The Diary of Gunther Marcuse in Yad Vashem Studies, Volume VIII

The Diary of Günther Marcuse - the Last Days of the Gross-Breesen Training Centre

Gunther Marcuse’s parents were forced to emigrate from Berlin in February 1939, at which time Gunther entered the Gross-Breesen Jewish emigration farm, where he remained for six years until his deportation to Auschwitz with the rest of his comrades. The farm was located near Breslau in Silesia and provided agricultural training. In August 1941 the Gestapo converted it into a labor camp. In February 1943, he was deported to Auschwitz where he died a year later. His diaries record happenings, both trivial and important, during the period between October 1942 and February 1943. In general most days are accorded a few lines. As time goes on his writings indicate the steadily increasing fear of the inhabitants for their fate.