European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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The day that Ljubljana was liberated, WWII was ending.
The day that Ljubljana was liberated, WWII was ending.
So on the very day that Ljubljana was liberated, to the same time being the end of WWII, -
on 9th May 1945 we returned to Ljubljana.
on 9th May 1945 we returned to Ljubljana.
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That was the most wonderful day of my life. It still is.
That was the most wonderful day of my life. It still is.
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There were many things I didn’t know. We were riding in a small truck.
There were many things I didn’t know. We were riding in a small truck.
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I didn’t know that we passed the killing grounds where my good friend Neda Grzinic lay buried.
I didn’t know that we passed the killing grounds where my good friend Neda Grzinic lay buried.
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I didn’t know that we passed the fire station in Lavrica where my father was buried in February 1944.
I didn’t know that we passed the fire station in Lavrica where my father was buried in February 1944.
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I knew nothing of these horrible facts. I didn’t know my husband was on his deathbed.
I knew nothing of these horrible facts. I didn’t know my husband was on his deathbed.
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So, I was immensely happy.
So, I was immensely happy.
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With time I came to learn all of this and had to find some way to survive.
With time I came to learn all of this and had to find some way to survive.
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I was terribly poor and everything of my mother’s had burned down, the entire apartment.
I was terribly poor and everything of my mother’s had burned down, the entire apartment.
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She barely saved herself from the burning building.
She barely saved herself from the burning building.
She barely saved her life from the burning building. -
It was the first night that she was staying in the apartment she got from the housing administration.
It was the first night that she was staying in the apartment she got from the housing administration.
It was the first night that she was staying in the apartment that she attained from the housing administration. -
It was near the train station.
It was near the train station.
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One night, or morning really,
One night, or morning really,
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a wagon filled with arms exploded.
a wagon filled with arms exploded.
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My mother was left with nothing from what had been, before,
My mother was left with nothing from what had been, before,
My mother was left with nothing of what had before been -
the quite comfortable lifestyle of an intellectual Ljubljana family.
the quite comfortable lifestyle of an intellectual Ljubljana family.
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I also had nothing. When my husband and I were demobilized, there was nothing left.
I also had nothing. When my husband and I were demobilized, there was nothing left.
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We were used to living modestly already during the war. But this wasn’t the main problem.
We were used to living modestly already during the war. But this wasn’t the main problem.
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The main problem was that my father was gone, my husband was gone, and many of my friends were gone.
The main problem was that my father was gone, my husband was gone, and many of my friends were gone.