From
Shiku Smilovic's autobiographical memoir,
"Buchenwald
56466":
May 1944:
"We were herded like animals into the cattle cars with
beatings of whips if you were slow. Young or old, it
didn't matter one bit. The SS were now well-represented.
Mr. Eichmann in person was standing by, grinning like a
drunken butcher at a slaughter house. About 200 people
were crammed into each cattle car; a total of 20 cars were
loaded, about 4,000 people to the slaughter. The train
finally started moving and we passed our old neighborhood.
It was late in May; the beautiful trees were in full
bloom; the weather was sunny and beautiful. Father
standing at the little window called out. Come here and
see your old neighborhood, who knows if we will ever see
it again.
We all rushed over and took turns to look out and see our
childhood playgrounds, where we had so much fun not so
long ago. The train traveled very slow and stops at each
station for hours; the adults were discussing the route we
are taking..."
|