Eli's life had become meaningless after the death of his father. Soon he could no longer think of his father and mother, only of food and extra rations of soup. Eli was transfered to the children's block, and the front was getting closer. On April fith, the wheel in history turned, the SS was late for roll call which was unprecedented. Two hours later an announcement for all Jews to gather in the Appelplatz, came over the loud speaker.
This was the end, they returned to their blocks. The underground resistance decided to not abandon the Jews. Roll call took place, here they learned that ten blocks would be evacuated every day. The Germans were liquidating the camp. When Eli's block was ordered to evacuate, they gathered at the gates when the sirens began to sound. Their evacuation had been postponed to the next day. At this point all food was no longer distributed.
Hunger began to torment the prisoners. The next morning the SS prepared to evacuate the rest of us, when the resistance decided to act. A fierce battle took place, but not for a very long period of time at all. As free men they thought not of revenge but of hunger and food. Soon after the liberation of Buchenwald, Eli became very ill, but when he had strength enough, he took a look in the mirror for he had not done so since the ghettos. The horrifying look has never left Eli's mind.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Page #104-112
When they entered the camp they were ordered to form ranks of five, in groups of 100. They were given a hot shower then sent to their blocks for rest. Eli's father picked a spot to sit down and began to tell Eli that it was over for him, Eli howled at, and pleaded with his father to stand up, and that rest was near. Soon the lights went out and they were chased into their blocks. Next morning Eli was looking for his father, he found him near the coffee stand. Later when the block cleaning took place, the sick were ordered to stay inside and were not given any food.
Eli slowly began to loose his father, soon after they were ordered to the showers, when Eli saw his father it seemed as if he was a stranger and walked right by Eli. They soon determined Eli's father was suffering from Dysentery and was bed ridden. One day he put his lips to Eli's ear and said "my son, I must tell you were I have hidden the gold and silver", he went on with this frantically as if he were running out of time.
While visiting his father Eli was told to no longer help him, that he should die on his own. Eli left and came back with a ration of soup, but his father only wanted water. for the next roll call, Eli stayed in his bunk above his father, his father called for him to bring water, an officer struck him on the head to quiet him. Later that night they went to bed and when Eli woke another sick person was in the place of his father.
Eli slowly began to loose his father, soon after they were ordered to the showers, when Eli saw his father it seemed as if he was a stranger and walked right by Eli. They soon determined Eli's father was suffering from Dysentery and was bed ridden. One day he put his lips to Eli's ear and said "my son, I must tell you were I have hidden the gold and silver", he went on with this frantically as if he were running out of time.
While visiting his father Eli was told to no longer help him, that he should die on his own. Eli left and came back with a ration of soup, but his father only wanted water. for the next roll call, Eli stayed in his bunk above his father, his father called for him to bring water, an officer struck him on the head to quiet him. Later that night they went to bed and when Eli woke another sick person was in the place of his father.
Page #98-103
Everyone was crouched side-by-side in the train, death was on every ones minds. Eli looked around at all the deathly looking faces and wondered about his father, he called to him and got no response. The train came to a stop and all the dead were ordered to be thrown off, when two gravediggers came to Eli father, Eli began hitting him as hard as he could. Finally his fathers eyes slowly opened and the men walked away. Twenty dead bodies had been tossed from the train.
Every so often they along the journey they would ride through quiet little German towns. One day passing through a German town, a workingman tossed a piece of bread into the car, other spectators took interest and joined in. A piece came through Eli's car, he had decided not to move, a fierce mod devoured the piece of bread. Durring this, Eli witnessed a son kill his father for a piece of bread, then others killed the boy for that same piece of bread. Eli was only sixteen.
In the same car as Eli and his father was a friend of theirs, a Gardner from back in Buna. One night Eli awoke being strangled, he called to his father who was to weak. so he called for the strongest of all in the car, Mier Katz, the Gardner from Buna, who was known to settle the peace. As they came to the end of their journey, the snow continued to fall progressively, the train came to a halt. From the hundreds who were originally on the train, only twelve were left. Mier Katz decided to stay on the train, they had arrived in Buchenwald.
Every so often they along the journey they would ride through quiet little German towns. One day passing through a German town, a workingman tossed a piece of bread into the car, other spectators took interest and joined in. A piece came through Eli's car, he had decided not to move, a fierce mod devoured the piece of bread. Durring this, Eli witnessed a son kill his father for a piece of bread, then others killed the boy for that same piece of bread. Eli was only sixteen.
