War Diaries (July 5) (nonfiction)
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Diaries
George Beck: July 5, 1940
Registered as prisoner of war at Stalag VIII B. Forwarded first card home by Red Cross via Geneva. What a relief to write again.
—George Beck, 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, prisoner of war (diary)
Reina Spiegel: July 5, 1942
We feared it and then it finally happened. The ghetto. The notices went out today. Supposedly, they’re planning to deport half the people. Great Lord God, have mercy. My thoughts are so dark, it’s a sin to even think them.
I saw a happy-looking couple today. They’d been on an outing; they were on their way back, amused and happy. Zygus, my darling, when will we go on an outing like theirs? I love you as much as she loves him. I would look at you the same way. But she’s so much happier, that’s the only thing I know. Or perhaps—oh, Holy God, you are full of mercy—our children will say one day, “Our mother and father lived in the ghetto.” Oh, I strongly believe it.
—Renia Spiegel, civilian (diary)
George Beck: July 5, 1944
Had spermatozoa test taken on a slide. Lady doctor called me into the office and asked me if I’d ever had venereal disease. Told her I’d never had it for I was particular who I went with. Ten o’clock went in the X-Ray laboratory and had photographs taken. Too many red corpuscles in my blood.
—George Beck,1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, prisoner of war (diary)