on the edge of the abyss
DESCRIPTION
Drawings of recollections of the terrible atrocities that were carried out during the Middle-Eastern / European / Asian / Western Holocaust Armageddon 1942 WWII.TRANSCRIPT
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Ella Lieberman after her release from Nazi Germany's concentration camp
in Neustadt - Gleve near Hamburg on May 2, 1945.
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Ella and Emanuel Schieber - Wedding day, February 12, 1946 in 8ydgoszcz, Poland (Emanuel Schieber wearing
the uniform of an officer in the Polish army).
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The publishing of this book was made
possible through the generous contribution of the
Mendel B. Mitchell Fund of Winnipeg, Canada
& Sanford C. Bernstein & Co, Foundation Inc.
of New York, USA
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1992 1994 1997 2002
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vpn 1P ,y o"n On The Edge of the Abyss
Ella Liebermann-Shiber
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Ella and her mother Rosa Lieberman, and her Husband Emanuel Schieber With their children:
Ada, Yehoshua, Shmuel-Samy, and Alexander in their courtyard, at home: 10, Louis Pasteur
- Haifa, October of 1968.
I have tried to express through my drawings all that I felt and saw
in my youth, all that made my world dark, so that my work will bear
witness to those terrible things. It is a meagre attempt, for I do not
believe it possible to convey the horrors we suffered either
through drawings, or any other form of expression .
I began to draw, to sketch whatever was released from within me, grey lines on faded paper.
I reconstructed each picture shortly after I was liberated. With
trembling hands I began to reconstruct the hell from which, by a
miracle, my mother and I had emerged. I felt that every drawing
that disclosed the horrors I had endured in some way eased my
mind. My faith in mankind and the world of today gradually
returned, despite the cruelties my people and I had so recently
suffered.
ELLA LlEBERMANN-SHIBER
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ON THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS
Ella Liebermann-Shiber was released form Nazi captivity in May
1945 near Hamburg, Germany. She was 17 years old, very th in,
and clad only in a striped prison garment. She says of herself that
she was concerned with one thing alone - the urge to draw, to
bear witness.
This collection of 93 sketches bears graphic testirl]ony to the
horrors she witnessed; it is a direct representation of recent .v~
nightmarish memories.
Born in Berlin, Ella Liebermann-Shiber survived years of hell . Her
ordeals began in 1938 when her family was forced to leave Berlin
and reached Bendin in Poland. With the German invasion her
family found themselves in the ghetto, "in a hovel where the lack
of air was such that one could not even light a cand le." She
witnessed the humi liations, torments and destruction of life and
property wh ich no family was spared .
In August 1943 Bendin was declared "Judenrein". Ella
Liebermann-Shiber was sent together with her family to
Auschwitz-Birkenau. Her father and brothers were sent to their
death. Her mother and she survived, thanks to her artistic talent.
She painted portaits for the Germans. As the Russ ians advanced
towards Auschwitz in 1945 , Ella Liebermann-Shiber and her
mother set out on the westbound "death march" to Germany.
They survived the march and were released in May 1945. El la
Liebermann-Shiber immediately began to document her
experiences through her sketches .
She is aware of the fact that once an event or experience is
commit.ted to graphic form it takes on a universal dimension. The
image is released from the trammels of time . The sketches
incorporate event, time, and memory, thus creating historical
awareness; they will serve as a testimony for future generations
and as a deterrent to those who attempt to deny the real ity of the Holocaust.
Ella Liebermann-Shiber chooses a direct, unadorned and exact
form of representation , but which conveys "whole-hearted hate" .
Her sketches give expression to the helplessness and terror of
those subjected to the horrors. It is a voice that warns against the
evil and the bestiality in man, against the hardheartedness and
the cruelty which become uppermost in a society that has lost
touch with its humanity, for "the imagination of the murderer far
exceeds that of the victim." (Leah Goldberg).
The uninterrupted flow of drawings created by El la Liebermann
Shiber during the years immediately fol lowing her re lease from the
Germans was the beg inning of a process of rehabil itation, a process of return to life.
Ella Liebermann-Shiber has also perpetuated the final moments of
those of our people that are, in the words of Alterman, "impri nted
in every fib re of our be ing" - a mute scream echoing from
generation to generation, a scream for life on the edge of the
abyss
AVI HURWITZ.
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Ella Schieber - next to four of her orginal paintings from 1945, which were in Poland and
were transferred to a museum in Auschwitz, where they are preserved to this very day.
They were presented to Ella - the painter - during her visit to the Auscwitz museum on
May 4.1997,
on the occasion of a special reception by the museum's director, Mgr. Jerzy Wroblewski
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"Hear 0 Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is One"
With this affirmation the Jews went to their deaths. It was shouted
in the gas chambers, the crowded trains, the wait ing graves, the
death camps.
"Hear 0 Israel" was the martyrs' last prayer, as they waited
helplessly at the mercy of the barbarians.
"Hear 0 Israel", that fe ll on deaf ears, sti ll echoes all around us.
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Every step means suffering, tears, blood, and death.
Its march through Europe brings destruction, ruin, hunger.
Its thundering sound strikes fear into the hearts of the helpless.
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The books of Freud, Max Ehrlich, Stefan Zweig, Heine, Albert
Einstein, and the paintings of many artists, were confiscated by
the Minister of Culture and Propaganda, Dr. Goebbels, for being
"decadent", and were destroyed.
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The enjoyment of heavenly, wonderful nature, that was created
by God for all mankind gardens, and forests, lakes and mountains
was forbidden to Jews. The bright and beautiful sun no longer
shone for us.
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The House of God is desecrated. All the synagogues are burning. Torah scrolls go up in fire, and
with them the human beings who can't bear the sacrilege. At
night, as the wind blows through the ruins, people stop horrified,
petrified, listening to the cries and sighs that ri se to heaven.
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One less Jew, a loaf of bread more.
September 1939. Germany invades Poland. Fear, hunger, death .
Long queues for bread.
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disappears. Here and there a body. A loaf of bread, fallen from frozen hands,
lies in the gutter.
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A search in a Jewish home.
Jews found with onions, eggs or meat will be sent forthwith to
Auschwitz as black-marketeers. The Nazi Party area commander,
in person, leads the search party. He surprises my terrified aunt
as she is doing the laundry. The commander approaches the
laundry cauldron, opens his fly and urinates into it. He discovers a
bottle of ink and pours that in too, smiling broadly, Looking at the
expression on my face, he bursts into hysterical laughter. Long
after he leaves, still rejoicing, I hear his disgusting laugh.
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Jewish property is confiscated.
Jews have no right of ownership. Objects of sentimental value
that conjure up fond memories, passed on from generation to
generation, must be handed over. Bounty for the Third Reich.
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Forced labour. Young Jews are sent to work camps, where conditions are
subhuman Deaths are a daily occurrence. The weak are
dispatched to Auschwitz. The crematorium awaits them. My
brother Alex was caught in June 14, 1942. He never returned.
On September 3rd my sister Bertha was pulled out of bed in the
middle of the night.
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The 11 year old son of the area Nazi Party boss terrifies the local
Jews. He loves to shoot and stab, accompanied by his teacher
and trainer.
When they see him, the Jews run and hide. Police Sergeant
. Mitschke terrorizes the streets of Bendin, sowing death wherever
he goes.
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Make way ...
Jews must get off the side walk when a German approaches.
Whole work battal ions must step down when even a single
German walks by.
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I O'lj71
.\)I'{I)11'il )1'{ 11J'lJ "nmnil;'" pm 11'1'{ ,ill1J)Jil ml''VY.l ,I)1)';' l'O-J1
.1I\)\)'Vj71Y.l illnY.l) 'Vln \)11~0)1\) 'Vl11'V ,O'11il';' l')n" :1J;'JJ 'VY.ln'VY.l N1il
Major Lindner of the Labor Office cannot demean himself by
talking to the Judenrat. He speaks to his dog: "Tell the Jews we
want a new transport for work in the Markstadt Camp."
20
MQ)or Lind ryer VOrn Arbe,'beinsob.:. (B~ ncb. ~V)) ~ HUl'\cl, 'id~ d t.m Judex; ".: '
21
.0lY.lJ Ol11i1lil JJ
.0iPlYY.l l1l) OJpJl )YJJ llill OJ1J ,0l'lP'I!P) Ol1Jl ,~1:J1 OllPI
Jews are thrown into the water.
Young and old - all the Jews are subject to scorn and
degradation by their torturers.
