Auschwitz: The Gas Chambers
by Sophia Litwinska
There was a big selection [of women] in Block No. 4, the
hospital block. Over 3000 Jewish women had to parade in this
selection, which was under the charge of Hoessler. We had to
leave our beds very quickly and stand quite naked to attention in
front of him and the doctors, Enna and Koenig. All those who
could not leave their beds had their numbers taken, and it was
clear to us that they were condemned to death. Those whose
bodies were not very nice looking or were too thin, or whom those
gentlemen disliked for some reason or other, had their numbers
taken, and it was clear what that meant. My number also was
taken. We stayed in Block No. 4 for a night and the next day
were taken to Block No. 18. About half-past five in the evening
trucks arrived and we were loaded into them, quite naked like
animals, and were driven to the crematorium.
[When we arrived] The whole truck was tipped over in the way
they do it sometimes with potatoes or coal loads, and we were led
into a room which gave me the impression of a shower-bath. There
were towels hanging round, and sprays, and even mirrors. I
cannot say how many were in the room altogether, because I was so
terrified, nor do I know if the doors were closed. People were
in tears; people were shouting at each other; people were hitting
each other. There were healthy people, strong people, weak
people and sick people, and suddenly I saw fumes coming in
through a very small window at the top. I had to cough very
violently, tears were streaming from my eyes, and I had a sort of
feeling in my throat as if I would be asphyxiated. I could not
even look at the others because each of us concentrated on what
happened to herself.
At that moment I heard my name called. I had not the
strength to answer it, but raised my arm. Then I felt someone
take me and throw me out from that room. Hoessler put a blanket
round me and took me on a motor-cycle to the hospital, where I
stayed six weeks. As the result of the gas I had still, quite
frequently, headaches and heart trouble, and whenever I went into
the fresh air my eyes were filled with tears. I was subsequently
taken to the political department and apparently I had been taken
out of the gas chamber because I had come from a prison in
Lublin, which seemed to make a difference, and, apart from that,
my husband was a Polish officer.
from John Carey (ed), Eyewitness to History, New York: Avon,
l987, pp. 554-555.