Wolfgang Krautwirth

On April 25, 1943, I was arrested along with my entire family and taken to the Auschwitz concentration camp in a cattle car. There, the number 117492 was branded onto my arm. Since I was still a child, I was initially put in the so-called women's camp with my mother and sister. I was immediately separated from my father. At first I did not have to work, but only to endure all the usual measures such as roll calls. In the summer of 1943, I fell ill with typhoid fever and received no medical attention. My mother and sister were able to keep me from being selected. In April 1944, it was no longer possible for me to remain in the women's camp and I was transported to the men's camp.
Despite my age – I was 11 years old – I was assigned to the so-called Rollwagenkommando (roll-cart detail) and had to work 14 hours a day. I was constantly beaten at work, usually for no reason. The fellow prisoners took no account of me, and as a stupid child I was always the one who did everything wrong, which earned me further beatings. Since the conditions in the extermination camp of Auschwitz are well known, I will refrain from further elaboration.