The Virtual Historian

The reservoir resembled a swimming pool and was at the foot of the Männerlager (men’s camp), just across from the kitchen. Going into the water was strictly prohibited, but as the saying goes,“boys will be boys.” Sometimes, when it was hot and the SS men appeared in a good mood, some brave boy would take a dive into the water. One such day almost ended the life of a boy named Gerhard. Gerhard was a slim, blond boy who had been deported from his beloved Holland to Terezin and then to Birkenau. This quiet boy decided to take a quick swim in the reservoir. As he started his way out of the water on the slippery walls, he was suddenly spotted by an SS man. For either sport or punishment, this SS guard refused to allow Gerhard out of the tank. He stepped on his hands and beat him back with a stick. For the Nazis — who took us out of our homes, took away our parents, put us into concentration camps — the slightest infraction of any rule was punished by the most severe degree. Gerhard started to panic. He pleaded with the SS man. Soon, he began to lose strength. Panting, he started to swallow water. Another boy, Ludek, was nearby and watched in horror. Just then, the SS man disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. Ludek dived in and pulled Gerhard out of the dreadful pool. He stayed with him while he recovered and brought him into our barracks. The American bombers flew overhead nightly and we heard stories of invasions by English and American armies in France. With increased intensity, transports were arriving and gassing continued.