The last year of war, in Christmas, I spent in home with my father and brother. It was a sad Christmas, whithout presents or greetings. I was happy that survived, but insure about my future.  We heard the last war news  from the BBC of London and I tried to read a book... The year of 1945 was the last one of the war, but full of historical happenings. 

In january we received note - us, who were in Munich to "learning of a new profession", - that we must exert it in our land in the original factory-i.e. Kloekner and work in the Brno city. We were surprised, in arriving there, that the factory was bombed also and partially destroyed. The factory administration also was partially destroyed, there were no registers, cards and any organization. The great majority of the old employees disappeared and the new ones did not know what to do. The soviet troops were approaching from East and North and were bombarding the city. I achieve the conclusion that it was enough of the experience with american bombs and was with no disposition to know the taste of the soviet bombs, and simplely, after some days, took the train home back to Trebistch.

Nobody search for me and so I stayed home until the end of the war. On may 8 of 1945, following the happenings by radio, one minute after midnight, from 8 to 9 of may , the Second World War officially ended in Europe. And the cost: All great European cities destroyed,  30 millions of dead in combat, six millions of Jews  and "impure races", in accordance with Goebels, dead in Holocaust in the gas chambers. Hither and his lover Eva Braun committed suicide in their underground bunker in Berlin on april 30, 1945, also the propaganda minister Goebels with his family. The great majority of the nazi leaders tried to escape to the Exterior (some achieved the Argentina submarines), but the great majority (mainly the generals) were captured and judge by their war crimes in Norimberg, in the month of November of 1945.

On May 9, 1945, I get up very early and went to the center of the city of Trebitsch, to see the feast, but in approaching the principal square, there I came across with various german war tanks, running at all speed in the West direction, to be captured by Americans and not by Soviets, that used to send the war prisoners to Siberia...

I found little people in the square, the majority preferred stay in home, that day nobody feasted in town, I returned home and follow the feast transmission in Prague by radio. Listening now home the radio, free of censure and reading magazines and newspapers I knew that during my staying in Germany, where during the war, all spoken word in newspaper and talked in radio passed by rigid censure and consequently I missed important political and world occurrences and I achieve to know some trues that we ignored. By instance, that the allied troops, that descended in Sicilia occupied the South of Italy and Greece and that in June 4, 1944 entered in Rome. We knew in the lodgings of the Allies descend in Normandy on June 6, 1944, but we did not know the importance of the happening to the end of the war, because the germans were obliged to deviate a part of their force from East to West and in doing so opening even more the advance of the soviets in Berlin direction. On august 25, 1944 Paris was liberated. On abril 21, 1945 the soviet troops achieve Berlin. The last part of this terrible war begun, that lasted six years and costed so many lifes. The Germany capitulated on may 8 of 1945, but the japonese troops in the Pacific Ocean continued in fight. To shorten this long war against Japan, was decided to appeal to science- the recently tested atomic bomb in El Alamo, New Mexico was on august 6, 1945 dropped in the japonese city Hiroshima killing more than 80.000.On august 9, the Americans dropped another plutonium bomb in the city of Nagassaki. These bombs made a terrible moral and psychologic effect and obliged the Japan to capitulate on august 14, 1945. With this ended the Second World War... Achieving this point and reading again the last chapter of those memories, I am feeling, that is missing to say something about this war, that changed the destiny of so many people, nations, peoples, religions, customs, families and proper individuals. Many writers, statesmen and persons whose were directly affected by the happenings, wrote books and commentaries about this War, generally from the point of view and position they occupied in that occasion. There were journalists and reporters of various newspapers that followed the happenings from the proper place of battle, the bombardment, attempt, death of loved person, person who survived in the concentration camp, escaped the gas chamber, soldiers who survived the battles, opinion of generals of both parts of war, politicians and statesmen that participated in meetings, etc..

