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Contact:
Rosina T. Schmidt
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Personal
Recollections
Parts of the
Diary of
JELKA KURTNAKER
First published
in 2004
at
SCRINIA SLAVONICA
Godišnjak Podruznice za povijest Slavonije,
Srijema i Baranje
Hrvatskog instituta za povijest – svezak 4 (2004)
By
Vladimir Geiger
Translated by
Rosina T. Schmidt
Monday, 23rd
July 1945
Today mom and I
were dragged away into the unknown. Right now we are in Pleternica, where we are
staying until tomorrow. Around five in the morning we will continue the trek. –
Mom is in great despair, cries heartbreakingly. I am holding myself up as much as
I can. Am keeping faith in God. He is not going to abandon us. They took Aunty
Marica and Bianka too, but in the very last moment they left them in the house.
Thanks be to God. Hardly had time to say good-by to them. – Our children came to
the train station, but were chased away. No big deal. The Almighty God will look
after them also. In my knapsack, which I carry on my back, I stuffed my Madonna, a
cross, some undergarments and a few dresses – my whole worldly possessions.
However, I feel very rich indeed. God is with me. Please dear God give us lots of
strength.
We are accused
to have been members of the group, but that is not true.
Tuesday, 24th
July 1945
We are sitting
on the floor of a cattle car. We are heading towards Našice. The women are crying.
Mom too. I forced her to eat a bit. All we have is ham and bread. They say we are
going to a detainee camp close to Osijek.
Am not capable
of praying. Could not sleep last night. After yesterday’s worries my nerves refuse
to cooperate. – We are promised that we will be marching for quite a bit.
Wednesday, 25th
July 1945 (Djakovacka Krndija)
Am stretched
out on the stroh in one of the vacant and ruined houses. My head hurts horrible.
Must have been the sunstroke. Mom is changing compresses. Poor mom, after all that
heartbreaking sobbing at the moment she is a bit better. We walked in the sun and
heat of 50C all the 17 km from Koška to Djakovacka Krndija, where we are staying
in a prisoner detainee camp (concentration camp). At noon today we received the
very first meal since Sunday, a bit of a warm soup. We live on bread and ham, which
we took with us from home. Yesterday during all that marching I could not eat
anything. Just a few sugar cubes and some cognac. Was much surprised how well I
marched. Mom drove on the wagon. Tomorrow we are scheduled to work. Hopefully I
will get better.
R. and K. are
in our room. Much depressed. I have faith in God. Many people are arriving. Two
transports arrived today from Županja. Children, old and middle aged people.
There is
difficulty with water. It is too far and not good.
Thursday, 26th
July 1945
St. Ann’s Day!
I dragged myself to the church. No mass. My head still hurts incredible. I am
changing compresses all the time.
They threw us
out of our quarters, which we just finished arranging. Like donkeys we burdened
ourselves and headed to the other street. On our arrival, everything was already
too full, so we had no other choice but to find a spot in the yard. Now we live
under the sky.
Food is sparse.
Just water slightly colored with a few beans.
Have no
strength, as there is not sufficient nourishment and am too thirsty in this heat.
Friday, 27th
July 1945
Mom did not
sleep again. Me a bit. My body is all black and blue from sleeping on the hard
ground. Shortage of food. Absolutely nothing to purchase. – Mom is often in
despair. I try to comfort her, even though I too feel desolate.
Last night we
planned to go to the church to pray the rosary, but it was forbidden. We assembled
behind the house, sat on the stroh and prayed aloud. The people from Sikierevac
maintain that an 18-year-old girl and four small children did see the vision of
the holy Mary there recently. Everyone saw light in the sky. The children saw the
Mother of God and were talking to her. People are arriving for the pilgrimage as
far as Belgrade. In the last few days 30,000 people arrived. In the evening as
soon as they start praying the rosary, the sky starts to shine and Holy Mary
arrives. She told the children that on that very spot is a chapel to be erected.
When a drizzle started, M.B. said that this was the blessing for the earth where
the chapel was going to be built. One man maintains that he was present at the
first occurrence: one blind person could see again. They say that Mother of God
announced that on the Saint Mary’s day there is going to be a miracle. There will
be a three-day eclipse.
I do not feel
guilty of any crimes, so am very confident that we will be released. Our
conscience is clear.
Did receive
some green pears. Mom went to the neighbours to boil them.
