Petr Ginz's Diary
from the twenty-fourth of February
of the year nineteen hundred and forty-two
(Tuesday)
until-24
24. The diary ends with the entry of August 8, 1942, a month before Petr's transport to Theresienstadt.
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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.
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2?. 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 Hitlerjugend 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.
25. Translator's note: U stare skoly = By the Old School; this is the original Czech name of the street, changed to Kelly's Street under the Nazi regime.
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t U.
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.
In the evening I went for a walk. The water in the river is far below the normal level, so from the embankment you can see the stairs to the lower river bank, from the lower bank to the edge of the bulwark, and five steps of the ladder below.
0U.
8. III. 1942 (Sunday)
In the morning I was at home; in the afternoon I went for a walk and to visit Daddy in the hospital.
The doctor who looked after him now has pneumonia himself. The Japanese have seriously threatened Java.
9. III. 1942 (Monday)
In the morning at school, they told us our approximate results on the report card. I will probably get a B in music, a B (c) [in] maths and a B fin] geography.—In the afternoon at home.
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10. III. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning in town, in the afternoon at school.
We are not allowed to travel by tram No. 1, because the most frequent disturbances between Jews and Germans go on there. It is possible that Jews will not be allowed to travel at all (even with identity cards).
11. III. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school; they counted 750 casualties in Paris and 1,400 injured.—In the afternoon outside.
12. III. 1942 (Thursday)
In the morning I was in town; there is an announcement on the board in Politika in Wenceslav Square that Jews are not allowed to read newspapers. In the afternoon at school.
13. III. 1942 (Friday)
In the morning at school; we received our report cards, in two languages of
course, even our marks were written in Czech and in German. Except for a B
in handwriting, maths, geography, and music, I have all A's.
In the afternoon with Daddy. I slipped in without the porter noticing and made
it all the way to Daddy's room, handed in the parcel, and had to quickly run
away so the nurses wouldn't find me there.
Because it wasn't visiting time.
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14- III. 1942 (Saturday) In the morning in town.
In the afternoon on a walk with Popper. He and I are trying to make an element that will produce electricity, using a solution with blue vitriol (of copper) and a solution of bitter salt (with zinc). We failed, because the two solutions blended with each other.
15. III. 1942 (Sunday)
We received a note, saying that tomorrow at 9 o'clock the Sklenckas will arrive from Hradec.
I visited Daddy in the hospital in the afternoon. He is feeling a bit better.
16. III. 1942 (Monday)
The Sklenckas arrived. Eva II was here in the afternoon. They slept over at our house (not Eva II, of course). Uncle spent a long time at the bank in the morning.
In the afternoon I was outside.
17. III. 1942 (Tuesday) Josef Svatopluk Machar died.
In the morning I was at home and in town, in the afternoon at school. We were shooting paper balls even during lessons. I bought one coupon for the "Trigo" competition for 20 heller; you have to guess how to play the game Trigo and attach the coupon to the answer. Then you get all the coins that were chosen.
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18. III. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school.
Daddy phoned to say that he is supposed to come home from the hospital at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Of course it has caused a big commotion. We could have burned the house down, because a hot piece of coal fell out of the stove, Aunt Bozka and Eva didn't notice it, and some papers caught fire.—Aunt Herma broke her arm.
19. III. 1942 (Thursday)
In the morning in town, in the afternoon at school.
20. III. 1942 (Friday)
They arrested all the Americans who are Jews.
In the morning at school, in the afternoon outside. As far as I know, there was loose ice floating on the river; I haven't been able to get to the embankment, so I don't know for sure.
21. III. 1942 (Saturday)
In the morning in town, in the afternoon at Popper's. This time the two solutions didn't blend like last time, but the element still didn't work. In Maniny there was a huge collection of bells taken from churches. You could see forty-one bells, but around the bend there were more, small and enormous ones, so that there could have been eighty to a hundred of them. I once saw in Strossmayer place how they took it down from the tower.
22. III. 1942 (Sunday)
Uncle Milos also has to sweep snow, even though the bone membrane (periosteum) in his hand is inflamed. Uncle Slava has been doing it for eight weeks already and he has huge blisters and terribly cracked hands. In the morning at home; in the afternoon I started translating the story "Die Nacht auf dem Walfisch"26 by Gerstackr.
23. III. 1942 (Monday)
Daddy was X-rayed at the Bernard.
In the morning at school; in the afternoon at home.
24- III. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning in town, in the afternoon at school.
I also had an oral in natural history. I probably got an A, an A minus in the worst case.
25. III. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school, in the afternoon at home and in town. Daddy's X-ray results (see 23.III.) were very satisfactory. Soon he will be able to go out for a short walk.
