In the first column of the first page, the author writes “The cherished objects we had brought with us thus far were left behind in the train, and with them, at last, our illusions.” What illusions do you think the author is referring to?

Many of the Jews in Sighet played down the Nazi occupation of their town. They felt that the German soldiers were merely there to protect them or merely claim the territory in their name. As they are carted into boxcars and forced to leave their belongings behind, the people began to comprehend that their previous excuses for German occupation were just illusions.