In the camp - September, 1945
12th September, 1945. " Austrian officers with luggage in the camp gate line up ". I will never get used to the anxious feeling which such orders release. Already during the war I hated every change and this "to possession standing position". At least, lasted responsibility and sense of duty in serving freedom whether we followed now willing or reluctantly the "leader" and the " big time ", a time under whose wheels we had come.
Now, however, we find out the most fierce loss which a being can suffer. The thoughts are still free, but what is a thought which may not express itself worth? In addition the restricted living space which is called half a metre of couch surface on wooden fool's wand, the freedom of movement limited on the ways to the food counter, to the bath - banja it, to the latrine, and in the dark barrack of the "blue", the NKWD officer who will put 46 questions to us over and over again, in every camp on the new one. Much later will turn out how much hardship in spite of all I have saved, because I have made all information truthful in Windau! My answers are in more than 60 examinations, in penal train and screening camp and pretrial detention always immediately, even if I am torn in the middle of the night from the sleep.
But now we have the Abschiedsfilzung behind ourselves, the grid gate opens, the Natschalnikkonvoi roars " dawai! ", and we move again against an unknown purpose, this time without marching in step and song like with our move in Riga, for it, however, continuously done. After the suburbs an avenue with avenue trees, the Düna along.
The golden birch foliage rustles on the banquet for which to us the military trucks press over and over again. However, the Odyssey tape from the Diederich ` schen row, translated by Tassilo v does my luggage to me no Weighting, probably. Scheffer which I have exchanged to me in the main warehouse for Papirossi. Hidden under shirt and trousers strap, the book slides with the walking deeper and deeper. My biggest worry is, I could excite while straightening the attention of the posts.
And no hold, no break for resigning! But the male anatomy allows the pisses in the walking, under care on the persons in front.
In front a scream, a roaring, the train gets in faltering, in mess. Immediately the posts direct the submachine guns upon us. In a driving past truck has opened to itself the dor - three Plennies have been knocked down and been injured in the back. None of us believes in a chance. Goes on ` see the injured persons are dragged more than are supported. Thank God we are soon in the purpose. Barbed wire fence directly beside the street, five residential barracks, administration building under high birches and poplars. We bend on the right from in a birch avenue which continues in the camp. We are let without Filzung. Both barracks in which officers live are separated by fence of the remaining camp, however, we can move within the area freely. Between the lodgings green areas. Behind the camp glitters the Düna. In the shade tables and benches and in a corner - a high-level horizontal bar!
It means, at the German time a concentration camp has been here. We cover the last barrack. one-story wooden fool's wands, planed boards, no straw bags. Around the fool's wand construction a way leads; we lie closely packed. The old team watches behind the fence our move: 800 men, and 300 officers, with us who also do not need to work here. However, again envy and subliminal truculence, to Beflegelungen does not come it. Strangely that the aversion is not directed against the Russian in whose army there are very well rank class differences, e.g., with the catering, badly compatible with a socialist, classless society. In the evening our men wander by the barrack and request or exchange Papirossi.
The October revolution is celebrated on the 7th November with Antifavorträgen. Two days are work-free, but before there was a fierce Filzung after knives. In the camp are supervised all tools, suitable for violent attacks obstructed, in the kitchen the use of the knives.
In the dining room of the working brigades we see a film from the kolkhoz environment. A girl übererfüllt the norm, the demanded working achievement, wins a bicycle and the desired bridegroom. The title of the film: " The rich bride ". Scenes of the farm work on the gigantic fields which are worked on with machine giants make him interesting, the folkloric inserts, dance and song, allow to forget the screenplay ridiculous for us. During the political talk " the Soviet Union as a hoard of the peace and the friendship between nations " sounds completely nearby a violent detonation. Everything laughs; in the end, laughs of the Politruk also with.
One of the German officers has set up as an anti-fa-activist, holds some talks - the process against as a main war criminal before the military tribunal in Nuremberg to put members of the former imperial government should begin. But the activity is soon prohibited the German by the Russian. The Englishmen, the Russians would not believe his anti-fascist setting him maybe!
Eagerly we wait for other news. Few days after beginning of the Nuremberg process the first free choices take place in Austria. Deeply contented we take note of the election result: The conservative Austrian national party (early Christian-social) does not win 85, the socialist (any more social democrats) 76, the communists 4 mandates! Such a result in spite of four occupied zones! Also Vienna is split among the winners to whom also the French count. The old people among us explain made easier that the population in spite of the intermezzo has returned since 1938 to domestic prewar relations. The anti-fa has difficulties to comment on this election result.
When the allies from Dr. Figl (Austrian national party) recognise educated coalition government , mild optimism awakes, and already some see themselves in the train to Vienna. In our evening entertainments old recollections climb up. Erich Phummer, the pharmacist, holds a talk on Viennese well, and with him we walk by close parks and streets of our hometown.