“Dear Magda,
I cannot describe in what emotional state I write this letter; for eight days we’ve been locked up in a railroad car. Out of 77 people—65 men and 12 women—14 have so far escaped, and I don’t know whether to do so myself.
Imagine that at about 8-9 in the morning they release us from the railroad car to relieve ourselves—and this happens near the cars, because it’s impossible to move away even one step. Then they again lock us up and until the next morning they don’t open the railroad cars for us, no matter what happens. And, so, many of those here relieve themselves in the car.
Once a day we get one slice of bread with a morsel of canned food, and this was only since Tuesday—until then we didn’t get a thing. The heart nearly passes out for a sip of water….
My Magdushka, it’s impossible to tolerate this much longer… to humiliate people to such an animal level. It is almost inconceivable. If I myself were not here, I wouldn’t be able to believe it….
I think that I will try to escape because if I fail and get caught—then at least death is certain….
I kiss you with love,
Blanca Levi”
I cannot describe in what emotional state I write this letter; for eight days we’ve been locked up in a railroad car. Out of 77 people—65 men and 12 women—14 have so far escaped, and I don’t know whether to do so myself.
Imagine that at about 8-9 in the morning they release us from the railroad car to relieve ourselves—and this happens near the cars, because it’s impossible to move away even one step. Then they again lock us up and until the next morning they don’t open the railroad cars for us, no matter what happens. And, so, many of those here relieve themselves in the car.
Once a day we get one slice of bread with a morsel of canned food, and this was only since Tuesday—until then we didn’t get a thing. The heart nearly passes out for a sip of water….
My Magdushka, it’s impossible to tolerate this much longer… to humiliate people to such an animal level. It is almost inconceivable. If I myself were not here, I wouldn’t be able to believe it….
I think that I will try to escape because if I fail and get caught—then at least death is certain….
I kiss you with love,
Blanca Levi”
“My dear, with a painful heart, I sit to write a few words to you. Perhaps this is the last letter from me to you. I don’t know if you will ever receive this letter, but if you do receive it, at least you will know what happened to your close relatives and how they disappeared. I will start with our beloved parents of blessed memory. Our loving mother of blessed memory, thank God, died of natural causes in the year 1942. On the Jewish calendar, the date is 6 Tammuz. You should observe the yahrzeit of our mother’s death. Father was killed three months later by the murderers. I am sorry to say, that from the whole family, nobody survived. There is no sign of Zurek. We are the last. We are in danger. There is no possibility of our living through this. Andje, be strong and courageous. Take revenge, if you can. We don’t have a way out. We cannot run. We are surrounded on all sides. I will not write any more. I do not want to pain you. Volvche, his mother and Hela and her husband and child, thank God, are still here. If it will be possible to write, I will write to you further. Be well, Your sister, Nadka.”
Dearest Mother,
How are you? It feels like forever since I have seen you. I hope to see you again, and so does Miriam. I know that it is wishful to think you are still alive, but I can still believe it.
As you can see, the Russians made it to Auschwitz. You should have seen the Nazis before they arrived; it was as if they were chickens without heads! They weren’t paying attention to us for the most part; it allowed me to escape for a few moments. I returned because I couldn’t leave Miriam alone, but what I saw outside shocked me. I went all the way to where there was a river, and on the other side there was a girl. I was so jealous of that girl, with her hair and her nice dresses. She was cleaner than I could remember being for years. She didn’t know how lucky she was.
Miriam and I were left behind from the march. It was good that we hid, because they were probably going to another camp; the officers saving themselves. I wonder if the Russians found them too.
When they came, we were all so excited. Miriam and I ran over to them, half in disbelief. They gave us food, chocolates even! When was the last time you can remember eating chocolate? It was like heaven.
The best part, though, was not when the Russians actually got to the camp, but it was when somebody came running in to our barrack, shouting that we were free. And now Mama, we are free. Your daughters are free. Love eva
How are you? It feels like forever since I have seen you. I hope to see you again, and so does Miriam. I know that it is wishful to think you are still alive, but I can still believe it.
As you can see, the Russians made it to Auschwitz. You should have seen the Nazis before they arrived; it was as if they were chickens without heads! They weren’t paying attention to us for the most part; it allowed me to escape for a few moments. I returned because I couldn’t leave Miriam alone, but what I saw outside shocked me. I went all the way to where there was a river, and on the other side there was a girl. I was so jealous of that girl, with her hair and her nice dresses. She was cleaner than I could remember being for years. She didn’t know how lucky she was.
Miriam and I were left behind from the march. It was good that we hid, because they were probably going to another camp; the officers saving themselves. I wonder if the Russians found them too.
When they came, we were all so excited. Miriam and I ran over to them, half in disbelief. They gave us food, chocolates even! When was the last time you can remember eating chocolate? It was like heaven.
The best part, though, was not when the Russians actually got to the camp, but it was when somebody came running in to our barrack, shouting that we were free. And now Mama, we are free. Your daughters are free. Love eva