The WW2 Diary of Shirley Bates (DW)

Shirley always wanted to be an actor. She would picture herself on set, and answering questions from the interviewers. But on September 1st she cannot even picture herself alive. When the Germans came to Poland, she kept her diary with her. This experience would change her life forever.

'Mama woke us up early. She told us to hide in the basement. I looked out the window, and saw many planes fly over us. "Mama, look at all of those!" Terry said, unaware of what this meant.'

After being on the streets until December 5th, 1939, the soldiers arrested the last of the Bates family. Shirley was sent to Ravensbrueck and Terry was sent to Sachsenhausen with his Mother. In April of 1940, Shirley and a group of other Jews were sent to Auschwitz 1. Terry did not survive the ride to Auschwitz. Shirley made a friend there, Ilda, who was later executed in the Gas Chambers. Shirley was unhealthy and weak, but she knew one day she would be liberated. When the Death March began, Shirley was not physically well enough to do it, and was shot by a German Soldier. Meanwhile, her Mother died of starvation in Auschwitz on December 2nd, 1942.

(THIS IS NOT REAL. WARNING!)