10th November 1938

Groß-Enzersdorf retraining camp, Vienna XXII., 5 o’clock in the morning

"Everyone get up, report immediately!" rang out the order of a Party man. In the camp are 16 men and seven girls aged 17 to 30. Had also two sick (Otto Brauch – hernia, Hans Albin – angina, high temperature). Report in the yard without food as well as without coats, taken to the Kreisleitung where we already saw all the Jews from the small town. We had to surrender whatever money we had with us [!], we however threatened at the same time, anyone who is hiding something can prepare themselves for what is in store for them.

Then we were all, two-year-old children as well as 87- and 89-year-old men, crowded together in two lorries, and were driven to Winden (Burgenland), deposited us there with the words, “Now get lost, Jews!". The two old men could go no further, also we did not know what we should do with the sick. The former Kultusvorsteher Z. was also with us, [we] came to the entrance to the town after enormous difficulties, could not and dared not go further, because a board placed there, “Entry is forbidden to Jews”. At last a policeman came, who asked us, we said how we had arrived there, thought we should wait. After two hours he came with a lorry and trailer. He told us to climb on, took us to Vienna I., Morzinplatz, to the Gestapo. It was already 7 o’clock, cold, nothing in our stomach, weeping from the women and children. Then immediately on to Elisabeth-Promenade. The whole yard full of “Grüne Heinrichs”, a noise, saw Jews climb out, were immediately welcomed with slaps round the face, punches. But we did not remain there either, they brought us back to Enzersdorf.

Stayed two hours locked in the Tempel, were then taken to Floridsdorf to the police department. Climbed out, yet could not even stand any longer for hunger, cold, everything was already overcrowded too, was already 11 o’clock at night. It went on to Karajangasse, XX. Order, "Men all get off", women drove on, to where we did not know. Taken to a hall, remained standing there until 2 o’clock in the morning, then our personal details were recorded, led to the yard and had to stand in the cold until 10 o’clock in the morning. Now foreigners as well as men over the age of 60 were allowed to leave.

We others were then crowded with Jews into rooms which at most take 40 people, were in total 206 people, understandable that one could not even turn round. The people who had fainted because of the poor air as well as from hunger were simply taken to the corridor and allowed to lie there quietly on the floor.

Now at last we received black coffee. One man in our hall jumped out of the window, we were on the third floor, he already could not bear the suffering any more, as at every opportunity people amongst us were hit. After that the Kommissar came with drawn revolver, said should one more of us jump out, ten people would immediately be shot. As punishment we must stand to attention for two hours. If somebody wanted to relieve themselves, immediately received a punch because he had supposedly made a noise. Then we Jews except for a few had their hair cut or plucked in the shape of letters so that one could read “Jew”’ etc. on their head. Then after four days two people were taken to the Elisabeth-Promenade for the decision whether release or Dachau.

He who has been released had to go through a Salzgasse, what that means is well known. But unfortunately only a few had the good fortune to go home, they were mostly 17-year-old lads.

Reporter: Robert Steiner, 38 Rue Bisson, Paris

Key

Z. = Kultusvorsteher Katz