The Virtual Historian

This was a miracle and we found out the full story only much later. There was one decent SS guard, a Yugoslav-German named Pystek. He never kicked us or slapped our faces. He even smiled at us (yes, he did, I remember!). The story spread quickly. One day, Pystek and an inmate in the camp rode bicycles wearing SS uniforms out of the camp through the main gate. Their comrades-in-arms saluted “Heil Hitler” as they passed the gate. I know this is true, although whether I actually saw them on bicycles or whether it was just talked about and pictured by all of us in the camp, I don’t remember. The two continued down the road, past several checkpoints, into the country-side. They got as far as the nearest railway station, changed into civilian clothes, got on the train and rode away. The lucky escapee, Lederer, made his way to Prague and later joined the underground to fight against the Germans. He survived the war and afterward went to Israel, where he still lives today. What is even more amazing is that Pystek returned to the camp soon after to try his luck once again. This time, he tried to free a beautiful girl he had fallen in love with. Pystek was caught and no one heard a word about him again. Afterthe escape, discipline in the camp was tightened and threats and punishments increased. While the hard winter weather withered and eased, the mud got deeper. As the spring of 1944 approached, a rumour started to spread through the camp. Transport. This was a fearful word. However, it wasn’t a rumour but a reality. In March, an alert was sounded. All those in the camp who had come from Terezin in the transport preceding ours were to move on, though nobody knew to where. Near panic prevailed. By now, there was no longer any doubt. We all knew that the big factories nearby were gas chambers.The chimneys were busier than ever. Heavy smoke poured out constantly, spreading into the surrounding area. The smoke came from the flesh and bones of the burned bodies. Jews. Also some Gypsies, but mostly Jews.