.1:
. lit:
Me tall
wa
1))J))11
I' ))
Q)~/)
l11N
J111N
y
0'1117' 1111 ,01'.1 ,)1nli1 )N O')PI O'11i1' 0'11)) In!)/) O'l)Jn1 O')lN 'ItJn
111:1P" )1i1 ,'nN JI'.I I!)Oil 11') Jill/)) nlJI) ')N .0il')PI O'I'.I)nl ,o'Nl1)
nOlJiI-n')) >I'lil N1i1 .1')1)) J1nl) l)PI nN 11'.1)n O1'iI l1N)1'.I ,p)1/)
ilmJiI .'iI nNl') )/)17 "1i1') N1i1 Wlil ,))!)niI1 m111wm m\!Jun O')!))
.N')!)iI) iln')~iI 111DI'.I) 'PD)JJ '11i1'J )Jll!))
Helpless and terrified, old Jews are dragged out into the streets
and their beards cruelly plucked . I remember my brother's school
principal, Rabbi Dr. Munk, having his beard plucked on a Berlin
street in the middle of the day. He went to the synagogue with a
bandaged face, and prayed. The beard was a symbol cif a Jew's
piety. If the intention was to humiliate him and hurt him to the
depths of his soul, they succeeded.
22
23
f l' n e 2 tJ 0 n ~ S P os e f L.\ r G r ~(ul p~ \O ()' ~<H' d
... f ~! . .~
... il)!m nJm)!n
p .D'l'JO) l' 'lm', ,D'Jn D',m1J Dil'1') .i1:s1JjlJ 1m)!) il!)JJ O;11i1' ))!
.On1l-< D'Y.l)~Y.l
Jon) 'lJl1 O'1,Y.lnY.l O'11il'il" :i1I)!il ~1I' :sJ 1'),)) Om)1\!! O'Y.l1J~ni1 nN
."omN
Atrocity propaganda,
Orthodox Jews are made to stand in a group. Guns,
hand grenades and knives are thrust into their hands.Thus, they
are photographed.
The photos are sent to Berlin, bearing the attached comment:
"The Jews are subversive and must be el iminated."
I ~,
o
He an(
pri l
strE
bal
pie
de,
11)1
.Oil:! 0)~1:S) pm:s 111)1? )1J "~nil? 0)11i1) O)n)lJr.l
.CJ:Jm-< )Jr.lW) IN{ 'tN{ 1 o)"~nr.l om" )r.l? - 0)11i1)
Jews are forced to pray and made fun of.
"Jews, to whom do you pray? Can't you see nobody's listening?"
24
25
.OlN,'lJJ O'J)] n10'O) :111'J )'0 ))\J 1))1
Another kind of entertainment - loosing fierce dogs on people.
Je\
"Je
ose
li1N? D'!y:mn 1'?1~ m:::l1ni .nnJjTmJ ?1?'n .n1J? i1tJN D'TIn? m
.np'1;" nn~m 'lJNJ D'iIJm;np
Even the dead may not rest in peace. Graveyards are
desecrated. The streets of Poland are paved for miles with Jewish
gravestones.
26
Fr;e~ h o~ s(.h dr} d unj "',,:".;:,:~.,.
27
ilY1Hi1 ''G!YD w::m ,i11Uni1 DDN 'Y "1lrl'N Dli11'N" i1Dt"tJi1 DY
,1n1'J D'l'1nDi1
The most horrible acts of cruelty were performed by men whose
beltbuckle caption read: "God is with us",
EVE
de~
gra
J l~)lil
Il ilm
lmlJil
mnilJ
J'mYJ
ler
e is of
'rom
id in
.l941,l'1lJ
.il'llYDJ Jl)£l~J O'll)Pil Oil'lJ'i Oil'Jl)'lIl JY .il'lJ'lIIJ O"l'll O'Jin
I)J'l ilJN O'l£lr.:l .ilym 'NJIJ O'l£lJ on O'1r.:l1Y ,D"1J'Oil ,O'lptil O'liilil
I'JN nN ilNni mJil1Jr.:l O"l'Y npi£l ,YJINil 1:1 ,il'))'O 1:1 .IYi'O' JJ JJtJ
IlN~1i1ilmN 0) .il1NnJ 1ml NJ'lI ,ilYJil mp'lll nl'nnJ'il I'l£lJ .liJnil
.illnDJ Om)il n1'il7 m7Nliil'nJr.:l
8endin,1941.
They hang two of our neighbours. Their wives and small children
are forced to look on. Their elderly parents stand motionless, their
faces filled with horror, with immeasurable suffering. Our
neighbour's son, a four-year old, stares with wide, frightened eyes
at his hanging father. His little face bears an indescribable
expression. We, too, are forced witnesses to the scene.
28
,'."b'()~ k;nd d·e.~ Ge~ho ; cAei- ~IH OU? t ~r nC::\1 \-e.,"" 'Ide.r fCl.VV\:l\e. I ctr\:~~f":'
29
l)l»J ilNl ,)\)1)) '1)il' 1Jl ilNW lY.) .ilnf:l'Oy.lil tJ)if:lr.l7 If:l)il 1IJ1)) 171il
.J»11 m1r.l ,1nf:l pl ll1l':Jr.lil ,ilnmJ ll1Ynp ,m7m Oll)l)J .llf:l11) ilm
mlr.l1r.ll)J mlJ''O 1N'::lr.lil mlJ1»f:lil . )\)1)7 ~1nr.l IN llN::lJ H)Jil N7 O'l)))r.lil
.)\)1)) Ollnf:l'Or.l 11:1» Ol))1f:lil J::lN OnJ IJ»r.l ~3P) 'lJ ,il::l1nil 3))llil)
.0117'il 7'0 omm il7N O'»:SJy') 1r.l"llV) mJ11j7 Ollll»J
The child in the ghetto becomes the family provider. Whenever
one saw a child in the ghetto one saw the eyes of a hunted
animal, wide eyes that knew only fear , death and hunger. The
adu lts dared not leave the ghetto. The little ones used all kinds of
artful methods to slip out of the ghetto and beg some bread from
the Poles for their families. These expeditions frequently ended in
the child's death.
\J
Ber
ThE
are
fac,
nei!
atr ex~
My
.1942 ,1'1))
on'::!, onN" :nll::!l 0111i1'i1 '1)' nN 1:l'JO ~OlN J)t)IJD 11))1!:! 'Ill!:! 1,0
nN::!) l)lD 'IJ'IJ P 1)1)l!:! .01llJDlll1Nl,1:l 011)1JDllnlN ."! i1Dn)Di1 nN
nOll!:! 01::!1I llN ,i1Dn)Di1 nN 01::!1I lll'N ,O"Oi1 )lln ,111i1 ,N)" :i111'IJi1D
"!on)
Bendin, 1942. Captain Franz Polter from Breslau gathers the Jews' child ren
around him and shrieks; "You wanted the war!" We look at him
uncomprehendingly. Asix year old chi ld dares to step forward.
"No uncle S.S. man. We don't want the war. We want some
bread."
30
IHR HAST DEN
I-<RIEG
",,'
.,.}'t, t"..M ";:.
'~ ,,,J~2 ...
,/ ; .
f 31
.l£1NI)0)il1n1Y.l ,1942 ,1'1lJ l£1NI)O)il 1P£lY.l .n:S1 n1:JY.l omN O',Y.l .1£)NI)0)' omp,) "I!J O'111il n1!J1'1!J
1Y o'nn)JY.l .m,Y.l 'I!J '1:1Y.l 11Y1 "! ilYI!J Y:l1 11Y" :i111:SY.l111') lWI!J OY 1Y.llY
,D'nNil ,1)nlN" :omn, l:S'N)1!J 1nN' ,0ilY.l O)))I!J O'11nnl!JY.l l'il N"
1Y.l)J N' N1il .ilnlJil O'WY.l 1m N' '1!J"l!Jil 111il ."Ul)l)lpni111)1,nl!Jil
)JOJ
Bendin, 1942, in the Gestapo cellar .
My three uncles receive terrible blows. The Gestapo officer
stands, watch in hand: "Another 15 minutes l" More blows.
Mutilated beyond recognition, two of my uncles were freed after
signing a statement that they had been drunk and had a fight. My
third uncle never returned. He succumbed to the beating.
0:
no
Ben
Cap
arOL
uncI
"No
brei
.1942 \:>OUlN:112 ,1'1l:l
.~'nI!J1N :,:11il I!Jn':l .' )1Dill!Jn') .\:>'1:l0il l!J ' )Y.l )N O'I!J'UY.l O'l1il'il )J
16,000 .D'11il'il nN O')'lr.JY.l 'jJO)'1!J\:>1jJ1 'lOY.l ,mjJ11il ,,",1 ,O'Y.l1jJil
nm1Y£lil1 D')jJlil .~' 111!J1N? D'r!)I!J) ilJnJY.l111 ~'J1)0)IJ ,1'1)) D',YilY.l
NY.lN 111N" :m1:S1'~'m)Oil nN OY1) ,)),1 'O'Y.l1jJil .N'1) n11D ?N O'Y01)
"l ill?' nN ilI'nOil
Bendin, Aug. 12, 1942.
