“One Spring, Gurs Camp” (1941) by Karl Robert Bodek and Kurt Low, Yad Vashem Museum, Israel, Image courtesy of Yad Vashem Collection
WARNING: Graphic Images
Abuse comes in many forms. From 1933 to 1945 in Nazi Germany it was governmental, with the goal being complete extermination of the Jews [1].
The artworks comprising the Yad Vashem Collection were created by artists (Jewish and non-Jewish) between 1939 and 1945 to provide a living testament of the Holocaust [2A]. A hundred works from the collection were exhibited in Germany in 2016, just three years after the Alternative for Germany (AfD) was founded – a far Right party whose leader, Björn Höcke denigrated the Memorial to Murdered Jews of Europe [3][4].
Art in the concentration camps served simultaneously as a witness, a means of self-assertion, and an expression of optimism [2B].
The works are both heart wrenching and awe inspiring. In “One Spring, Gurs Camp” (above), the barbed wire depicts imprisonment and loneliness. The butterfly and the mountains in the background, however, suggest hope.
One of the two artists who collaborated on “One Spring”, 28 y.o. Kurt Low, was released and able to flee to Switzerland. The other, 37 y.o. Karl Bodek, was ultimately murdered at Auschwitz.
“Rear Entrance, Theresienstadt Ghetto” (1941-1944) by Bedrich Fritta, Yad Vashem Museum, Israel, Image courtesy of Yad Vashem Collection
The pen and ink drawing “Rear Entrance, Theresienstadt Ghetto” (above) is ominous. Artists detained at Theresienstadt were made to produce propaganda to promote the camp’s pubic image [5]. Bedrich Fritta was assigned to supervise the drawing studio there.
Secretly, the artists, also, recorded everyday life at the camp (hiding their work which was later discovered). Fritta, himself, died at Auschwitz.
“Girls in the Field” (1943) by Nelly Toll, Yad Vashem Museum, Israel, Image courtesy of Yad Vashem Collection
Nelly Toll was 8 years old when she painted “Girls in the Field” [2D]. She and her mother were the family’s only survivors of the Holocaust, having been sheltered by a Christian couple [6].
Nelly went on to become a professional artist, emigrating from Poland to the United States where she wrote and taught on art and literature. She died in 2021.
Light and Darkness
Many Jews lost their faith as a consequence of the Holocaust. Jews in the gas chambers are said regularly to have cried out in their last moments, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Ps. 22: 1), as Christ did on the cross (Matt. 27: 46)[7][8].
But God never abandons us, especially not in the midst of suffering. He suffers with victims, and makes good come from evil. Establishment of the modern State of Israel was a direct result of the Holocaust.
The battle between good and evil, between light and darkness, continues. But God gives us strength to carry on – despite our pain, despite our scars. His light shines through us to the world.
“You are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5: 14, 16).
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[1] Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles, “Timeline of the Holocaust: 1933 – 1945”, https://www.museumoftolerance.com/education/teacher-resources/holocaust-resources/timeline-of-the-holocaust.html.
[2A through 2D] Yad Vashem Collection, “Art from the Holocaust”, January 2016, https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/art/index.asp.
[3] Wikipedia, “Alternative for Germany”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_for_Germany.
[4] Taylor & Francis Online, Journal of Holocaust Research, Vol. 36, “Antisemitism, Holocaust Denial, and Germany’s Far Right: How the AfD Tiptoes around Nazism” by Michelle Kahn, 6/8/22, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/25785648.2022.2069337.
[5] Judisches Museum Berlin, “Bedrich Fritta – Drawings from the Theresienstadt Ghetto”, https://www.jmberlin.de/en/exhibition-bedrich-fritta.
[6] Wikipedia, “Nelly Toll”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelly_Toll.
[7] Got Questions, “Why did Jesus say, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, 1/4/22, https://www.gotquestions.org/forsaken-me.html#:~:text=There%20is%20another%20possible%20reason%20for%20Jesus,prophecies%20included%20in%20that%20song%20of%20David.
