The Czech Krone had depreciated. The Germans got for 1 Mark 10 Krone. In 4 weeks the stores were sold out. Coffee and chocolate were not available in Germany, while we were still able to buy these products. The people from Germany came to Sudetenland and bought everything what was available because first of all everything was very cheap for them and secondly this was no longer available in Germany. Through this conquer Hitler could satisfy his people. Not long after the rest of Czechoslovakia was occupied and declared as a protection. The Czechs had it better than we Germans who sacrificed ourselves for the republic. Many were put into forced labor to build the highways or were sent to the war industry. From us republicans many were put in camps, the so-called concentration camps, which we found out afterwards. We were all picked up and arrested from the Republic's Defense. Some were, as we were told, sent to concentration camps to be re-educated. We had no choice but to keep our mouths shut and think of the song "Our thoughts are free, who could guess what they are, which fly by on the nightly shadow." I had many sleepless nights like this. At work my position became debatable, and those that were two shouldered (two faced) wanted my position, and tried everything to find a fault, but it wasn't possible for them because I had friends in administration, that thought the same way as I.
The currency was modified, and the German Mark was introduced 10 - 1. The stores were already sold out and under the government according to the Old Reich. After that the problems began in Poland, the same as we had here in Czechoslovakia. The Russians, meaning Stalin made a pact with Hitler. The still remaining communists joined by free will the SS and SA. The Jewish were persecuted and taken to concentration camps many were executed. They all had this danger of being executed. At that time we all didn't know this. The people were told that the Jews were sent away. All Jewish books and text had to be disposed of, including the Marxist books. These were all burned. All property and belongings of the Jews were confiscated. Many of the Jews were able to flee early enough to save their lives. The cheer under the so-called Arians (the pure Germans) was immense and the tension blossomed. Fathers often couldn't even trust their own children, or children there own parents. Since my name sounded Jewish and not Arian, I was required to get an Ancestors Pass, and prove that my forefathers were not Jewish. Finally the pact was now applied and Russia occupied Poland. We didn't know this right away that half belonged to the Germans and half to the Russians. The cheer was very big.
At the beginning of this invasion, I said to the people I knew well that were not overwhelmed at the situation, that this will come to a war, which will be disastrous and be even longer than the First World War and that all the people will suffer. This is how it really was; the war took 6 years, and after the war came a terrible end. It was an end with a lot of suffering and misery. The war declaration came with a thump. First was England and France because they felt obligated for Poland, then the commonwealth countries Canada, Australia, New Zealand and so on. Just Ireland stayed out. I heard this all on the radio, though it wasn't permitted to listen to other stations or better said the enemy stations. Goebels and Goering had big speeches. Hitler and the little Hitler's became powerful. Every Sunday a collection was made. Each month a meager stew was to be made, and what was left over was given as a donation. Everything was put into one pot and prepared for the army. Ration cards were given out on the first day of the war. To survive there was enough on the ration cards. For other things coupons were given out. The war was already planned. Most ran around with their eyes closed and didn't see what was happening or didn't want to see what was happening around them.
Every day news came on the radio informing us, that hundreds of thousands gross weight shipped goods were destroyed. Japan had already put their war machinery into gear and occupied one country after another. Mussolini agreed with Hitler, he fought on all fronts with Hitler. Hitler let the money machines roll day and night, though there was no coverage in the foreign countries. In the spring of 1940 Hitler occupied Holland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark and Norway. After that France was hit again. Till then everything went according to their wishes. The Hitler follower's let the victory news go to their heads. The women were like chickens in a basket.
All the boys and girls under 16 years of age had to go to Hitler Youth. The boys over 16 years had to go to the armed forces. Some of them went to the SS. The SA was put together with the older men. For many there was no escape. I connected myself with the Red Cross. I was considered politically not dependable, which I realize later. We were all taken to evaluation and were provided with a Military Pass, with the illustration on it with KV or GVH. KV meant capable for war. GVH meant capable at home. In 1940 my brother Max was required to go to military. He was involved with the occupation of France. Still many hadn't realized what the war had meant. There still weren’t many lost or dead. I no longer had a military pass and believed that I was spared. In the spring of 1940 my brother in-law was also required to go to military. On the June 3, I was drafted and provided with a military pass with KV. I had barely had 3 days to prepare myself. From the factory a calling was made for me to stay, but it was refused. No one could understand why so many men were required. I was drafted to Kamens in Saxon, where many were from Sudetenland at that time. Why so many soldiers were needed we then found out as we finished with our training Hitler declared war on Russia on July 16, 1941. Six days after I was put with a tank unit and sent to Russia. I then found out and realized that on my Military Pass I was identified as politically incapable. All who had this type of a military pass were sent to Russia. We came to Preslau, from there to Preslidov, Willnor, Minsk and to Gomel. There was our first contact with the enemy. We were shot at from both sides. Our soldier shot at too close of range, they knew that we were there. There I seen the first dead and learned what being scared was about.
