Sulejów

“Whilst we were in Sulejów we worked in the fields digging trenches for anti-aircraft’s. Again I was very lucky I told the guard that if they wanted us to work quicker and harder they should supply us with water. I told him that not far in the village they have got plenty of water. He sent me to investigate.

When I came back and told him there was a well and the farmer has got a big tank on wheels, we went back to the farm and brought the water, I then became the water boy. This was the best job in Sulejów .

I recall one day when I went for the water they would not give me any and started shouting at me saying you dirty filthy Jew, we have no more water for you and get out of here before we break your neck. I went back without any water and told the head of the guards that they would not give water to the German bastards, and I told him that they called the Germans more dirty names. I knew that I could say anything I liked as the Poles did not understand any German and the Germans did not understand any Polish.

We went back and he took with him a machine gun and started shouting and screaming at them to lay down on the floor. He pointed the machine gun at them and they started begging me to tell him that he can have anything he wants as long as he does not shoot them.

I translated the Polish into German the way it suited me. After that I had no trouble from them, they gave me whatever I wanted as I had saved their lives. I was not short of food.  I used to bring back something whenever I went for the water and had enough for my friends as well.”

Harry Balsam written testament, 1995.