Diaries reveal some of the most intimate, heart-wrenching accounts of the Holocaust. They record in real time the feelings of loss, fear, and, sometimes, hope of those facing extraordinary peril. Using postcards and precious family photographs, Helene Reik recorded her thoughts and recollections while imprisoned in Theresienstadt.
![Photograph showing Helene Reik's family members and friends gathered in March 1941 in Brazil. [LCID: 33382]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/e09fca88-2448-4303-8927-0f0535372dde.jpg "Photograph showing Helene Reik's family members and friends gathered in March 1941 in Brazil. [LCID: 33382]")
Photograph showing Helene Reik's family members and friends gathered in March 1941 in Brazil.
After her deportation to the Theresienstadt ghetto in Czechoslovakia, Helene yearned to record what was happening to her. This photograph was sent to Helene, who used it as paper for her diary in Theresienstadt. Helene’s makeshift diary offers wistful memories of her husband and parents who died before the war, loving thoughts of her family who had left Europe in 1939, and a firsthand account of the illness and hospitalization that ultimately led to her death.
Because resources were scarce in the Theresienstadt ghetto, Helene recorded her thoughts, recollections, and diary entries in the margins and on the backs of family pictures that she had brought with her, as well as postcards and letters she received while in the ghetto.
Item View![Photograph showing Kurt, Helene Reik's son, and his wife, while on vacation in April/May 1938 in Kupari, Croatia. [LCID: 33386]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/085f2792-6544-4618-9a1b-6753141e93b4.jpg "Photograph showing Kurt, Helene Reik's son, and his wife, while on vacation in April/May 1938 in Kupari, Croatia. [LCID: 33386]")
Photograph showing Kurt, Helene Reik's son, and his wife, while on vacation in April/May 1938 in Kupari, Croatia.
After her deportation to the Theresienstadt ghetto in Czechoslovakia, Helene yearned to record what was happening to her. This photograph was sent to Helene, who used it as paper for her diary in Theresienstadt. Helene’s makeshift diary offers wistful memories of her husband and parents who died before the war, loving thoughts of her family who had left Europe in 1939, and a firsthand account of the illness and hospitalization that ultimately led to her death.
Because resources were scarce in the Theresienstadt ghetto, Helene recorded her thoughts, recollections, and diary entries in the margins and on the backs of family pictures that she had brought with her, as well as postcards and letters she received while in the ghetto.
Item View![Photograph showing Kurt, Helene Reik's son, holding his baby Margarida, in Rio de Janeiro in 1940. [LCID: 33388]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/3a48999d-c034-4258-85ff-83a71f89e88c.jpg "Photograph showing Kurt, Helene Reik's son, holding his baby Margarida, in Rio de Janeiro in 1940. [LCID: 33388]")
Photograph showing Kurt, Helene Reik's son, holding his baby Margarida, in Rio de Janeiro in 1940.
After her deportation to the Theresienstadt ghetto in Czechoslovakia, Helene yearned to record what was happening to her. This photograph was sent to Helene, who used it as paper for her diary in Theresienstadt. Helene’s makeshift diary offers wistful memories of her husband and parents who died before the war, loving thoughts of her family who had left Europe in 1939, and a firsthand account of the illness and hospitalization that ultimately led to her death.
Because resources were scarce in the Theresienstadt ghetto, Helene recorded her thoughts, recollections, and diary entries in the margins and on the backs of family pictures that she had brought with her, as well as postcards and letters she received while in the ghetto.
Item View![Photograph showing Margarida, Helen Reik's granddaughter, playing on a field in Teresopolis, Brazil, in April 1940. [LCID: 33387]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/f4cd015b-bb02-4dcc-9ad8-7a5c5a07bc5d.jpg "Photograph showing Margarida, Helen Reik's granddaughter, playing on a field in Teresopolis, Brazil, in April 1940. [LCID: 33387]")
Photograph showing Margarida, Helene Reik's granddaughter, playing on a field in Teresopolis, Brazil, in April 1940.
After her deportation to the Theresienstadt ghetto in Czechoslovakia, Helene yearned to record what was happening to her. This photograph was sent to Helene, who used it as paper for her diary in Theresienstadt. Helene’s makeshift diary offers wistful memories of her husband and parents who died before the war, loving thoughts of her family who had left Europe in 1939, and a firsthand account of the illness and hospitalization that ultimately led to her death.
Because resources were scarce in the Theresienstadt ghetto, Helene recorded her thoughts, recollections, and diary entries in the margins and on the backs of family pictures that she had brought with her, as well as postcards and letters she received while in the ghetto.
Item View![Photograph taken in May 1915 of Helene Reik's children. [LCID: 33383]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/0c9c2595-1da3-48ce-ba85-787b6e900831.jpg "Photograph taken in May 1915 of Helene Reik's children. [LCID: 33383]")
Photograph taken in May 1915 of Helene Reik's children.
After her deportation to the Theresienstadt ghetto in Czechoslovakia, Helene yearned to record what was happening to her. This photograph was sent to Helene, who used it as paper for her diary in Theresienstadt. Helene’s makeshift diary offers wistful memories of her husband and parents who died before the war, loving thoughts of her family who had left Europe in 1939, and a firsthand account of the illness and hospitalization that ultimately led to her death.
Because resources were scarce in the Theresienstadt ghetto, Helene recorded her thoughts, recollections, and diary entries in the margins and on the backs of family pictures that she had brought with her, as well as postcards and letters she received while in the ghetto.
Item View
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