In this camp the inmates stayed briefly, no more that 3–4 days, and were then transported to other camps in cattle wagons. They were kept in the present-day French Pavilion and another two pavilions in its proximity, squeezed in, without any furniture. They slept on the floor, and were later brought some straw. During the day, they were mostly allowed to move around and leave the pavilions, but not very far, and were always strictly watched by the Ustasha guards. During the night, the inmates were locked in the pavilions. Food was brought by the Jewish Religious Community of Zagreb (hrv. Židovska bogoštovna općina u Zagrebu – ŽBOZ) and by the inmates' family and friends.
Eva Grlić, together with her husband Rudolf Domany and daughter Vesna, was among the first people brought to the camp. Listen to her retell the conditions in the camp and the treatment of the inmates. Then, read her short biography.
Eva Grlić was born in Budapest in a Jewish family. Her mother was from Hungary and her father from Sarajevo. Due to political turmoil in Hungary, the family moved to Sarajevo, to stay with Eva's father's family, and here she finishes primary school and enrolls into gymnasium. She was expelled from the gymnasium because of her contact with the fighters who joined the International Brigades in the Spanish civil war. Then, the family moves to Zagreb. She married Rudolf Domany, and gave birth to her daughter Vesna in May 1941. At the very beginning of the war, Rudolf is arrested on the account of being a Jew, but also after the attack of the communist activists on the Ustasha university units next to the Botanical Garden. For retaliation, he was shot near Rakov potok, together with a group of 90 hostages, Serbs, Jews and communists. Her father was also taken and shot at the beginning of the war. Eva, her mother, ant other family members went into hiding, staying at various lodgings and place sin Zagreb, mostly with friends and acquaintances. She survived the war by joining the People's Liberation Movement. After the war, she returned home and continued living in Zagreb. She worked as a journalist and married a philosopher, Danko Grlić. However, they were both arrested for several times by the communist authorities, under the allegation that they belong to Informbiro, and were interned at the Island of Goli. After a difficult return to reality, Eva found employment and lived with her family in Zagreb. Eva Grlić died in Zagreb in 2008.