1942 Feb, Snow clearing service

  • 1942, February 13, Friday evening – At six o’clock a messenger came from the Jewish Community; I had to report at eight o’clock tomorrow morning, in Racknitz, to shovel snow. That is exactly the work at which my heart protests after five minutes. It is to last “until the early afternoon.” I also lack boots with good soles. It was too late for any kind of objection or any attempt to procure boots. I have to accept it. I can do no more than die. **p13
    • 1942, February 13, Friday evening – At six o’clock a messenger came from the Jewish Community; I had to report at eight o’clock tomorrow morning, in Racknitz, to shovel snow. **p13
    • 1942, February 15, Sunday morning – Toward Zschertnitz, past the old brickworks, then straight past the Moreau monument as far as the Elysium,… ** p13
      …
      1942 February 15, Sunday morning – Snow-covered streets unrecognizable. Toward Zschertnitz, past the old brickworks, then straight past the Moreau monument as far as the Elysium, a large inn just at the beginning of Langemarckstrasse, formerly Bergstrasse, in Racknitz. On the way Dr. Friedheim fell twice, once very heavily; later he produced a certificate from Dr. Rostoski: gallbladder, liver, hernia, diabetes … went home. A pitiful group assembled in the house entry. One rupture without rupture belt, one cripple, one hunchback … Seventeen “older” men should have come, two had not turned up, three were sent away, of the remaining twelve several were over seventy, I at sixty literally the youngest. **p13
      …
      Südhöhe road. We got it free, widened the roadway. As I was shoveling here, I was aware of my heart. Then we marched along Innsbrucker Strasse almost as far as Nöthnitz Manor near Bannewitz […], opposite it a shed, where we had our morning break, facing Dresden, and a few hundred yards from Kaitz **p14
    • 1942, February 16, Monday evening – Clearing snow no. 2. Outside from half past seven in the morning until half past five. Pains on the snow-covered way there via Mockritz and Kaitz to Nöthnitz . **p15
    • 1942, February 18, Wednesday evening – Yesterday and today “mustered” at the “Elysium,” marched off, Langemarckstrasse as far as the Toll House, continued along the main road in the direction of Kaitz. [… ] Different foreman, different supervisor, again both were very humane and anti-Nazi. “Don’t say that we treated you well, not at the Community either, rather say we were bad; otherwise we’ll be in trouble.” — “Don’t knock yourself out.” **p17
    • 1945, February 22, Sunday morning – Zellscher Weg, Hempelstrasse, Zeunerstrasse – **p17
    • 1942, February 24, Tuesday evening – Toll House and down to Kaitz, Nöthnitzer Strasse **p19
    • 1942, February 26, Thursday evening – Kaitzgrundstrasse along Kaitzbach stream from Mockritz up toward Cunnersdorf. **p20 
    • 1942, March 1, Sunday – On Saturday to Zellscher Weg again, then finished clearing Langemarckstrasse and its continuation to Kaitz. (We had begun the job at the beginning of the week, after the storm last Sunday, then abandoned it again. Our orders are very muddled.) Saturday work ended at half past one. At home: housework. Ida Kreidl and Frau Pick were here in the evening. I could hardly keep my eyes open. **p21
    • 1942, March 3, Tuesday evening – Yesterday a considerable thaw, morning and midday breaks in a little old house in Altzschertnitz; from there we cleared Münzmeisterstrasse as far as the Südhohe road. Then a long walk down to Mockritz, to Gostritz, worked on a road running toward Nothnitz-Bannewitz across a deeply cut stream. **p22
    • 1942, March 6, Friday – travel through the city to Wölfnitz. From there march to Altgorbitz. The usual road-workers’ barracks in a corner of the village, Lesskestrasse. From there marched up the hill to the first houses of Pesterwitz. **p22
      …
      There is a track across the fields from Kesselsdorfer Strasse to Nausslitz. Here the wind was terribly strong. **p23
      …
      I quickly walked to the tram alone, taking a shortcut, Hofwiesenstrasse.**p24
    • 1945, March 15, Sunday – the Toll House and over the Kaitzbach stream, the road to Cunnersdorf on Friday and Saturday, starting from Mockritz a) the route from Kaitz to Nothnitz, b) the Altgostritz-Nothnitz road. **p26

Source: 

  • ** I Will Bear Witness, Volume 2: A Diary of the Nazi Years: 1942-1945, Victor Klemperer, Publisher ‏: ‎ Modern Library; Illustrated edition

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