He lost about 12 kg.—I have a permit to travel by tram for three weeks.
26. "The Night on the Whale.
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26. III. 1942 (Thursday)
In the morning in town, in the afternoon at school. I was tested in religion27 by Elisa Stein (1-2).
27. III. 1942 (Friday)
In the morning in school. In the afternoon outdoors. Auntie Nepomericka is going to Theresienstadt.
28. III. 1942 (Saturday)
In the morning with Popper. Eva was at Grandma's in the afternoon.
I heard that already at 1:30 the gas supply was very weak (at two it is supposed
to be stopped altogether) and at the Mitoses there was no gas at all. We want
to light our gas—and here it's also gone! So we don't know how to cook our
dinner.
In the afternoon with Popper, in Maniny there are still huge numbers of church bells: it is forbidden to take photos of them. They are gradually being removed. We received a flyer.28
29. III. 1942 (Sunday)
In the morning at home.—You can't hear any bells ringing at all, because the Germans have confiscated them all; they will probably make cannons out of them. They left only the Zikmund on St. Vitus and that's the only church bell in Prague now.
27. One of the subjects at school was religious education.
28. A flyer was inserted in the diary "An Dich, Prager Hausfrau—For You, Prague Housewives!" calling for the collection of kitchen waste and rubbish.
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In the afternoon in Troja. The Vltava is overflowing, but I still saw a ferry
crossing it, loaded with about thirty people.
It's still pretty cold, but the sun is already shining nicely.
30. III. 1942 (Monday)
In the morning at school, in the afternoon outside. They were taking the bell out of Tyn Cathedral.
31. III. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning in town; in the afternoon at school, we had a maths test and German composition.
1. IV. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school. Because it was April Fool's Day, we wanted to trick the teacher Mr. Beinkoles with an exploding pencil, but our attempt failed and B. confiscated our pencil with capsules. That's how our 1 st of April turned out. In the afternoon outside.
2. IV. 1942 (Thursday) In the morning in town.
It is the first day of the Easter and at the same time the Pesach holidays.29
I borrowed a book by Jules Verne, The Secret of the Deep Forest.
Ota Fiser (the confectioner) has been moved out of Benesov, or not exactly from
Benesov, because he was felling forest trees with some other Jews.
He was sent to Dobris. They are also moving people out of Neveklov (Aryans,
too); Germans will be arriving there.
29. Pesach, or Passover, is the Jewish holiday commemorating the Jews' exodus from slavery in Egypt in about 1235 b.c.e. The holiday begins with a festive meal called a seder.
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3. IV. 1942 (Friday)
In the morning at home and in town, in the afternoon outside.
4. IV. 1942 (Saturday)
In the morning on a walk with Popper, in the afternoon at home.
5. IV. 1942 (Sunday)
With Auntie Anda in Maniny, across the ferry under the cliff under Bulovka. Auntie wanted to visit Vilma Tapferova, but she has already gone to Theresienstadt.
The apartment was locked and covered with the stickers of "Treuhandstelle."30
6. IV. 1942 (Monday)
In the morning at home, in the afternoon on an outing to Dablice.
7. IV. 1942 (Tuesday)
Ota Fiser arrived from Dobris, because he has been forced to move out, together with people from Neveklov.
He has to go to Tabor to register. He spent the night at our place.
8. IV. 1942 (Wednesday)
I lost the diary and don't remember what happened. Ota Fiser has left.
30. Translator's note: The so-called Treuhandstelle was founded by the Nazi authorities. It was an organization attached to the Prague Jewish Community whose task was to collect and store the property of deportees.
9. IV. 1942 (Thursday)
Ota Fiser came back from Tabor.
He said he'll be leaving for Theresienstadt in the beginning of May.
10. IV. 1942 (Friday)
In the morning at school, in the afternoon outside.
11. IV. 1942 (Saturday)
In the morning in town.
In the afternoon with Popper in Maniny. There are at least two thousand bells there. They keep filling up the Maniny sewer.
(SSSSfi
12. IV. 1942 (Sunday)
I visited the Levituses, who gave me lots of small things.
They have no fat whatsoever and Auntie Herma is complaining terribly.
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13. IV. 1942 (Monday)
In the morning at school. They announced the new transport and it's all names with Lov-, Low-, Lev-, and so on. So we were worried about the Levituses, because I heard they are now taking mainly people with more property. I dropped by there in the afternoon, aunt was at the doctor's to have her bandage taken off, they are not leaving.
14. IV. 1942 (Tuesday)
It is allowed to fill sausages with dog meat. The Blochs (people we know) had for a special roast the meat of a crow! Daddy visited Grandma for the First time since he became ill.
