Deportation to Auschwitz

[Text: Hungarian survivor Magda describes her decision to dispose of her belongings before ultimately being deported to Auschwitz, and the trust that she put in one officer.] 

Magda Kunovits: But before they took us, we had to go to a room, everybody, and strip down. Took our clothes, naked, we were standing there, and they took away everything that remained, our belongings. But before I went in that room, we were standing all over this road, and when they told us to go to this room, I ran into a nearby house, to the toilet. And I threw all the jewellery and money into the toilet. I remember, in the dirt, it was raining that day. And when I came out, I asked a friend of mine, “Did they take your band? Wedding band?” She said yes. So, there was standing a human-looking ... police, and then I took ... it’s the same, this is the same. I gave it to him, and I said, “Would you please keep these until the end of the war? And if I don’t come back, to look for my husband, his name is Imre Kunovitz.” He said okay, he put this band on. So, I went. I was naked, but they couldn’t take away anything from me. 

Interviewer: What went through your mind when you were getting rid of all this? What was your purpose? 

Magda Kunovits: I didn’t want to give it to the Germans. Didn’t want to give it to anybody. It was very personal, beautiful gifts from my mother and father. And money, I didn’t want to give the money either. 

Interviewer: So, you just got rid of it [Magda: Yes.] and handed the ring over to this man. Did you know him? 

Magda Kunovits: No, I didn’t. But I had a feeling, that sense, a feeling that ... I thought ... I still—I didn’t give to this person who was ... maybe he will keep it. 

Interviewer: You have the same ring now? [Magda: Yes.] He kept it, and you got it back after the war? 

Magda Kunovits: My husband got [it] back because he returned earlier to Hungary than me.