The Diary of Petr Ginz, 1941–1942 Read online

  will give up other habits too

  like meeting Aryans you knew.

  He used to be allowed a swag,

  suitcase, rucksack, or carpetbag.

  Now he has lost even those rights

  but every Jew lowers his sights

  and follows all the rules he’s got

  and doesn’t care one little jot.

  4. I. 1942 (Sunday)

  In the morning homework, in the afternoon a walk.

  5. I. 1942 (Monday)

  In the morning in town, in the afternoon at Grandma’s.

  6. I. 1942 (Tuesday)

  In the morning with Popper, in the afternoon at Grandma’s.

  Uncle Milos has an inflammation of the periosteum.

  7. I. 1942 (Wednesday)

  In the morning in town, in the afternoon went for a walk.

  8. I. 1942 (Thursday)

  In the morning at home, in the afternoon a walk; the Miloses came to visit us, but without Aunt Nada.

  9. I. 1942 (Friday)

  In the morning in town. Mr. Weisbach came here for a visit and told us how he was locked in jail for ten days, because his identity card didn’t say “J.”

  He said the director (former of course) from Kolben-Danek was there, and also many other Jews.

  10. I. 1942 (Saturday)

  In the morning went for a walk with Popper, in the afternoon at Grandma’s.

  11. I. 1942 (Sunday)

  Homework in the morning, in the afternoon I went with Eva, Renata Hirschova (Eva’s friend), sleigh-riding in Maniny.

  We received an order to hand in fur coats, everything made of fur, wool undergarments, pullovers, etc. Only one set of underwear is allowed per person. There is a big collection to help soldiers on the front, they are collecting warm underwear, a special announcement is published about it every day. I heard that so far three thousand train carriages have been sent to the front.

  12. I. 1942 (Monday)

  Today we had to hand in one sweater; some Jews carried to the collection centres huge parcels with fur coats, underwear, and other things. There they are loaded into moving trucks and and it’s still not enough and there are mountains of parcels everywhere.

  In the afternoon in town.

  13. I. 1942 (Tuesday)

  In the morning I went for a walk with Popper. It’s terribly cold.

  14. I. 1942 (Wednesday)

  In the morning at home; in the afternoon I went with Daddy and Eva sleigh-riding in Maniny. They say that the Maniny sewer will soon be completely filled; now they are dumping rubbish from all of Prague into it. It’s already half full.

  Some boys found metal sawdust among the rubbish and also a bottle of carbide and in the evening (during blackout) they started such a big fire that you could see it all over Prague. When the bottles with carbide blew up it shook all of Maniny. Then a policeman discovered them and when he reached them, a huge flash burst out of the fire, which annoyed the policeman to the highest degree.

  15. I. 1942 (Thursday)

  In the morning at home. In the afternoon with Popper; they just took away Mrs. Popperova’s registered sewing machine, which makes her very unhappy.

  16. I. 1942 (Friday)

  In the morning at home, in the afternoon went for a walk in town.

  17. I. 1942 (Saturday)

  In the morning at home, in the afternoon at Grandma’s.

  18. I. 1942 (Sunday)

  In the morning at home, in the afternoon at Grandma’s with the Miloses. All mixed marriages received questionnaires to fill out.

  19. I. 1942 (Monday)

  In the morning in town, in the afternoon at home.

  20. I. 1942 (Tuesday)

  I heard they’ve formed a new government, and Moravec, who writes agitating articles, is the minister for education.

  In the morning at Popper’s; Turna was there, too.

  In the afternoon went walking in Troja, it’s awfully cold (at least–19°C for sure); Eva cried all the way home because she was freezing.

  21. I. 1942 (Wednesday)

  In the morning at home and in town, in the afternoon at home.

  Slavek Stein came to visit.

  22. I. 1942 (Thursday)

  In the morning at home, in the afternoon in town and on a walk.

  There are new transports to Theresienstadt; Mrs. Traub is going too. That’s why I was at the Poppers, to check if they were going as well, because many people whose names start with P were called up.

  There are notices up everywhere in the streets saying the new Czech government believes in the victory of the Reich, etc., etc.

  23. I. 1942 (Friday)

  From two o’clock in the afternoon until six there is no electricity or gas, trams usually have only one car. Our lift is not working.

