'I spent a year in the Terezin ghetto, but as bad as it was, it cannot be compared to a single month in Auschwitz or Mauthausen. Rather than taking time to describe Terezin, I will only briefly record the most important events, because I am writing this during a period in my life when time matters and I would rather describe in greater detail my experiences in the concentration camps.'Twelve-year-old Michael Kraus began keeping a diary while he was still living at home in the Czech city of Nachod but continued writing while a prisoner at Theresienstadt (Terezin). When he was shipped with other prisoners to the death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, all of his writings were confiscated and destroyed. After his liberation and while convalescing, he began to draw and make notes again about his experiences in Theresienstadt, in Auschwitz, the first death march out of Mauthausen and its satellite camps in Melk and Gunskirchen. As a teenager confronting the traumas of these experiences, Kraus found that recording his memories in words and pictures helped him overcome his hatred for those who had murdered his parents. The process of writing and drawing also helped him begin the painful transition to a so-called normal life. As a survivor, Kraus also felt the need to recount his experiences for the benefit of future generations, especially on behalf of the many who did not survive. The present edition makes this memoir, originally written in Czech and significant for having been written so close to the author's liberation, widely available to English readers for the first time. It also reproduces pages from the original booklets that show how the teenage Kraus illustrated his memories with pencil drawings that both complement and extend his story, giving readers a sense of its character as an unusual and important historical document.

lgrsnf/Drawing the Holocaust_ A Teenager's Memory of Terezin, Birkenau Mauthausen - Michael Kraus (Author) & Paul Wilson (Translator).pdf

Kraus, Michal , 1930-

United States, United States of America

ISD Distribution, Cincinnati, OH, 2016

Pittsburgh, PA, 2016

Twelve-year-old Michael Kraus Began Keeping A Diary While He Was Still Living At Home In The Czech City Of Nachod But Continued Writing While A Prisoner At Theresienstadt (terezín). When He Was Shipped With Other Prisoners To The Death Camp At Auschwitz-birkenau, All Of His Writings Were Confiscated And Destroyed. After His Liberation And While Convalescing, He Began To Draw And Make Notes Again About His Experiences In Theresienstadt, In Auschwitz, The First Death March Out Of Mauthausen, And Its Satellite Camps, In Melk And Gunskirchen. As A Teenager Confronting The Traumas Of These Experiences, Kraus Found That Recording His Memories In Words And Pictures Helped Him Overcome His Hatred For Those Who Had Murdered His Parents. The Process Of Writing And Drawing Also Helped Him Begin The Painful Transition To A So-called Normal Life. As A Survivor, Kraus Also Felt The Need To Recount His Experiences For The Benefit Of Future Generations, Especially On Behalf Of The Many Who Did Not Survive. The Present Edition Makes This Memoir, Originally Written In Czech And Significant For Having Been Written So Close To The Author's Liberation, Widely Available To English Readers For The First Time. It Also Reproduces Pages From The Original Booklets That Show How The Teenage Kraus Illustrated His Memories With Pencil Drawings That Both Complement And Extend His Story, Giving Readers A Sense Of Its Character As An Unusual And Important Historical Document-- Fifteen-year-old Michael Kraus Began Keeping A Diary While He Was Still Living At Home In The Czech City Of Nachód But Continued Writing While A Prisoner At Theresienstadt (terezín). His Memoir, Originally Written In Czech, And Significant For Having Been Written So Close To The Author's Liberation, Is Made Available To English Readers For The First Time. It Also Reproduces Pages From The That Show How The Teenage Kraus Illustrated His Memories With Pencil Drawings That Both Complement And Extend His Personal Holocaust Story-- I. Ghetto Terezín, 1942-1943 -- Transport -- The Home In Hannover Barracks -- Danger! -- The Great Roll Call -- Departure -- The Journey -- Ii. Birkenau 1943-1945 -- Graveyard Of The Victims Of Nazism Family Camp B.ii.b, December 1943-july 1944 -- Life Without Parents -- Iii. Mauthausen -- The Second Camp -- Melk -- Back To Mauthausen -- Third Camp -- Tent Camp -- Gunskirchen -- The Big Day -- May 7th, 1945 -- Liberation -- Iv. Post-war Hardships -- Under The Care Of The Us Army -- Journey Home -- On Red Army Territory -- Home Again -- Photos. Michael Kraus ; Translated By Paul Wilson. Translated From The Czech.

"I spent a year in the Terezin ghetto, but as bad as it was, it cannot be compared to a single month in Auschwitz or Mauthausen. Rather than taking time to describe Terezin, I will only briefly record the most important events, because I am writing this during a period in my life when time matters and I would rather describe in greater detail my experiences in the concentration camps." Twelve-year-old Michael Kraus began keeping a diary while he was still living at home in the Czech city of Nachod but continued writing while a prisoner at Theresienstadt (Terezin). When he was shipped with other prisoners to the death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, all of his writings were confiscated and destroyed. After his liberation and while convalescing, he began to draw and make notes again about his experiences in Theresienstadt, in Auschwitz, the first death march out of Mauthausen and its satellite camps in Melk and Gunskirchen. As a teenager confronting the traumas of these experiences, Kraus found that recording his memories in words and pictures helped him overcome his hatred for those who had murdered his parents. The process of writing and drawing also helped him begin the painful transition to a so-called normal life. As a survivor, Kraus also felt the need to recount his experiences for the benefit of future generations, especially on behalf of the many who did not survive. The present edition makes this memoir, originally written in Czech and significant for having been written so close to the author's liberation, widely available to English readers for the first time. It also reproduces pages from the original booklets that show how the teenage Kraus illustrated his memories with pencil drawings that both complement and extend his story, giving readers a sense of its character as an unusual and important historical document

Contents
Publisher's Preface
Author's Introduction
Editor's Note
Preface
I. Ghetto Terezín, 1942-1943
Transport
The Home in Hannover Barracks
Danger!
The Great Roll Call
Departure
The Journey
II. Birkenau, 1943-1945
Graveyard of the Victims of Nazism
Family Camp B.II.B, December 1943-July 1944
Arrival
Showers
Daycare
March 7th
Arrival!
Time Limit Ends, Danger Increases
We Take Leave—The Liquidation of B.II.b
Life without Parents
Men’s Camp B.II.d
The Front Draws Closer
Difficult Wandering
III. Mauthausen
The Second Camp
Melk
Back to Mauthausen
Third Camp
Tent Camp
Gunskirchen
The Big Day—May 7th, 1945—Liberation
IV. Post-War Hardships
Under the Care of the US Army
Hörsching
Journey Home
Camp in Linz
By Steamboat on the Danube
On Red Army Territory
Transfer in Melk
Journey by Train
Wiener Neustadt
On Foot to Our Homeland
Home Again
Bratislava
Prague
The Convalescent Home
Photos
Family Before the War
The Terezín Newspaper “Kamarád”
The Other Deported Children
Transition to “Normal” Life
Notes

xvi, 128 pages : 24 cm

2024-01-13