European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

But the war wasn’t over yet.

I was totally happy, went out of the door and shouted for joy with all my heart:

“I am free!” My cousin, who was picking me up, said:

“Shut up. The war is not over, yet.” She was right.

Even during the last two days SS marched a female partisan off, cross examined and shot her.

That is how it worked for many.

With that we were freed.

At home they were still living in fear.

Again and again there were reports: something else happened.

There they kidnapped one or killed one or…

Well, to us, thank God, that did not happen.

Wish to join partisans, being arrested

I planned to join the partisans myself, if they hadn’t arrested me.

I had already got two pairs of trousers made and a windbreaker.

I wanted to go to the unit.

But unfortunately it turned out differently.

I was confident: I would join the resistance, even the armed resistance – yes.

But it did not happen, because we were arrested.

You were still proud of contributing so much.

At least something.