I have read tens of books, survived many bombardments, had the opportunity to speak with survivors of concentration camps, of great battles, I lived six years in the middle of the suffered people, I sensed cold, hunger, fear and formed also my opinion: The Second World War was continuation of the First, that ended with the depauperation of both envolved parts: lacking coal, iron to the steel fabrication, indispensable to arm factory production, lack food even to the soldiers in the trenchs ( the First World War was almost totally in the trenchs, that extended from Belgium until almost 500 km to south until the Verdun city in France), epidemic began to appear, like typhus and the terrible grippe called "spanish", that victimized thousands of people, mainly soldiers in the trenchs, because of lack of hygiene and by personal contact, there was no medicine, lack of hands in the fields and cold mines, discontentment and rebellion in all places, soldiers drop their arms and returned to their homes,  abandoned their positions and run from the authorities. In Russia appeared,  on October of 1917, the Revolution, that dropped the Czar (executed with all his family) and installed the new regime of the bolschevick and with this ended the war of Russia against Germany, but began the fight for power in Russia, that gave the victory to Stalin and Lenin, Communist party leaders. In another European parts, various countries, considered minority ( because they were little), that were once independent and had have they millenar past, took advantage of the fragility of the powerful and required their return to independency, between them the czechs, slovaks, serbians, croats, greeks, lithuanians etc. On October 1918 in the international Versailles conference was declared not only the end of the war but also the independence of the occupied countries by the Austria-Hungary empire and Germany, that were those who lost the war. Naturally the happiness of some cause the discontentment of others and after a short period of peace and reconstruction of Europe, appeared some men like Mussolini in Italy and Adolf Hitler in Germany, that thinked different  and the result: the Second World War, whose traject I finished to describe...

Ended the war, I perceived that it was time to do something: Continuing to study in Prague, in the Superior Commerce School or to search for a job. The first - study - I have to put aside, firstly by financial problems: My father was retired, widower with a little pension, payed rent and my brother and I depended on him, and to study in Prague, would have to live there and it means more expenses, besides my brother had yet to finish the secondary school... Last I to find job, and rapidly. I was luck: As the new government was reorganizing, all the political system and the state and regional structure of the country prepared themselves to new elections, new politics parties were made and many people were needed to all this work. And in this way, when in a newspaper appeared an announce to offer new jobs in the districtal government, I presented myself and was called rapidly to interview. As formed in the Comercial Academy had preference, and in a little time was called again, interviewed, approved and nominated general Commercial District Supervisor. We made the control to the distribution of existent stock in shops and from importation. The shop owners were obliged to give the financial balance and the resume of the existent stock. Together with me worked fifteen funcionaries, each one cared for one determinated commerce sector, I was responsible for the textile sector (suits, masculine and feminine clothes, bed and table clothes, etc.) Our district comprised around sixty municipies that send monthly one report about the shop movements in each one and with base in these reports, we elaborated the total district situation and by its time send a resume to the capital of the State, that was the Brno city, the second greatest city of the country. ( The Czechoslovakia, after the war had four states: Bohemia (capital Prague), Moravia (capital Brno), Silesia (capital Ostrava) and Slovenia (capital Bratislava).I worked in the District since June 1945 until almost the end of 1946. On October 45 the first elections were realized  in the New Republic. As was waited, the communist party won the elections with around 40% of votes, the other 60% were divided in three non-communist parties. In accordance with the Constitution, the major party had the right to nominate the first minister and the interior minister, that commanded the army. The prime minister was nominated Clement Gottwald, who had passed some years in Moscow, consequently had already received training and the due instructions to the future actions to take. In the way of the absolute power was the Republic president, Dr Eduard Benes, that during the nazi occupation stayed in England and returned after the war to the Czechoslovakia to assume his post by unanimous Parliament vote. Unhappilly the president returned sick and aged and had not the necessary energy to confront the communist "Complot": Clement Gottwald obliged him to renounce  and taking advantage of his actual majority in parliament, was elect the new president. His first act was, with congress majority, to change the Constitution, becaming the Republic of Czechoslovakia  in Popular Democracy, in accordance with examples of nearby countries: Poland, Yoguslavia and others, that were under Soviet influence, whose propaganda told that the Czechoslovakia ceased to be capitalist and became people property. This was in june 1948. The great industries and commercial centers were nationalized, the old owner had to renounce and in his place was nominee an intervener, member of the communist party, that from this moment one order and is responsable by the good going of the industry or commerce. Naturally now the party card valued and not the funcionary or operator capacity. Thousands of experts and operators of long date  were merely dismissed  and admitted the communist party card owners. In that time (1948)- the great majority of the political leaders, entrepreneurs, cultural artists and writes left the motherland and direct themselves to the West, mainly to England and USA. The NKVD russian (secret police) installed in all over the countries under soviet domain, the press and books censure begun, and also the persecution of suspected people of anti-communism. In accordance with Winston Churchill: "From Stetin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an Iron Curtain has descendent..." From North to South an iron curtain descended between the West and soviet domain countries. 