All the Jews are forced onto the sports fie ld. Mass deportation to
Auschwitz. Commissar Dreier, Dr. Messner and Kutsch insky
oversee the "selection". 16,000 from Bendin , Sosnowitz, and
Dombrowa are despatched to Auschwitz. The elderly and the
babies go to a horrible death. Dreier eats his sandwich and
shouts: "Which mother is hiding her baby?"
32 ': . I
-1LAtJ(;v.)T ~41: - Be.¥)ch. l -) . ., ~ S; E C'\ Gt\.-tS,> I: e c\ \'t ... p,\c 9 n (u .... h '1, Arhe; f:: S f: I'nS'Cl ~ i 1) ' '. I.,. / 1<eSf.tV
. 2}. ,A~s~; d h~ O(1 . -. ~ , ~
33
The elderly, chi ldren and cripples are driven cruelly on.
NY.li
Benl
All tl
Aus(
over
Dom babi,
shou
"') 0))
)),'P)J
nnn
lked
be
. '111)):1 "m1))1D"j) j))lllj)
.O)~Nli1 l1) ~)! n 1"')1:1 m~l) Ol!))N
Shooting in the back of the neck was popular with the Nazis.
Hundreds of thousands were murdered in this fashion .
34
35
.1j7 ~11n 01'
mj7l ))I!! .nmmJ 11)J~) n1'1liP O'I!!) nn"n ,n1D11Y.l O"1'J ,n1Y.l11'Y
.;'''1'J n1i1) lN~l' 1Y'J .1il')n nnn
A cold winter 's day. Jewish women are compelled to march through the streets naked
and with their arms held up. Snow and ice underfoot. They will be
shot in the forest.
Sho
Hun
J1Jt)1\)
)irn'J
liPnJ
';'J1Y.l1
JS,
The "tree of life" in the hands of the Nazis became the "tree of
death",
36
I , ,
Heldentu b:{\ \Yv\
Ho) f''to L
,...; .,;'
.,0" / '"
7 A/
37
.1942 ,~')ll010
.'11i1'il O'?lmrn')
nl'N'Or.l ?Y O'Or.lY1r.l ,n1lJlr.Jil 1r.l O'Y1pl O'?1nil .0'll!lr.l O'?1nil-'nJ
.D1'11IJr.l1Pil Oil? il!l~y') 0'0 ,~'11'OlN? O'?)1):)l
Sosnowitz,1942.
A Jewish hospital. The hospitals are evacuated. The sick are torn from their beds,
loaded into vans, and transported to Auschwitz, to the
crematorium.
lil O'I!!)
J'i:11Yil
md
then
.nllJl'il n'J ,1942 ,VJ1JtJ1V
.11JnilY.l O'JJI!!1Y.ll O'iJ JI!! m~':lJ mpl)'ni1 O'VJJ1Y.l nllJl'il npJnm
.1i1 ilmN il'l~:l nllJ)lJ m .i1I1nl!!il m1Y.lil n')1JY.l OilJ il~:lY.l ilIJY.lJ
.il~:liilY.l1 mmJll!!ilY.l 01il nN ~lIJI!!J O':lJN) O"11il';' m'nNill O'N~nil
Sosnowitz, 1942. The maternity ward.
The infants are wrapped in pillow cases and thrown out of the
window. Their mothers are led downstairs to a black death-car.
The doctors and nurses wash the blood off the tables and floors .
38
39
.nu1Y.l milY.l)Nil .il))'·,))) n1il7 mN::!1Y.l1 1)))7 m7)1Y.l m1il O)\!I)
.n::!)7 o)pnn\!lY.l1 nm!lV mpl O))J)J1JnY.ll))1)J lil))IJ)) O)1)1)Jil
Jewish women who are pregnant are taken into the forest and
shot. The embryos in their stomachs kick for a few minutes, then
are still forever.
.il£
Sosr
The
wind
The I
1942,1'1)::1
1)1 0'1;))
~ 'l!1£l'n::1
n?J ?0
.??J lJ?
~n!lil 1'::1
)'l!D NDN
Nazis ,
thole
Itainer
lIy, he
nts to
3nough
j'11N? )!l')lil 'j''l!)lil )n1?)il DP::1 ,ilJnDil 1P!lD ?'l! m? n1?)i1il D1'-nmD
,0il::1 ill' ilnD'l!il ?)I::11 D'1)il' O'1?' ill'l!)I
A birthday present for the camp commander's 10 year old son,
Jewish babies are thrown into the air, and he shoots them,
40
41
bis \2 JC(hr~v\
.1942,1)1)J
1n Y1Y.l mN::ll' n1:Jl milY.l)N .0)::lNl? I)IJY.l? '0) i11'lJy-o)n'lJ ?)) 1Y 0)1?)
OJ)ilN illil ,O)'lJ11n il)1Y.l'lJ) O))nl'lJ P ,1DPil )111-P .N)3nY.llnN 'lJ)!:J)nJ
O)JIJY.l )l)N 1N ,OlY.ln!:Jil 1'J ?N n!:J,il l)1N? IJlJ1Y.l N)il .iln!:J'lJY.lil )):J ?J ?'0
3J'lJ? il::ll1 N? ?NPln,/l :01 ?)P3 131? I)IJN'lJ ,)? Y11' )J 'Om? N)il .??J 1J?
l))Y ?N 1nN D3Y.l ?IN ."N3N ?'0 i1D1Y.l:J 1)'lJ)? il::ll1 ?NPln1 ,O)Y.ln!:Ji11'3
.i1? YY.l'lJ'il? )l?Y'lJ In)N YlJ'lJY.l NY.lN
Bendin, 1942.
Children under the age of 12 are to be handed over to the Nazis.
Many mothers frantically search for a hiding place. My little
cousin, aged 2 years 8 months, was greatly loved by the whole
fami ly. Much to his displeasure, he is hidden in a metal container
among the coals. Knowing that it is forbidden to speak loudly, he
whispers: "Yechezkel doesn't want to lie in the coal. He wants to
sleep in daddy's bed". But one look at his mother's face is enough
to persuade him that she must be obeyed.
At Jev
3rms.
il'()n?l '()),11n1N ?Y )ll)N ill,()) N)il .1NlP'):l:l ll,())~l .P1I:lt))?N):lr.J il,()N
. )1?) ?'() 01il 1m . )1) ?Y'() 01il llN ~mN N? O?W? - il?)?il ?J ilr.J~Y?
This woman is from Bialystok. We met in Birkenau. We slept in the
same bunk, and she kept on whispering all night "I'll never wash
this blood off my hands. It's the blood of my child".
42
With coarse brutality chi ldren are torn out of their mothers' arms.
Thi
sar
th i~
,],1)J
) l)Yil
)il ;'J
nlY.lY.l
)Y.lOJ
1'Y.llY.J
D)l))
e
.1942,],1))
il;')YJ nl1~ 1DjJil il'~ItJ1l .D))1IU O)Y~Y.lN O)~N)il O)DjJ1) 1l1lY.l1)il np~jJNJ
.1?'l!
nN ,iln nN n;'D1) ,n)lnIJil 1JnD'l! ,1Y.l)N .m)? jJn'l!1Y.l il'?IJ1) - il))l)
1m ,1\))Jil" :nNl1jJ1 nmnlil ll1 n:lllDY.l 1m il~l ,il)\))\)jJil iln1)il
.m?IU il'?IJ))
.D)))J1) )IU 1'))Y Oil D)!)l1\))J1 D)nr.l )J ,il))N J) DIU N) IU)N
Bendin, 1942.
During the dai ly deportations the Nazis resort to various tactics.
The infant Yossele cries in his crib - a shot silences him forever.
His mother picks him up and runs through the street shouting:
"Look at my Yossele".
No one pays any attention. Death and madness are daily
companions.
