All rights reserved.
Keryn Joffe
King David Victory Park
Johannesburg, SA


    Josef’s Happy Childhood Ends


    Hans, my best friend, and I were playing in a bright, sunny meadow.  We were laughing and playing and
    – BANG!  I woke up with a jolt!  It was only a dream. BANG! I heard a door crash and the sound of
    splintering wood.  Then I heard shouting and angry voices.  Daddy was pleading with the soldiers not to
    hurt us.  Mummy was crying while holding my baby sister who was wailing at the top of her voice.  I
    crawled under my blankets and was too terrified to move.  Suddenly the door of my room burst open with
    a loud bang!  My heart was pounding in my ears as I felt the blankets being yanked off me.  I looked into
    the angry faces of two Nazi soldiers.  I was too shocked to hear what they were saying to me. My eyes
    were glued to their scary-looking guns as a huge hand grabbed my arm and hauled me out of bed.  He
    pushed me roughly down the stairs to where my parents were waiting.  I ran to Daddy and he put his
    comforting arm around my shoulders.  I was terrified and confused!  We were led out onto the street and
    saw other Jews who had been woken and forced out of their homes.  Trucks with the Nazi swastika on
    them were parked along our street and we were forced to climb into the back of them.  After a short,
    bumpy ride we arrived at the train station and were shoved into cattle cars.    

    Once we were in the cattle car, Daddy spoke to me for the first time. “Don’t worry, my boy. Everything will
    be fine.  We are going to a new home.”  I found it difficult to feel comforted by Daddy’s words because
    Mummy was still sobbing quietly and kept saying, “Help us, Hashem!  What’s going to become of us?”  I
    had so many questions I wanted to ask but I was too afraid to say anything.  The questions were going
    around and around in my mind.  “What is so scary about our new home?”  “Why are so many other Jews
    with us in the cattle car?  Are they also moving there?”

    Suddenly there was a jolt and the train started to move.  Even though it was the middle of winter, there
    were so many people packed into the cattle car that the perspiration was pouring down our faces.  It felt
    like there was no air and my mouth was bone dry from thirst.  Daddy noticed a small opening, high up on
    the side of the car, above his head It was snowing outside so Daddy lifted me up so I could catch some
    snowflakes which we put in our mouths to try and quench our thirst.  The journey seemed to take forever!  
    Eventually, after what seemed like many days, we arrived at our destination.  The door was opened and
    sunlight and fresh air burst through the gloomy car.  We walked out and breathed the delicious, fresh air.

    We all lined up. I held Mummy and Daddy’s hands. There was a soldier in the front telling us which way
    we must go – left or right. Whichever way we were sent, we would be taken away by lorries.  As we
    neared the front of the line, Daddy took a small Magen David key ring out of his trouser pocket and
    placed it in my hand.  Then he said to me, “No matter what happens, remember I will always love you.”  
    When we got to the front, Daddy was sent to the left and Mummy, my sister and I were told to go right.  
    Mummy was crying softly.  I was clinging to Daddy’s hand, not wanting to let him go but I was shoved
    back by a soldier.   Mummy was tugging on my hand and leading me with her towards the lorry.  We
    climbed in with many other frightened people.  As we drove off, I started to cry.  Mummy tried to comfort
    me but she was crying too.  We drove for what seemed like hours.  Then we heard the creaking of a
    heavy, iron gate opening.  The lorry drove through the gate and stopped.  We were told to get out and
    line up.  Standing in the line, I turned to look at my surroundings.  We were in a camp surrounded by
    barbed wire fences.  I saw the gate we had driven through and above the gate was a huge iron sign
    which read “Work will make you free”.  Something about this sign made shivers go up my spine and
    gave me goose bumps on my arms.  

    We were ordered to undress and get into the showers where we were sprayed with a strong smelling
    disinfectant.  Then we were given stiff, rough canvas overalls to put on.  After that we were led into a
    room where we had all our hair shaved off.  I watched the tears roll down Mummy’s face as her beautiful,
    long, black hair fell to the floor.  Next we were lined up and had numbers tattooed onto our wrists – the
    pain was excruciating!

    Life in the camp was horrific.  We were permanently hungry as our diet consisted of one bowl of watery
    cabbage soup and a piece of bread each day.  Many people became ill and people disappeared on a
    daily basis.  The sleeping quarters were filthy and at night the rats ran over us.  People were beaten by
    the guards and made to work all day.

    About three weeks after we had arrived at the camp, Mummy, my sister and I were among a group told
    to line up for a shower.  We were told to remove our overalls and enter the large shower hall.  The doors
    were closed behind us and it was very dark as there were no windows.  Suddenly, we heard a hissing
    sound but there was no water, only a foul, chemical smell.  “What’s happening, Mummy?” I whispered
    clinging to her hand.   “I love you, my babies!” Mummy cried as she dropped to the floor.  I felt the room
    spinning.  The next thing I knew I saw a blinding, warm, white light.  I walked towards it and there was
    Daddy waiting for me with his arms open wide!