Yanek and his family live in Krakow, Poland. But in just a blink of an eye, their city was invaded by the Germans beginning WWII. For now, Yanek and his family remain in Krakow. For a little while they stay in their flat with several other families. Anti-Semitic rules have been put in place that persecute Jewish people, taking away any rights they had. Over time, walls are built up around the ghetto to contain the remaining Jews who have not been taken for resettlement or deportation yet. One-by-one many Jews were relocated to other Jewish ghettos, work camps, concentration camps or were killed on site.

Yanek's Figurative Journey

With the stress of the no food, and constant hiding, Yanek is living in fear of being caught by the Nazis. His emotional state is one of constant terror and panic at what awaits him at every turn. The unknown aspects of the war leave a feeling of being unsettled. Yanek's early life as a 10 year old boy before the war was very normal.

After the Wieliczka salt mine, Yanek was taken to Trezbeina for a new camp. Trezbiena has been one of the most difficult camps yet.

When the train first started moving some boys threw some snow at the vent and Yanek was able to lick the water off of the vent which saved him. Then while he was sleeping someone died due to lack of air. He was so cramped in there he couldn't move.Then when there was more water he had to fight someone to be able to drink it.

Yanek wanted to help a family but couldn't because the Nazis would kill him if he were to step out of line. He was questioning if people thought he was a monster or a real person he felt like everyone was scared of him.

Yanek was very happy that he was able to get food and soup after the March because it was super long after the three whole days and he was able to finally eat after 3 days of no bread or food or anything. When he woke up he had they were put into showers and there was no soap no toothbrushes or nothing it was just super cold water but he was super filthy so he wanted until we just washed off anyway.

Yanek saw a bunch of people die of Suffocation and starvation on the way to Bergen-Belson Guards threw three loaves of bread and watched the Prisoners fight for it for amusement on the way there.

Yanek was scared of Buchenwald because he is afraid of the rocks if you took little rocks Nazis would think he would be lazy and they would also shoot him because if you took a big one then he would have dropped it and then the Nazis would shoot him.

While Yanek was on the train he saw a bunch of people tightly squeezed inside of this train and they gave in the Nazis gave them no food or water so a bunch of the prisoners died and he was very scared of what was to come ahead.

The day after Yannick went to Docout a prison one of his prison mates got a disease and they a had rash all over his stomach and Yanek was scared that he was going to get it. During roll call Yanek planes bombing different concentration camps.

Yanek was freed by an SS officer and he was led to an upstairs room where the bunk beds and he was able to have his own bed after years he was super surprised and he's never had one of these before so he was super grateful and he was very happy.

Yanek was forced to walk to Dachau during the winter and all he could see were the dead bodies of different Jews walking through the snow. He was scared of what could happen to him if he didn't walk fast or slow enough.