Was very ill
this morning, but feel just a bit better now. An intestine burst and there was
much bleeding. There is only one medical attendant here with hardly any medicine.
He couldn’t give me anything to help except a little bit of hypermangan.
Cannot go to
work due to the illness, but they also do not force those who cannot go. One
partisan, an agriculturist by profession, is very kind. Did bring me some
aspirins. He gave us some potatoes to boil.
Monday, 30th
July 1945
It is the
second day in the Valpovo detainee camp. We did not expect to find anything good
but were still disappointed. We arrived inside barbed wire like some criminals.
Not a sliver of shade in the women’s quarter. There are over 100 of us sleeping in
one barrack. Sleeping places are boards with not even a stroh crumb. I am
worried sick because of mom. She has blisters all over her skinny body and suffers
greatly. Hygiene conditions are horrible. The travel from Krndija to here was
strenuous. We traveled in the wagon under the burning sun from four in the morning
to four in the afternoon. And there is no water, no containers and no place to
sleep fit for a human being.
That little bit
of food (bread and ham) is at the end. We have eaten yesterday nothing. This
morning only tea with nothing else. As luck would have it we still have a few
crumbs of sugar and a bit of honey.
In the evening.
The last of the
onion I put in to someone else’s frying pan with a bit of bacon. As it was done I
wanted to bring it to mom – but it spilled into the dust. Mom cried desolately, as
I had nothing for supper, since I also had no lunch. Today I cry too. I am praying
to the Almighty that at least mom would be spared. – Yesterday it was Sunday and
no holly mass! We have no idea what is ahead of us. – The water was brought in a
barrel. We hardly drink it and would rather stay thirsty.
Thursday, 2nd
July 1945
Waiting. Are
living only for now. Our interests circle just around one thought: how to escape
these wires. It is horrible to live within the barbed wires. It is against the
human nature. To take away someone’s most holly thing: the freedom! One wants to
scream, to brake hands and wire… At moments it is horrendous. Than thinking on
God, the Christ who suffered innocently, one becomes calmer. It is better to
suffer innocent than being guilty. Our conscience is clear towards anyone. - We are
getting weaker and weaker. Mom is receiving diet due to her gallbladder problems:
twice per day soup with two potato squares. Hot water. I receive here and there an
apple, which I eat for lunch with bread and to please mom a spoon of that soup.
That is our entire food intake. Our health is not good. The nights are very
difficult. Our blistered bones do take the hard boards no longer so more and more
we sit for hours and hours waiting for down. It rained so the nights are cold. We
have no covers so freeze with chattering teeth.
I worry so much
about mom.
Today is Saint
Porciunkula’s day. Our prayers go to her to liberate us from the detainee camp.
We are all
hungry. All of us except those who receive parcels.
I think much on
our home and those who stayed behind. It’s most soothing.
People are very
apathetic. They have no hope that they will ever leave the wires. I am still
hoping and trust in God.
Did find a
louse in our cloths. Disgusting! Last night while waiting for the food at the
kettle, an old lady stood there full of flees. They just crept all over her coat.
This is a disgusting life.
The whole day
is ahead of me. In the morning we have to get up and do some work, but I hardly
pray. Only evenings do I pray the rosary aloud. Do not know why I no longer can
pray.
Daily there are
new prisoner arrivals. On the first day they are all in tears, the second day they
turn to stone and give themselves over to their fate.
There is talk
that a transport will go to Germany.
Today there are
207 persons in our barrack.
Sunday, 5th
August 1945
Without the
holly mass, even though there is a priest in our prisoner midst. First it was said
that there will be a mass, but it was just an empty talk. Mom is desolate. She
talked to some people from Osijek, who are already desperate after three months of
being here. They no longer hope, but mom is still hopeful even though in constant
tears.
We are hungry.
Mom is swaying on her feet from hunger. Miss W. invited us to a slice of bread
with lard on it so we received a tiny bit of strength. We are freezing nights, but
now the winds are blowing during the day also, it is cold. For the last two weeks
we have not taken our clothes off, kept nights even the shoes on, to conserve the
body heat. If only we could get form somewhere some fat. – Now the night is
getting close; we dread to think on it. Our bodies are black and blue from
sleeping on the hard boards.
My hope is with
God. My prayers go to him and I am hopeful. – Yesterday two children died of
malnutrition. Dear God help us!