In the same car as Eli and his father was a friend of theirs, a Gardner from back in Buna. One night Eli awoke being strangled, he called to his father who was to weak. so he called for the strongest of all in the car, Mier Katz, the Gardner from Buna, who was known to settle the peace. As they came to the end of their journey, the snow continued to fall progressively, the train came to a halt. From the hundreds who were originally on the train, only twelve were left. Mier Katz decided to stay on the train, they had arrived in Buchenwald.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Page # 85-97
Eli was marching in rank, when the SS officer ordered them to pick up the pace. The officers continued yelling at the prisoner until they were at a running pace, if a person were to stop they were to be shot on the spot. Eli was running next to a boy named Zelman, who started with some terrible stomach cramps and could no longer go on. He was not shot but most likely trampled by the wave of people running behind them. The only thing that kept Eli going was his father who had been running beside him. They had covered 20 kilometers when they came to a small abandoned village. People began to run off and hide, Eli and his father took cover in an abandoned factory, Eli soon fell asleep but his father quickly woke him up, it was dangerous to sleep in those conditions.
Eli got up, he and his father ventured outside to try and stay awake, but the terror and the sight of the dead bodies was to much to bare. They decided to go back inside and take turns watching each other to prevent them from falling asleep. After they came inside, Rabbi Eliahu came through looking for his son but Eli could not remember seeing his son, so Rabbi Eliahu walked outside and continued the search for his son. Eli noticed his father was silently dozing on the floor and he quickly woke him. They heard shouting coming from the courtyard and the SS officers ordered them to form their ranks and begin marching. It began to snow very hard and continued to snow even harder, for hours. Everyone, including the SS officers were beyond the point of fatigue, the officers encouraged the prisoners "keep it up guys, only a few more hours". A few hours later they reached their destination, Gleiwitz.
Once in the camp, the SS officers ordered the prisoners to their barracks. People pilled into the rooms and lied down on the ground, right on top of other people, smothering them. While on the floor Eli heard a voice say:"hey up there, I'm struggling to breath", but Eli was also being smothered. The voice Eli heard was that of Juliek, a young Polish boy who played the violin in the orchestra at Buna. Juliek was very concerned with his violin. Eli called for his father, a voice cry ed out "I'm trying to get some sleep". In the distance Eli heard the playing of a violin, it was a beautiful piece of Beethoven's work. When Eli woke in the morning he say Juliek crouched over dead with his violin in his hand. They stayed in Gliewitz for three days, the third day they were told they would be moving again, to Central Germany. The prisoners marched for a half-an-hour were they stoped and waited for the train to arrive, they packed
Eli got up, he and his father ventured outside to try and stay awake, but the terror and the sight of the dead bodies was to much to bare. They decided to go back inside and take turns watching each other to prevent them from falling asleep. After they came inside, Rabbi Eliahu came through looking for his son but Eli could not remember seeing his son, so Rabbi Eliahu walked outside and continued the search for his son. Eli noticed his father was silently dozing on the floor and he quickly woke him. They heard shouting coming from the courtyard and the SS officers ordered them to form their ranks and begin marching. It began to snow very hard and continued to snow even harder, for hours. Everyone, including the SS officers were beyond the point of fatigue, the officers encouraged the prisoners "keep it up guys, only a few more hours". A few hours later they reached their destination, Gleiwitz.
Once in the camp, the SS officers ordered the prisoners to their barracks. People pilled into the rooms and lied down on the ground, right on top of other people, smothering them. While on the floor Eli heard a voice say:"hey up there, I'm struggling to breath", but Eli was also being smothered. The voice Eli heard was that of Juliek, a young Polish boy who played the violin in the orchestra at Buna. Juliek was very concerned with his violin. Eli called for his father, a voice cry ed out "I'm trying to get some sleep". In the distance Eli heard the playing of a violin, it was a beautiful piece of Beethoven's work. When Eli woke in the morning he say Juliek crouched over dead with his violin in his hand. They stayed in Gliewitz for three days, the third day they were told they would be moving again, to Central Germany. The prisoners marched for a half-an-hour were they stoped and waited for the train to arrive, they packed
Friday, May 16, 2008
Page 66-85
Wile the summer was coming to an end, so was the Jewish year. Rash Hashanah, the last the last day of the Jewish year caused great tension in the camp. They all assembled to praise the Lord almighty, but Eli could find no point in praising the Lord, because he held him responsible for what he had let happen to the innocent people. Also on Yom Kippur, Eli did not fast considering it was a great risk anyways. Several days passed, Eli and his father learned about a selection that was soon to take place. They prepared for the worst. During the selection Eli noticed the medical examiner were laking down numbers, he was relieved to find out that his number had not been written down.