In accordance with already mentioned in going out Munich to home in Trebitch, it was impressing to see by the train the completely destroyed german cities, and this was in the end of 1944, it lacks five months to the war to end yet - and the worse was still to wait by the Hitler refusal in capitulate and the Allies increasing the pression from West to East, for the terrestrial troops to met themselves in the pre-establish line, near the Elbe river in the north, at the south of the west frontier of Czechoslovakia and Austria. In air the Allies won great supremacy over the Luftwaffe of the Goering marshal and bombed day and night the remained cities, ports and resistence focus. After the end of the war little houses stayed on foot. The cities's destruction was  not only in Germany, but also in France, England and in other countries they were very damaged. It was clear that the cities needed to be reconstructed - but the Europe had no money.... Appeared then the "Marshall Plan". Its idealizer was the american general George Marshall. He was in 1947 nominee State Secretary, the highest political post of the country after president. He acquired the government approval of initially thirtheen billions of dollars to reconstract seventeen West countries in Europe. This value was latter increased with the participation of other countries - it was not the alive money, but the European Economic Cooperation organization selected the able industries to receive help in subsidies, technological transfer, primary material donation, trunks and industrial machines. The thick part of the money was expend in humanitarian releave and endemic combat. (Marshall received the noble prize in 1953). In four years the beneficiary countries made a increase of PIB between 15 and 25%! The countries under the sovietic influence - the social-democratic republics - launched also a plane of reconstruction and aims to be achieved each 5 years, but naturally much more modest.

I went away of the state service in the end of 1946, after the  elections, won by the communists and accompanied the development of the political situation and in accordance of what I have already describe, achieve each time more to the conclusion, that if I do not colaborate with the regime:- not a good future awaits me in this country, and I began to plan the flee. I restart seriously to study german, english and spanish, because I did not think of staying in Europe, but to immigrate to some country back of the Atlantic Ocean, preferable USA or Argentina, that was in detach in South America in the epoch. To go out of the country legally after 1948 became impossible, because I did not have the necessary passport and new communist government visa, that cut the trips to occidental countries to common citizens and how there was mass illegal flees, the government order the construction of fences many times electric ones in the places of greater flees occurrences, mainly in the frontiers between Bohemia and Occidental Germany and reinforce the vigilance. Many unhappy ones, that were catch in the flee attempt, were arrested, interrogated and sent to prison. I perceived soon, that flee is a serious case and needed a good prepare and detailed study. Another problem was my lack of money, that was necessary to travel, passport, survival and more: My family was at risk also, if I was catch in flee, and this worried me seriously. My father got married again - more for necessity than for love, to make the domestics services: cook, wash our clothes, clean the hourse, ( in that time there was no washing machines, refrigerators, stoves by gas etc). The name of our stepmother was Mary, she was divorced and had one boy, that after the divorce stayed with his father. She tried to please, made cakes in the weekends (father made cakes only in Christmas and big holidays), consequently it was rarity and other dishes, but we soon discovered, that the meals did not have the taste of the ones our mother knew how to do so well. Mammy was accustomed to make international food, like roasted duck with red cabbage, goose's liver (foié gras), chocolate and rum pavé, cakes of three or four layers, decorated with chantilly, almond and nut cakes, little bread stuffed with fruit-jelly, as she also prepared in summer fresh fruits, that she collect from the neighbour garden, roasted chicken and stuffed with mixture,etc... that only she knew. Mammy sister's -Mary, who worked together with her in Baden bei Wien, in a baroness house, knew also how to do good plates, but had not the same necessary "caprice" as my mother.

