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As Survivors Dwindle To a Precious Few

Blackened potato
            rock-hard tomato
          Piece of stale bread
            filthy mattress, a bed

          All luxuries at Auschwitz 
            Bergen-Belsen and Dachau
          The question is not why they
            survived ~ but How

foodhealthhorrorworld warrhyme

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Bill Baker

May 29, 2022 at 8:29 PM

Not explainable in mere words. Contact with their soul, courage, will power, and faith in something greater than man. IMHO

Caren Krutsinger

May 19, 2022 at 12:35 PM

How did we ever get so many people who were willing to work at killing people is my question about the Nazis and He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. The food was only one small piece of this horror in history.

Gershon Wolf

May 19, 2022 at 6:48 PM

Actually, the food was a significant part of the horror. These prisoner-workers went at it 12 hours a day on average, in freezing cold or boiling heat -- with no nutrition available to them at all. How did they survive?!! Sheer will. :)

Kim Rodrigues

May 18, 2022 at 1:03 PM

I am always amazed at what some survive. Imagery!

Gershon Wolf

May 19, 2022 at 6:45 PM

Yes, how they survived is almost always a tale, of determination, guts, and more than a little luck. So few left now. One fellow in my neighborhood just turned 93. He survived Hitler's Hungary round-up in 1944, in which 750,000 went to the gas chambers. Amazingly, one of his buddies, now 91, lives within a few blocks of him. Chilling to see their numbers tattooed on their arms...

Jennifer Proxenos

May 18, 2022 at 11:17 AM

A disastrous period of history in the 20th century, to which Putin will perhaps surpass in the 21st! My heart has always gone out to the desperate people in these concentration camps - !inhumane. Hugs, blessings, Jennifer.

Tom Cunningham

May 18, 2022 at 10:15 AM

They never gave up hope and saw a better tomorrow. Tom

Gershon Wolf

May 18, 2022 at 6:40 PM

You've got the picture. What you've written is basically Victor Frankel's theory on the subject.

Mike Gentile

May 18, 2022 at 9:05 AM

So very true Gershon, I can't believe that there are those who deny! Unfathomable! We should never forget!!

Gershon Wolf

May 18, 2022 at 6:38 PM

Now what were we talking about, Mike?! ~ Senior Moments

Jan Allison

May 18, 2022 at 1:50 AM

Sheer determination to survive GW! excellent thought provoking ink xx

Gershon Wolf

May 18, 2022 at 7:54 AM

You are right on the money, Jan. The survivors somehow had something to live for on the other side of 'hell' -- and they had a bit of mazel (luck) as well. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, and hope all is well. Hugs, Gershon

As Survivors Dwindle To a Precious Few

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