44
'\. A u9wJ" ,,~'LJ) II. J ud
45
.1943 1)01)1N:J l,P1))
, O'11i1lY.l i1llvl1'Yi1
,O'N1JnY.m ,Oi1'ml)l)J 11n)J omN O'ii)) . ~'l1'l!1N) - O'l1i1'i1 ):J
O')J'))!l O'Mi1 .00v)JJ i1i1l - 1'1 wm 1l'N'l! l)J ):J .))i1 n)l))!)J1 o'~mr.))J
O"))i ,)N)J'l!)J 'l!Ni - P)Jl)J 'l!Ni ,m'N'l!)J ))! omN O'O')J)!)J .mNI))JOJ
Ol)J' i11'l!)! W)JJ .m~)) 1n)l Ol)J)!i1) i'l!~N 1:J ,)N)J'l!)J Oll))1 - )l)Jl)J
.O'1ml O'1J'l!1 n)J11n Vi .m1~i1 N)) 0'11'
Bendin . Aug 1, 1943.
The city is "Judenrein", free of Jews I
All the Jews have been dragged out of beds, shelters, ce llars,
attics and shipped off to Auschwitz. The laggards are shot. The
bodies pile up on the streets, later loaded on to trucks, head to
the right - feet to the left, then feet to the right and head to the
left. The shooting goes on for 1 0 days, leaving in its wake ruin
and destruction.
Bene
Durir
The i
His r
"Loof
No 0
com~
ive
:0
O'lnNl .il)lllil )Jil,ll)lYfnp-nn nnillD ,n1)I£lJ n1£l~l,O')I£lJ nnp
1r.:l1Y O))nil)IY'O .O't)£lnl 0));) - )'Ylil N)) )3N ,D))n6 nN )'~il;' 'Op ;'J3
.nJ;'D
Double walls, double floors, underground tunnels - everything is
discovered. They clutch at a straw - to no avail. The clock of life
comes to a standstill.
46
47
\rQ30J. ~ \vv, Du ~~(": .s Or u 3lt "1\ ~ fL VO Ii tv\ \A \: ~ \1. (h \f n 0\
N7 .O)'t!lNil 7J nN 1))\:Jil7 il71]) 17) mJ) .1j/l1J 7J7 illJtJ 1Pil n1j/1l)n
.j/lnl N1il J1171 ,17)il )!l 7)J lJ n)lil7 mnn iln)il ONil .ill)lJ ilmil
.1j/l1J 7JJ I))JDJ ilnlj/1l il)1l11)
Babies were a danger to every hideout. Their crying could give
away all the others. There was no choice. The mothers had to
smother them with a pillow. This tragedy happened in many
hideouts.
1
Do
dio
COl
48
111N 0)' J)
-J ';'1':1 31
)11 :111)1Dil
)N1:1nD IN
Jlil'111111
m!! .1);'))J
O'lJ' '):11
"" :il~I!!Nil
lil 11:1 il11:1
mmNJ)!
111' 1nlND
nll!! I)!DJ
)D'ill!!lJI!!
)!DI!! )!l1~J
IJp:110n;'
n l1N P'O
~lJl!! ill!!l!!
):1 10 0l'J
.'11'N 1NlJ
'N ,il~I!!Nil
Ilil Jl1)DJ
1il .0nnN
I)'N" ::1:1'"
) 11)) N1il
. l1N 110J
il il"~'::!il
~ O'Jm)il
;'mlJ11)l
l;'N IN';,
J 1N';, l1N
I J)lN 'J:1
ll!! 11!!')1il
;P)!Dil nN
1 J1/:I 1D)!
N JNPln'
)!1~ l)nlN
Evry day your'e hunted, every day your hiding
place, Death is always imminent. On the night of July 31, 1943, we awoke to the sounds of shooting, crying, shouting: "Jews out", We ran bowed across the yard to our hiding place, It was like a
tomb under a garbage bin, My mother and father, my little brother
and I, and myoid aunt. We sat pressed together, knees bended,
so there would be room for all of us, We heard them herding the
Jews together and sending them off, We heard shots, and child~en's wailing, We heard our neighbor, Dr, Rechtschaft shout:
"My children, my children", then a shot, and silence, I hear little Luscha crying, the 5 year old daughter of my teacher, Mrs. Inwald.
For ten days, shooting and shouting. Bodies are thrown
on the garbage bins. Their blood drios down on us, Later the
bodies are removed and lime spread around. We almost choked.
The thirst was unbearable, Suddenly we heard steps
approaching, the slat over our heads moved, and a loaf of bread and bottle of water were thrown down to us in our grave. The Polish caretaker risked his life to save ours Six weeks he fed us while we lay cramped in our harrow grave with the body of our dead
aunt. On Sep. 10, 1943 we heard a voice: "I'm a German, There are
Jews hiding out around here. Come with me, and I'll show you the
Pole who gave them food". The police pass our hiding place and
approach our house. Several Jews are dragged out and beaten,
Then the Pole was brought out and beaten half to death. He was taken away and never seen again, We went out and surrendered, We were led to the ghetto, where we were put to work creating order out of chaos,
The terrible fear, the crack through which we saw the blue sky, were
things of the past. My little brother Leon no longer had to
scavenge for food at night. One night we heard shots. A hiding
place had been discovered. We thought Leon WOUldn't return, but he
did. He had hidden under a mattress. The Germans walked over the mattress but didn't feel him. He was 14. He brought food and the jacket, little Yechezkel got for his secound birthday.
,.'"".
Yechezkel used to stand before the mirror, smooth the jacket with his
little hand and say: "Yechezkel is pretty, Yechezkel is new". Yechezkel is
gone, and his little jacket, dirty and tom, lines our hideout. Now we march,
guarded by police with bayoneted rifles, to an unknown fate,
49 pJI!! il:)l)J .0)))')!il1))) 1'Y.ln m1Y.lil ,inN NnntJ 01' )J 1~1i) ilnN 01' )J
ilP)!~iltJ1 m))ltJ I'JJtJ ,m'iltJ ))l11))nil ,1943 \)Ou)NJ 1-) ')))J 31
>,')il)) il!))!)1!! il~"J i~nil nN m~n) )In)~il ."!il~1nil O'11i1,11 :mJ1Y.lil
')N 11DPil mN l'tJ'N I'::IN .il!)IUN nlN) nnntJ i::lp ptJ ill il'il .))N)JntJ )N
O1PtJ il'illJ pl 'J ,m!))!)J O))JiJJ ,O'!))!)I!! ))JIU' ))))J - mplil 'n1m
m'i' 1il )))!tJl!! .0mN o'n)l!!tJ1 O'1)il'il nN O'!)O)N 1~'J )))!Y.l\!) .))))J)
lnN) Jnp-Jnp ,\)!)NI!!\)Ji i)\)P11 ,))mJI!! np)!~ nN )))!tJl!! .0'1)' 'JJ)
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.))) P'~il) Nmil )nil ~N .))'nl!! N)) )))IN N) m)') il\!)))I!!) O'tJ' ill!!))1!!
iJ'J .\)O)il ))'))!tJ m)il) ,il!)I!!Nil lnN )N nip il)N .O'1)!~ )))!Y.ll!! )!n!))
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1')tJl) ')N ,O'11i1' O'lnnOtJ 1NJ l'tJlUtJil" :)))! tJIU 1943 i::ltJD!)OJ 10 01'::1
lnN) nlp O'1)!~ ."1HtJ O'1)il') P!)'OI!! ')))!)il nN OJ) ilNiN l'n'N )Nn
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O'1)il') 0)) ))) )!"Ol!! I')))!)il i~n) l1))lN .01!!tJ omN ))'J)il mJY.lJ
')))!)il "?O'1)il'il O'innotJil P'il" :))))) 1ni~) n~l mJtJ )::I'P N)il .0'inN
."01)J »1)' '))'N li::l1 »1)' '))'N" :::1::1"
'1J )\)')) ))mN ))'::I1i1 .))N~'1 1)))J) .0)1))) 11)) ilNl1 N)) OlUtJ 11)1 N)il
.~')1IU1N) 1111'»~il Ol\)J ,mJH)!il O'11i1'il mi'1 nN i10)
O))tJlUil no'!) )N il!)IUNil lnN 'Jln 1,1 \)JtJil lil)ln) NY.l1!! ilNi))i1 il"!)'~il
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1))! ilNi) N)I!! min ,O'11i1' N)tJ ip)n ))') .n))i' )))!tJl!! ,)lm'1 )N )N')
»')il )N') .0'Jip O'i'ill 0)1»~ )l)!tJ ,pnn\!)il )Jil il!!NJ .0)1))) )N') nN
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.1lNllp OlJnlJ 1)l~N .1)1)!~ n0U OlN~m - OlJDl Ol~~m~Y.l DIU mpY.l ))J
m~1) nN .illil 11IJN 1)) . IUtJlU)1 I l 1N) ~1)!) ,m-(~)1 IJ))lil) 1))l Oil
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140 Jews, the last in Upper Silesia, were taken for clean up work.