The bell rang signaling that the selection was over. Eli ran back to block 36 and caught his father half way there, it was good news to hear his father had passed too. Just a couple of days later, an SS officer came to assemble the ranks for roll call, he read off ten or so numbers that had been taken down during the first selection. They were ordered to stay in camp during the work hours. Eli's father came running to him, his number had been taken down without his noticing. He gave Eli his inheritance and told him there would be a second selection. When Eli returned to camp he learned his father had passed the second selection, Eli gave his father back his knife and spoon.
The winter had begun to get very cold, in January Eli's foot began to swell from the bitter cold, he was sent to the Infirmary. The Doctor told him he would have to operate immediately or he could loose his leg. The operation proved successful, but soon after rumors began to spread of the Red Army advancing on the camp. The rumors became more real when they were able to see the blast from the cannons in the distance. They were ordered to evacuate the camp, Eli and his father were given a choice to both stay in the Infirmary, or evacuate with the rest of the camp. They decided to evacuate, soon after the war had ended Eli discovered that those who stayed in the Infirmary were liberated by the Russians two days later. Before leaving they were ordered to clean the blocks, Eli wrapped his foot and proceeded on with the march.
The bell rang signaling that the selection was over. Eli ran back to block 36 and caught his father half way there, it was good news to hear his father had passed too. Just a couple of days later, an SS officer came to assemble the ranks for roll call, he read off ten or so numbers that had been taken down during the first selection. They were ordered to stay in camp during the work hours. Eli's father came running to him, his number had been taken down without his noticing. He gave Eli his inheritance and told him there would be a second selection. When Eli returned to camp he learned his father had passed the second selection, Eli gave his father back his knife and spoon.
The winter had begun to get very cold, in January Eli's foot began to swell from the bitter cold, he was sent to the Infirmary. The Doctor told him he would have to operate immediately or he could loose his leg. The operation proved successful, but soon after rumors began to spread of the Red Army advancing on the camp. The rumors became more real when they were able to see the blast from the cannons in the distance. They were ordered to evacuate the camp, Eli and his father were given a choice to both stay in the Infirmary, or evacuate with the rest of the camp. They decided to evacuate, soon after the war had ended Eli discovered that those who stayed in the Infirmary were liberated by the Russians two days later. Before leaving they were ordered to clean the blocks, Eli wrapped his foot and proceeded on with the march.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Page 47-65
Whlie in Buna, Eli and his father learned that this was the most pleasent of the camps. When they arrived they were told they would be put into a Kommando after three days. Their second day they were there they were examined medically, durring this Eli learned those with gold in their mouth were given numbers instead of names. Eli and his father were picked to the same Kommando and taken straight to the orchestra block were they would be taught the military march "left, right, left, right". They learned they had been picked to the best Kommando and were taken to an electrical wearhouse, there they preformed small, easy jods.
Eli often worked next to a French girl who knew no German and he no French. One day he crossed pathes with Idek, there Kommando leader, wile he was venting. Idek beat Eli till he was bloody, the French girl wiped his blood and comforted him with beautiful German speach. Eli's father also crossed paths with Idek, and because they decided not to give the gold crown to Franek when Eli was asked, he was also touramented for not marching correctly. This lasted for several weeks before Eli finally gave his gold crown to Franek. The next week all the Poles officers were transfered to another camp, which included Franek, Eli had given away his crown for nothing. Just befor the Poles left Idek left for the day leaving Franek incharge, wile wondering in the wearhouse Eli witnessed Idek and a Polish girl half-naked on a straw mat. Idek noticed him and grabbed him by his throat and sent him on his way. Later the Kommando was assembled and Eli was wiped 25 times.
One day wile Eli's father was at work in the factorie, the alarms were sounded and everyone was ordered to their blocks. SS oficers were ordered to shoot anyone who came out of their block. Two fresh couldrens of soup were left out and hundreds of hungry eyes were staring at them. One dared to go out and slowely crept up to the couldren. He let out a scream and dove in, then we heard the first shot, we realized that it was an American bombing. When it was over, much of the camp was left in ruins but there were no casualties except for the brave mane who was helping himself to a few extra rations of soup. For the next few days they were forced to watch several hangings that had a sever impact on everyone who witnessed them.
