Helga Weiss 

My Nazi death camp childhood diary – in pictures

Helga Weiss, a Czech Jewish girl, was sent with her parents to the concentration camp at Terezin, a few days after her 12th birthday in 1941. She kept a diary, in words and pictures, and when she and her mother were sent on to Auschwitz in 1944, her uncle hid the diary in a brick wall for safekeeping. These are some of the pictures from her diary, which has only now been published
  
  


Helga Weiss Inventory
List of Possessions, 7 January 1943. Helga Weiss recalls: 'Before being deported, the Jews had to hand in an inventory of all their property. This painting shows my mother counting the items of linen in the chest of drawers while my father notes down the figures.'
Illustration: Helga Weiss Photograph: other
Helga Weiss arrival Terezin
Arrival in Terezin, 1942. 'Each person was allowed 50kg of luggage. One suitcase could be sent. People had to carry the rest themselves.'
Illustration: Helga Weiss Photograph: Helga Weiss
Helga Weiss stretcher transport
People on Stretchers Included in the Transport, 1942. 'Those who were sick and too feeble to walk were carried on stretchers.'
Illustration: Helga Weiss Photograph: Helga Weiss/Guardian
Helga Weiss snowman
Snowman, December 1941: 'The first picture I made in Terezin. I smuggled it to my father in the men's barracks and he wrote back: 'Draw what you see!'
Illustration: Helga Weiss Photograph: other
Helga Weiss dormitory
The Dormitory in the Barracks at Terezin, 1942. 'There are 21 of us in quite a small room. Mum and I have 1.20 square metres.'
Illustration: Helga Weiss Photograph: e-mail
Helga Weiss Bread
Bread on the Hearses, 27 December 1942. 'The word on the side of this hearse is Jugendfursorge - Welfare for the Young.'
Illustration: Helga Weiss Photograph: Helga Weiss/PR
Helga Weiss Transport Summons from Home
Summons to Join the Transport, 24 February 1942. 'The summons to join a transport was delivered mostly at night. The location and time to assemble were written on a slip of paper.'
Illustration: Helga Weiss Photograph: Helga Weiss
Helga Weiss Transport of Polish Children
The Transport of Polish Children, 29 August 1943. Helga Weiss recalls: 'These children arrived in deplorable condition and were quarantined the whole time in Terezin. They were supposed to be sent to Switzerland but ended up in Auschwitz.'
Illustration: Helga Weiss Photograph: Helga Weiss/PR
Helga Weiss Clinic queue
Waiting Room of the Emergency Clinic, 26 July 1943. 'Due to the poor living conditions, the waiting room was always full.'
Illustration: Helga Weiss Photograph: Helga Weiss/PR
Helga Weiss barrel
Scraping Out the Leftovers, 10 March 1943. "Old people were the worst off as they received the smallest rations.'
Illustration: Helga Weiss Photograph: Helga Weiss
Helga Weiss Francka
For Her 14th Birthday, November 1943. 'A picture for my friend Francka. We were born in the same maternity home, shared a bunk and became best friends in Terezin. We imagined what it would be like in 14 years - in 1957 - when we were both mothers and could go for walks in Prague. Francka died in Auschwitz before her 15th birthday.'
Illustration: Helga Weiss Photograph: Helga Weiss
Helga Weiss portrait
Helga Weiss in the Prague apartment where she has lived she was born in 1929 – apart from 1941-45, when she was imprisoned in four Nazi concentration camps: Terezin, Auschwitz, Freiburg and Mauthausen. She and her mother, Irena, survived but her father, Otto, did not. Helga went on to marry musician Jiri Hosek, bring up their family and work as an artist. Photograph: Guardian
 

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