Letter dated Wednesday 18 Apr 1945
Dear Tom,
You’ve read in the papers all about the horror concentration camp we’ve captured. Well, that’s where I’m writing from now. I came in with the first troops, and have been here ever since. So you know the reason for no letter lately.
Everything you’ve read and more are absolutely true. I’ve seen everything and can swear to it. Anyone you meet, pass it on. I never believed all the fantastic stories we’ve heard, read about, and the atrocities committed by the SS men & women. But after being here 4 days boy - some experience.
The conditions, the dead bodies rotting in piles 6-7 high, no food or water, the rags which they wear. It’s a miracle how many are still alive. 500 died the first night I was here.
I could rattle off innumerable stories for you, but they must be seen to be really believed. You would never think human being, including Germans, could stoop so low, or have such low morals. Absolutely fantastic.
The first day I spent organising cookhouses and trying to cope with the hungry mobs. Now I have a complete platoon working for me doing the detailed splits to the cookhouses, which are inadequate, and cannot properly cope. There are no skilled cooks, and there was no lighting or water.
Now we have both, and food for all who can walk to get it. Some are so weak they try and get up and fall back dead. Nobody takes the slightest notice, and the bodies are everywhere.
We have captured SS men and women on the job now, shifting the masses of rotting discoloured bodies to a central burial trench. If they try and run away they are shot. Two did today. They are in the trench too.
Every British and co ally citizen & soldier should see this place, or on the screen. It would help solve the Jerry problem.
In one part of the camp I found some British lads, all P.O.W.s. I whisked them off back to B. lines. Since then I find more every day.
Not a very cheery letter son, but I feel it part of my duty to pass on this information.
I’m very tired, lousy, but happy to be doing my share of the final liberation of Poles, Greeks, Russians, French and all the rest. Women and men.
Am ever Chum.
Dick |