Livia Bitton-Jackson

I am reading a book about the Holocaust. Over the years I have tried to study about the Holocaust in spurts, but after reading a series of ten books dedicated to the Wars first World War II. This is when I became fascinated with the events that occurred during the Holocaust. Anyway, let me give you a small happening of what has happened to dear Livia over time.
1. School shut down weeks before she was to graduate.
2. Forced to wear a star of humiliation on her in her city in Hungary.
3. All valuable possessions taken away, including her brand new bike.
4. Forbidden to speak to Christians, look at Christians, or have any affiliations with Christians.
5. Told they had to stay in their homes.
6. Told they were going to be taken to a new location and could bring furniture and possessions that they still had.
7. After hauling possessions to new location, they watched their things burn in a large pile.
8. They lived in a new location provided with meager foods, and they were still under control of the Hungarian government.
9. They said they were going to a new place, only could bring a bag with food.
10. They said to pile up all their things and they would get them when they got back. Things included, journals, valuable documents, marriage birth certificates.
11. After everyone handed these over, they lit them on fire.
12. 85 people were crammed into a small train car. For four days. No light. No bathroom. No shower. Very little food.
13. They arrived to Auschwitz.
14. Livia was with her aunt, mother, and brother. Her dad had been taken from them before they left Hungary.
15. The German guard separated all of them. But kept Livia with her mother. She thanks God for every small blessing throughout this.
16. They are told to strip naked.
17. Livia is whipped in the face for no reason.
Here is an excerpt from the book.
'I look at Mommy. She nods. "Let's get undressed." I stare directly ahead as I take off my clothes. I am afraid. By not looking at anyone I hope no one will see me. I have never seen my mother in the nude. How awful it must be for her.'

Another:
'We are lined up, and several young women in gray dresses start shaving our hair--on our heads, under our arms, everywhere. My long, thick braids remain attached while the shaving machine shears my scalp. The pain of the heavy braid tugging mercilessly at the yet unshaven roots brings tears to my eyes.'

Another:
The epithet "blode Lumpen," idiotic whores, is now downgraded to "blode Schweine," idiotic swine. more despicable. And it is upgraded only occasionally to "blode Hunde," idiotic dogs.

Another:
The strange creatures we saw as we entered the camp, the shaven, gray cloaked bunch who ran to the barbed-wire fence to stare at us, we are them! We look exactly like them. Same bodies, same dresses, same blank stares. They, too, must have arrived from home recently. They too were ripe women and young girls, bewildered and bruised. They too longed for dignity and compassion. And they too were transformed into figures of contempt instead.

I'm not sure I want to know what else happened at these camps. I mean I have heard the things, seen pictures. But I am not sure I want to attach myself to one of the people there and become part of their story and their life. This will create an undefinable passion for this thing they call the Holocaust.