Since yesterday the gas supply is back to normal.
The Vaneks arrived—without uncle and Lidunka, because they have to work in the office. Verka came too—with little Eva Sidlova; she speaks quite well already and walks like a grown-up. She wears a little ponytail and loves to chat. She is always telling you something, first, that she is called Alkova (Alka is her doll's name) and then that she is the aunt from Horice, and kisses you accordingly.
15. IV. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school, we had a Machar-party, to which we invited other classes. It was a success.—Mancinka's face is terribly swollen, you can't recognize her. She met several acquaintances on the street and no one recognized her. I heard it's from all those food substitutes.
16. IV. 1942 (Thursday)
Mummy's swelling hasn't gone down yet.
I
In the morning from 9:30 to 11 at Hagibor. We exercised in shirts, that's why we had to have the stars sewn onto them, too. So I had three stars on top of one another: on my overcoat, my coat, and my shirt.
In the afternoon at school: a performance of fErben's] "Kytice" ("Bouquet"). Also wasn't bad; better than that Machar.—The Vaneks left at 4:45.
17. IV. 1942 (Friday)
In the afternoon at school, our teacher Mr. Sommer is leaving with the transport for Theresienstadt and from our class Barova and Rita Goldmannova. Then on Monday at 6 o'clock in the morning Uncle Slava and Uncle Milos are leaving to work on the motorway in Krivoklat. In the afternoon at home. Last night someone from the Community came hammering on our door again: transport! Of course, Daddy will appeal it right away.
18. IV. 1942 (Saturday)
The men who go to Krivoklat get paid 1,000 crowns a month and they are also allowed weekly home visits. Those from the last group have come back already and will go again.
In the morning in town, in the afternoon at home. Daddy was at the Community for a check-up.
19. IV. 1942 (Sunday)
Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, and many other Japanese cities were heavily bombed by the Americans.
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In the morning at home; in the afternoon we had a visit from the Miloses and from Grandma.
20. IV. 1942 (Monday)
At 6 o'oclock in the morning Uncles Slava and Milos left for Moriny near Karlstejn (not Krivoklat).—In the morning at home and in town (there was a throng of people in front of the Main—Wilson's train station), in the afternoon as well. Hitler is fifty-three years old; there are flags and parades everywhere and his bust is in every shop window. Every building has to hang out a swastika flag, except for Jews, of course, who are not allowed this pleasure. It is strictly forbidden to them.
In the afternoon with Daddy in Smichov. Afterward we went to say good-bye to Mr. Felix Lederer from Petrske Square. He is leaving tomorrow morning already for Theresienstadt. The Friedlanders are supposed to go, too, even though Mr. Friedlander just had a stroke.
21. IT. 1942 (Tuesday)
Yesterday's commotion in front of Wilson's train station was a way of handing over the ambulance train by Hacha to Heydrich, as Adolf Hitler's representative. Frank and many others were there, too.
In the morning in town, in the afternoon at school (the result of my maths composition: B/B). I was wearing only a coat and a massive downpour broke out. I got soaked to the bone and my shirt was all wet. The drain in front of our house was blocked, which created a big lake. And as I was running, I stepped right into it—tap, tap! Lucky it was in front of our house.
22. IT. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school, in the afternoon at home and with Popper. From our class Zinn and Stern are leaving. Baum (The Fat One) was supposed to go, but came back from the exhibition ground.
23. IT. 1942 (Thursday)
In the morning in town. Leaves are budding everywhere and grass has been green for a long time. In the afternoon at school. In the evening I broke a lamp by throwing a pillow.
24- IT. 1942 (Friday)
In the morning at school. In the afternoon at home and outdoors with Daddy. 25. IT. 1942 (Saturday)
In the morning at Grandma's. Uncles Slava and Milos came from work; it is miserable there: there is no water, so they have to bring it from far away. In the building, where there are about three hundred of them; there is a leak at the top and at the bottom and Uncle Milos caught a cold from it. And Slava, for a change, has a bandaged finger. They were smashing gravel and as they were loading it (the rocks) onto a cart, a clumsy man let go of it (the rock) too soon and Uncle's hand got caught underneath it.
Before they got there, Aryan workers were doing forty carts a day and now that the Jews are there they are doing forty as well. And then they say that with Jews and without [it's] the same, while they're lazy as hell themselves. They make the Jews remove the earth between the rocks and then, after half their job has been done by the Jews, they show off how many carts of gravel they
brought and how many were brought by the Jews. Their leader is always threatening them (the Jews) that at first they will be corrected (?!), then reprimanded, and finally, if they refuse to work, they will be excluded. Dr. Bloch, who treated Daddy, is leaving for Theresienstadt. There have just been two transports one after another.
