European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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As soon as I got to Celje, not lazy, went straight on to Kumrovec.
As soon as I got to Celje, not lazy, went straight on to Kumrovec.
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I went to Kumrovec from Celje by bicycle.
I went to Kumrovec from Celje by bicycle.
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Just before reaching Kumrovec, there were these wooden houses with people living in them.
Just before reaching Kumrovec, there were these wooden houses with people living in them.
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I came up to one of those houses and there was a woman inside. I asked if I could sleep there.
I came up to one of those houses and there was a woman inside. I asked if I could sleep there.
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Why? Because I’m on my way to Zagreb. She asked when I would be leaving. I said early in the morning.
Why? Because I’m on my way to Zagreb. She asked when I would be leaving. I said early in the morning.
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She said I could stay.
She said I could stay.
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She made a bed for me; it was so puffed with feathers that I was covered in them.
She made a bed for me; it was so puffed with feathers that I was covered in them.
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She asked again when I’d be leaving and I said at dawn.
She asked again when I’d be leaving and I said at dawn.
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When I woke up, perhaps it was five in the morning of the 17th May.
When I woke up, perhaps it was five in the morning of the 17th May.
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There was a huge plate of fried eggs waiting for me.
There was a huge plate of fried eggs waiting for me.
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I ate, we said farewell and I continued on to Zagreb.
I ate, we said farewell and I continued on to Zagreb.
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But when I arrived in Zagreb, the brigade was no longer there in Maksimir. I was still on that bicycle.
But when I arrived in Zagreb, the brigade was no longer there in Maksimir. I was still on that bicycle.
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I left the bicycle in front of Maksimir and I went inside to the doorman.
I left the bicycle in front of Maksimir and I went inside to the doorman.
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When I came back outside, the bicycle was gone. Someone else had stolen it.
When I came back outside, the bicycle was gone. Someone else had stolen it.
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Easy come, easy go.
Easy come, easy go.
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Of course I had a message. Mali, you must report to general headquarters in Belgrade.
Of course I had a message. Mali, you must report to general headquarters in Belgrade.
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I traveled on to Belgrade; it must have been 10 or 12 days. Sometimes I was on a train, sometimes I traveled by foot.
I traveled on to Belgrade; it must have been 10 or 12 days. Sometimes I was on a train, sometimes I traveled by foot.
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The routes were in ruins. I came to Belgrade; I think it was already the end of May.
The routes were in ruins. I came to Belgrade; I think it was already the end of May.
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I reported to general headquarters in Belgrade and I spent some time there, a week or two, or even a month.
I reported to general headquarters in Belgrade and I spent some time there, a week or two, or even a month.
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Then I was sent to the headquarters of the 1st regiment in Nis.
Then I was sent to the headquarters of the 1st regiment in Nis.