I saw several wagons with wounded people
outside the gas chamber. We had heard about gas chambers from
Treblinka escapees. I knew what was happening to them. The wounded
were crying, screaming, pleading to be shot. The crematorium chimney
shot flames, like hell's fire, and its smoke smelled like frying
bacon--but I knew it was human flesh.
Yudel said, 'This
is the end.' He was almost speechless. We were all trembling in
fear.
The SS man at the
head of the line motioned for Jacob Wilder and me to go to the
right. I knew what that meant. I could see the women, the children,
and the old and sick were being sent to the left. They were headed
toward the crematoriums.
Sara's and Rachel's
children were crying. As young as they were, they could see what was
coming. They could see the ashen looks on their mothers' faces, and
they were afraid.
I looked at Jacob
and said, soulfully, 'We have to stay together. Now it's just you
and me.'
'Absolutely.'
The gas chamber and
the crematorium were in the middle of the camp. There were two
lines. One led straight to the gas chamber. I saw my uncle and his
family start to shuffle into it.
'Uncle, I don't
know what to say and what will be for all of us. This is the end of
the road,' I yelled.
Yudel was
speechless, the women were speechless, the cousins knew this was it.
Yudel, Rachel, Sara, all were walking with their heads down. They
knew. Then they entered the building...." |