26. IV. 1942 (Sunday)
In the morning at home, in the afternoon on a walk.
Early this morning before 1:30 the English were near Prague; there was an alarm. As I found out later (27. IV.), they were over Pilsen and dropped a few bombs there.
27- IV. 1942 (Monday)
In the morning at school, in the afternoon outside.
Zinn from our class, who was supposed to leave with a transport, came back, because he was ill at the time.—-Another alarm last night.
28. IV.  1942 (Tuesday) In the morning in town.
In the afternoon at school. Ivan Dusner from our class is leaving for Theresienstadt.
29. IV. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school; we will be making a barometer, which will always show the weather one day ahead.
In Boys' Handicrafts, I also handed in the exercise book covers that we started last lesson and finished at home. I got an A. Again there was an alarm last night.
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30. IV. 1942 (Thursday)
In the morning in town, in the afternoon at school; during measuring class and especially maths (Mr. Lauder) there was a terrible bombardment. Fives were raining down on us.
1. V. 1942 (Friday)
In the morning at school, Miss Lauscherova is ill, so we've been having fewer classes for several days in a row.
In the afternoon at home; Hansi was here and we played marbles. I lost.
2. V. 1942 (Saturday)
In the morning I went for a walk with Popper; there are over eight thousand numbered church bells in Maniny and many unnumbered ones. In the afternoon at home. The Hirsches (the shoemaker) are leaving (actually, they left a long time ago but I only just found out), with Margitka, the one who said that she will vomit here.
3. V. 1942 (Sunday)
In the morning at home, I was doing graphs and other homework. In the afternoon I was with Eva and Daddy in Maniny. It is now almost the only place where Jews can go for a walk, so it is full of them, even though about twenty thousand have already left Prague.
4. V. 1942 (Monday)
In the morning at school, in the afternoon at home.—There was an alarm again at night.
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5. 7. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning at home and outside; in the afternoon at school. I organized a lottery to help Zinn, who has tuberculosis. A ticket costs 50 hellers and you can win 5, 3, and 2 crowns.
6. 7. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school. I was selling the lottery tickets; I sold all one hundred of them! In the afternoon I printed another 150 (then I realized that I had made a mistake in the numbering. I wrote: 120, 121, 122, 133, 135, 136, etc.—so I handed out only 140 + 100 tickets). I met up with Popper.
7. 7. 1942 (Thursday)
In the morning I went to Hagibor for school physical education. It was terribly boring there for those who don't play football. In the afternoon at school; I was selling lottery tickets again and hired Singer and Jelinek from IV.A for this purpose (that's where Pavel is, too; he was also helping me sell tickets).
8. 7. 1942 (Friday)
In the morning at school. I finished selling all the tickets and handed in over 110 crowns for Zinn. The draw took place with the participation of Mr. Reich and Miss Lauscherova. The whole class was packed with people from IV.A, B, and C. Then I brought a tiny child who was terribly scared among the giants from IV.A (who wanted to lynch me already and were screaming like mad, "When is the draw?"); I tied a (dirty) handkerchief around his eyes and mixed the numbered pieces of paper in a hat.
The child drew:
3rd prize, 2 crowns (number 54)—-absent,
2nd prize, 3 crowns (number 1, unusual!)—Punta from our class, gave it up
for the benefit of Zinn's fund,
and
(great excitement)
1st prize, 10 crowns (number 16)—Birnbaum from IV.A, who gave up half of it for the benefit of Zinn's fund. I did the draw after lessons.—In the afternoon outside.
9. 7. 1942 (Saturday)
In the morning on a walk with Popper, in the afternoon at Grandma's. Again, Uncles Milos and Slava came for a visit, as usual. Uncle Slava shaved all his hair. They are both complaining about too much work.
10. 7. 1942 (Sunday)
In the morning at home, in the afternoon on a walk.
11. 7. 1942 (Monday)
From today on there are rations for vegetables. In the morning at school, in the afternoon outside.
12. 7. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning in town, in the afternoon at school. I was tested in German.
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13. V. 1942 (Wednesday) In the morning at school.
300 crowns were stolen from Fischhoffova in girls' PE.
I am attaching an example of how newspapers write today (Narodni politika).31
14. V. 1942 (Thursday)
In the morning at home and outside.
I was studying really hard, because and
for the reason that I will volunteer to be
tested in geography on Friday.
I have also started the construction of the
small steamship Delavar.
In the afternoon at school.
15. V. 1942 (Friday)
In the morning at school, in the afternoon at the ambulatory clinic and at home.
