European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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The Soviet power wanted to show off that they were better,
The Soviet power wanted to show off that they were better,
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better for us than the Lithuanians were.
better for us than the Lithuanians were.
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And the Soviet power came.
And the Soviet power came.
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Somebody informed me that I can make money in forests as a cart man.
Somebody informed me that I can make money in forests as a cart man.
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There were one, two horses.
There were one, two horses.
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As winter came, there was plenty of snow, so one of our workers drove one sleigh, I drove the next one.
As winter came, there was plenty of snow, so one of our workers drove one sleigh, I drove the next one.
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During the whole winter I worked as a cart man.
During the whole winter I worked as a cart man.
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When it was still dark outside we used to go to the forest by sleigh, load the timber, firewood.
When it was still dark outside we used to go to the forest by sleigh, load the timber, firewood.
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We took it to the station called Bezdany, there we had to unload the firewood and come back to the forest.
We took it to the station called Bezdany, there we had to unload the firewood and come back to the forest.
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We had to do this twice a day.
We had to do this twice a day.
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The next spring came in 1941.
The next spring came in 1941.
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In June 1941 I went to Vilnius.
In June 1941 I went to Vilnius.
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I guess I had to meet with somebody, to find out about somebody, I do not remember exactly.
I guess I had to meet with somebody, to find out about somebody, I do not remember exactly.
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There was very little contact then with the city.
There was very little contact then with the city.
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I found out that the doctor died two days earlier,
I found out that the doctor died two days earlier,
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that his wife and daughter did not have money to pay for the funeral,
that his wife and daughter did not have money to pay for the funeral,
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and they asked me if me and my mum could help them.
and they asked me if me and my mum could help them.
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I came back home, my mum said: your money, you made it, take it.
I came back home, my mum said: your money, you made it, take it.
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I went to Vilnius and after that I did not see my mum for a couple of years.
I went to Vilnius and after that I did not see my mum for a couple of years.
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I came to Vilnius and the Soviets started deporting Poles from the city on a large scale.
I came to Vilnius and the Soviets started deporting Poles from the city on a large scale.