European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

These brats – like me – they were supposed to be locked away to have peace in Ludmannsdorf.

Many thought something, or guessed something, but nobody exactly knew about the Nazis.

As soon as the partisans came into the village and carried out an action,

somebody must have smoothed the way for them to come.

First partisan action in the village

A group of partisans, about 20 of them

(a few were with us as well) went to the constabulary

and the town hall and took whatever they could do with.

At the constabulary they seized weapons and the type writers and stationery.

The country constables were having their evening meal

and unfortunately one was shot there, because he didn’t put his hands up.

One hand went to the pistol - he put the other hand up - and with that he risked his life.

The partisan first shouted: “Hands up!” which he didn’t do and so he was shot.

That was the first dead person in our house.

The field police occupied our house for 10 days, they all were regular SS men

and searched the village and the forest where they assumed the partisans to be around.

Of course they had already pulled back and disappeared.

Life in fear

They were very frightened – of course.

They heard when one was caught and another one…