  In the afternoon at the Levituses. Uncle is writing lots of documents for Mrs. Traubova for the move to Theresienstadt. I heard that in Theresienstadt they have also interned Frenchmen, Poles, and other foreigners (non-Jews). Supposedly eight people were executed there for trying to escape.

  24. I. 1942 (Saturday)

  In the morning I went for a walk with Popper; in the afternoon I stayed home.

  25. I. 1942 (Sunday)

  In the morning at home; in the afternoon we all went for a walk in Maniny.

  26. I. 1942 (Monday)

  In the morning in town. Today from three in the afternoon Jews are not allowed to travel by tram. The only exceptions are people older than sixty, Jewish Community employees, and so on.

  The Miloses are moving into their new apartment in Vinohrady.

  27. I. 1942 (Tuesday)

  The Milos family slept in their new apartment for the first time.

  In the morning in town, in the afternoon at home; trams get stuck in snowdrifts.

  28. I. 1942 (Wednesday)

  In the morning in town, Mr. Tausig was here. In the afternoon at home. The Goldmanns from Budyne are leaving for Theresienstadt.

  29. I. 1942 (Thursday)

  In the morning at home, in the afternoon as well. Uncle Slava has been forced to shovel snow for many days already; he doesn’t even have proper shoes and he’s freezing.

  30. I. 1942 (Friday)

  Daddy caught a cold this morning while carrying coal, because he went in his shirt across the hall to the storage room. He saw Dr. Slezak, who sent him to the Jewish Dr. Lang.

  31. I. 1942 (Saturday)

  Daddy is feeling very ill, he can’t breathe out, on the way to the doctor he almost fainted, so for the way back he had to give Daddy an injection.

  He’s got pleuritis.

  In the afternoon at Grandma’s, it’s her name-day. Daddy couldn’t go there (12 Vojtesska Street), because he has to lie down in a warm bed. Grandma gave us excellent cakes baked by Aunt Anda.

  1. II. 1942 (Sunday)

  Today is my birthday, I got lots of things:

  1. a Christmas cake from Mummy

  2. an empty book for writing in from Ota

  3. wrist warmers from Eva

  4. figs from Mummy

  5. marbles (sweets, made by Mummy)

  6. oranges

  7. sweets

  8. borrowed books: Verne—Big Chaos, Nekola—The Thirteenth Governor, Stevenson—Treasure Island

  9. a small notebook from Eva

  10. five Ex-fizzy sweets from Manci

  11. a packet of sweets from Eva Sklenckova

  12. gingerbreads from Mummy (ox eyes)

  13. a handkerchief

  14. orange peel

  15. 100 crowns from Grandma

  16. fine tea biscuits from Grandma

  17. a packet of biscuits from the Miloses

  Daddy is feeling a bit better.—The Miloses were here in the afternoon.

  2. II. 1942 (Monday)

  In the morning at home, and in the afternoon, too.

  3. II. 1942 (Tuesday)

  In the morning in town, in the afternoon at home.

  At half past eleven at night a messenger f
rom the Community came to tell us that Daddy has to report to the exhibition ground on Thursday morning. He was registered as a car mechanic, and that’s why they chose Daddy, in spite of the mixed marriage. There was a terrible rush, we were preparing everything for the journey, the Kohners were helping us. Fortunately, Daddy got a fever and Dr. Lang, who was called in by the Community, sent a message to the Community that Daddy is unable to join the transport. Of course we were very pleased.

  4. II. 1942 (Wednesday)

  Daddy is fine, he just wheezes from time to time.

  5. II. 1942 (Thursday)

  A huge number of our friends have been called up for the new transport: Bardach, Mr. Mautner (an acquaintance of Uncle Karel), Hirschova, who used to go for walks with Eva, and many others.

  6. II. 1942 (Friday)

  In the morning in town, in the afternoon at home.

  7. II. 1942 (Saturday)

  In the morning at home, in the afternoon with Popper.

  8. II. 1942 (Sunday)

  Bardach came to say goodbye to me, he and his whole family are going on Monday to the exhibition grounds (leaving for Theresienstadt).

  In the afternoon the Miloses were here, they brought me a packet of sweets, it’s still for my birthday.

