust Survivor Recalls The Day He Was Liberated

Summary

The narrator recounts the harrowing experience of surviving a concentration camp, describing the bleak routine of life in the camps, the suffering of fellow prisoners, and the absence of hope. One foggy morning, a Russian soldier arrives, signifying liberation. After breaking the camp's padlock, the narrator and two friends rush to announce their freedom to others. As they explore the abandoned SS quarters, the narrator joyfully takes a hot shower for the first time in a year, reflecting on the simple pleasures that had been lost in the horrors of the camp.

Takeaways

• 😱 The speaker experienced nightmares for months, waking up thinking they were still in the camps.
• 😌 The speaker was relieved and happy to wake up in a real bed after being freed.
• 👬 To find some comfort, the speaker made friends with two Polish kids in the camp.
• 😔 The barracks were filled with crying, screaming, and prayers, with death being a constant presence.
• 📅 The monotony of camp life made any deviation from routine noteworthy and discussed among prisoners.
• 🔒 One morning, the speaker noticed there were no guards in the towers, and they found the camp gate locked with a chain.
• 🧑‍✈️ A Russian soldier, part of the advance guard, appeared through the fog, marking the liberation of the camp.
• 🏃‍♂️ The speaker and his friends spread the news of their freedom to other prisoners, shouting 'We are free!' in multiple languages.
• 🌅 Some prisoners were able to walk out into the sunlight, while others crawled due to weakness.
• 🚿 The speaker discovered an abandoned SS family’s bungalow, where they took their first hot shower in a year, a moment of personal victory.

Q & A

What impact did the nightmares have on the speaker after being in the camps?

The speaker experienced nightmares for a couple of months, often waking up thinking they were still in the camps. This caused them significant distress.

How did the speaker cope with life in the camps?

To find some sense of pleasure in the camps, the speaker made friends with two Polish kids. They would wake up early to avoid the crying, screaming, and praying that happened in the barracks.

What was the significance of waking up in a real bed for the speaker?

After being in the camps, waking up in a real bed was a source of happiness for the speaker, as it contrasted sharply with the harsh conditions they endured.

What unusual event occurred one morning that captured the speaker's attention?

One morning, the speaker and their friends noticed that there were no guards in the guard towers, which was highly unusual in the camp. This prompted them to investigate further.

What was the first indication that the camp might be liberated?

The first indication was when the speaker saw a horseman with a red star on his hat, identifying him as a Russian soldier. This was a clear sign that liberation was near.

How did the Russian soldier help the prisoners after arriving at the gate?

The Russian soldier shot off the padlock on the camp gate and informed the prisoners that doctors, medication, and food would be arriving soon. However, he warned them that they could not leave yet due to diseases and lice.

What was the prisoners' immediate reaction to the Russian soldier's arrival?

The speaker and their friends ran to every barrack, shouting in multiple languages, 'We are free, we are free!' to inform others about their liberation.

How did the prisoners respond to the news of liberation?

Those who were able to walk came out into the sunlight, while others who couldn't walk crawled out. It was a moment of joy and relief for all the prisoners.

What discovery did the speaker make in one of the SS family bungalows after the liberation?

The speaker discovered that the SS families had left in a hurry. Inside one of the bungalows, they found clothing, food, hot water, fluffy towels, and soap, all of which had been luxuries they hadn’t seen in a year.

What was the significance of the speaker's first hot shower in a year?

Taking a hot shower for the first time in a year was a deeply emotional and celebratory moment for the speaker. It symbolized their newfound freedom and return to normalcy, prompting them to do a 'victory dance' in their prisoner uniform.