16. V. 1942 (Saturday)
It rained heavily in the morning. I went to visit Popper.
In the afternoon at home. I typed the class magazine Outlook on the typewriter.
I'm doing it all alone and it's a lot of work.
17. Y. 1942 (Sunday)
Homework in the morning. In the afternoon outside.
18. Y. 1942 (Monday)
In the morning at school, in the afternoon at home.
I am redoing the map of Gross-deutsche-Reich because I was told that in the one that I had in my exercise book Moravia looked like a sausage.
19. Y. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning at home and in town. In the afternoon at school.
20. Y. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school. I had an oral test in geography and I got an A pure as milk. I deserved it for my hard labour! In the afternoon I went for a walk with Popper.
21. Y. 1942 (Thursday) In the morning in town, in the afternoon at school. Tomorrow and on Monday there is no school.
22. Y. 1942 (Friday)
Home all day, nothing special.
31. Petr inserted in his diary a newspaper clipping with an article about Winston Churchill, where he underlined expressions that were characteristic of the demagogical journalism of the time. (For example: "gravedigger of the British Empire," "vulgar English suspicion," "he crowned his lies and cheating with a new arrogant lie," "he was a masterpiece of drunken madness and satanic guile," and so on).
23. V. 1942 (Saturday) Nothing special.
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24» T. 1942 (Sunday) Nothing special.
25. V. 1942 (Monday)
Nothing special.
26. V. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning at home, in the afternoon at school.
27. V. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school. I am supposed to get a bad note from Beinkoles. In the afternoon I went for a walk with Popper.
There was a bomb assassination attempt against SS Gruppenführer Heydrich. That's why they ordered a state of emergency and people who will be seen today after 9 o'clock and tomorrow before 6 o'clock and won't stop immediately after being called will be shot dead. There is a reward of 10,000,000 crowns for whoever informs on those responsible for the assassination, and whoever knows about them and does not report it will be shot with his entire family.
28. V. 1942 (Thursday)
This morning it was announced that Mr. Heydrich's life is not in danger. In the afternoon at school.
In the evening they announced on loudspeakers that eight people have been shot for sheltering unregistered persons. Among them was a seventeen-year-old boy.
29. V. 1942 (Friday)
In the morning at school. In the afternoon at home and outside. They are looking for someone called Valcik. Reward: 100,000 crowns.
30. V. 1942 (Saturday)
In the morning with Popper. I saw a poster about a search for yet another assassin. Reward: 10,000 crowns.
Forty-five people have been shot for publicly approving of the assassination. We dropped the magazine Die Wehrmacht, which Grandma has been receiving for some time for free, into the Kohners' mailbox. Mr. Kohner of course thought that Kohner sounds like an Uber-German, so Germans are sending it to him for free. We'll do it again next time. In the afternoon at home.
31. V. 1942 (Sunday)
I did my homework in the morning. In the afternoon we were all near the slaughterhouse by the rafts. There are five of them.
The reward of 10,000,000 crowns is being increased due to a contribution from the Protectorate government by another 10,000,000. The first reward came from the leader of the SS.
1. VI. 1942 (Monday)
Eighteen people have been shot, mostly for hiding unregistered persons. In the morning at school. In the afternoon at home and outside. In Berlin there was an attack on the Soviet Paradise exhibit and some Jews were caught nearby. So 250 [Jews] were shot and 250 deported to concentration camps.
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2. VI. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning at home and in town, in the afternoon at school. All of Liben is closed, something was going on there, because some people in my class who are from Liben heard that someone was shot at while looking out the window. They had vehicles with German soldiers driving around there and if people (it was at about 5 o'clock) looked out the window, they shot at them. All older girls from Liben were taken away, their hair was washed, and they were let go. They are looking for some blonde who held a bicycle for the assassins.
Jews are not allowed to go to barbers.
3. VI. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school, in the afternoon with Popper. In Berlin there was an attack on the exhibition Soviet Paradise and Jews were caught nearby. Immediately 250 [Jews] were executed, 250 [were sent] to a concentration camp.
4. VI. 1942 (Thursday)
Flags are everywhere at half-mast or black. Heydrich probably died. That's why:
1. We were sent home early.
2. On Friday we don't have to go to school.
3. On Friday a new transport will be called up, which has to report on Sunday.
Re 1,2: there will probably be marches and demonstrations. In the afternoon at school.
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5. VI. 1942 (Friday)
The report about SS Obergruppenführer Heydrich's death has been confirmed.
His picture in a black frame completely covers the front page of the newspapers. From 3 p.m. on Saturday until 8 a.m. on Monday Jews are not allowed to walk in Prikopy, Narodni Avenue, Wenceslas Square, and in many other places.