  9. II. 1942 (Monday)

  In the morning in town; W. Adler was here and brought an invitation to come to school, because we’ve had no classes since December 19 and the holidays have been extended.

  10. II. 1942 (Tuesday)

  In the morning I was in school, where I found out that I have been assigned to study group B.

  11. II. 1942 (Wednesday)

  Daddy is feeling a little worse. In the morning my group met at the Goldsteins; we were given a huge amount of homework; in the afternoon I went for a walk.

  12. II. 1942 (Thursday)

  In the morning in town, in the afternoon at Grandma’s.

  13. II. 1942 (Friday)

  In the morning I was with Popper, in the afternoon at Grandma’s.

  14. II. 1942 (Saturday)

  In the morning at home, in the afternoon at Grandma’s.

  15. II. 1942 (Sunday)

  In the morning at home; I made a new linocut.

  16. II. 1942 (Monday)

  In the morning in town, in the afternoon at the Miloses to see their apartment for the first time. It is cold there. Pavel and Uncle were in the middle of redoing the kitchen; it was an awful mess. They divided the kitchen into two parts and turned one into a bathroom.

  17. II. 1942 (Tuesday)

  In the morning at home, in the afternoon went for a walk.

  18. II. 1942 (Wednesday)

  In the morning with Popper. Daddy is feeling somewhat better.

  19. II. 1942 (Thursday)

  In the morning at home, in the afternoon on a walk.

  For a long time now, groups of Jews can be seen clearing the snow off the streets; Uncle Slava goes to shovel it every single day and the skin on his hands is cracked from frost.

  20. II. 1942 (Friday)

  In the morning I met with my study group at the Adlers at 13 Krakovska Street.

  We had Dr. Reich, who was once slapped by a German.

  I heard that some local people wanted to kill a turkey, but they felt sorry for it and didn’t want to just cut its throat, so they gave it Veronal, plucked it, and put it in water. But then the dear turkey woke up and because it was cold without feathers, they knitted a sweater for it, and so it now walks around in a sweater. In the afternoon I went for a walk. In the afternoon Eva II came to visit us.

  21. II. 1942 (Saturday)

  It’s Eva’s birthday. She got lots of stuff:

  1. a cake

  2. pastry cigars

  3. sweets (toffees, jelly sweets, raspberries—3 bags)

  4. a box with Odkolek sweets

  5. sweets with a red rose

  6. a piece of Turkish delight

  7. a packet of fizzy sweets

  8. a box of biscuits from Eva II

  9. a hood

  10. an empty book for writing

  11. ex libris

  12. a photo album

  13. a comb

  14. a chain

  15. three borrowed books: Black India, Spicka Wants to Be a Reporter, Mila Vetroplach

  16. 100 crowns

  22. II. 1942 (Sunday)

  In the morning I was at the Miloses, in the afternoon I stayed home and also went for a walk.

  23. II. 1942 (Monday)

  In the morning in town, in the afternoon at home. Dr. Slezak was here. He recommended that we put Daddy in the hospital, because he is worse.

  Family Photos

  The antique shop in Prague’s Jungmann Square that belonged to Petr and Eva’s grandfather, Josef Ginz.

  Marie Dolanska (Mancinka) and Otto Ginz in their wedding photo, March 8, 1927.

  The Ginz family near their summer apartment in Strasin, August 1931.

  The Ginz family in February 1933—Eva and Petr in foreground, Mancinka and Otto behind them.

  Eva and Petr Ginz, 1934.

  Petr and Eva Ginz on the embankment, Prague, spring 1936.

  The Ginz family on Prikopy Street, spring 1938.

  The Ginz family in 1939.

  Petr’s identification for the streetcar from 1939, when he attended the first year of a general school in Nusle; because of his Jewish origins, he had to leave this school.

  Winter in Podoli (from left: Petr, Eva, Mancinka, Mrs. Traubova and Herma Levitusova).

  Sitting, from left: Milos Ginz, his wife Nada, Mancinka, Eva Sklenckova; behind them: Petr Ginz and Pavel Ginz (Milos and Nada’s son).

