27th April 1945. The cannons thundered the whole night and it was early in the morning that American troops liberated our concentration camp near the village of Tuerckheim, in Bavaria. No outburst, surely, in enemy country, but for us, the final certitude to be free and alive. Only fourteen years old and already for me to be aware of all the human cruelty ? I should say inhuman cruelty, against us. A little lost, naturally ? what to do with this new freedom? ? I walked in Tuerckheim, looking for somebody friendly, when a G.I., very tall, addressed sharply to me. I didn't understand English, so I showed him my forearm on which very clearly he could see my tattooed registration number of concentration camp. Then, very simply, without comment, he took my hand and we went in a well stocked shop on the village place. Before a mirror, the G.I. gave me one dress after another, one too long, the other ugly. I was very moved of gratitude for this man, ready to continue to fight, because the war was not yet finished, and being concerned to decently dress a concentration girl with rags. We took a dress, without paying, the shopkeeper looking us hostile, me finally decently dressed, and the soldier very self-satisfied apparently. With a strong voice he said ?BYE-BYE?, let me, and disappeared in the distance. I don?t more remember his face, but still today, I keep memory of this simple and human soldier who could give me back the appearance of a free girl. If he is still alive ? and I hope it so much ? I would like that he knows that I often think about him and it would be marvellous if he could recognise himself in this story.? Mrs. Marie LIPSTADT-PINHAS ? Brussels. Liberated from concentration camp TURKHEIM (DACHAU) on 27th april 1945, by 7th US ARMY, 10th armored division
GuestAntwerpen,Vlaanderen,België, 260009-01-2017