Voices From the Past: The Holocaust
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Bergen-Belsen: Abraham

Bergen – Belsen was a concentration camp built in 1943. It was located in Germany between the cities Bergen and Belsen. At first it was semi-clean and had decent food. As time went on the conditions decreased dramatically. It was liberated on April 15, 1945.

February 20, 1945

My dear Esther,
I have been moved to Bergen-Belsen, located in Northern Germany, from Auschwitz. I am forced to do extremely hard labor day in and day out. I miss you so very dearly. There were no beds, blankets, or hot food when we arrived. I must say the conditions were much better than Auschwitz. We had been given two blankets and a bowl. Here we have running water, and are fed with edible food. We were served three times a day, coffee and bread in the morning and in the evening sometimes we are lucky enough to receive sausage and cheese. During the middle of the day we received one liter of vegetable stew. Now that the camp is getting fuller we are forced to sleep without blankets on the floor. Food is being limited more and more. I mourn for the fact that we did not come here as a family for families are permitted to live together. I have been lucky to not have been evacuated back to Auschwitz yet. Not long ago an import of Hungarian Jews came. The new arrivals were not disinfected causing typhus to break out. The disinfection crew has been retired. I have been unfortunate in catching typhus. I will surly die of typhus if not at Auschwitz. Many have died of overwork and many other ways. Each day is a fight for one's life. As the conditions worsen, the more I become worried I will be forced to go to the sick camp. In the sick camp, sick prisoners are forced to exercise and even do long distance running! Where will I find peace again? I write this in hope you will receive it alive. I love you dearly and hope to see you again.

Your loving husband,
Abraham

Bibliography

http://www.scrapbookpages.com/BergenBelsen/BergenBelsen01.html

http://www.auschwitz.dk/Bergenbelsen.htm

http://www.berea.edu/library/gowler/bergen.htm

http://www.ihr.org/jhr/v15/v15n3p23_Weber.html

http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Holocaust/Belsen.html

http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/dp//camp1.htm