Monday, 6th
August 1945
The children
are crying. Some are sleeping while hundreds of flies creep over their eyes and
suck on their mouths. – Next to us a woman is sobbing. Has a stomach pain due to
the miserable detainee camp food. The beans disappeared; there is no more bean
water. Twice daily in the last few days there were noodles with white sauce.
Vis-à-vis a woman is reading fortune in the cards. “You will go home, your house
is standing”… The woman with many children breaks out into a smile. She is going
home, no matter how empty her house might be. The fortuneteller is going from
barrack to barrack to tell the fortune. – Mom did not come back for a long time,
even though I was looking for her. Finally she returned and said that she was
inspecting the barbed wire fencing to find if she could hang herself! Dear God, I
feel so hopeless!
In my hands is
the book “The life of hl. Theresa” in which I read the nicest parts over and over
to give me emotional strength. I am forcing myself to suffer voluntarily but it
does not go smoothly. Today I no longer believe that we will be going home. One
transport was sent to another detainee camp. – No news from ours. They are
constantly in my thoughts and prayers. I pray to Saint Miroljuba also. I know that
her tender heart is praying for us too. Ah, there is much to be prayed for all
those detainee camp dwellers and for all those tiny, innocent children who are
dying of malnutrition.
Mom is crying
from hunger. G. R. gave me a slip of bacon for her.
Wednesday, 8th
August 1945
For half an
hour there was hope, the other half absolute desperation. Some are saying that we
never will be able to leave those wires. I have not lost the hope. God will help
us. They are calling us for cleaning the grounds. One must report for duty or
there will be disciplinarian fines.
Hunger… I am
hungry to the very last vein in my body. Am worried sick about mom. If at least
she could have some food! Those, whose homes are closer, do receive some food
parcels, but us from far away do not. The children are crying from hunger. That
warm water is not sufficient to keep a person alive.
My eyes are
flickering non-stop. Can’t even think.
Saturday, 11
August 1945
Am ill. Had
high fever all through the night. My head and windpipe are hurting incredible. I
was lying for a bit and only a few minutes ago went out on the fresh air.
Yesterday mom was desperate. She was on strike against hunger. Wanted to die.
Today she is a bit calmer.
We went to a
funeral and escorted the deceased as far as the gate. Farther on are the barbed
wires…. How sad to die in the detainee camp. Three boards held together with ropes
with the cloths of the deceased showing through.
When someone
does something wrong, a man getting drunk, he has to sleep in the makeshift
mortuary. Even old not quite tidy women had to sleep there, no matter if there
were any dead bodies there or not. They are there daily. – One example: a mother
bore in the Jospivocac detainee camp a child, poor thing died, but one three year
old lives. Without having received any medical care, with no food, the mother is
just a skeleton. She looks like an old woman. Could hardly creep on to the
stretcher and two Danube Swabians carried her to the barrack with the sign ‘house
hospital’ on it. The poor orphan of three years just like a lamb following the
ewe was running after them crying ‘mom, mom’! It breaks ones heart! With
tears running like a waterfall, he stopped at the wires. A tenderhearted woman
took his hand and led him to her own barrack. The child could not follow its
mother. She was anyhow almost dead.
We received
some news from ours in Požega. What happiness! And a parcel! Bread, bacon and fat.
What luxury! But the news is not good. Norina is getting weaker and Mr. Venca in
the detainee camp has stomach typhus. Bianka wrote me too. Poor child, how much
she already had to suffer. And my dear, kind aunty. Dear Good look after them.
Poor Norina suffers. Thanks be to God that they have been released from this hell.
Norina, aunty and that child.
Sunday, 12th
August 1945
It was a
pleasant surprise when the priest told us, that there would be a mass in the
detainee camp today. There was much hassle until the permission was received. It
started a whole hour later, but still there was one. We were all happy: almost all
of the inmates were attending except a few women who had the kitchen duty. It was
pleasant and deeply touching. The altar stood under a pear tree. The chaplain made
a cross out of two small boards ahead of time. The women and girls were singing. A
wind came up and played with the holly Host so that I was afraid it would be blown
away. The priest had to steady it. At the end we sang ‘Greetings, Mother of God’!
– We are all full of hope today, that we will be freed soon.
Mrs. Wolf from
our group and some others from Požega were sent to the detainee camp of Retfalu.
We are sorry to have been parted. We wanted to return all together home. Mrs. W.
is a golden, unselfish soul. She never thought about herself but helped others and
was not argumentative. We lost a good friend.