We found terrible destruction, blood, and filth. In almost every
home, we found bodies of dead infants, covered with flies. The
mothers did not want to take them to Auschwitz, and they hoped
someone would find the abandoned babies, hidden in chimneys,
ovens, bathtubs, wherever. When we were hiding under the
garbage, how we had envied the flies, who could come and go,
Ily free ly in the Iresh air and sunl ight. The bodies of the infants
were burned in the yard. Whatever objects 01 value that were
found were loaded on trucks and sent to Germany.
50
I: "
\ ' II
'I
I i
51
'De I'" \~/\' II t L \.l YI') L e ben I.A h l nch Q ide t () I C. h t d \ Q. M " 1; t \;.l .. ,
When faced with death, the will to live wells up all the stronger.
W
he
sc
ov gc
fly
WE
fOl
nnN
1:)~}lJ
1I!JN)
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9
the
)N~ 0)}l11') O)I!)).'I:) 0)1);1'il 1 }l11) N) O)I:)Nil .}l11) N) )iU )N O)'lI,UD
.011)il)il ),U )}I ))))il nN mno iJ) )'lI))'lIill"iil )\)))'lI .0mN O)))Jm
Deported to an unknown fate. Unknown? No. The Jews sense
their destination. Hear thee, 0 Israel Your fate has been sealed
52
53
,iJ~))J iJ~111NJ Ol~NliJ ?Y 1TIPJ "mJ1iJN"iJ ,)11iJ? iJN~1iJiJ m11~D TInN
mn11PiJ 11) 1JPiJ TIN .1JmiJ omN 1Jp 11TI ?N iJl 111J iJTIDiJiJ iJTIliJ
,m?) )YD OllW 11:1Y) l ~)Nl mn11PiJ .P)YD nJ1iJ 111N ~Y m, .OD~YJ
)IN ,OlY1~~ p1 op)n ,OlmiJ op)n .0mN m1~lp iJl111 mmD 1'ON)
llJpl 01J1'O ,iJ1)lYiJ )Y .11JiJ 1m ?N m)iJD 1?~l,~\J1 01'Ol,011J) ,0)1)
.iJTIDiliJ 1m 1nN) mJ1 TIWI!! 1W ilY11!! ,ilD1Nil il11YD ,onn 011YJ
One of the most "popular" methods for executing Jews
throughout Europe was by having them dig a mass grave and
then shooting them as they walked across a plank laid over the
grave. Many were only wounded, and there was movement in the
grave for many hours.
DE thE
3y to
o'yt))J il~1l'N ':Jnl ?JY.l O'1) il ' .01W'J:J:J O'tJ)n1 ,mY.lil:J ?IV mmjl
.00)il')il ?N - jll1'NY.l ,il jll'?:J1D ,~'))IV)N l)1'J)
Cattle cars packed with people. Jews from allover Europe are on
their way towards Auschwitz, Treblinka, Maidanek - to hell.
54
55
lJ ,pmr.n mNl'il l1n? mm11 ilDl\!!lil .il))ll ilYll ,Ol:S1n?l Ol!)!)m:SD
."l111!!1N? l'1ill1 .,llN ,on
Crowded, sweating, wailing. Heavy breathing. No air. The way to
Auschwitz
56
Predator
57
.o)Jn::nJ'1)J'()i1
The gateway to mass murder.
! I
Prec
DnI-<
11n::l
11)1)n
Ji1 )J1
We
3.
we
.1944 lN1)):J IS ,~)ll\1)lN
OD1Y.l1N 11N:J O)INlD O)))\I)il .0)))\1)) nnpllD 1NlPl):J:J O))\I):JJil nnnN
)'N\I) ,~n\l) 01N l\IJ:J )\1) n)lil,1\1))il .m:JnNil »l)D m:n1!)il Pl» nnil)D
mN1!)p O))!) .('(111\1)lN) H'UPl':J lD11il il)nD )J )) ~Jn ,1l)!)D I))D'il)
O'p)nD .J@ 'l!Nlil )) ill):Jn::l mnm) ))))) m)N ,lm1N m)JpD mpJ
.1)1))D O'»IP) 11)Pil mN1 'IN .n) 1m' :mD .mlD) 1N o))n) - )m)N
.1)\)N) nnl1n JNJ mp»l,O)))1N mp»~ .1W ilNlm N) O)W)
Auschwitz, Jan. 15, 1944.
The crematorium chimneys at Birkenau reach up to the sky. The
sky is lit up by the reddish light cast by the huge flames which leap
from the mouth of the chimney. The smoke, the unmistakeable
stench of burnt human flesh, bears down upon the whole of
Birkenau Concentration Camp. Frozen faces greet us, blows from
rubber stancheons fallon our heads and back. The "selekzia" - to
life or to death.
My father and little brother are torn away from us. We shall never
see each again. I hear horrifying shouts, shouts of fear .
58
59
mY.JlllY mlY.l1Y l)nJN ,lltJY.l) 'ljl llY-'~!:ln ,1)l!:lU )YY.J OlYllp l)llD nN
,))1) l"JJ ,"illlNtJ"il .7)1)il lPY.Jil o"pnY.J 1J'lj D1j1Y.Jil ,"illlNtJ"il llnJ
D1'ljll.il ll1N O)'lj il)l) ,1)l)N ll1n ))'ljil ,ilnm) O'mn!:l mn)11 n1l1)n
,m))jll n1:JY.l il)1)Y.l ill\JljllllJil J)l
Our clothes are torn off us, Valuables must be handed over, We
stand naked in the "sauna" room, the place where the great
selection takes place, The doors and windows of the sauna, a
large building, are wide open, The snow penetrates to where we
are standing, The registration takes an entire night, and the
bureaucratic process is carried out to the accompaniment of
blows and curses,
0;
Au: ThE sky
fror
stel
Birf
rub
life
My
seE
3S is
,>,'IU i1N~m n)vIU - n1Y.l~ ,v?n '>')IU) o)?n?n "mIU '>')IU ,)))1))?:1 '>')IU
- n)1l0N? mJ~)i1 nn>,)) O)IU) ,n)>':1IJi1 )JnPIU) nN ))TIlNIJ 0';)1)) ,O)IU)
,O)'~OIJ?
Blond hair, dark hair, smooth hair, curls and braids - a full sack of
women's hair, They're depriving us of our natural femininity,
Women and girls become inmates, numbers,
60
An ·der DEUTSCJifN
'.'
. 5 ~HA rZKAMMER BERliN ~ '$) . ...
61
llN lll!)Yil) 11J )illil l)ll!) llN OlliJW ,1!llI!)11 Ol\J) ,n11mil 111l!l 1mD .11!)1)l!)il l11li1
Gold teeth are extracted. Gold from the mouths of the corpses is
collected before burn ing, to enrich The Third Reich.
! I
l
- .
Blon
wom
Worr
.i1lmm
1m) 1}nD)1») »JIJ1D 74349 ,:JODil .ill)::lil n)!,jI) )1) l::l)J ilIV)),D ))1'(
)J n1IV») )J jln11il ,Olil n1'( il::l),D IlDl )1'( i1I1nIV ,Hil il)1nJil1l1il .lDl
.illil')))il )) )Jil,lnIV) )1:J )n1:JJIV
I feel my arm ripped aside. The number 74349 is forever
embedded in my blood. This blue ink, which has seeped into my
blood, accelerates its flow, pressing me to do whatever is in my
power to reconstruct everything on this paper.
62
63
. nn)vD) nnnD mOm1 nnD1» llN ,ilD'N mN)D .O'l'JD llmN O'lil\)D
l'ON 1)) ,O'O!)il n)D'O nN O')JVD ilny .IV Oy!) - on oy!) ,nnnN m!)'\)
.illnDil
We are deloused. We are pushed, terrified, into the shower.
A few drops, now hot now cold, and then we receive striped
clothes, the dress of a concentration camp prisoner.
,,\; j,.: ' .
I feel m'
embedd
blood, a
power te
I' 1~))J
!lDil'O
l')'I'J
'J1JJ1
d rman
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.~'11'01N
"Here's where you live, eat, and sleep. Here you will die". With
these words we are shown to our bunk. There's a dirty blanket for
six of us sharing a space. The block is engulfed in near-darkness.
Narrow aisles separate the bunks. We are in the women's camp
at Birkenau, near Auschwitz.
