A peculiarity existed in Birkenau: the Politische Abteilung, as the camp’s Gestapo office was called. This institution employed German-speaking Jewish women as secretaries. They enjoyed better living conditions than the other inmates because the SS saw to it that the inmates with whom they had daily contact had more hygienic surroundings. It is assumed that the SS preferred using Jewish women as secretaries because they were educated, had mastered several languages, and would never see freedom again, and thus would not be able to divulge any secrets.

This postcard, sent from a secretary employed in Auschwitz’s Politische Abteilung. It was placed into special mail bag #77 originating from the camp. The card was not censored, other than receiving the handstamped admonishment to write in German.

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