Tuesday, 14th
August 1945
Evening before
day of hl. Mother of God (Saint Gospa). There will be a blessing today and a
procession within the wires. Priest G. practices with the girls for the
procession. Holy confession will follow the blessing and tomorrow holy mass and
communion. It gives us a bit of a lift. My dear crucifix was at the blessing and
tonight I will take my precious Madonna for the altar, which was painted by the
nun Miroljuba. It makes me happy. – Am preparing myself for the holly Confession.
Three weeks ago it was the last one. Detainee camp sins! Impatience at times and
despair. God knows how much we are suffering. But it will be as He says.
Mom is ill,
while I pulled out a little bit, except that I cough and the headache will not go
away.
We are full of
hope in God’s help, and console ourselves that we will go home soon.
Out thoughts
are often with our dearest at home.
Thursday, 16th
August 1945
Today I have
the feeling that we cannot endure any longer. Our strength is at the end. A
sleepless night. I caught nine bedbugs just on myself, not to mention the
stone-hard sleeping spot. Mom sighted the whole night; I lay quietly without
moving, but hardly could creep out of the sleeping pigeonhole spot felling like
all my bones were broken.
Yesterday the
day was full of hope. Day of our holy Mother of God. We had hl. Confession and
received hl. Communion during the mass. Much singing during the service. It gave
us much comfort. During the evening mass there was plenty of hymnal singing. We
prayed until late in the night.
It is difficult
having a proper mass under these conditions. It outside, the altar nailed together
from a few boards. The wind was blowing (here it blows all the time) and even with
much care taking of the holy Host it was blown into the grass. Poor priest.
Without a ministrant, without any help at all. Good that I had my crucifix and my
Madonna. I brought it to the altar in the morning and in the afternoon. As flowers
I put the camp’s corn-blue radish in a glass; it looked gently on the white altar
cloth. It could have not been more humble, but I know, nothing could please God
more than our altar. How we prayed!
But as I said,
today the day is bleak. Jesus let us go through it, and I know there will be a
time that we do not think on anything. Dear God, give us strength!
Mom went to the
bush to find some twigs. Both of us are ill. Not alone, though. There is much
suffering all around us, and only words for consolation. ‘Home, home’ we all sigh.
Dear God, return us home!
Monday, 20th
August 1945
We are again in
Krndija. They sent us packing on the 18th of this month. It was my name
day. I never had a ‘nicer’ one! We had to get up at three in the morning, even
though the afternoon before we worked heavily and went late to our stone-hard
sleeping places and without supper, where we chased the bedbugs for the rest of
the night. They kept us standing in formation in the hot sun until 10 h and then
off with our baggage the three kilometers to the train station. Like dogs tired
and hungry (no dinner last night and not breakfast this morning) into the open-air
train cars, where we sat under the burning sun until 14h. Finally we started
towards Osijek. There we had to change into open-air cars full of coke on which
heaps we had to climb. Without any food or water we drove until 16h. Just prior to
the train station of Široko Polje we embarked and dragging all our baggage behind
us marched for seven kilometers. The little children on the chests and the 3-4
year old had to walk, as the mothers fully loaded with the baggage could not carry
any more. Old people and ill women moaned under their burden. Faster, faster, they
hollered at us. Yes, it was our Calvary walk. The road was full of thorns. Whoever
did not hurry, got the butt of the gun into the back, and there was much shooting
too. All along much cussing… bloody dogs…. True, there were some decent escorts
also. It was not hunger so much but the unbearable thirst. While marching through
the villages the women were bringing us water, but it was forbidden. While going
through the forest I managed to pick some blackberries, which lessened the thirst
a bit. Children cried without stopping. I could not listen to it longer. In
Putovnica, the last village, we received the permission…. (Here the entry ends
for that day.)
Wednesday, 19th
of September 1945
We are working
on the bunkers. Filling them in. There are changes. Now the old men and women had
to work also. Mom too. She is in tears. At 65 and ill has to take the shovel and
start digging. Because of her I reported to the senior’s group. Am taking it with
difficulty because of her, but perhaps it is for the best. Being in the fresh air,
surrounded by other women the time might pass for her faster. She could hardly bear
the last few days. Says if she has to stay here longer, she is going to hang
herself. Any which way I try to console her it is for naught. Dear God please for
mom’s sake take us out of this starvation camp, and if I must stay longer in order
for her to be released, so be it. God dearest, please liberate mom!