64
65
01JnY.J ,mnY.Jil J)nlJ 01P)7J 1:)7 11)tJY.J lY.l1Y mnY.Jil 7J ,on mlY.J1Y 171J
ml1tJNil nll:)O nN ol1on ,illln'O illlY.JJ'O il'01J7il ,il11)Y.J'llil nnp:)Y.Jil'O
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.1p:)1Y.J - nnyn 011JlJJ)
We all stand to attention , The inmates of the entire camp stand
according to camp blocks, We wait for the black-cloaked German
commandant to complete her frozen-eyed counting of the
prisoners, Thousands stand for hours in the frightful cold, with
chattering teeth and trembling knees. Roll call.
nm
m:
"Her
the" six (
Nan
at B
mil)])
n1):1'l
i1 .1J:I
from
en
ith
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m)l)))) mJl~)I O'l£l:l O'D))) ,il£lll'N mD'J )JD 11',lil omN ,0'0 ')111'
)'D,nil" . ,'ll'OlN:I "11'llN" n'Omnnil )I£lD )N n11)11~ llN .n1l')1
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m~l1V n'Onnil-n'J) llnV'lJJ "D'O'Dil llmN ,£110 ,)I'Oil nN ll,:l1)IJ
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.S-4-3-Z-1,S-4-3-Z-11lmN O',£I1V Jl'O .ilJnDil')I'O 1') il)')il
Singing, and to the accompaniment of an orchestra, we march off
to work. Sad faced and heavy hearted.
Jewish musicians from allover Europe play happy tunes. We
march to the munitions factory "Union" in Auschwitz. "Left, left"
shouts the kapo. Whoever misses a step is rewarded with blows.
The snow sticks to the wooden shoes, making it hard to keep
pace. They count us as we pass the gate, again as we enter the
plant, and after a 12-hour work day we are relieved by the night
shift, counted again as we re-enter the camp.
66
At ,\s~e(\ kornt,,(~ndo (I t
67
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01Y:S0 n1tJDr.J Oll?)lil .1l1?Y n1:m)il 1N n1miiil J ,Yil lJyn ,nn1r.JilY.l1
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.11>' Olr.Jp N?) ,1JJ 01?01l Oil .1J)
For no reason or useful purpose, women carry heavy stones from
one pile to another through the mud and pit-holes. The wooden
shoes are either too big or too small. Our feet are covered with
wounds and blisters.
The Kapos and dogs surround us. Many of the prisoners collapse
and rise no more.
o
n1Y.l'
Sin~
to ltv
Jew
man
shot
The
pac!
plan
shift
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Hard labor, malnutrition, fear of death, work in the harsh weather,
freezing cold and pouring rain, and merciless sun on the open
road.
68
69
'<.I' 01' ':J .0'), mnl1p J1>I)1n N'i1 .0'1))i1 ''<.I i111:1Yi1 01Pr.J N'i1 i1J~nr.Ji1
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.0i1ll'Yr.J Y11'<.1r.J )Y,i1 ,0mmr.J 0"11) O'tJ~i1 '1)) '<.11:1,
The men work in the stone quarry. Many fall exhausted. New
replacements every day. The men look like monsters, their
emaciated bodies clothed in oversized striped garments, their
eyes imploring with hunger.
Hard
freezi
road
'N nilYI
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Many prisoners run to the electrified fence, In death they are
free. I had a 16 year old friend, full of life, always ready to laugh,
Hanka Kaminer, pretty, vibrant, broke out of line and ran to the
fence. I shouted, I cried - too late,
70
71
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A cry of fear issues from the bed bunks. "Dr. Mengele is here l"
That means a "selection". Everyone to the sauna. Naked, tongue
out , hands up. Dr. Mengele's finger points left, right. Left means
death.
Mercilessly, more and more are sent to the left.
,1)1)
Man'
free.
Hanf
fenel
'il Y'lil
riven
.i1lnr.lilr.l D7Y'il7 1il 'l!ltJr.l 7Y .1r.ll'!ll )il'l!ltJr.l .\}7r.l'il7 1ll )'N n1JJl1jJ7
.n17J1r.l1 n1!ljJ1r.l 1il
There's no escape. Their numbers have been li sted .
They are surrounded and led away.
72
V~rurt€ lll: zum To d.
73
,ilVil nD'Olil ,lJ1Nil 1P!lDil - OlV)'Pil nm'Oil nnn .)nnNil J''Oil yl)il
.OPl1IJmp' n1nl1pil nN Ol'OllD - Oillll1Y1 l'VPl1 nnp!lDil
The last stage follows. Under supervision of the Nazi
commanders: Hauber, Hesse and Dreksler, the victims are driven
into the crematorium.
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)1)" m!lllVDil m,'nnD iln~ .N::1il m)IVD' O'PlD
Day and night the crematorium devours countless human bodies. In their thousands they await their turn. Jews from allover Europe patiently await their death. The Hungarian Jews believed what they were told - that they were going to a work camp. A period of more than 6 weeks in packed cattle carriages, without food or air , taught them differently. Many died before reaching Auschwitz. The train , with all its passengers, drives straight to the
crematorium area. Through the fence I can see a mother
buttoning her child's coat. Is she afraid he will be cold in the
crematorium? Jews from Holland and Germany stand there like children. Incredulous. It cannont be. Is it possible that they burn people? It must be a bakery. Bread is being baked for them. In the gas chamber waiting rooms there are clothes' hooks. The victims
undress and carefully hang their clothes on the numbered hooks.
They are told on no account to forget the hook number.
They receive a towel and a piece of soap. The soap is made of stone, but most of them do not notice.They are taken to the shower, the doors close. Instead of water cyc lon gas filters down. Shrieks pierce the walls, inhuman shrieks, growing weaker and weaker until they finally cease. The doors are opened exposing a confusion of limbs. The gas chamber is cleaned in preparation for the next batch. The crematorium begins its feast.
74
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n"'I!yn VO) )Jil .0'm))J )N)Y.l' nny'I!) .0')'ilN) l):Jil' 01N-')) )'I!
.ilDn)Oil
Everything is used for the benefit of the Reich. The bones are
crushed to powder and used as chemical fertilizer. Human skin
becomes lamp shades. Hair fills mattresses. All for the war effort.
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To save gas the villains invented new ways to commit mass
murder ,
76
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mj/1J'TI ''IJ m,),U ,Iyn 1Y'I1 .~Y ',n TJ:lJ'IJ 1il"Y1,m£lU TJ:lJ'IJ OlY.)'IYY.l
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./I'NY.l 'lJ11nJ O'lYil
The crematorium doesn't work fast enough, according to
authorities in Berlin. They demand that the rate of disposal be
increased. So bodies are burnt in open pits in Birkenau. The
bodies are laid out carefu lly, alternating with layers of logs. The
whole forest is afire. Children, their heads smashed, are thrown
into pits and covered with lime.
Everywhere there is kil ling and burning. To drown out the fearful
cries loud music is played: "How beautiful it is in the month of
May".
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Prayer books, a briefcase, dolls, balls, shoes, passports, pictures.
The path is strewn with objects that once brought happiness to
human beings. Which child hugged this doll to its small bosom? No
more. She lies in a lime-covered pit.
78
79
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,nll::l n1l1'il ,illJ:J TI'Jnil .il!lvil TIN N'JilJ TI1:JJ1il 1lnlN .mNlvl TIll'tJN
TIN mpJnm ,v1J)) TIn")):) 1lN il Y'1 m!l1\)'IJ .,1)) TIwpm ,Yil ')Yl
.O'n1)lil O'l1n'IJil O'Dil TIN ill'tJN ):J TIm1) m1Y.l lY ilND::l ."il!lv"il
4 a.m. A shout "Bring the coffee", rings through the barracks. We
go to bring coffee. The pot is heavy, the handles thin, our wooden
clogs get stuck in the mud. Covered wth sweat, we return and
distribute the coffee. Each prisoner thi rstily pours the obnoxious
black water down her throat.
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,1lnlN n1J)!1 1J ,01)!D N1il1l?
Soup distribution, The Jews receive last. The dog will taste it
before them, But he doesn't like the taste, We do, because we're
so hungry,
80
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81
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ilN~mi11 ,iln)117 il>J'l~D nnN ,O''O'>J1Y.l1 O''Ojl1) ~>Jil m~J1 n~il .il'nnJn
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.jlm~D >JjI~ni111Y.l1'O 1D>J l~J .1j1j1'71 ilD1Nil 7>J nJ'O 7Jil .~n7 P'Ol
A dirty, rusty bowl of indefinable watery liquid, called "soup", must
suffice for 4 prisoners. Whoever swallows quickly will get more
than her companions. The tin pot and the wooden ladles rattle and pound, the precious liqu id spi lls in the pandemonium. Later, in
the Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, we got soup at 3 a.m.
They put a keg of soup in the middle of the room, everybody
pounced on it at once, the keg often overturned and the soup
spilled. Everyone started lapping it up off the floor. The guard
stood aside laughing heartily.