I liked to eat the good plates and stayed in kitchen many times watching her work, I learned lot of things, that were useful for me in the future. My brother was little yet in that time and did not remind many things - afterwards mammy became sick, came the war and with this ended "foié-gras" and another delicious plates - came potato with potato... and "Eintopf".

Well then, 1948 came with great changes in the politics and in our lives. My brother was convoked to serve the army, although he had not finished the last year of the Commerce Academy, but the military service was more important than school... I prepared the plans... naturally I did not mention my intensions to nobody. Only near Christmas I created courage  and opened myself with my father. My father, poor one, became stupefied:"You are crazy! You will be arrested and I too!" Then I showed him the austrian frontiers map and the way I pretend to do. Explained, that I want to cross the frontier in the last surveillant side in the Russian Zone, because I imagined, there it would be less watched then the American Zone, and arriving in Austria had two aunts living in Vienna. Austria was in the epoch divided in four Occupation Zones : Russian, American, English and French - in accordance with the "Big" winners of the war. The Germany also and the capitals Berlin and Vienna respectively also. My father told nothing more and we went sleep. In the day after, when the stepmother was out, he call me and told: "If you want to go out, you need in the first place to know the territory, the details of the frontier surveillance and way that you must take. I have a friend of mine, custom inspector, who works near the frontier, I give you a little presentation letter and you talk with him". In the day after, I took the train and went to talk with the inspector. By luck I found him inside a little house that was a custom post of the region. I presented myself and gave him the little letter. He asked me what was the motive of my visit. I explained, he got up, opened the door, looked at all sides, then locked the door and gave some informations: "This frontier side our custom inspectors do, we patrols a frontier's part, from fifteen to fifteen minutes, of approximately ten kilometers. We do not know with antecedence what part are we going to patrol. If a civil appear in our front, we ask explanations, what is doing there and where is going. Any suspect person is arrested and given to the local police to interrogation. In the austrian side there are austrian custom inspectors accompany by a russian soldier. If run, they shot, if arrested, return to our side. I personally think that your plan is very dangerous and recommend desistance. In the meantime if you persist, I do not know  you and have never seen you". With these words he burned my father's letter, opened the door- looked to all sides and give me the sign to go out. Going out of the post, I notice by the right side a long street, that looked like the principal one in the city, and as I had much time to catch the return train, walked in the direction to the little square with a little church. It was January, winter and in some parts of the street there was snow. The little city was beautiful with gardens in the front houses, or all house surrounded by garden and orchad. But in this time the trees were without leaves, naked and  balenced in the wind. Passing the square, I approach the  little church and by curiosity opened the door, entered and seated in a bench. Looked the Saints, whose appeared to look at me curiously, asking me : And now, what are you going to do?.- I went out the church and continued to walk in the street and passed in a big house, with an iron gate and a smaller door by the side. In the moment that I was passing, this little door opened and Helen got out. Not Helen of mythologic Troya, daughter of Zeus and Leda, but my intimate friend, that worked with  me in Munich during the war, I lost the contact with her after our motherland return and had not the least idea where she resides - and now I found her here, in this city, if the own Zeus appeared in that moment, I could no be more perplex.. "Oldrich! What are you doing here?". In the first moments I stayed without speak, my head turned, I could not envelop her in this subject, had to lie!. "I am in vacations and would like to know the famous dike, the major in all country, that was finished the first year after the end of the war, by the state government and is going to delivere water and eletricity to one third of Moravia."