  Petr Ginz’s Diary

  from the twenty-fourth of February

  of the year nineteen hundred and forty-two

  (Tuesday)

  until———24

  24. II. 1942 (Tuesday)

  In the morning I was at home; in the afternoon a car came from the Health Insurance to take Daddy to the Jewish hospital on Lublanska Street. The car was beautiful, modern, and very springy. It arrived at about 3.30 P.M.

  The Miloses could have been poisoned by a gas leak.

  25. II. 1942 (Wednesday)

  German flags at the Hybernske train station and in front of the winter stadium. In the morning with my study group at the Goldmanns, 46 Na Porici; we were given lots and lots of homework.—In the afternoon at home and on a walk. The snow is melting, so there is a thaw, during which Jews sweep the wet snow. At Maniny. In the evening we received a parcel from Aunt Bozka. There was cream cheese in it and an orange for Mummy; and linocuts for me. The prints of the cuts arrived in the afternoon by post.

  26. II. 1942 (Thursday)

  In the morning I was in town. There was a bomb assassination against some Papen, a friend of the Germans.

  In the afternoon we went to visit Daddy in the hospital. It is in the same place where Mrs. Kohner lived when she was little (an orphanage).

  It is very nice there. Daddy is by the window on the first floor on the right; you have to walk through one room and there it is. There are five beds. When we arrived, a young man was shaving Daddy.—Then Uncle Milos came, too, and then we left and went to visit them.

  27. II. 1942 (Friday)

  Because I noticed yesterday that my gums were swollen and I had a bump behind the ear, I went to the Jewish ambulatory clinic on Vezenska Street, with my identity card. They rubbed some liquid into the gums and told me to come back on Monday. As for the bump, I am supposed to come to the surgery at 4:30 in the afternoon.

  The Kohners received a letter from Theresienstadt from Leo (the fat one). He writes that they are healthy; they are allowed to write only thirty words, in block capitals, and send it through the Jewish Community.

  28. II. 1942 (Saturday)

  In the morning in town; in the afternoon I brougt Daddy a package and left it with the porter. Daddy is in No. 18; Dr. Pollak is in the room next door. He’s the annoying fat man who wrote “Rivka Is Getting Married.
” He is currently the minister for Jewish education.

  In the streets there are masses of Germans and frequent parades with drumming. Today they punctured Daddy’s exudate. Daddy is feeling better.

  1. III. 1942 (Sunday)

  In the morning I stayed at home and helped Mummy. In the afternoon I visited Daddy in the hospital. Large groups of Hitler jugend are now forming in front of our house, so there is a lot of shouting.

  They removed three litres of water from Daddy’s lungs! They dragged some containers to him, lots of doctors came running, even the chief doctor Klein himself, and the puncture was done quite painlessly. They asked him: Shall we make it a full three liters?

  Daddy told them: Do help yourselves.

  There is also a man there who is dying of cancer.

  2. III. 1942 (Monday)

  In the morning in town, in the afternoon at home. Mummy is gone with Eva and Eva II to the Zink auction in the Beranek hotel, and because the laundry is supposed to get picked up any minute by the Seiners, I have to stay at home. Slavek came in the afternoon to tell me I have to be in school the day after tomorrow for my exams.

  3. III. 1942 (Tuesday)

  In the afternoon in town. There are ordinances everywhere saying that it is not allowed to wash Jewish laundry. The exhibition “Soviet paradise” began on Saturday, [February] 28. In many shop windows they are exhibiting seized Russian helmets, cannons, and gas masks.

  4. III. 1942 (Wednesday)

  In the afternoon at school. We had a test in music; I didn’t know anything, but I was clever enough to copy it. Afterward I had an oral exam in natural history and [we took] a math test.

  In the afternoon I was outdoors with Slavek.

  5. III. 1942 (Thursday)

  In the afternoon I was in town and at the dental ambulatory clinic on Kelly’s [street] (U stare skoly),25 because of the abscess that has been forming on my gums for a long time now.

  In the afternoon at home.

  6. III. 1942 (Friday)

  There was a terrible air raid on Paris; I heard there were 220–250 dead and over a thousand injured (see 11.III.)

  In the morning in town, in the afternoon on a walk with Popper.

  7. III. 1942 (Saturday)

  In the morning in town and in the afternoon at home.