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Hunger is terrible. Hunger and fear are our constant companions.
83
m~n n~l)j/ N~D' N1il1 ,1il\!.!lD) )lDil j/n\!.!l 1)1N .il~\!'!Nil nllJn ))1 l1~D
?nJNDil mJ1j/ nN OilJ \J1j/\!'!il) ,J1j/l j/)IJ nJ'nn1N ilD1N
We attack the garbage bins. Maybe someone will get lucky and
find a potato skin or piece of rotten beet to pacify his aching
stomach.
.Dl)11N Dl'l))!l Ol)1\) Dl"un .1n)!1 ))! 1n1N ll))!lJ ))! l il .il1n) 1"1il 01Nil
. 11)~)! ))! il IJ1)'I) il nN l)ND N1i11 ,1D~)!) 1J1)'I)) n1:Jil nN N:i1D lnN )) N)
. mNl~lJ) m,,1il ")Nl D1N) 0 1N" i1'lD1lJ il ,Ol:iNlil Ol)!'I)1"il ))))
Man becomes beast. Hunger drives you mad . Best friends
become arch enemies. Not everyone finds the strength to control
himself. The Nazi criminals make us wolves to each other.
84
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85
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))N .lpnil1>' On)il Pl!)Ol l>'D) ,ilOl)l - n)))\!! ilDJ )J .n)))\!! 24-) Pl!)Oil)
0 1>'1)1 Oil\!! 1N ,01)>'1 0 1))) ilJl\!!n) Ol)))nOD 111::1) lJ ,illill lJ 11Dn N)
.Ol)))>'il OilllnJ O)\!!) D1D::Il ,)o!)nn ON\!!
Bread is often stolen at night. A piece of bread and some soup
have to last us for 24 hours. A bite every few hours has to carry
us over to morning. But sometimes thieves in the night try to steal
the hidden bread, even though they know that if they're caught
they'll pay with their lives.
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iln')'ODil 'O '1J ,') mmn lD'N 11D'm ,1)! 'mN mN'O)) N~ '~m , il~m ')N
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D!l)n Im'O ! ,mND ,n)I)Dil)n'J~ il::;, N'il il!l)!l\!! ,n)I)Dil nJ,P) nJmil
,ilmN
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il,)J''OJ n11))nY.l il)!')m P~Dil nN nD!lln ,nY.lD)lnY.l ')il ,p~nDm ilmN
')N ,il!l~ P~Dil nN ,~ n)!pln N'il,01il ~N )! mpm::; O')!l) ,~',::;il )N
il1') nJ)))J) ,", )1 )'N" :pm::;) ') ill)! N'il II! 01 il)l nN ,')il" :ilJ))
)) ,il)NJ mJD )))D) il)J))J 'n"il 0)) )JII - il')')!D 01il nN il)!)::;!lil
,il)'\!! llnD nnm ilmN n)!D1\!! ')N il)'~:! ,IIP)D )nlmn 'n):!'p
I am sick, My legs no longer carry me, At roll call my mother
supports me so that the supervisor won't notice, My stomach is
turning, My friend Hanni bursts out of the barracks, She found a
beet near the kitchen,
She bent over it. Too late l A guard grabbed her, beat and kicked
her, She remained crouching over the beet. The guard left, she
picked it up, and reeling like a drunk got back to the barracks,
Face alight, in spite of the pain and the blood, she thrusts the beet
into my mouth, "You're bleeding" I tell her, "Never mind" she says,
wiping the blood away from her eyes, "I'd be willing to suffer such
a beating every day in return for a beet", At night I could hear her
groaning in her sleep,
86
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87
I,Uil 1m 'IN 0 1)) 1)1 )Y1) pm::!) m~l'1! iln')'I!))il )m N)) m Ol))Yn))
'lil ?m)n'l P llJNnil'l 01N l'l::! >In)) .In'J mm .1J 'IJ mN))::! llN 11>1)
. 'l!lJN lJJ 1J'I1]
They torture us constantly. A supervisor pours a pai l of water
onto the mud wh ile we stand opposite, parched with thi rst. Our
throats are dry. Why does a person act so cruelly? Aren't we all
human beings?
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mnm I:JI1~tJ .NJ .~Uil l))Y" )N jJ)lln )'Vll'~ pN nJ'l ilmm I:JI1~O
JY 11:1 Yll:J;' 1))1;'))'0 ;'Y ?D''VlYl llnlN ilD ;'Y .'VM ,'V))Y ,'lJM - )'Vll'~
j]'il ill - my'IJ 1'VD:1 'lJNlil ;'YD m1:J:J CP))N llN'IJ;' )N mll1nD D'))N
m ,il'J~l:JtJnD il'1D ,1ll'VNlil )~NPil J'V ln1lY.)il l)lYnil j]'il ill .1:J1)~tJj]
.nnllp o'n'YJ ))mN illl)'Y N'il
Sport in the camp doesn't mean strengthening or refreshing the
body. No. It means punishment. Why are we punished? Just
because we were born? To kneel on sharp stones, or carry
heavy rocks on our heads for hours, that was frequent sport and
pleasure for our head kapo, Maria from Westphalia.
88
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89
mlPt:lliJ ,il7)lY.l i)l?pn 71!! )n7)Yn omn N)il )1!!)lN )n7:n :n:sy pin
.onN)niil
ilY.ll)1 npilil ,npm:n,,))'J mY1lil .mlJ1pil nnn ~)))I!!)NJ 10 .t))'J P))JJ
nwy:s npl)il) m1Yl - 1p t:l)lil )lnl!! .t:I)n)\J 'pl"n m:J1il ,Dlln-')YJ )I!!
,il)))J)'J ,1l))il)'J ,nni:S)'J mNJ 1il .~\JJ l'N Ol'n ,ynl!!J Pil - mN'1J)
lnp)'JJ JilN il))lY.l impn . il))Y)'J "i)'J)n" - ilnn'N ):))'J .1)P)'J) il)lY.li))'J
,Nn)i .mp )Y omn'y mp)l'n ))'JI!! in)il l'J .O')'J)Nnil NI!!)l nN i)pn,
1)Y 1m ilr.:lJ ,YJP) )l)YI!!J 7:mt:lil ,n'NI?'t:liJ'l)N il7:Jl!!il 'YJ · )mJin 01N
.Yl)'Jil 1Y)'J7 7:Jil .11?Pil ~m onn '))'J't:I )Nil
A sad and inhuman chapter were Dr. Mengele's medical
experiments. The victims were dismembered in Block 10 in
Auschwitz. Artificial inseminations, animal semen innoculations,
typhus infections. Human guinea pigs, young Jewesses, were
plentiful, free of charge. They come from France, Holland,
Belgium, Germany, Greece. From allover Europe, excellent
"material". Dr. Mengele especially liked to study twins.
Naked infants were sometimes placed on ice. A doctor, a civi lized
man with a university degree, watched his clock to see how long
before the infant died. All for the sake of science. p
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,o"n) lmN J''lIil O'lP o'Y.J ')1 ,lm)il nN
A time-proven method - solitary confinement in a stand-up cell.
Within 24 hours, the prisoner lost consciousness, He was brought
to with a bucket of cold water,
90
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91
.1944 ,))nV ,~)11'O)N
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nll)1Y.lnnil J)!0Y.lJ )l1J)! )In)N .mil) V"V )II))N ilY.lJ) ,Pl) 01)) nNI JJJ .)1Y.l
il0)111) PJN )J)) 0)11)) )!J1N .01llY.ll) 0)J)!)0) V"V )II))N )))?)! nY.lII) .")))))N"
O)l)VNil ,"n)Y.l)pl1lHil" .0)lJ)il ilJnY.l ?N lnv )Jl1J m)N In)lJi11
nil )NnY.l O)nY.l1Y.lil mp)J1 nN il?)?) 0Y.l)) ))JY.lII) ,00)l)1)Y.llpJ llJ)JII)
.illl))JY.lil nN ))J~)JII) Oil - 0)1))ni11m ?N m0Uil nN 1)m? lnlJ)i1)
)1) ,II)1n "11)Y.l)Pl1))I" JJ1)il1)Y.l) ,1"))) 0)1)il) N?) O)l)il) V.IlN 300
.)))1 In? 1!l)~ ))?II) P1?JJ 0)II)1i1 )JJ1N .ill1J)Jil I)Nm N? il))?nll)
Auschwitz, Fall 1944
All the crematoria were set on fire, but unfortunately the fires
were extinguished. Still, some damage was done, some S.S. men
were killed. We worked in the munitions factory "Weichsel Metall
Union". We were guarded by S.S. men and German workers.
