European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

Then we had to go into the cell.

There we had to get fully undressed and they searched us whether we had anything hidden.

I don’t know where you can hide anything if you don’t wear anything.

That was done by the Gestapo and it was another bitter experience.

You were not even a human being any more, not even as good as a fly.

Even them you let go occasionally so they can fly away.

Under arrest; end of the war

They knocked hard on the door on the 5th May at 11 o’clock in the evening: “Open up, open up!”

My father opened and they asked where I was.

I was lying in the living room, but I heard everything.

Then two or three came in and shouted: “Get up!”

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Get up and you will see then what’s going to happen.”

Of course I got up then.

My family - the father, the mother, a Polish helper,

and my three brothers all had to get up, as well.

They all had to sit down behind the table.

I was put towards the door so I could not look at the others.

Then we were interrogated.

One after the other, the mother first...