European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

It was so hard that nothing sank in.

It was very glittery, so it was a beautiful but cold night.

During the first night we walked for at least three or four hours

until we reached a bunker high up in the mountain.

It was very cold in this bunker, but we were so tired that we were still glad we could lie down.

Although there was only fern to lie on and a horse blanket to cover us up.

I don’t know how long we lived in this bunker.

It was cold and dark.

There was not a lot to eat and we had to be quiet.

Not being allowed to talk was very hard for me.

I was such a lively and inquisitive child.

There was nothing to play with either.

There was nothing to talk about -

not even with the adults. Even they did not talk much.

I cannot remember what we had to eat, either.

I can remember a partisan brought a loaf of bread and a can of milk once.

We were so happy that we could at least eat properly.

But we only got a little piece and one or two mouths full of milk.

I was so disappointed. I thought:

‘Why does she give us so little all the time?’ We did not understand that she had to economize.