The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-27

LES country.
We then made a demand to visit
Thaelmann and Torgler, stating
that we would be charged with be-
ing victims of "an Official sight
seeing tour if we did not make an
attempt to look behind the scenery.
After hurried consultations in the
competent offices, the authorities
stated that the Reich Propaganda
Ministry could not accede to the re-
quest of the French journalists to
see Thaelmann. Our suspicion was
aroused that Thaelmann, as on
many previous occasions, was not
"presentable" in consequence of
permanent tortures and consequent
sickness. The Propaganda Minis
try, however, agreed to a carefully
staged visit to the concentration
camp at Oranienburg. The follow
ing report describes the Oranien-
burg visit.
1t was one hour after dinner
time. In the gigantic hall with
long rows OF wooden tables hun
dreds of prisoners wera sitting
Every one Of them had bowl and
a spoon before him; however, they
had no knives and no forks. Be
fore every table there was an armed
Nan guard frowning over the de-
tected prisoners. When we entered
the hall we heard the thunder of
short typically German military
command The prisoners got up,
their wooden shoes hit with one
Z blow the floor. Everybody stood at
attention, motionless and in abso-
lutte silence. They were mostly
workers, but many intellectuals,
teachers, doctors, lawyers and
clergymen were among them.
We felt Immediately the sym
pathy with which the prisoners re-
oefved us. Even the commander
who accompanied us seemed to no
tice it. He was, therefore, very
careful to keep us from too close
contact with his human material {"
He showed us first the dorrnitory,
q which is big hall, insufficient,
however, if one considers that sew
eral hundred people have to sleep
there. The beds. if they can be
called such, are only wooden hunks
with one blanket for each person.
The dormitory had wet, unhealthy
atmosphere.
Then we went to the courtyard.
The dinner was seemingly finished
and the prisoners went to the work
they we're assigned to. One man
; walked with obvious difficulty.
What happened to him?" we
asked the commander. We'll" he
answered, ut is no secret. During
yesterdays march all prisoners
walked about 40 kilometers (about
"a niles. We sent trucks along to
take care of those who were ex-
hausted. None of them, however,
would use them; they all marched
very cheerfuly-Now some of them
are feeling the exhaustion today"
I looked at the old man, who
dragged himself with great diff
Guilty, moaning. I looked at an
other old man. He tried to help
himself with two sticks. His legs
were terribly swollen. One of his
ankles seemed to be entirely dislo-
Gated. What is that again?" I
asked the commander. Come here, +"
he shouted to the man, instead Of
replying. This journalist seems
to believe that we beat you in this
camp. Tell the truth that you we're
not beaten up, but simply your
ankle is sprained. You might also
add word as to how we'll you have
been taken care of in the hospital"
The man came to us and made
a terrible effort to stand at atten-
ton. His face was pale He looked
at me with deep eyes while he re-
peated in a monotonous voice the
words suggested by his commander.
Nobody has beaten me. I have a
sprained ankle. was very well
treated" Then he turned and left.