sep 9, 1943 - Room 28 Description

Description:

From the diary of Helga Pollak:

"Thursday, 9 September 1943

We have three blocks of 3-storey wooden beds, one double, one single and one block of six. Opposite the door we have a wardrobe for coats, next to the door one for our clothes, and in the corner there are hooks for our towels and our toiletry bags. There are also a cupboard and two shelves in that corner for the dishes we use to get our food. There is a table in the middle of the room, with two benches and two chairs. Under the window is a shoe rack."

"Wednesday, 3 November 1943

This here is a bunk bed. It's where we sleep, live and eat. We lie close to one another, packed like herrings. Stench, stifling air, fleas and bed-bugs - We have more than enough of all that here...we climb up [here] like monkeys to their nests in the trees or like chickens in the henhouse."

Drawing of Room 28 layout by Maria Mühlstein (1932-1944)

Source: Brenner, Hannelore. Theresienstadt. The Girls of Room 28. Compendium 2017. Edition Room 28, an offshoot of Room 28 Projects, 2017.