Eli often worked next to a French girl who knew no German and he no French. One day he crossed pathes with Idek, there Kommando leader, wile he was venting. Idek beat Eli till he was bloody, the French girl wiped his blood and comforted him with beautiful German speach. Eli's father also crossed paths with Idek, and because they decided not to give the gold crown to Franek when Eli was asked, he was also touramented for not marching correctly. This lasted for several weeks before Eli finally gave his gold crown to Franek. The next week all the Poles officers were transfered to another camp, which included Franek, Eli had given away his crown for nothing. Just befor the Poles left Idek left for the day leaving Franek incharge, wile wondering in the wearhouse Eli witnessed Idek and a Polish girl half-naked on a straw mat. Idek noticed him and grabbed him by his throat and sent him on his way. Later the Kommando was assembled and Eli was wiped 25 times.
One day wile Eli's father was at work in the factorie, the alarms were sounded and everyone was ordered to their blocks. SS oficers were ordered to shoot anyone who came out of their block. Two fresh couldrens of soup were left out and hundreds of hungry eyes were staring at them. One dared to go out and slowely crept up to the couldren. He let out a scream and dove in, then we heard the first shot, we realized that it was an American bombing. When it was over, much of the camp was left in ruins but there were no casualties except for the brave mane who was helping himself to a few extra rations of soup. For the next few days they were forced to watch several hangings that had a sever impact on everyone who witnessed them.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Page 29-46
Everything they owned, they had been ordered to leave behind. They were then ordered to congregate, men to the left and women to the right. This was when Eli was separated from his mother and sisters, but he was still with his father. They were walking down the road as some of the youngsters talked of revolt the elders talked them down, that thought soon diminished. They came to a man, Dr. Mengele, who looked to be a typical SS officer. He was asking their ages, Eli told him he was eighteen, to the right the man said. He awaited the direction of his father, to the right the man said, Eli was relieved. They were walking, wondering if they had been directed in the better direction of the two when they were informed they were headed for the Crematoria, and soon they came upon a flaming pit.
They were then taken into a barrack where an SS officer came in and picked many of the strong looking men, they later found out that those men were sent to work in the Crematoria. They were then striped of their clothing, but told to keep their shoes and belts. They were then soaked in disinfectant and rinsed in a hot shower, all very quickly then placed into another barrack. They were given a pile of clothing to sort through amongst themselves. They were then forced outside through the gates outside of the concentration camp right into the gates of another concentration camp, Auschwitz.
Here they were ordered to run to a block housing were they would sleep two to a bunk. They came to a man who told them that work meant freedom and they were all victims of the same fate, but must have hope and faith by working to earn their way to the next day. Here they were given black coffee in the mornings, soup in the evenings, and a ration of bread later on at night. One day wile socializing with the new deportees, a man came to Eli and his fathers rank and shouted, Wiesel from Sighet, Eli's father replied, it was Stein from Antwerp. Stein wanted to know if they heard any word from his wife and two young boys, Eli told him he had heard from them and they were doing well. He visited them for the next few weeks until he heard of a transport coming in from Antwerp, that's when he got the real news, they never saw him again. Eli and his father were informed that they were the next to be deported, they were then sent to a camp called Buna.
They were then taken into a barrack where an SS officer came in and picked many of the strong looking men, they later found out that those men were sent to work in the Crematoria. They were then striped of their clothing, but told to keep their shoes and belts. They were then soaked in disinfectant and rinsed in a hot shower, all very quickly then placed into another barrack. They were given a pile of clothing to sort through amongst themselves. They were then forced outside through the gates outside of the concentration camp right into the gates of another concentration camp, Auschwitz.
