The story of young Helga Pollak is a model case of remembering the fate of the European Jewish children during the Holocaust. Her autobiographical notes are comparable to those of Anne Frank. Her story will move many more generations to come.
Theresienstadt.
The Girls of Room 28
Terezin Diary
Terezin Diary of Helga Pollak
Sad NEWS: Helga Pollak-Kinsky died on November 14, 2020. Please visit Farewell to Helga in the BLOG . For German readers: see: Obituaries in the media and Obituaries from friends on the website of the association Room 28 eV.
Two diaries. A clarification
Often people mix up the diary of Helga Pollak with the diary of Helga Weissová from Prague. Both lived in the Girls' Home L 410, both kept diaries. The diary by Helga Weissová was published under the title "Helga's diary". This led to many misunderstandings and confusions ever since. Therefore it was necessary to shed light on both diaries and give some background information. This was done for the English Compendium to the Room 28 Educational Project.
You are free to download these pages here.
Download pdf: Helga's Diary
Czech Edition 2019: The Terezin Diary of Helga Pollak
Helga Pollak. Theresienstadt Diary
Helga was born in Vienna on 28 May 1930, the daughter of Frieda and Otto Pollak. Her father was the owner of the concert Caféhouse Palmhof, located in the heart of the City. She grew up in that very same building in a large flat above the café.
The Girls of Room 28. Book
The lasting echo of Helga Pollak's diary is closely linked to the book The Girls of Room 28 by hannelore Brenner published in 2004 by Droemer Verlag, Munic. An American edition was published in 2009 by Schocken Books, New York.
The Girls of Room 28. Exhibition
... Under the guardianship of their carers they played, sang, painted and learned or took part in the staging of the opera Brundibár. They founded a little organization called Ma’agal, created their own hymn and a flag. Ma’agal, is Hebrew for circle and, in a metaphorical sense, perfection; this was their goal.
"Terezin's diary" by Zuzana Justman
The diary of Helga Pollak with its wealth of details is a completly authentic and moving account of a girl's life in the Terezin ghetto. For my documentaries it became the most important inspiration