Did receive
news from ours. The petitions for our freedom are sent in, they are waiting our
release, but all is for nothing. I am putting my trust in to God’s hands and wish
to have patience if only I would have something more for my stomach. Am often
being dizzy from weakness. Dear Saint Joseph, today I devote this day to you. Take
care of us and lead us to freedom, if it is God’s will.
My dear friend
“Follow in Jesus’ steps” is at my side to comfort me. And the rosary is at my
side, which I use to pray outside in the fresh air. I beseech all the heavenly
Saints to help the children and the old people. Oh, how hungry the children are!
We are boiling the dry corn kernels and eat them just like the geese do.
My dear Norina!
On the 17th it was a month that she moved into thereafter. She craved
so much for peace. God gave her the eternal one.
And Bjanka,
poor orphan, had to go to Zagreb with aunty because of the war. So I am not to
find them at home also? My children, they all spread in different directions. God only knows
what happened to Miroljuba. None of the notes mention her. My heart is heavy with
sorrow. She was ill two months ago when I left. Did she get better and went to
Požega?
Saturday, 22nd
of September 1945
After a
difficult night, a difficult day. Mom sobbed the whole night with pain in her
joints and the scabs. We all have scabs in our shed. Today I have angina too, so
did not go to work. – Poor mom, she scratched herself so much that now her body is
full of open wounds.
We heard day
before yesterday that Mrs. H. sent in a request for the release of her mom and us
too. Mom was all happiness. She packed all in, even though I tried to warn her,
that perhaps those were false news, so she would not be too disappointed if it
turns out not to be true. And so it was. Mrs. H. did pick up her mother, but we
heard that in regards to us, some documents are still missing, so all is hanging
in the air. Poor mom. There are no words to describe it.
Today I will
send a note to our dear sister, who is sacrificing so much on our behalf, to try
every possible way to liberate us – as I am afraid that mom cannot take it much
longer. She has not even a gram of muscles on her body.
Whenever our
dear Požega friends, the family B., find something food wise, they bring it home
and share it with us so we are not as hungry. Today we are boiling corn kernels
and outside of the wires there are a few soya beans to be found. Much needed
towards our vitamin insufficiency. Recently we received some jam and eggs from
home. But in the concentration camp everything is shared evenly. The whole room
shares when a parcel arrives. We are all equally hungry, except those, whose homes
are close by and receive often food supplies.
If our petition
does not arrive soon …. Yes, something has to happen!
Sunday, 23rd
September 1945
Dear God fed us
nicely today. Our roommates shared with us a chunk of white bread and some
radishes. Thanks to Him! – It is now two months that we are in the starvation
camp. We are waiting for freedom, if it is God’s will. – Have scabs. Mom is
scratching herself and is full of wounds.
They installed
stronger wire fencing and more guards. Those are five times worse than before.
Sunday, 30th
November 1945
One of the very
difficult days. I headed for the holy mass, but there was none. The priest is ill
so we had only a silent prayer mass. For over one hour I kneed in the empty church
fervently praying to the Mother of God to put a prayer on our behalf for our
return home. Mom is sick again. Her legs are swollen around the joints, the body
full of scabs and now she has a boil under her arm. She is feverish and a cold wind
blows outside. Mom is stretched out on the stroh shivering all over and I sit at
her side all blue with coldness. Dear God, release us, do please help that our
petition will go through, as I do not know otherwise what will happen to mom. It
is as cold as if it would snow. Our shed will not last. Everything is open, wind
blowing through.
If only mom
would be better. Dear God have pity on us starvation camp inmates.
I promised holy
Mary if our petition goes through and we return home, I will walk barefoot from
Zagreb to Marija Bistrica.
Until Tuesday! Is the day of freedom coming soon?!
Tuesday, 2nd
October 1945
Endurance!
Endurance! Have patience! Dear almighty God, give us strength. It drizzles; it is
as cold as if it would snow. Inside our lean-to is darkness, even though two
outside walls are missing. We are blowing into fire, putting on wet logs, and the
smoke is so heavy to burn ones eyes. Coldness. We are shivering and are lost in
our thoughts. Never-ending thoughts. We are accused to have been members of the
group but that is not so. Who cares if we are innocent: I rather suffer innocent
that suffer guilty and have that guilt on my conscience. Mom is loosing all her
strength. She is very ill even with all the loving care I can give her. Yesterday
she discovered a growth under her arm, which burns her heavily. Mom thinks it is a
boil but I am not so sure. Hopefully it is not cancer! I am afraid for her.