Here they were ordered to run to a block housing were they would sleep two to a bunk. They came to a man who told them that work meant freedom and they were all victims of the same fate, but must have hope and faith by working to earn their way to the next day. Here they were given black coffee in the mornings, soup in the evenings, and a ration of bread later on at night. One day wile socializing with the new deportees, a man came to Eli and his fathers rank and shouted, Wiesel from Sighet, Eli's father replied, it was Stein from Antwerp. Stein wanted to know if they heard any word from his wife and two young boys, Eli told him he had heard from them and they were doing well. He visited them for the next few weeks until he heard of a transport coming in from Antwerp, that's when he got the real news, they never saw him again. Eli and his father were informed that they were the next to be deported, they were then sent to a camp called Buna.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Page 23-28
They were all packed into the train car riding across the countryside, when the train stoped in Kaschau, they soon realized they were no longer staying in Hungary. A German soldier and a Hungarian lieutenant came to the side of the car. They confiscated the rest of their belongings. They also told them if they kept anything or tryed to escape they would be shot.
Their was a woman among them, Mrs. Schachter. She had her ten year old son with her, but her husband and older son had been taken by accident during the first deportation. One night they were awoken by a terrible cry, it was Mrs. Schachter, she was screaming of a fire and flames. This went on for several days, they thought they would all go mad if this kept up. They were soon pulling into a station, and someone near the window read allowed "Auschwitz".
The train did not move again for several hours. Someone was allowed to fetch some water, when he returned he had informed them that this was the last stop, and that there was a camp they would stay at. Wile still in the train, just before they dozed off Mrs. Schachter began to shout of fire and flames. The train began to move slowly, a quarter of an hour they came to the camp. They saw barbed wire and also they now say the fire and the flames.
Their was a woman among them, Mrs. Schachter. She had her ten year old son with her, but her husband and older son had been taken by accident during the first deportation. One night they were awoken by a terrible cry, it was Mrs. Schachter, she was screaming of a fire and flames. This went on for several days, they thought they would all go mad if this kept up. They were soon pulling into a station, and someone near the window read allowed "Auschwitz".
The train did not move again for several hours. Someone was allowed to fetch some water, when he returned he had informed them that this was the last stop, and that there was a camp they would stay at. Wile still in the train, just before they dozed off Mrs. Schachter began to shout of fire and flames. The train began to move slowly, a quarter of an hour they came to the camp. They saw barbed wire and also they now say the fire and the flames.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Page 1-22
Kabbala was a religion that was rarely studied in this Jewish town of Sishet. When Eli was a young boy, he wanted to study Kabbalism but could not find a tutor. Moishe the Beadle was the person who taught him those religious practices. One day the Hungarian police came into his city and loaded all the foreign Jews and deported them to the Hungarian front were they dug trenches and other needed things for war. Fortunately he was wounded and left for dead, so he made his way back to Sighet warn his friends of the horror that may be coming.
The Germans finally advanced into their territory, but the Jews were not as concerned because they did not see the horror they were to bring. At first the German's seemed very polite, several people who housed a soldier had nothing but good to say of them. Then on the seventh day of passover, when everyone was celebrating the special time, the Germans arrested the leaders of the Jewish community. Soon after, because of the situation, two ghetto's were formed, but the Jews were not upset at the situation, they tried to make the best of it, they thought a community of strictly Jews would be a great thing. People expected they would remain in the ghetto's until the Red army arrived, the ghetto's were ruled by delusion.
Eli's father was in the town courtyard speaking his opinion about the situation. He was called off to the side by an officer, they immediately knew something was wrong. The bad news came, the ghetto's were to be deported immediately, street by street. His family then lived in the smaller ghetto, were others who came before them had once lived. They were trying to keep from being captured and deported by the Gestapo. Even worse news came , it was Saturday, the chosen day of full deportation of the Jews. The Hungarian police then packed them eighty people a car and sent them on their way.
The Germans finally advanced into their territory, but the Jews were not as concerned because they did not see the horror they were to bring. At first the German's seemed very polite, several people who housed a soldier had nothing but good to say of them. Then on the seventh day of passover, when everyone was celebrating the special time, the Germans arrested the leaders of the Jewish community. Soon after, because of the situation, two ghetto's were formed, but the Jews were not upset at the situation, they tried to make the best of it, they thought a community of strictly Jews would be a great thing. People expected they would remain in the ghetto's until the Red army arrived, the ghetto's were ruled by delusion.
Eli's father was in the town courtyard speaking his opinion about the situation. He was called off to the side by an officer, they immediately knew something was wrong. The bad news came, the ghetto's were to be deported immediately, street by street. His family then lived in the smaller ghetto, were others who came before them had once lived. They were trying to keep from being captured and deported by the Gestapo. Even worse news came , it was Saturday, the chosen day of full deportation of the Jews. The Hungarian police then packed them eighty people a car and sent them on their way.
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