Theresianstadt erlebt von Camilla Hirsch [German]

Author: Camilla Hirsch
Published by: Beit Theresienstadt – Theresienstadt Martyrs Remembrance Association, Givat Haim Ihud (2011)
Editor: Anita Tarssi
Translation: Shimon Weisbacher, Ruth Elkabetz, and Miriam Prager

Camilla Hirsch was deported to Ghetto Theresienstadt at age 73. Her diary portrays an active, decisive woman who did not give in to despair and continued to fight and cope despite the many harrowing obstacles encountered. Displaying initiative and creativity, she created for herself an inner and external life setting – a world that allowed her to exist.

An important element in the struggle to survive is maintaining human contacts, at any price. Camilla inquired about a long list of men and women who had arrived at Theresienstadt, elderly people like her who had become destitute in the ghetto. Camilla sought them out at their place of residence, gave them her attention, encouraged, calmed, and shared her strength with them. Finding justification for making the effort to remain alive was an issue that greatly occupied the elderly inmates.