[8] Centre for Dialogue and Prayer in Oscwiecimiu, “The Way of the Cross in Birkenau”, https://cdim.pl/en/texts/the-way-of-the-cross-in-birkenau/.
Part 1 in this series was posted last week.
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
Wonderful post Anna. I especially love that you point out that God never abandons us when we suffer.
It reminds me of how though the Lord gave Judah over to Babylon for 70 years, he never forgot them. In fact, before Jeremiah left he was instructed to purchase a field because the Lord would bring his people back to their homeland at the end of the prophesied 70-years exile.
Our God love us and will be by our side in both good times and bad because he is faithful.
“Behold, I am the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me”? Her 33:27
I truly believe that God is faithful. I have seen the proof in my own life, as I know you have in yours, Ron.
That art survives in the darkest corners is a testament of our God’s grace in the midst of weakness, extremity.
Now as we watch in real time the methodical starvation and extermination of the Palestinians by Israel after decades of displacement, apartheid and oppression, we are reminded that on this earth, till Christ Jesus returns, no matter who the people, greed, political power and military might will continue to run roughshod over the weak and powerless. History has been a record of holocausts. I wonder, will any art survive the one transpiring today?
I cannot fully agree w/ you , Dora.
It is a tragedy that civilians suffer in any conflict, just or unjust, despite precautions taken by the warring parties.
It bears mention, however, that Israel has gone out of its way to take such precautions, for instance, identifying its targets beforehand (something Islamic extremists like Hamas do not do).
To the contrary, Hamas regularly uses civilians as shields, hiding military operations in hospitals and schools. Nevertheless, the Palestinians have resoundingly chosen to support Hamas and its terrorist tactics. There consequences for that choice.
That is what we are being told by Israel and there has been much they have said that’s been proven false. Israel has by far the overwhelming advantage in the media, and economically and militarily over the Palestinians whom they displaced decades ago by driving them out of their homes and land and creating an apartheid state.
Perhaps on this we will have to agree to disagree. The images and reports coming out of Palestine are heartbreaking. 💔 All the more reason to cry out, as we do daily, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
All I see in the media is criticism of Israel, Dora. But we can certainly agree to disagree. The entire situation is heartbreaking.
Anna, Feel free to set aside my last reply. I don’t want to make the focus of your post about the war in The Middle East.
You are always welcome to express yourself here, Dora. Let us pray for Christ’s soon return, and an end to all wars.
Anna, what a wonderful post. I had no idea that this was something that was done. I had never seen any of this art and did not know there were beautiful pieces of hope that were painted in the camps. You are always full of such fascinating information, and you put so much work and research into your posts.
Thank you for sharing of each of the paintings and the stories behind this history which I knew nothing about. I am glad that some of the holocaust survivors went on to use their art.
What a blessing to read this. I, too, look forward to that sound of Gabriel’s trumpet and rising to meet with God and to finally be home. Thank you dear Anna, Love Joni
Thank you for your sweet words, Joni. The work of these Holocaust artists is truly inspirational. God’s light shines through them. Sending you my love. A. ❤
Beautiful post, Anna. The stories behind these pieces are heartbreaking yet inspiring. Your words resonate deeply: ‘God gives us strength to carry on – despite our pain, despite our scars.’
Thank you so much for your comment, Ritish. ❤ Congratulations on the new book!
Thanks Anna 🙌🏼❤️
Grandpa mentioned there used to be a saying in Germany back in the day:
“Oh lieber Gott, mach mich stumm, dass ich nich nach Dachau kumm.”.
Few dared to ask what’s going on back then, choosing to remain silent instead. All they knew was that they did not want to land there.
These examples show how the human spirit can shine through even in the darkest of circumstances
The quality and depth is truly remarkable
Thank you Anna