Regina Cohen - April 18, 1982
Getting Bread from Brother
Uh, my oldest brother worked somewhere in Birkenau and I think it was in some group—where and how he got a hold of a loaf of white bread or a chunk of white bread—and they were permitted—they were brought in. Whether the men were bringing the food to us at the time, or how it happened. All I know is he was there and, and when we were lined up and he was calling my name, not knowing that I'm not permitted to step out of line. I stepped out to greet him. And with that, I got a beating with a cane from a Jewish girl that was a Kapo. But I swore if I ever live to survive, I'll get her.
Do you remember her name?
No, I know she was a Hungarian and I saw her after the war and I started reminding her and when she realized who I was, she escaped me. But I had a terrible beating.
In front of your brother?
In front of my brother from my back. He almost went to grab her or call her by some filthy name—which she was. But uh, he was restrained, because he could have gotten killed. And um...
He brought you bread?
A piece of bread.
Were you able to keep it?
I ate it right there. It was a corner broken off of a piece of, of a loaf of bread, a corner. And as he hugged me, he shoved it at me and I just held it, like, with my arm. And when I got the beating I just didn't let go, just held. And I ate it up. So that, that particular time—that beating was very, very painful. Uh, those canes can hurt an awful lot. Uh...
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