The prisoner interned’s way of life and their living The prisoner interned’s way of life and their living

conditions in the concentration camp of the Strüthofconditions in the concentration camp of the Strüthof

Their arrival in this concentration camp The prisoners interned arrived The prisoners interned arrived

by train; they were welcomed by train; they were welcomed by blows at the stopping of by blows at the stopping of the train.the train.

Generally, they came from all Generally, they came from all Europe and all social status Europe and all social status but at their entrance, they but at their entrance, they became nothing more.became nothing more.

After their arrival in this After their arrival in this concentration camp, they concentration camp, they were recorded in a register, were recorded in a register, they were undressed and they were undressed and shaved up and down to be shaved up and down to be humiliated and for hygiene. humiliated and for hygiene. Their hair and their clothes Their hair and their clothes were given to industries of were given to industries of textile and they were sold. All textile and they were sold. All things which belonged to the things which belonged to the prisoners interned brought in prisoners interned brought in money to the SS.money to the SS.

Then, they had civil clothes. Then, they had civil clothes. Germans gave them big clothes to Germans gave them big clothes to people who were small and little people who were small and little clothes to people who were tall to clothes to people who were tall to humiliate each prisoner. Germans humiliate each prisoner. Germans liked very much humiliate and liked very much humiliate and punish them.punish them.

The prisoners interned had two The prisoners interned had two numbers on their clothes; they numbers on their clothes; they had to keep it and to remember it had to keep it and to remember it because it was their new “name”. because it was their new “name”. They lose their identity in this They lose their identity in this camp.camp.

They had triangles of different They had triangles of different colours on their clothes to show colours on their clothes to show their different social status; for their different social status; for example: yellow was associated example: yellow was associated to Jews.to Jews.

Finally, they were affected in a Finally, they were affected in a block where there were a lot of block where there were a lot of people who don’t speak the same people who don’t speak the same language.language.

A typical day for prisoners internedA typical day for prisoners interned The day began at 4 o’clock a.m in summer and at 5 or 6 o’clock The day began at 4 o’clock a.m in summer and at 5 or 6 o’clock

a.m in winter.a.m in winter. At the beginning, they had to make their barracks; they had At the beginning, they had to make their barracks; they had

breakfast which was orange juice or grass which was picked up breakfast which was orange juice or grass which was picked up and they went to bathrooms where towels and soap weren’t and and they went to bathrooms where towels and soap weren’t and they had to go out wet from there.they had to go out wet from there.

Then, Germans took the roll call which was made three times a Then, Germans took the roll call which was made three times a day to know if the prisoners always were there. The working teams day to know if the prisoners always were there. The working teams were chosen and were directed by a Kapo who not worked, lived were chosen and were directed by a Kapo who not worked, lived and ate normally.and ate normally.

Finally, they went to work. To eat, they had rations of 1500 Finally, they went to work. To eat, they had rations of 1500 calories while they had to have 3500 of it. They don’t have to work calories while they had to have 3500 of it. They don’t have to work the Sunday afternoon but the Germans leaders liked make work the Sunday afternoon but the Germans leaders liked make work them and often the prisoners interned worked this day. Their day them and often the prisoners interned worked this day. Their day of work lasted about 12 hours but sometimes the leaders asked of work lasted about 12 hours but sometimes the leaders asked the prisoners to work during the night.the prisoners to work during the night.