The Red Cross Visit.

    With rumors floating during World War II about Jews being mistreated in the camps and Danish leaders demanding for firsthand information on how Danish Jews were being treated in the camps, the Nazis decided to permit representatives from the Danish Red Cross and the International Red Cross to inspect and visit Terezin, a Nazi camp in Czechoslovakia. During WWII Jews were deported and put into camps by the Nazis who claimed that they were sheilding the Jews from the terrible war. But the camps were not any sheild, they were places for Jews to be mistreated as if they were inhuman. The Nazis were the people running the camps, and they would not let the world know what was happening in the camps. So the Nazis took this opportunity of the Red Cross visting to fool the world into believing that the Jews were being well treated in the camps. The Nazis began a beautification program six weeks before the Red Cross visit. The beautification program was about beautifying Terezin and making it presentable to the world. The beautification program began by deporting 7,503 Jews from the camp to avoid overcrowding in the camp. Then after, the camp was beautified; gardens were planted, barracks were renovated, a playground was built. So on June, 23 1944 when the Red Cross inspected Terezin, it was in the best state. Certain inmates were dressed and stood at desginated places, shops were open and filled with baked goods and candy, children played around happily in the play ground, music played everywhere, performances went on. And none of the Jews dared to say anything wrong was happening because if they did, they would be punished. The Red Cross was more than pleased and satisfied with the camp and without any hesitation, it reported back that while war time conditions made life difficult, life at Terezin was acceptable to all the Jews.

Bystander- Richard Cot

June 24, 1943
Never, in my life have I been so disturbed!  Disturbed in thought and action, I have been since yesterday. To retrace how this disturbance came about, I need to retell how yesterday went by. Yesterday was the day, the long awaited visit to Terezin, a Nazi camp. Basically my role in this visit was to get first hand information on how the deported Danish Jews are doing in the Nazi camps for the Danish leaders. Apparently the Danish leaders are like everybody else afraid to face the Nazis. Speaking of cowardness, the Danish leaders are not the only people afraid of the Nazis, the Red Cross (heroes of the world) are also afraid of the Nazis. So when no one volunteered to go on the visit, I 19 year old boy lived up to his name and volunteered to go on this visit. Hahaha, enough about my bravery, onto the visit. So just before 12:00 pm yesterday, as our transport slipped into a city, I gave myself into anxiety. This city, Terezin looked so happily rich and wealth on the outside. I had only seen this city from the outside but yet, I eagerly wanted to go into this city already. Stepping out of the transport, we were greeted by the sound of musical drums in a distance. Musically they played to my rhythm, making me let loose of my nervous feelings which had been my companions for a long time. When we stepped into the city, I was shocked. It looked way better than my home neighborhood. We were stepping on tarmac roads not gravel roads. Houses were painted perfectly, grass grew on the sidelines of the roads, people moved around economically and friendly. Shops were open filled with goods. Oh the smell of fresh baked bread! In my neighborhood we have to pay for these goods but it seemed like these goods were free. All children here had a full bar of chocolate (very expensive) and did not fight amongst to get a piece of it. We were led next to the playground; man I had never seen children this happy. Smiles on their faces just made me want to smile too. They were all extremely happy and loving life. Straight ahead, attractive looking girls about my age chattered happily when they saw us walk around. These girls glowed like angels. Which is why, I out of my own control went over to one of the girls and asked them if they loved life here? The girl’s answer was totally unexpected, she stammered for a long time as she simply said I love it here. She loved it here, was that hard to say? This girl’s answer to my question stuck in my thoughts throughout the remaining part of the visit. Why was she stammering? She had an easy question. The question was simple. Thoughts about the girl hiding something struck me, she lived in the most perfect place but yet it was hard for her to answer this question. Did she really mean her answer. Theories evolved through my brain, were the Nazis hiding something? Were they covering up some deeds beneath? Was this all fake? Did they prepare for this visit long before? I found myself focused on this thought up to this very hour. It gets worse, once I got home; I undecidedly reported back to the Danish leaders that life at Terezin was perfect for the Jews. Of course they were counting on my report, so what I told them, they believed and took it as it is. I cannot congratulate myself of this deed. I have not lived up to my name. I feel extremely guilty for what I told the Danish leaders. I mean life looks good for the Jews at Terezin, but I cannot help but worry that the Nazis as might as they are described are hiding the truth from us.

Victim-Conrad Bek.

June 24 1943.
Worried, scared, lost, and trembled all at the same time. What are they going to do to me? Sure they are going to punish me. But what are they exactly going to do to me. Shoot me, take me to Auschwitz, take me to the gas chamber. With the Nazis anything is possible. I am scared and terrified. I should not have it; I should not have disobeyed the Nazis. They are mighty and powerful nothing stands in their way. See yesterday was the Red Cross Visit to Terezin, of course behind the scenes before the visit we had to tidy up the place and make it presentable. Me and my wannabe clever brain quickly thought that if I at least do what I am not told, I should stand a chance at defeating the Nazis. Man I was wrong. So what did I do? Well I simply did not answer a question when one of the Red Cross people asked me one. I felt like a hero after doing this but man. The Nazis and their influence, the people who saw me do this, quickly went and told the Nazis. I do not know what to do now, I only have to wait and worry about my punishment. But I swear if I were to rewind the days back, I would never have disobeyed the Nazis. The Nazis are mighty and strong I should have never stood in their way.

Perpetrator-SS Officer Dr.Siegfried Seidl.

June 24, 1943.
The Jews, they are everything that is rude and disgusting. They are moron, hooligans, trouble causers, cowards, hypocrites’ e.t.c. I do not even know why they exist; I mean there is not a place suitable for them in this world rather than to bare pain. See the Red Cross visit to the camp was yesterday, everything was tidied up and presentable. But I was worried; I was worried about what the Jews were going to answer when they were to be asked questions about the camp. Of course, if they said something wrong was happening, I would slaughter them on the spot. But man, why was I ever worried? Those cowards did as we told them. It all turned out well, none of the Jews said something to give away information on what was going on in the camps. They could not stand their ground and disobey us. For instance, there was this girl who answered a question excellently. She was asked if she missed home. Her answer was here is better than home, I do not miss home at all. See what I mean, they cannot stand their ground. They can never do anything on their own. They do not deserve living in this world, they are just hypocrites.

Upstander-King Christian X.

June 27, 1943.
Come rain, come sun! I am not giving up on my people. The Nazis those hypocrites. Those blood sucking idiots are trying their best to get me off my own people. But no never, I not only rule this country, but I also take care of the people who live in it. See I am extremely angry, I got the report back on the Terezin visit yesterday, but it is all bullshit. Apparently the report says that my own Danish Jews are in the best hands, that the Jews are living a totally normal life under the Nazis. Crap, crap all crap. The Danish Jews can never be happy under the Nazis; they are only happy and safe under my own rule. The Red Cross must have at least lost their vision at those camps, how can they not see that the Nazis are evil? Were they under the right senses at the visit? Did they get bribed by the Nazis to give me a false report? How did I even reach to the bottom of trusting it? I should have done this on my own. I should have visited Terezin myself. I need to get to the bottom of this; I need to visit Terezin myself. I do not care if the Nazis stop me, they know what will happen if they try to stop me. If they try to stop me, I will drop back into my old ways. Start influencing people to wear a Jewish star… that is it! Start to influence people to wear a Jewish star. Let me see how they are going to respond to that. I am going to get to the bottom of this, no body stands between me and my country.