The Brothers

Gilbert, Daniël and Marcel Durnez

 

The brothers were arrested by the Gestapo in France, april 1944. They were brought to Melun prison. From there they were deported to the transit camp in Compiègne. Apart from disobedient civilians, arrested Jews and resistance fighters, were put togheter there to be transported into other camps. On 27 April 1944 the same happened with the Durnez brothers. Marcel told afterwards that so many people were pushed in their wagon that they only could sit in turns. They received small rations, had no water and had no restrooms. That’s why they had to relieve themselves in a boot. After a few days of travelling Marcel, Daniël en Gilbert arrived in Auschwitz, where they had to hand in all of their personal stuff and where they were depilated and deloused. Marcel was tattooed the number 185.497 on his arm. They only stayed for 2 week in Auschwitz. Afterwards they were brought to Buchenwald. After they were put in quarantine for a week, Marcel was brought tot Flossenbürg along with his brothers, where they arrived on 25 May 1944.

Marcel was put to work in the Messerschmitt Halle 2004 Abteilung 11 where he worked at the Messerschmitt Bf 109. At the registration he had given a profession, making him being considered as a specialist. The so called specialists were seen as valuable for the war industry. They escaped the work in the quarry and forestry, which were much harder and more dangerous Aussenkommandos.

 

Daniël, Marcel’s older brother, became ill and had to go to the Revier. It appeared he had tuberculosis. Without the necessary medicines he had no chance to survive. Despite his desease he kept taking care of his younger brother. He collected soup or bread from sick companions in his barrack and gave it later in the evening to Marcel, who was visiting him without being allowed to. After a couple of weeks the disease took Daniël in his hold and on 27 January 1945 he passed away. For Gilbert too his stay in Flossenbürg didn’t end well. He got hurt in the quarry and his wound wouldn’t heal. Het was getting more and more trouble to walk, obstructing the work of others. Because of that the Kapos gave him a hard time. On 13 April 1945 Gilbert was killed. Marcel was now the only one of the three brothers who was still alive.

 

A short time later, Flossenbürg was vacated. After marching approximately 60 miles in 2 days, they arrived in Tierlstein, where they encoutered American units. The guards fled or were shot. 23 April 1945 : free at last! But that didn’t mean all the problems were solved. The Americans still were battling German units and the former KL-prisoners had to take care of themselves. Marcel went with some other Flemisch people from farm to farm to get some food. Via Roding, they arrived in Nürnberg, where they were put on the train with Belgium as destination. On 18 May 1945 Marcel was home again at last.

 

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