I was ordered to do Medical Service, to help the Medical Officers because I had some knowledge in this area. Through my plea a friend was also able to come to this area. My motto always was, to heal the wounds is better than to cause the wounds. We had to go along on patrol. We helped many of the civilians in the towns and cities where we went through no matter if it was women child or man, even though it wasn't permitted to help the civilians. We always advanced but had no reserve and no winter clothes. Often we depended on the civilians when we wanted to get warm; we slept on the baking ovens in their houses. In the forests of Brians and Gamel the splintered Russian Partisan unit had developed. They made a lot of difficulties for the German troupes. Often they attacked by night on the German camps and pharmacies, and by morning they were gone again with no sign of them left behind, they were large bands. In 1941 for Christmas we had very little food, often we ate fish, which we were able to get out of the rivers. This became quite a task because the rivers were frozen shut. It was very cold. The barometer showed under 50 degrees. We were glad when we found a spot to hide and keep warm. Some froze their feet, hands and ears. It looked terrible when you seen them the next day. Some people their feet were frozen and were black right up to the ankles, or their hands were swollen like little loaves of bread, and the ears were the size of saucer plates. We were not on the front line for a few months so we could recuperate because we had lost more than half of our unit. From the lice which we had, a typhus epidemic a spread. Often complete units were threatened. The loss was huge, 80% of the sick died, 10% went insane and the other 10% survived. The civilians were immune to this. In January 1942 a so-called immunization was developed, in the beginning this was a very costly thing. Only those who had the disease or older people were able to get the immunization. Later all were immunized and the huge epidemic had been prevented. The winter clothes received as donation from home came to the front at Easter 1942, when the winter was just about over. During this time the countries of Rumania, Bulgaria, Greece and Yugoslavia gave in to the Germans. Hungary came also at free will because the country was fascist. Spain and other countries were also included.
The SS unit caused a lot of confusion between the civilians and also the army. If prisoners were transferred to the SS and there were less than 100 of them, they executed with out reason. They were often put on the trains in cattle cars, and with temperatures of -50C they froze to death. Those that were left over were locked in prison camps where they had nothing to eat and were required to sleep in caves or holes in the ground. They died by the hundreds. The Hungarians brought civilians along. Later we realize they were Jews. They were taken to work on the front and used to feed the cannons. The terrible fight by Stahlingrad became known where the 6 armies were locked in. For us it was all a rumor, we were never told the truth. In the mean time a Field Marshall Romel had made advances in the desert of West Africa.
We were then put on assignment in Orel close to Truhe. I was sent in the spring of 1942 to Smolenzk for Atebrim tablets because there was an outbreak of Malaria. The train to Smolenzk in which I was, was blown up with dynamite. I was very lucky; I was in the maintenance car right behind the locomotive. The first 6 cars behind the locomotive were not damaged, even though 2 or 3 of them derailed and after a bridge we came to a Stand still, with a few bumps and bruises. 18 cars were blown up which had food in them, everything was lying around and there were many dead and wounded under the accompanying crew. I was then able to return to my troupe with the Atebrin tablets after some weeks. They were they given to the soldiers every morning. During that time I got somehow a small wound which were splinters for a grenade on my upper left leg. It wasn't serious and I was able to stay with my troupe. It healed within 3-4 weeks. Then after a few months we were sent out to protect against the partisans. After that I was able to take a holiday in May 1942. At that time I had a middle ear infection, I did not inform the doctor, otherwise I would have lost my holidays, things like this always happened on the trip. I went to the doctor at home where it had healed with his treatment. At home I wasn't able to sleep in the bed because I wasn't use to the softness of the bed feathers. At first I slept in the open area on the hard floor, and then after a weeks I was able to get use to it. Soon my unforgettable holiday was over and after my 21 days I had to go back.
After I returned, my company was complete, we lost 2/3 of our men because of dead or wounded. We were then put on assignment via Kursk to Woronesch, where our assignment was very difficult. We had lost many, and I again received a small wound on my lower right arm. I didn't even notice it until I seen the blood on my arm. It wasn't very serious. I was required to stay by the troupe, and after about 3-4 weeks it healed. The situation had gotten worse; the Russians had occupied half of the city. They were in various locations, and there was the danger of being locked in. We were then shifted back to Kursk. Then from there in the spring of 1943 I could take holidays once again, where we were required to take all our things with us, rifle and gas mask included. If we were caught without these we were required to go back to our troupe. At home I had a reunion with friends, where the little Hitler's had watched and tracked us. My friends were questioned after I left, which I found out about afterwards. I had then said if we would lose the war that a very serious thing would happen for Germany. The followers of Hitler were in too much of a victory roll and didn't want to see all the pain, which they had brought to the people. They were sure of a victory, even though the war at Stahlingrad was already lost.
The army was about to be disrupted, when I returned from my holidays. It took me 2 weeks from Breslitov, before I was at my troupe. As I stepped out of the train at in Kursk, a rumor had spread that those returning from holidays would belong to a new unit, which would be put together, and then would be sent on assignment. We were already employed and were supposed to just wait, in which troupe we would go to. I was in one of the last rows; I saw a truck of our unit on the road. So I ran away and was well received by them. I hid myself, and so I was able to come back to my troupe. It was always considered to be the worst possible if you were moved to another troupe. So now I was back with the Schwab unit. I belonged with them from the beginning. Now the fighting in Kursk had spread. This was in the fall of 1943 and the circle was closing even more. We again lost a lot of men. I was then ordered to a so-called After Commando. Our troupe was withdrawn. We were supposed to blow up our camp, which was built by the Germans so nothing would be left. We were still a couple of weeks there and were getting circled in more and more. There was only a gap on one side, which was open. We already heard the loudspeaker from the Russians.
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