Four women stole gun powder and smuggled it over to the men's
camp. The Sonderkommando were prisoners who worked in the
crematorium. Day and night they listened to the cries of the
victims in the gas chambers, then pushed their bodies into the
ovens to be reduced to ashes. 300 of them, Jews and non-Jews,
were shot for setting fire to the crematorium, and others chosen
in their stead.
The 4 girls in our block awaited their sentence.
il'll)1'!) ):SN il-ppn .1m )DtJ"J1il )N n'\.'J '»)!)il ilp;,nD) )NJ)il O''lIJil
.1il) il!):SD 1'l1N nN 1>'1' 1il .1il'J1)!)':S nN )'lI)n ,illnil nN 1il) )J1n .O")J'»
They were taken to the political section, to Sergeant-Major
Bogger, An interrogation by him meant torture .. their breasts
were singed, their fingernails extracted. They knew what to
expect; they would soon be free.
92
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93
ilm) )1'1)1V1' :10 il)1)1 ,18 nJ 0)))01)) 1nON ,1'1lJD ,26 nJ 1)1)1) il)N
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l~OY.J 01Y.Jl 1)~) pl .onm )N nNlJ i1)))'<!J 0'1)!)::l 0111)!::l O''<!)N 'n' Nl N)
'1' 11nY.J ,')N ,ilN11 nN" :)!J::lN illon ilJ'<! ,1l1)Y.Jlil il1' nN il)N 1) ilnNlil
1)) 'nnl::l lJ )!)::lNil nN 1) WI)P) ,il')nn nN ,')IV np))lnil nN ))!lP nNl
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Oil ll)))):1 nN OllnJD 1::l ' J ,lnll) mN)D 01l)1)!) )Nl n11nN milDN
'mN 11n) omN 01J')IVY.J) 11Jil )) il11'lVil 1m)! nN 0'1))1V ,Oil l))l)
N?IV il)!J'<!) Nlil .1)milil o'nNil lJP? 0'1)ilil nN )?lJ)il Oll)J ,il~'<!N
m1Y.J))! ))N .ilY.J')! iln1J 11)) ?J ,il?N O'Nl)) 01)!1V):lJ on?'m I))PlVll
nN1p? illl?nil ~)! ?N nll»)::l iln' 1) mm 1)1)1) il?N 1::l1J ,ml)l)Y.J)
. il?1V il)I)Pil il'~mn
ilOil nDlVlil ,l)OP11 ilDllN n ' IVNlil nnp:lY.Jil ,l)Oil ?DO - )lil 01)1l)Jlil
.0'1nN)
Ala Gartner, 26, of Bendin, Esther Weissblum, 18, Regina
Saperstein and Rosa Robota were hung before our eyes at a roll
call. Straight and proud they walked through our ranks with the ir
eyes fixed on the gal lows. I have never seen young people march
to their deaths with such calm and composure. Just a few days
earlier , Ala showed us her right hand which had a missing finger:
"You see, Elly, from this hand they tore my baby Rochele away
from me, and for screaming so much they cut off a finger.
I fought for my child, but they were stronger". She described
other horrors to me - babies cut up or their backs broken and
thrown into garbage cans, all in front of their crazed mothers'
eyes. Then the parents were led off to a mass grave. She swore
to fight these terrible criminals to her dying day. And now we
stand and watch Ala Gartner and her comrades walk towards
the gallows, soon to join her little Rochele. Her executioners were
Sergeant Hessler, Supervisor Irma Drecksler, Corporal Hesse,
and others.
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ONil .1l?'l! ilJnDil ?>'D Olltl - ,n1il ',10' ::l - 0'01l)D .0101'::lJ 1::l1)J ,ilj/>'lN
. . ~1 11'l!1N 1:1>'? nD1j/nD n'onil n'ltlil ,'l!01t1il nN ilNIl11)1
Auschwitz, January 1945
Air raid, block curfew. The planes, birds of freedom, hover over
our camp . Will we ever be free? The Russian front comes closer
to Auschwitz.
94
95
')!lJ D'Ni1)il O'»'O!lil n1Jp» nN '01)'01)' 1nnN 1pO'),mPi1!lY.l m!li'OY.lil
-','n mj/D 'JJ m,m m1Jil -nm mNJ~ .n))1n ion 1PO')il .0'1Yil
il,mil mDJil nN 011Nil NJ~il N~Y.l ~'11'01NJ .1!li'O) 1j/'!lOil Oil)'O ,m'11l
11)1 0''0) ,O'1Jl m!lll ,m'11l1 ,O"!lj/'OD ,0")) ,D1N 1»''0 ''0 inPJ
.D'mm O'iJj/J
The crematoria are dismantled. The Germans' last attempt to
erase the traces of their terrible crimes is useless. The Allied
armies come upon mountains of dead bodies which the Germans
did not have time to burn. In Auschwitz the Red Army found huge
piles of human hair, shoes, spectacles and bodies of men,
women , and children in open pits.
j
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np)))Y.l1 nW{'VD .ilJ'YD - l)'Vil 1,1 nn'l) ))nlN ,il)')) 0Y.l1' ,nn:)) IIPJ
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))N .il!)U ilyn'V 0'0 mpD ))J ,m1NJ YJ~)l)'Vil .illl) ,il 1Y~J 'V)nlil ))
.1l))Y O)'Y.l1'V O'l11)D O)Jn OY O"Oil )'V)N ,1)Y~) m))'VDD
Day and night, in wind and cold, we drag ourselves through the
snow - to the west . Trucks and cars loaded down with the
bundles of fleeing German civilians ru sh past us. Whoever falls is
shot. The snow is splattered with blood, bod ies scattered
everywhere. We keep on marching, guarded by S.S. men with
bayoneted rifles.
96
97
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invented an efficient method of liquidating five heads with one
bullet.
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To make sure they were all dead, he stabbed the still warm bodies
with his bayonet. My sister was buried underneath a pile of
bodies. The bullet had missed her. Miraculously, she survived.
98
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Many thousands fell and died on these snow-covered roads. I
shall never forget the pale bodies lying in the snow, their eyes
wide-open and staring, their striped suits stained with blood,
strewn out along the road. On February 2, we saw the formidable
walls of Ravensbruck.
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We spent six weeks in Ravensbruck. A large tent spread across a
huge pool of water. The water reached our knees. Skeletons, still
alive, stand for hours in the terrible cold. Roll call. And the march
renews, this time to Neustadt-Gleve, a sub-camp of Ravensbruck.
Marching again through snow and blood.
The morning of May 2nd 1945 at Neustadt-Gleve. It is roll call .
The commander of the camp yells: "We may have only 2 minutes
leff to live but you have on ly one. We are still the masters." A shot
rings out One of the girls in our row falls. Leaflets fall from the
sky:"Surrender!" .
100
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Afternoon of May 2, 1945, Neustadt-Gleve, Mecklenburg, We're
free, We've been liberated by the Allies, Exhausted , sick, starved,
lice-ridden, skeletons in striped suits, we fall into the arms of our
liberators,
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Were all the seas of the world to turn to ink and paper to cover
the surface of the earth, the ink and paper could not suffice to
convey the pain and tears of those inhuman tortures. lowe it to
my mother that I, a young girl, emerged together with her from
that hell. It was she, so we ll versed is suffering, who constantly
sustained and supported me whenever I was on the verge of
collapsing. "Keep going , my ch il d, this can 't last forever." She
herself, weak and broken as she was, refrained from showing her
exhaustion, so that I would not give in . Thus, we supported each
other.
One other factor was instrumental in saving my life - my drawing.
drew their faces, their cold, murderous eyes. I drew their families,
their wives and their ch ildren. Oespite the fact that they had wives
and children at home, they murdered the wives and children of
others in other countries. Many great artists perished in the
camps and the fact that my mother and I survived is - a miracle.
102
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Ella Schieber - Lieberman's gravestone
Haifa, March 2rd , 1998
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Ella and her mother Rosa Lieberman, and her Husband Emanuel Schieber
During their stay - as prisoners in the British Banishment Camp of
Cyprus - Larnaca (Winter Camp 66 ') November of 1947.
Below: Ella Schieber and her daughter Ada in Auschwitz-Birkenau
Camp, 1992.
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EDITOR - THE LATE AVI HURWITZ
DESIGN - SMADAR SCHIENDLER
PHOTOGRAPHS - YAIR PELEG
TRANSLATION - YECHIEL YANAI, URI ALONI, IRENE ARB ELL TYPESETIING - "TADPIS", HAIFA
PRINTING - AYALON OFFSET LTD. HAIFA