Dear God, give
us strength to endure, the sun to warm us up – help us for our petition to go
through so I can take my poor mom out of here.
My dear sister
is trying so hard to save us, is running to Brod, but all is going so slow. If it
would not be for mom, I would not worry so much. I would put my fate in to your
hands, Almighty God, and after each new blow would say ‘with God’s help’. Yes
Father!
Wednesday, 3rd
of October 1945
My dearest
little Theresia! Today is her name day. How would I have known that here in the
banishment if she had not told me herself? Today’s day, Wednesday, as always I devote
to Saint Joseph. I took the weekday missal (I have the weekly one) so I could find
the Saint Joseph’s prayers. Turning the pages over and look, found under third of
October ‘Little Theresia’! Dearest little sister. She knows very well that I would
be sad to have missed her name day. I prayed at the mass for her wellbeing, for
mom’s health and for our release. Mom is very weak. High fever changes with
shivering, and under her arm the growth is swelling. When I put the compresses on
it she screams. – Because of the strong wind and coldness we had to move from our
shed into the stable. Some went there already. True, there is no ceiling, the
doors are open but it is still somewhat warmer. (Except for mice, rats, fleas, bed
bugs, and children with running noses, there are no disturbances!)
Oh, my dear
mom. Because of her condition I cannot go to work. I sit besides her on the stroh
and wait to fulfill her wishes. Water, soup from the kettle, a tiny bit of bread,
is all I can help her with. – It is windy and the clouds are heavy, it could be
snowing. – Dear sister, come and get us out! Little Theresia and Saint Joseph,
pray for us to dear God for Friday!
Sunday, 7th
October 1945
Friday came and
went and we are still here! Today is our other’s Justine name day. Bless her, dear
God.
Last Friday I
sat the whole day besides mom. She was shivering. With the cross in my hand I
beseeched help from the Heavens. Towards evening a currier came to get us. To
report with our luggage to the office. In a few minutes we were ready and mom
drove on the wagon. Some one from Požega requested 16 of us for work duty in Požega.
Our things were already on the wagon, when camp manager arrived and threw us off.
Did not give us permission to go. Desperately disappointed we dragged our
baggage through ankle deep mud. Mom cried hugging me that even a stone would feel
pity. I swallowed my tears. Crying did pray the whole night. Oh my God, when will
the rescue arrive?
Yesterday was
the worst of days. Mom is very ill. Screams with pain. Her wound has a shape of a
larger apple. Am afraid that it is cancerous. Did run to the office. Begged them
to give me permission to take mom to Zagreb and I would come back. He cursed me
high to Heaven, that that is not possible. Returning back in the darkness I cried
loudly and blamed Jesus that he truly did forget us. The soul’s weakness.
Dear God, today
I again live in hope, even though mom is screaming with pain and that growth does
not look good to me. Am putting my hope into God’s hands, that he will help us,
will rescue us.
I think
constantly on that little child. Our poor little Bijanka! Now an orphan without
mother or father! And on aunty R. and sister! They are in my dreams I feel their
pain.
I strongly put
my hope in to your hands, dear God!
Požega, 22nd
October 1945
Today is the
ninth day that we are back home. Dear home! Only now do I start to realize that I
am free, even though the real meaning of freedom I still cannot fathom. While in
the starvation camp I visualized that I would be bursting with happiness when
released from the wires, and yet, now I am all composed and quite. Did loose the
ability to feel happy about anything. Except when I visit my dear family members
and friends. Being by myself I am full of sadness. Mom too is not as happy as I
have visualized she would be. Poor thing, she is full of fear, weak in body and
spirit.
Our dear J! She
put so much effort to free us. Running around from office to office, down to Brod
with petitions, searched for evidence that we were not members of the group and
never attended any meetings. Her huge efforts did bear fruit. Finally the
petition was fulfilled. On Sunday, the 14th of October a currier
arrived to our stable with the call. We hugged and kissed our fellow detainees and
with much excitement headed to the office. Mom just returned the day before from
the hospital and could hardly move, but when she heard that our petition was
approved, she hurried faster than I. Our sister and Biianka were waiting for us in
the office. I thought it was an apparition. I could not hug and kiss them in front
of those strange people. Our eyes greeted each other and we waited for the release
documents. I shook hands of all present and I muss admit that I have not even in
my thoughts wished anyone any evil. Not even those who threw me into this hell.
May God forgive them.
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