Aufzeichnungen ueber mein Leben im Kamp durch zwei Jahre : fuer meine Kinder /

This memoir by Frederike Papanek was written for her children in a mixed style between diary and letter. She describes her internment at Westerbork, Bergen-Belsen, and Theresienstadt. Her first entry is dated from July 11, 1944. She describes work routine, conditions, and daily life in the before mentioned concentration camps. She was always hungry, and sometimes also quite sick. She spent some time knitting to earn extra money for bread, for her husband Joseph Papanek who was sick and desperate for food. She describes the awful conditions while being transported from camp to camp, without food, air to breathe, or light to see, put together with 61 other people in one wagon. Her husband died following such a transport. Theresienstadt is a nightmare with cynical islands of culture, concerts of works by Bach and Beethoven. Frederike Papanek writes about her daily life being concerned with her ill husband, visiting him, washing him, and bringing him food. On September 2, 1944, she is present when he passes away. In fall 1944, deportations start. She describes the last days of Theresienstadt, which she left on June 7, 1945. Her last entry is dated July 15, 1945. Attached is a translation into English.digitizedFrederike Papanek, née Adler, was born in Vienna, Austria, early August of 1878. She married Josef Papanek in 1900 and was a champion bridgeplayer. When Jews were forced to leave Brabant, Holland, for Theresienstadt on April 10, 1943, she was allowed to delay her departure. She was deported to concentration camp Westerbork, Holland, then to Bergen-Belsen on September 14, 1943. On January 27, 1944, she was transferred to Theresienstadt. Her husband died during summer 1944 in Theresienstadt.Austrian Heritage Collection (Frederike Papanek's niece Erna Elisabeth Winter, AHC 1708