Rather than remember them all, I prefer to sit at home.
6. VI. 1942 (Saturday)
I went for a walk with Popper. In the afternoon at Grandma's.
7. VI. 1942 (Sunday)
I started my new book, The Wizard from the Altay Mountains.
My earlier novel, Visit from Prehistory, is now in Hradec.
The Kohners are leaving this morning. They said good-bye to all of us.
There were tears, of course. Every one of them has about 80 kg of luggage.
They have to be in the exhibition grounds at 8:30.—In the afternoon at home.
8. VI. 1942 (Monday)
In the morning at school, in the afternoon at home.
9. VI. 1942 (Tuesday)
The train carrying R. Heydrich left for Berlin, where he was buried today. That's why there have to be flags at half-mast everywhere, or black ones.— Many new pupils have been accepted this afternoon, among them Harry Popper. We had a German test.
Ill
The Kohners were supposed to leave today but I don't know if they did because twelve hundred persons were called up for the transport but only a thousand left. The rest have to wait for the next one. The food at the exhibition ground is very bad.
10. 71. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school. I got an A minus on yesterday's test. In the afternoon at home.
11. VI. 1942 (Thursday)
In the morning in town, in the afternoon at school. We had a maths test; I think I got two questions right and one wrong.
12. VI. 1942 (Friday)
Uncle Milos has been called up for Theresienstadt? Poland?
Maybe Grandma as well.
Baum (The Fatty) from our class is going.
13. VI. 1942 (Saturday)
In the morning at home, in the afternoon at Grandma's. I heard there was a big massacre near Kladno. They found a secret transmitter and plenty of ammunition. That's why they shot all the men, women and children were taken to concentration camps, and the village (it was quite big, about a thousand houses) has been burned down. The fire could be seen from Bila Hora. When firemen came and wanted to put it out, the Germans shot at them.
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14. VI. 1942 (Sunday)
In the morning I did homework; in the afternoon I went to the Miloses to say good-bye.
There is a new ditty about Jews, I'll try to get a copy of it. Uncle Milos is going tomorrow morning.
15- VI. 1942 (Monday)
In the morning at school. A Czech grammar test. In the afternoon outside.
16. VI. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning at home and outside, in the afternoon at school.
17. VI. 1942 (Wednesday)
Today is the end of the deadline for the [assassin] of Reinhard Heydrich to either give himself up or be handed over. A German soldier was shot dead in Branik and two policemen were killed in Liben when they demanded someone's identity card. He reached into his pocket but instead of an identity card pulled out a gun and shot them both dead. But he was caught and he may be R. Heydrich's assassin.
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18. VI. 1942 (Thursday)
In the morning I went for a walk. I am now reading Kondeli\ and Vejvara, a
book we were lent by Hanka Ginz.
In the afternoon at school. I got a D on a maths test.
I showed my cannon in class in front of an audience.
Partly as a precaution against giving away the explosive (phosphorus) before uninvited eyes, partly to fasten the fuse, I covered the glass at the end with a layer of wax.
19. VI. 1942 (Friday)
In the morning at school. I organized the third lottery draw. The first prize of 20 crowns fell to Milos Mautner, who gave it up in favor of Zinn. In the afternoon I went for a walk.
I heard they caught the assassins in Boromejsky church. The chaplain hid them there. When Eva walked past it she heard shooting and she saw shattered windows. Again they executed 153 people.
20. VI. 1942 (Saturday)
In the morning at home. In the afternoon at Grandma's. We have to completely avoid Narodni Avenue. We walk down Truhlarska, across Hybernske (Republiky) Square, past Bambino, past the mint, we cross to the other side, where they sell suitcases, we walk past St. Havel's, Sel, across the Zelny market, past Martin in the Wall, down the police street, and through the small tunnel under Narodni Avenue.
21. VI. 1942 (Sunday)
Homework in the morning and in the afternoon. In the afternoon we also went outside.
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22. VI. 1942 (Monday)
In the morning at school, in the afternoon homework.
23. VI. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning in town and at home, in the afternoon at school. Czech composition: Which topics in natural history am I interested in? I wrote: Mr. Pu's woe and bliss in the Silurian System.
24. VI. 1942 (Wednesday)
We are taught by Mr. Weislitz instead of Mr. David, who was arrested (together with his wife).—According to version No. 1 Mr. David was arrested because of talking freely, version No. 2 says his friend was arrested and informed on him that they had been in contact, and version No. 3 says that he let himself be accused so that he could go to Kolin, because his parents are currently leaving from there with a transport.
25. VI. 1942 (Thursday)
In the morning at home. In the afternoon at school.
