During World War Two, the Nazi’s committed mass genocide of European Jews in the Holocaust. In this time they held Jews in Ghettos and Concentration camps all around Europe. When held in these camps they used letters to help connect themselves with their friends and families. During World War Two, letters were used to help keep people together and keep people updated with their loved ones during times of distress like the Holocaust because they were able to express if they were going to make it out or not, send loving letters to their children, and even escape plans.
The most popular and maybe the worst Ghetto was the Ghetto of Warsaw. Living conditions were really bad and this led to people having fights with the Germans where many Jewish people died or escaped. In a letter written by Moshe Ekhajzer, he explains his escape plan and expresses that he needs the help of his daughter in order to escape. “I am pointing out the goods and packages that are at number 7, in the factory below. Three packages with cotton wool, a bag with cotton and spools of thread, half a bag with embroidery thread and a brown, wide bag with tallitot [ritual fringes]. One bag with dirty laundry, and in the same factory, on the shelf, next to the engine, there is a bag with cotton and two bags. In the office, there is a bag with [underwear] for men and women. Mrs. Tusia, who also used to live at Milna 7, has two bags and fur, as well as five cuts of carcass leather and 120 combs. In the Kamionka house, there is one large suitcase and one small one tied with white rope and clothes, two coats and a cotton bag.” Although this quote is very long, it really shows in detail what Moshe needed from his daughter. He also used this letter to help her escape and get away from the Nazi’s. He used this letter to connect with daughters and keep them updated on what he thinks is going to happen and how to avoid it.
In some letters, people wrote about their fate and if they thought that they would make it out or not. Although the overall words have a positive outlook on the situation she is in, you can tell by the tone that everything was not as great as it may have seemed. Regina Kandt wrote to her husband and son in a letter in November of 1941. She expresses her love for both of them and says that everything is going well and that she will make it out. However, with this positive attitude she still lists her last wishes for them. For example, when she wrote to her son she said, “In case we never see each other again, God forbid, you must stay with Father and take care of him.” To me, this quote helps identify that she knew that she was not going to make it but did not want to directly say it. So, she said things like this instead to give some hope to her son that she would make it out.
There were many letters from the Holocaust that were short and sweet. Some of these were due to the fact that they sent them through The Red Cross where they only had a 25 word limit. This was the case for some letters that were written in Auschwitz. In the Encyclopedia of World Religions: Encyclopedia of Judaism, they explain how Auschwitz was the largest concentration camp and how many were gassed as soon as they got there. It also states “More than 1.5 million Jews were gassed to death in this camp alone during the Holocaust.” This quote is relevant to the story of Erna and Arnold Korn. In their short letters sent by The Red Cross, they said, “Sincere thanks for your words. Hope you are happy parents. We are both fine. No news of our dearest ones. Gerda is happy that you are well. Kisses.” They were replying to their children who sent them a letter telling them how they were doing and that one of them was going to have their child soon. They used their letter to send love to their children during this dark time that they were being sent to Auschwitz.
Overall, it may be said that letters were used in dark times to let their loved ones know how they were doing and to show their love for them one last time. Letters were used by people in Ghettos and concentration camps to keep their loved ones less worried and updated on their fate. The best way to spread information then was through letters and that is the way that many did in camps and Ghettos on how they were going to be able to escape. Letters helped people spread information and spread love during the very dark time of the Holocaust.
Worked Cited:
https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/last-letters/1943/korn.asp
https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/last-letters/1941/kandt.asp
https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/last-letters/1943/ekhajzer.asp
https://search.credoreference.com/articles/Qm9va0FydGljbGU6NDQzMjk1?q=Warsaw%20Ghetto%20Uprising
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