"But now, in the winter? The way to there is difficult there is snow and ice by the way" - told Helen

I told her: "Ah, I did not know and in Trebich it is a good time!"

Helen was a very beautiful girl, with dark and long hair, dark eyes, penetrant ones, soon perceived that I must have another motive to the visit, but was discreat.."Do not you want to lunch in my house?" - she asked, but I give a negative answer, that my train is going out in half on hour and that I would return another day! I would like to stay away from her now, before of asking others embarrassing questions, I do not like to lie, even more to a darling person and dear as Helen... I promise to return in spring and turned away rapidly to the railway station, to return home. I returned home perturbed, snow began to fall in great quantity, in comming home falled more than a meter of snow, people opened the way between the houses and launched sand and ashes in the way to avoid slide and fall in the streets. The winter was not yet in the end and took all january and good part of february of 1949. I passed time in home, studying and reading and once, in the newspaper, I found an advertisement of an austrian girl, searching to enter in touch with a boy who talk and write in english - and the address was Karlstein a.d. Thaya! Ideal place  in Austria, near the frontier Czech and the river Thaya flows in a part of the Czech Republic, just in the place that I visited and found Helen! I prepared immediately a beautiful letter in german and sent to the indicated place. In few days I receive the answer: The girl was Sonja Hammer, theater actress, liked art, music, books... I almost jummped of happiness, I pretended to direct to Vienna, where lived an aunt and near her another aunt, Mary, my mother's sister - who worked with her in Baden, in accordance with I have already described, but I need a contact, to give me the necessary information about the political situation in Austria, that was divided in four occupation Zones and the possibility to pass from one to another, mainly worried me the soviet control above the citizens, traffic, tourists etc.  The Sonja was a very culture girl, versatile and wrote with frequency about the place where she lived, the natural beauties and manifested the desire that all girls of that time had, of being able to travel - consequently  studied english - and find the possibility to work in a greater place, preferably in exterior, if possible in the United States.. All young after the war desired to work in the USA, preferably in Hollywood! All letter to and from Austria was censured and I could not tell her the truth, but counted on her since now as a precious information fountain, and I pretended to tell her personally if I could cross over the frontier. I, in that winter, prepared me to go as soon as the time improved and with another details: What  carry, how carry - could not take a valise, this calls attention, I found a big hunchback of my father, this one served, could not take many clothes, neither suits, prepared a list that I corrected every day, needed dictionaries, maps, compass, food to the travel: bread, eggs, sandwiches, tinned sardines-I did not knew how long this trip would take and had no dollars, no austrian money and very little czech money that not even lasted to take the train to the frontier...The politic notices were daily more critical, the communists increasing the country control, many good people from Trebitsch  were arrested, interrogated by police and send to hard work in the coal mines, in factories away from their homes, I sensed each day more difficulty in the country. Wicked to the winter to finish soon, that I could go out. Finally, in march the time began to improve, the snow began to melt and the sun to appear, the streets became mud, few streets were pavemented in that time, I waited more three weeks. Prepared my hunchback and the books ( I could not separated from some books) confered the content various times, almost always found something indispensable, like an old pocket-knife ( a boy never walk without a pocket-knife!), a spoon, little scissors, thread, shoe-horn, needle and line to some rapid sewing, can opener, an scout knife, boots that was going to use in the trip and another pair of social shoes, a suit and social trouser, a scout flexible glass, a light sport slipper, a light coat, a cap, some shirts for winter, another with short sleeves, short drawers, a tie, a belt, pulse clock, a pair of glasses, higienic paper, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste,  notebook, my personal documents, pen, pencil - well, basically everything, that I thought indispensable,  comb and little mirror I had in the pocket. Much more latter I discovered  that had many books and little warm clothes, but I will return to this point. I took to the trip a sport blouse