Abraham Rimler

In the Krakow ghetto, I had to do the hardest work - construction work - in the so-called building and civil engineering company. I was often mistreated at work. But the worst thing for me was that my family, my parents and five of my siblings, were dragged away and I never saw them again. I also expected to die at any moment. I was physically completely broken by Krakow. I was emaciated and so weak that I could only go to work with the greatest effort of will. I was put to work in the so-called steel mill. I had to do the work of a press welder. One day, when I was no longer able to work properly, a guard, nicknamed 'Rothkopf', came and, because he wasn't happy with my work, beat me on the back with an iron stick until I collapsed unconscious. Nobody could help me. Fearing death, I picked myself up again and carried on working. I have been suffering from back pain ever since.

We were then dragged from Buchenwald to other concentration camps as the Russians approached the area, i.e. we were put on the so-called death march. At first we were transported by wagons.
At Reitzenheim station, the railway station was bombed and our train was hit. All the prisoners and the SS who were guarding us ran away. We ran into the surrounding woods, but soon things got organised and the SS came from all sides. Anyone who ran away and tried to hide was shot mercilessly. I also got a graze shot back then, the little toe of my right foot was injured. Fearing that I was about to be shot, I went back to the train with my shot foot and told the SS that I wanted to return to my commando.
I was lucky that they couldn't see my injury. I dragged myself onwards in great pain and arrived at the Theresienstadt concentration camp.

I travelled from Theresienstadt to Krakow. I didn't stay in Krakow for very long, pogroms were starting at the time and I more or less had to hide. From Krakow I travelled to West Germany and was first sent to the DP camp in Eschwege, later I was in the DP camp in Hessisch-Lichtenau, then in Kassel and when the camp was dissolved I was sent to Landsberg-Lech.
During the whole time I was under medical treatment. I can't remember the doctors who looked after me in Krakow, I don't even know my address at that time in Krakow. I was very often in hospitals in the DP camps in West Germany. I can't remember the individual hospitals or the doctors - so please ask the International Red Cross.