The Arizona post., 1961-09-08

WOOu correspondence IOF tuc ocWlSH
this country Mr.. Luft was imprisoned
By HERBE
The sound of a shrill siren pierces the
air and bounces back from the barracks.
Machinegun fire browns out wild cries
of a thousand men, Panicstricken, we
rush out and crowd the camp alley. Huge
searchlightS cut the darkness, searching
every nook and corner within the wired
stockade. Breathlessly we fall in line. All
of us try to get in the center of the for
nation.
Neighboring huts are also spewing out
their human cargo We stare at our COM
rades and throw questions at each other
All engage in fierce whisper but no one
dares to leave his column, An icy wind
sweeps down the bleak passage. We stand
and wait!
News spreads from cell-block to cell
block harsh and dangerous news: "a
man has escaped" 1t is Varislav one of
the Czech newcomers, who hid in a coal
truck and made his getaway 1t seems so
hopeless. A fugitive with the seal of the
Dachau concentration camp couldn't get
piece of dry bread in the whole country,
menaced by populace both frightened
and filled with hate and suspicion
Punishment For Escape
Only last week we were the OnlOOkers
when another prisoner was dragged back
through the camp gate. A placard on his
chest, and a big brass drum around his
shoulders, he was driven through a mar
row lane of bayonets Beating the drum
and shouting, "Hurrah am back again!"
he was forced to march in a solo process
sion round and round the camp.
Escape! Collectively, we shall bear the
punishment Sixteen thousand for one
man, man few had ever seen.
In grim silence, we start out en- route
to the assembly grounds. Hoarse orders
speed up the march. From all 40 huts,
prisoners are on the move towards the
same goal. [ glance around. We all are
wearing the same striped prison garb, yet
with different cOlOred patches such as
stars, half-moons, and triangles, each
symbolizing specific offense, origin and
in the CLASSY eyes of all. The bare heads
reveal the scars of many beatings Those
silently marching no longer behave like
human beings. They appear like puppets
rigid and without will, marionettes moved
by the invisible strings Of an unScrupu-
lous power. 1t is strange, unreal sight
like nightmare.
We are running on the slick and hard
frozen ground carrying those with fes-
tered legs. 1t is bitterly cold this cursed
night. Several men stumble just when our
column is about to pass the towering
Christmas tree in front of the admins
tration building. We pick our comrades up
as we gallop forward, fearful lest the
guards may notice a break in the forma-
ton. Rifle shots echo in quick succession.
The pace quickens.
Some exhausted and frantic, stray from
the formation and unWittingly touch the
demarcation line. Without a warning, a
Volley from the machine-gun tower ends
their lives.
Finally, the forty cell-units are lined up
at the assembly grounds. There had to be
exactly 1923 men in the herd All are
required to assemble three times daily.
For tonights special count, even those
who have died since the afternoon roll
call and the dying ones have to be
propped in line. Only the men in chains
segregated in the dungeons never see the
light of day
cold wind blasts across the Alps. Only
the thin cotton uniform covers our naked
bodies. We are trembling and our faces
glow like fire The blood circulation caapoc