with wide breeches  trouser, that were put inside the boots. I thought more favorable to travel on saturday, because the great majority of people did not work and slept until late, in the trains there were less people and I calculated also that the surveillance in the frontier was lighter. Finally I marked the day, march 26, 1949. I informed my father and went to sleep early on Friday, but I confess that almost did not sleep: I felt that I am making an important step in my life, that probably will never more return, that I could be dead, hurt, arrest, that I will never more see my father, my brother, all my family. I turned in the bed all night, thought and cryed. "Alea jacta est!" - Was decided. I will go in any way. Got up at four o'clock in the morning on Saturday, prepared the lunch that I was going to take: sandwiches, boiled eggs, tinned sardines, peace of cake that godmother had made in vespers ( but she only was informed after my departure by my father), took coffe with a peace of bread with margarine. I finished dressing, pick the hunchback with the valise with books, gave a kiss to my father, that desired me good luck, looked at the clock - exactly five o' clock and the morning was beginning. The big journey  begun: In the streets there was nobody, the morning was fresh but promised good time. Directed with long steps, even more rapidly to the railway station, around half on hour of distance. Calculated right: On saturday there was little people in the station, bought a ticket to a little city around 15 kilometers away from the frontier. The train arrived pontually at 6:30, I entered and sat in an empty bench and stayed observing the people - some workers, tourists with hunchbacks like me. Nobody talked with me. Two stations passed and I had to change the train, that was to the frontier. Passed some more stations and mine came. Get out off the train and picked the road in front, that I had already found in the map, that headed in the direction to austrian frontier. There was nobody in the road, but I was attentive cause I knew that by the road the frontier control passed, but saw nobody. Passed around one hour by the road that was in the middle of a forest. By the detailed map I saw that the forest was very big and arrived until Austria. The coniferous tree forest was planted in Europe in various places, each ten or fifteen years was partially demolished and cutted and heapped by the road or way, where was re-collect by truck and every dropped tree must be planted again - as ask the law. The law must be accomplish, almost always, because there was fiscalization and the pains by not accomplishement of the Law were severe: Arrest of the responsible and high penalty. In a curve of the road I found that it was hour to go out of the way, stopped, looked to all sides, listened - only the sing of the birds in the forest, get out of the road and entered in the forest. Now I needed the compass and the map -  find the South direction, because in the South there was Austria. It was not difficult to walk in the forest, because the trees were planted in files with around three meters of distance between them, but the files were not straight, but bended, accompanying the ground, and in certain places were up and in others down, the terrain was not plain, with ups and downs, in some places accentuated. There were also little lakes in the middle of the forest and had to follow attemptive the compass, not to go out of the direction. In a certain place, near a little river, I found appropriate to stop, sat down and took my lunch. The tension relieved a little and as I saw nobody, opened the tinned sardines and drunk the river water. Afterwords, as a good scout, buried the empty can and eggs barks and covered with vegetation, picked up again my hunchback, confered the map and compass and continued walking. I walked many hours, I was very tired, the hunchback was very heavy and the forest looked like with no end. Then, near five o'clock in the afternoon I noticed the forest began to enlight, I even noticed a clear passage, made by people, I followed this way that took me to a little bridge over a river, crossed the bridge and noticed the high grass with yellow flowers, named dandelion - lion's tooth, preferred by the cows and there was a cow, that in see me gave a "bu", that was soon answered by other one nearby. And the best of all, by the bridge side in a post a blue plate with a place name in german! I do not remember the place's name, but ended in "dorf" - that means "village", I was in Austria! The forest ended in that place and the first houses appeared, many houses and in the middle a road. As I had already noticed, the cows communicate my arrival, because the first persons appeared, whose went away from their houses ports. I would like to explain who I am and how came there, but I was very tension