Our Kampf

A Change Has Been Made

During role call the next morning, the names of all of the people who were to go to Russia that day were listed. "Joseph Heinrich, Alfred Himmler, Andrew Keisling" the man read. My name was not called. I didn't know how to feel. I was happy that I will defiantly live another day yet I really wanted to serve my country. My patriotism got the better of me so I decided to talk to the commander. "Ah yes there has been a slight change of plans. You see one of the officers stationed in central Poland has gotten very ill and so we need you to go cover for him." He said. I reluctantly agreed. "Great you ship out tomorrow," he said. That night, as I laid in my bunk, I wondered what I could possibly be doing in the middle of Poland when the war was happening on the east. The next morning a car came to pick me and a few other men up. We drove for hours on end until we finally reached our destination. There was large fence surrounding an open dirt field. In the middle there were barracks. Similar to the ones we had at camp. Next to that there was what seemed to be a community oven. At first glance it looked like an outdated military base. Then I heard the train. It was a rusty boxcar like the ones used to transport food and occasionally livestock. When it came to a complete stop a group of ten guards all with machine guns ran to the doors. I wondered what could be so important that ten guards had to run over to unload. When the boxcar doors opened I saw neither good nor animal, I saw humans. They were skinny and they looked like they hadn't slept in days. The shoulders began shouting for them to get off but I noticed many could not understand what they were saying. Some hesitantly got off and those who could not understand followed. They ran to an opening in the gates where they were told to strip down and shower. As I watched, two men come up behind me I guess I was too confused to notice them. "Hello, you must be the replacement" one of the men said. He was an older man maybe 40 or 50.
"Yes I am.My name is-" I said
"Yes we know who you are" the other interrupted. This one was about my age maybe a year older.
"Heinz don't be so rude to this man he will be I charge of you while the Pole is out," the older man said.
" I apologize major Huber. I must get back to my work." He saluted an ran off.
" I'm sorry but what exactly is this place?" I asked.
"Ah yes welcome to Auschwitz"