By Train to Dachau

This is a remarkable book as it is a translation of an account written by the author Ernst Raubitschek soon after World War Two. As the title suggests it tells of his journey to Dachau concentration camp, his stay there and subsequent journey to Buchenwald concentration camp after Kristallnacht and before the outbreak of war.

 

It has been translated by Ernst's daughter Renate Yates. She has included a preface telling of a happy and full life prior to these traumatic events and a postscript describing their emigration to Australia and the new life this family made for themselves in a new country.

 

The detailed descriptions written in this account stand as testament to the abhorrent behaviour, cruelty and antisemitism to which Austrian Jews were subjected even before the start of the war.