Figure 1.--

The industrial killing phase of the Holocaust began in mid-1042 when the NAZI death camps in Poland became operational. At this time the NAZI authorities in Belgium and other countries began rounding up Jews for deportation to the death camps. At first the NAZI authorities tried to trick Jews to report for labor service. Some did report, but because many did not, the authorities began to round up Jews indecrimately. I was blond and blue eyes, looking Aryan myself. Thus I got away with a lot and could move about freely. Germans were even nice to me, Bernard and I were almost picked up. It was a terrifying experience. we lived on the top floor of a house of pleasure that was set up for the German Luftwaffe and my father had a mistress there. So we are on the top floor at night sleeping. Our father was not there then. That actually probably saved us. Suddenly a man was standing over us with a Luger pistol to my head. I recall that Luger clearly even to this day. Can you imagine holding a pistol to a little boy's head. "Raus, raus" (Up, up) he screamed. My brother and I were terrified, but quickly dressed and ran downstairs, as ordered. They did not beat us, but were shouting. In the living room, a table with a light was set up and one by one we were interrogated. The Germans who were arresting us wore rubberized grey trench coats. It was a trademark for the Gestapo. Lots of shouting. Finally my turn came. I stood all alone in front of that table with a bright light to my face. The Gestapo man shouted at me "Bist du Jude? Tu es juif?" I fell mute and frozen with fear and could not speak. I reacted as if I did not understand the question ... not if I was not Jewish.. Tthey let me go. "Raus" (get out" and I ran out of the room and ran upstairs. My brother was already there looking out the window. We saw the people loaded on an open military truck. the next day father moved us into my his apartment. A few months later he was arrested and we went into hiding.

Background

The industrial killing phase of the Holocaust began in mid-1042 when the NAZI death camps in Poland became operational. At this time the NAZI authorities in Belgium and other countries began rounding up Jews for deportation to the death camps. At first the NAZI authorities tried to trick Jews to report for labor service. Some did report, but because many did not, the authorities began to round up Jews indecrimately. Bernard and I were almost picked up, but not in one of those Jewish round ups. We were caught in a Gestapo raid on a resistance cell. It was a terrifying experience.

Appearance

One's appearance made a significant difference in surviving the Holocaust. I was blond and blue eyes, looking Aryan myself. Thus I got away with a lot and could move about freely. Germans were even nice to me,

Our Apartment

we lived on the top floor of a house of pleasure that was set up for the German Luftwaffe and my father had a mistress there. It was just a small room way upstairs, sort of hidden away. It seemed safe. So we were there on the top floor at night sleeping. Our father was not there then. That actually probably saved us.

Gestapo Men Awaken Us

Suddenly a man was standing over us with a Luger pistol to my head. I recall that Luger clearly even to this day. Can you imagine holding a pistol to a little boy's head. "Raus, raus" (Up, up) he screamed. My brother and I were terrified, but quickly dressed and ran downstairs, as ordered. They did not beat us, but were shouting.

Interogation

There were about 20 other people, all adults, in the living room when Bernard ahd I entered. Our guess was that they all belonged to an underground group and they had a meeting and were betrayed. In the living room, a table with a light was set up and one by one we were interrogated. The Germans who were arresting us wore rubberized grey trench coats. It was a trademark for the Gestapo. Lots of shouting and beating. Bernard told them he was Jewish, but they let him go. We think that the Gestap agents were involved in an operation against the Resistance and were too busy that night to be bothered with two little Jewish boys. Finally my turn came. I stood all alone in front of that table with a bright light to my face. Imagine a dark living room. Nothing is clearly visible, except for the little table and its one bright lamp, beamed at your face. And two men behind it in the shadows, shouting orders. I was about 8 feet away, feeling more alone than I had ever felt in my life. The Gestapo man shouted at me "Bist du Jude? Tu es juif?" I fell mute and frozen with fear and could not speak. I reacted as if I did not understand the question, not if I was not Jewish.. I was too scared to say anything. They let me go. "Raus" (get out) and I ran out of the room and ran upstairs. The adults were all taken away. There were no Belgians present.

Lorry Outside

My brother was already there looking out the window. We saw the people loaded on to an open lorry (truck). It was the kind the military used, but I can not now recall what kind of markings were on the truck. They were used to transport almost anything. We used to see them in the city, driving by, filled with people standing, looking every which way, forlorn, lost and doomed. The anxiety level in the street was so thick you could cut it with knife. Even when I visit nowadays brings back dreadful menories. I still feel that level of angst, but a good cup of coffee with whipped cream and good pastry helps to alleviate that feeling.

Informer

I think we know who informed on us. There was a young man living on our floor and once we saw that he had photos of Hitler in his room. Right after the raid we went into his room and ransacked it. We felt he was the one who betrayed everyone. He was not there that night. We found an entire salami there, a golden thing to find at the time. We ate the whole thing until we got sick. It was probably his reward from the Gestapo.

Move

the next day father moved us into his apartment. A few months later he was arrested and we went into hiding.

Sources

The author here is Charles Rotmil. Charles provided the information in a series of eMails during July 2010. The page was edited by Dennis Weidner.

Created: 9:45 AM 7/29/2010
Last updated: 9:46 AM 7/29/2010