The complete text of a 1942 postcard written by an Auschwitz prisoner |
|
 |
From
Auschwitz, Oberschlesien, 10.5.42
Auschwitz den 10.V.42 Liebster Bruder und Schwägerin! Schreibe wieder zu Euch paar Wörter und theile mit, daß ich mich bei bester Gesundheit befinde und auch von Euch dasselbe hoffe. Wie gehts dem Bruder[.] Wilhelm befindet sich noch in Witebsk oder ist schon weiter hat er die letzte Zeit geschrieben? Warum schreibt Ihr so wenig? Könnt ja jede 14 Tage schreibe und öfters. Was macht denn der Fernes kommt er oft zu Euch? Besten Gruß an Euch alle und Bekannte. Johann |
[Translation (the punctuation is sparse)]
Auschwitz, Upper Silesia, May 10, 1942 Dear brother and sister in law I'm writing you a few words again and inform you that I am in best of health and hope the same of you. How are things with brother Wilhelm is he still in Witebsk or is he already further on than that has he written in recent times? Why do you write so little? You can write every fourteen days and more often. What is Fernes(?) doing, does he often come to see you? Best wishes to you all and acquaintances
Johann |
This
extremely well-preserved echo from the Nazi Holocaust is an
original postcard sent from one of the very first inmates
interned in Auschwitz. It was written on an official
formular Auschwitz postcard. The front bears the original
Hitler stamp cancelled at the Auschwitz 2 postoffice on May
16, 1942. In the middle, vertically written section the
inmate signed his name (Johann Klausa), indicated his
prisoner tattoo number (#1124), birthdate (November 22,
1908), block number (13) and postal address (K.L. Auschwitz
O/S Postamt 2). Auschwitz archives indicate he was one of
100 prisoners sent from the police prison in Sosnowitz to
Auschwitz on June 25, 1940, barely one month after the camp
had opened. The historical value of this item is increased
significantly by the fact that Johann Klausa was one of the
very few inmates ever to be released from Auschwitz.
Archives of the State Museum of Auschwitz indicate he was
released on November 27, 1943, having survived nearly 3 and
one-half years in Auschwitz. The card was written on May 10,
1942 to a brother living in Hohenlinde, Kreis Kattowitz,
Oberschlesien (occupied Poland). The buyer will have the
privilege of translating the message contents, which are
written in German in the older cursive style.
[This website provides a rough
transcription and translation below] The face of
the letter is imprinted "Konzentrationslager Auschwitz"
along with the camp commandant's regulations for sending and
receiving mail. Also on the was applied the red 3-line
handstamp, "Geprüft 7 K.L. Auschwitz" by the SS censor.
Considering its remarkable history, the item is in superb
condition, guaranteed genuine and a significant addition to
any collection of Holocaust memorabilia.
![[e-mail]](../../Online/std/dings/email.gif){kind=small} 
write to David Irving |