Waldsee (fictional location)
Waldsee was a place invented by the National Socialists that was supposed to be in Thuringia .
history
In the summer of 1944 numerous postcards arrived from a place called Waldsee in Budapest . They were written by people who had recently been deported . The cards were sent to the Budapest Jewish Council , which passed them on to the addressees. The text, which could not be longer than thirty German words, was always almost the same: “I'm fine. I'm working. ”Or“ Arrived safe and sound, working in the field. ”Or“ We're fine. Comes after!"
These postcards, which were sent to simulate a holiday resort, came directly from Auschwitz . At the behest of SS leader Hermann Alois Krumey , who held a leading position in the Eichmann Command , 30,000 postcards were distributed among the first deportees. SS men often dictated what to write to the people shortly before the gassing . The cards from “Waldsee” arrived in Hungary at the time when the murder machinery was in full swing and the victims' suspicions needed to be appeased as soon as possible. In addition, they wanted to force those who were still to be deported to obedience. The purpose of the postcards was to reassure those who were still at home. In this way they were prepared for deportation. The Budapest Jewish Council had concerns, but was appeased by Krumey that the transports to Central Germany were going to a health resort in Thuringia . However, hidden Hebrew characters were discovered on some Waldsee postcards , which indicated the Auschwitz concentration camp as the true destination of the transport .
Something similar had previously been done to deportees from other countries; they had to write postcards to their families before they were transported to concentration camps.
Individual evidence
- ^ Extermination of the Jews: The Deputy . In: Der Spiegel . No. 18 , 1964 ( online ).
- ↑ Jewish News: Üdvözlet Auschwitzból. In: hagalil.com. Retrieved February 5, 2017 .