26. VI. 1942 (Friday)
They are distributing the new transport notices.
Only Germans receive cherries. Pavel saw a woman who was holding a child and pinching its bottom. The child was crying and the woman was saying it was because he wanted strawberries, and begged that they should give her at least !4 kg.
In the morning at school.
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27. VI. 1942 (Saturday)
Our teachers Mr. Beinkoles and Miss Polakova are leaving, and Fabian. In the afternoon at Grandma's.
28. VI. 1942 (Sunday)
The Miloses were here and Eva II. Our Eva is ill, or she's at least pretending, so she won't have to go to school.
29. VI. 1942 (Monday)
Yesterday I received a summons to come today to Bet Ha'am32 at 33 Dlouha Street. So I went there today, as our art class was cut by two hours on account of Mr. Beinkoles's departure. It has to do with support services for transports. The one leaving now is full of old people. They say the youngest man on it is fifty-four, the oldest ninety-four years old. In the afternoon I went as part of the support service to paint numbers for a Martin Heymann at 18 Balbinova Street. I received 10 crowns.
I thought I had run out of paint and I wanted to go back to Dlouha to get more, but on the way my paintbrush fell on me and messed me up nicely. This way, I realized that it still had paint in it, went back, and happily finished the job. The lady who was preparing it all for the old man said that I probably put a "broche"" on it. That woman laughs a lot (she is an Aryan) and the old man walks around with a hot water bottle to warm his armpits and sometimes sits in a rocking chair. He is incapable of doing anything. I was given 3 crowns for travel and a daily identity card. I've earned 10 crowns.
32. Bet Ha'am, a Jewish institution, the so-called "People's House."
33. "Blessing" in Yiddish, from Hebrew "brachah."
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30. VI. 1942 (Tuesday)
I did more running around for the Hilfsdienst34 and earned 5 crowns.
In the afternoon I was in school. I'll have all A's on my report card. Miss
Lauscherova told me this so that I can tell Grandma before she leaves.
A German man threw me off the tram in a very rough manner. He said
Heraus! Out! In the proper order, first in German, then in Czech, and I had
to get off; he said I was carrying an unwrapped duvet.
So I had to run in terrible rain all the way to the Hilfsdienst.
1. VII. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school. In the afternoon again with the Hilfsdienst. Grandma received the summons to a transport.
2. VII. 1942 (Thursday)
In the morning with the Hilfsdienst, and I earned 10 crowns.
3. VII. 1942 (Friday)
In the morning at school. I was stamping the report cards and of course saw them all while doing that (our class).
In the afternoon at home. I started making a gun based on phosphorus. The idea was suggested to me by the awesome power of this explosive that recently, when I was shooting from a reloading cannon, tore the latter into pieces. My hand was bleeding in two places, Harry Popper (he was accepted into the school along with many others, because it is no longer allowed to take school exams like last year. So they will be tested like other children and re-
34. Support service
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ceive a report card.) was also bleeding in two places, but on his neck, Traub had a cut on his forehead, and there were glass shards all over the classroom. I shot several times before from an ordinary cannon to the great amazement of all pupils, but now they are starting to be afraid of this "project" and close their eyes when it shoots. In the afterenoon I was with the Hilfsdienst.
I won't tell Mummy about that report card; I want her to be surprised!
4. VII. 1942 (Saturday)
With the Hilfsdienst in the afternoon. I have an appointment to do some work all the way in Strašnice. I won't be able to go in the afternoon, because Saturday afternoon from 3 o'clock and all day Sunday Jews are not allowed to travel, just as they are not allowed to walk down forbidden streets. I have a weekly pass to let me go through them and I do so, but so far no one has stopped me. There were three of us in Strašnice and we were given 300 crowns, although we hardly did anything.
5. VII. 1942 (Sunday)
In the morning at home, in the afternoon outside.
6. VII. 1942 (Monday)
In the morning at school.
Grandma went to the exhibition ground at 2 o'clock. She is leaving on Thursday.
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7. VII. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning with the Hilfsdienst.
In the afternoon they told us at school that we have no classes tomorrow. Only those who are practicing the Psalm "Nach Osten neig die Stern derb schimmern Zions reste im Abendrot should come. Unfortunately I am among them.
We were photographed. The photographer stood on the table, we sat organized on benches. The camera was a wooden box on four collapsible legs. It stood on the table, the photographer prepared the magnesium, lit it, and took a picture of us in the resulting flash. It took only 3—4 seconds.
8. VII. 1942 (Wednesday)
In the morning at school for Psalm rehearsal. In the afternoon at home.
