Preparing For The Commission's Visit by Helga Weissová
. . . The commission, because of which a transport left and the three layer bunks were torn down, has departed, and I believe they were satisfied. They didn't see through very much, stayed scarcely a half day, but that seems to have been only a rehearsal. The camp command issued new orders about the "beautifying campaign" that must be finished on two months.
It's ridiculous, but it seems that Terezín is to be changed into a sort of spa. I don't know why I was reminded of the fairy tale "Table. Set. Yourself!" But that is how everything seems to me. The orders are received in the evening, and in the morning everyone's eyes are staring with wonder, where did this or that thing come from? For three years it never occurred to anyone that streets might be named anything but Q and L. . . But all of a sudden the Germans had an idea, and overnight signs had to be put on every corner house with the name of the street, and at crossroads arrows pointed: To the Park, To the Bath, etc. . . .
The school building that had served as hospital up to today was cleared out overnight and the patients put elsewhere while the whole building was repainted, scrubbed up, school benches brought in, and in the morning a sign could be seen afar: "Boys' and Girls' School." It really looks fine, like a real school, only the pupils and teachers are missing. That shortcoming is adjusted by a small note on the door: "Holidays." On the square the newly sown grass is coming up, the center is adorned by a big rose plot, and the paths, covered with clean, yellow sand, are lined with two rows of newly painted benches. The boards we wondered about for so many days, trying to puzzle out what they were for, tuned into a music pavilion. We even have a café with a fine sign "Coffeehouse."
. . . They have already got quite far in painting the houses. . . . In two of the barracks some bunks and shelves were painted yellow and they got blue curtains. In the park in front of the Infants' Home they put up a luxury pavilion with cribs and light blue, quilted covers. In one room there are toys, a carved rocking horse, and so on. None of us can explain why they are doing all of this. Are they so concerned about that commission? Perhaps we don't even know how good the situation is.
I commented on Mia's, Evie's, James', Rebecca's, and Nick's blog.
I commented on Mia's, Evie's, James', Rebecca's, and Nick's blog.
I think you did well on your butterfly and your explanations. I like how you included the difference between what Helga saw, versus what the reality was. I thought your explanations about the different buildings were very good and descriptive. I also like how you included a map of the concentration camp.
ReplyDeleteThe constant repetition I see in all of the butterflies is when they show two different sides of them and I admire that part about yours. One side is telling how the Germans tried to deceive people from thinking that Jews had good living conditions and what the Nazis said they were giving to the Jews while the other side is about how bad and horrid things really are inside the concentration camps. How did you draw the man on the back of the butterfly? Did you trace him or draw him? If you drew him then you did a nice job.
ReplyDeleteNice job Diana I really liked your drawings and right away staring at this you can tell how you worked really hard. I liked how you added the on one side what Helga saw versus the reality of what was really happening. One thing that I would recommend is to add your poem that way we can see your thought process but other than that nice job.
ReplyDeleteHey Diana. Great job on your butterfly! One thing I did notice that a lot of the butterflies include is two sides of the world; the Nazis and dreams. I recommend that you add your poem so your readers can understand where your butterfly ideas come from. I like how you added what the author saw on the outside, but also included what was on the inside. This reminds me of what Jefferson Bethke once said, "but it's funny that's what they use to do to mummies while the corpse rot underneath."
ReplyDeleteHey Diana. I really like how organized this butterfly is. Everything you drew has neat, and the butterfly has color. I also like how you put your author onto the butterfly and in the middle specifically. The roses make her stand out more. I also liked the fact that you had two sides. One showing what the camp seemed to be like and one showing how it actually was. One thing that I would add in another tag is the meaning of the coffee shop. I think you talked about it in your presention, however it would be nice to have it there for those of us who don't remember. Overall nice job!
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