Evening star., 1945-12-16
By Robert Bruskin

by ROOGFC bTuSklQ
Forty officials of Dachau were con-
victed wednesday of committing atroc-
tiles in the oldest Nazi concentration
camp, few miles north of Munich,
where 45,855 persons were executed dur
ing the last five years Of its existence.
Some indications of the atrocities are
contained in the fragments of the fol-
lowing diary which had been kept by an
inmate. It was found in the Gestapo
files at Dachau, charred and water
logged. The identity of the writer will
never be known. The dossier recorded
him only as E. K. and gave prisoner
number 1t stated simply that he had
been a disloyal writer, or possibly
newspaperman, that he had been found
hiding the diary on December 81, 1942-
two days after the last entry on Christ
mas. 1t merely added he had died in
the "Revier" during malaria expert
ments The manuscript was obviously
addressed to the prisoners wife. The fog
of war enveloped her fate.
November 20, 1912
These pages that now begin to write
would lead to certain death if ever they
were found. But what is death? How few
of those knew here are still alive today;
how close to death we all stand. I can
die here any moment, even II take the
greatest care.
Why should not endeavor, even in
the midst of these conditions of cruelty
to tell this gruesome story that no longer
gives me goose flesh? I feel, know
not why, the urge to write.
really thought would record all this
for you so that when we meet again
some time later would have nothing
more to say; would give you the pages
and be silent-for am tired of speak,
ing.
And now I hasten to begin without
regard to the danger it involves. My
friends think I am secretly writing q
poem, most likely q love poem, or one
about flowers and stars. II they knew
what was doing they would burn these
pages out Of fear. In fact, they would
be right, because endanger their lives
as well as my own-only they don't know
it. And II any Of these lines were found,
would have to prove that they had no
knowledge Of my secret writing, for I
only showed them harmless verses.
November Fl, 1912
Something happened yesterday that
excited even the most hardened Of us,
and that means something for we have
lost all feeling; nothing more can aston
ish us in any way And so it was yester-
day. Very few of us were moved, Just
those directly concerned.
Five hundred invalids came yester-
day from a camp near Danzig. To be an
invalid among us prisoners means to be
at deaths door. Later, when we are
together, will tell you more about that.
Fifty-one Of these invalids came in
dead. but their bodies had already been
partially eaten by the others. The re-
mains and bones were thrown out of
the chink in the cattle truck door dur
ing the journey.
All the corpses were photographed.
Most likely the camp authorities did
this to. send evidence to Berlin. The
prisoners, during the six days that their
journey lasted. received only one piece
of bread. Hunger delirium broke out
among them, as they had suffered for a
long time from underfeeding. The Of
ficers of our guard who otherwise make
fun and joke about all these horrible
things were moved. This time they had
seen something new, cannibalism.
Forty-nine Of the survivors died yes
terday, the day of their arrival. Soon
there will be more and every day the
number will increase. That they brought
them here can only be explained by the
fact that manpower is needed; so they
move up all they can. OF those who
can't be revived :. Of those will speak
to you later. viii you ever read these
pages? Each page is a source of danger
and who knows how many pages I will
write, but even If can put down all I
experience :. 1t is so hard to hide these
pages. May good power protect them
and keep them in safety, so that one
day I can give them to you, together
with a heart of stone that was wrought
for you secretly during the days and
days and that I wore for long time
Perhaps these pages will survive me and
some stranger will bring them to you.
November u, 1912
must tell you something that