9. VII. 1942 (Thursday)
Mummy was in Veletrh early at 5 a.m. to see Grandma board the train at Bubenec station. But soldiers were chasing her away from the street (the transport Jews walked in groups of fifty accompanied by soldiers along the southern tracks), so she ran up from the other side and saw Grandma getting into a personal carriage.
We received our report cards. Me, Hanka, and Pavel have all A's. In our class there are 40% of them (16 out of 50). We had a show; we performed a reading of the Psalm and recited poetry. One-handed Dr. Kahn visited us. But the other class (I V.C) had a nice show. Fischmann did an impression of Lauder the head
35. "The mighty God called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined."
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teacher, then of Miss Lauscherova (for this he put two hats on his breasts), and the teachers went all red, but they couldn't do anything, because it's these pupils' last year in class.
10. VII. 1942 (Friday)
In the morning at home. In the afternoon at home.
11. VII. 1942 (Saturday)
In the morning at home, in the afternoon at Aunt Anda's.
12. VII. 1942 (Sunday)
In the morning at the Hilfsdienst, in the afternoon at home.
13. VII. 1942 (Monday)
In the morning I was at the Jewish Community. I went to negotiate with Mr. Klemperer regarding tutoring his son in grammar. He wants to pay me 10 crowns per hour.
In the afternoon at the Hilfsdienst. 14- VII. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning outside, in the afternoon at the Hilfsdienst. 15. VII. 1942 (Wednesday)
Same. I played billiards for the first time (the kind with holes and sticks) and won 2 crowns straightaway.
16. VII. 1942 (Thursday)
Tomorrow I have to travel with the Hilfsdienst as far as Suchdol.
17. VII. 1942 (Friday)
First thing in the morning I travelled by tram and by bus to Suchdol. It's really far away. It rained all day and we had to wait at the akciz36 for those whose suitcases we were supposed to take away. We saw an officer trying to catch a bus, but he failed and swore terribly. I laughed; the German came over to us and shouted at one of us (Hecht): Du hast gelacht?3/ The boy was expecting a slap but because he really didn't laugh (that was me), he answered quite calmly: "No." The officer then walked away.
18. VII. 1942 (Saturday)
In the morning with the Hilfsdienst, in the afternoon outdoors.
I made a heavy gun out of clay and a carriage for it. Also a heavy cartridge,
then a revolver, and a round bomb with an opening and a plug.
36. Akciz—tax on import of food into towns, metaphorically also the border of the taxed area.
37. "Didyou laugh?"
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19- VII. 1942 (Sunday) In the morning at the Hilfsdienst.
Uncle Levitus and his wife are leaving with the transport. We were there in the afternoon and helped them pack. They are not worried because they had almost everything prepared.
20. VII. 1942 (Monday)
The Levituses were summoned to the transport.
21. VII. 1942 (Tuesday)
The Poppers were summoned to the transport.
22. VII. 1942 (Wednesday)
23. VII. 1942 (Thursday)
The Levituses reported to the exhibition grounds in the afternoon. I walked with them all the way to the first gate (the bottom one), where Jewish organizers were sending them to their places.
24- VII. 1942 (Friday) In the morning at the Hilfsdienst.
The Poppers have been called off the transport. They must have bribed some gestapo man. I heard this costs 50,000 crowns for one person.
25. VII. 1942 (Saturday)
Auntie received a summons to report as an added person to transport AAv.
26. VII. 1942 (Sunday)
In the morning at home, in the afternoon with the Hilfsdienst.
27. VII. 1942 (Monday) Auntie has left.
28. VII. 1942  (Tuesday)-l. VIII. 1942 (Saturday) [Nothing recorded]
2. VIII. 1942 (Sunday)
There is a big removal of (postal) horses going on. There are about fifty of them on Lodecka Street. A German officer is supervising it. The place is full of their poo.
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3. VIII. 1942 (Monday)
Again, they are taking dogs away to Stvanice. They are testing whether they are afraid of shooting. It is very easy to see from Hlavkuv Bridge, but policemen are chasing people away from there.
4. VIII. 1942 (Tuesday)
In the morning at home, in the afternoon outside.
5. VIII. 1942 (Wednesday) [Nothing recorded)
6. VIII. 1942 (Thursday) [Nothing recorded)
7. VIII. 1942 (Friday)
[Nothing recorded)
8. VIII.  1942 (Saturday)
We went to the slaughterhouse, rode on rafts, enjoyed the sun and the water, and had a good time.
9. VIII. 1942 (Sunday)
In the morning at home.
:r Giflz (1928-1944), Moonlit Mountain, 1942-1944. India ink on paper; Gift of :o Ginz, Haifa; Collection of theYad Vashem Art Museum, Jerusalem.
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