Voice/Vision Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive

Martin Shlanger - March 4, 1983

Smuggling in Jaworzno

Before we continue with uh, what came on the death march, let me take you back for a moment to Jaworzno. Do you ever remember seeing um, any prisoners punished at the gate um, for stealing food, for smuggling food, or anything like that?

I don't recall because when we came to the gate, we couldn't stop because a German soldier was counting the heads.

Was there ever an occasion where one man brought food in?

Yes, I uh, yes, in fact, this man lives in, in Oak Park. He was smuggling in vegetables in his uh, was tied uh, in his pants and as he was walking in at the gate, it started to fall out. Um, they didn't know who lost all those vegetables. I don't remember him being punished. However, it's possible that he was punished.

Is this Mr. Roth?

Mr. Roth, yes.

Are there any others that there were incidents like that, that you recall at Jaworzno or is that just the one that stands out?

That's the only one I remember that stands out. Of course, people were punished trying to steal food from the kitchen. Yes, severely beaten for that.


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