In-depth Notes from Alec Muths Interview

Life in Flossenburg Concentration Camp

• Description of Daily Life

  • Prisoners faced starvation and brutal treatment.
  • Food consisted of 250 grams of bread, often mixed with sawdust, and a quart of soup.
  • Infrequent access to basic sustenance, with portions depending on early arrivals to soup distribution.

• Life and Death

  • Russian prisoners were seen as particularly sturdy, often executed when they arrived at the camp.
  • Execution practices included public hangings and torture before death.
  • One notable execution involved a Russian general shouting, "Long live freedom!" before being hanged.

Conditions and Entertainment of the SS Guards

• Cruelty as Entertainment
  • Guards found amusement in torture, music playing while bodies were cremated.
  • Prisoners were often used for target practice, instilling a terror-filled environment.
  • An inmate orchestra existed, where musicians played to earn extra bread, although not truly voluntary.

Personal Accounts of Torture and Observation

• Admiral Canaris Incident
  • Admiral Canaris was brought in, tortured and executed for allegedly attempting to assassinate Hitler.
  • His torture included severe physical abuse, and he endured without groaning or begging for mercy.

The Forced March and Train Experience

• Transportation and Attack

  • On April 14, 1945, Jews were gathered and forcibly transported to Czechoslovakia, with machine guns ready to execute survivors.
  • An airstrike from American P-38s halted the transport, killing many prisoners and guards.
  • Prisoners faced a grim choice during the train attack: stay on the train and risk being shot by SS or jump off and risk being shot by the Allies.

• Subsequent March and Conditions

  • After being trapped and attacked, survivors were forced to march at night.
  • Significant suffering, starvation, and executions of those who couldn’t keep up.
  • The journey involved about 2,600 prisoners, with only about 200 surviving the ordeal lasting from April 14 to April 23, 1945.

The Aftermath and Liberation

• Post-liberation Life

  • After liberation, the interviewee and his father stayed in a hospital for a few months to recuperate.
  • Experiences of survivors included difficulties adjusting to standard nourishment after suffering malnutrition.
  • Many struggled with injuries and trauma resulting from their imprisonment and experiences during the march.

• Future in Germany and Emigration

  • The interviewee lived in Germany from 1945 to 1949, working and trying to rebuild his life.
  • Eventually immigrated to the United States in June 1949, facing the lingering emotional impact of his previous experiences.
  • His journey included a return to Germany for military service during the Korean War, which was a difficult emotional reconfrontation with a painful past.

Reflections on Survival and Memory

• Efforts to Rebuild
  • Emphasis on education, support from his father, and involvement with American aid organizations helped him adapt.
  • The cultural and psychological ramifications of his experiences remained profound and shaped his future.