European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

Then we went, but not the way to where the church was,

but up the mountains, a totally different direction.

The oldest cousin was 14 years old and should carry a rifle, being really pleased about that.

By then we knew: now we are going into war.

There were men with us and because adults were with us, the fear went.

We walked very, very far.

There was a lot of snow.

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 -