Points to consider:
- The postcard (see link below) indicates reasonable treatment by the Germans.
- The fact that this prisoner was released in late (November) 1943 is critical.
The alleged 'gassings' were said to have gone into full operation in the early part of 1943; with additional, claims of earlier gassings.....all of which the sender of the postcard would have been free to tell the world about. But obviously the SS was not concerned. Think about it, all that's alleged and yet the SS release this man to the outside world. Obviously there was nothing to hide.
See this description and translation:
This is an original postcard sent from one of the very first inmates interned in Auschwitz. It was written on an official formular Auschwitz postcard. The front bears the original Hitler stamp cancelled at the Auschwitz 2 postoffice on May 16, 1942. In the middle, vertically written section the inmate signed his name (Johann Klausa), indicated his prisoner tattoo number (#1124), birthdate (November 22, 1908), block number (13) and postal address (K.L. Auschwitz O/S Postamt 2).
Auschwitz archives indicate he was one of 100 prisoners sent from the police prison in Sosnowitz to Auschwitz on June 25, 1940, barely one month after the camp had opened. The historical value of this item is increased significantly by the fact that Johann Klausa was one of the very few inmates ever to be ***released*** from Auschwitz. Archives of the State Museum of Auschwitz indicate he was released on November 27, 1943, having survived nearly 3 and one-half years in Auschwitz. The card was written on May 10, 1942 to a brother living in Hohenlinde, Kreis Kattowitz, Oberschlesien (occupied Poland).
text:
Schutzhäftling Johann Klausa geboren am 22.XI.08, Block 13 Gef. Nr. 1124, KL Auschwitz O/S. Postamt 2 Auschwitz, Oberschlesien, 10.5.42 An Herrn Hubert Klausa Hohenlinde Paterstrstr.5 Krs Kattowitz O/S. Auschwitz den 10.V.42 Liebster Bruder und Schwägerin! Schreibe wieder zu Euch paar Wörter und theile mit, daß ich mich bei bester Gesundheit befinde und auch von Euch dasselbe hoffe. Wie gehts dem Johann
Translation (the punctuation is sparse):
"From convict Johann Klausa born Nov 22, 1908, Block 13, Prisoner No. 1124, Auschwitz Prisoner of War Camp ... Auschwitz, Upper Silesia, May 10, 1942 Dear brother and sister in law I'm writing you a few words again and inform you that I am in best of health and hope the same of you. How are things with brother Wilhelm is he still in Witebsk or is he already further on than that has he written in recent times? Why do you write so little? You can write every fourteen days and more often. What is Fernes(?) doing, does he often come to see you? Best wishes to you all and acquaintances Johann"
http://web.archive.org/web/200502071146 ... uction.htm
- Hannover