and nervous, my throat was so dry that not  a word went out. A man perceived my difficulty and pointed to a water pump in the backyard of his house, I opened the tap and swallow water, finnaly was able to release the first words: Explained that I was running from Czechoslovakia and that I would like to arrive in Vienna. Then he told that many people was fleeing from there, but that he does not know how to go to Vienna. Indicated me another house in the other transversal street where the mayor lived, that this one knew. The mayor was a middle age men, big, strong, that received me in the port of a big house and made me some questions, where do I come from, what is my profession, how I arrived there and what I pretend to do. Explained that I arrived there with map and compass and that I would like to achieve Vienna, where my aunt lived, showed him the name and address and mentioned also the name of Sonja Hammer in Karlstein. The mayor was a calm and intelligent man and told me: "Karlstein is not away from here, but today you can't get there" - and show me the sun, that was setting, "you must pass the night here" - and showed me a cellar in the bottom of the backyard. Accepted of good will, cause I was tired and hungry and asked - "and the Russians?"- "They are in a inn and drink and eat all day long and only pass in the road in the turns - by car". Invited me to go in his house, that was simple - indicated me the bathroom and afterwards offered me a glass of fresh milk and black bread with butter. In the house I saw only one employ, but had by the side great stables with cows and horses. We seated in big table and talked. He asked about the life and politic in Czechoslovakia and asked me how I learned to speak german. I explained that I was born in the Sudetenland, where the great majority spoke german and that learned with the children. It was growing dark and I ask to show me where I was going to sleep. He took me in the cellar, where in a corner was a simple straw-mattress and a blanket. Afterwards gave me good night, closed the door and went out. I not even took off the clothes, lyed in the mattress and tired, soon slept. In the day after I get up early, washed and the mayor offered me black-bread and milk again, I ate and gave thanks by the hospitality, he went with me to the door and explained the way to take to Karlstein: "This river, by the side of the road, is Thaya, following this road you will be in Karlstein, it is 8 kilometers." I looked  if any Russian was not nearby and as I saw none, followed rapidly by the road. The road, as all ones in the interior, was not straight, but full of curves, passed in middle of open camps, pastures, - where cows and goats pasture, some fruit trees - plums and pears, but without leafs and fruits, it was very early in spring and consequently without flowers. It was sunday, march 27 1949, finally after two hours on march I approached a little city, a indicative plate in the road bent communicated that I was near Karlstein an der Thaya. Had the Sonja address: Hauptstrasse, 126. It was not difficult to find the principal street, but I soon perceived that the numeration does not followed  as in the new or reconstructed cities, that followed from left the odd numbers:1,3,5 and from right the pair numbers:2,4,6 etc. The numeration here followed the old system, as in my native city - in the sequence of the finish construction or by the municipal register. In this case I had to recur to any citizen information, that knew well city and people. Asked two passing by persons, but excuse themselves, that were new in town and knew little persons, recomended me to ask in some shops, but it was sunday and the shops were closed. While I was asking a third person, to a sir of certain age, a young one of around sixteen years  was approaching, the older called the young "Hans, komm her!" and explained that I was searching  the number 126, where Sonja Hammer lives. Hans knew and told: "I going to show you where is 126, it is a village with stairs from the outside, but there a couple from the theater is living, named Hoffmann" And took me to the house of one building that had a metal staircase by the outside, as in France and Italy: Downstairs had an iron port closed, looked like a shop or garage and to enter in the residence must go up to the first floor. We went up the stair, Hans knocked the door and announce:"There is a sir here who is looking for Sonja Hammer!" Someone opened the door of the house and asked to come in: I entered with Hans in a big waiting room, with sofa and various armchairs, a round table with various beer bottles or soft-drink and some glasses. In the waiting room there was around twelve persons, some men and women talking vivaciously. I looked attentive to the women cause Sonja had gave me her photo - a beautiful diva of the theater. But in the first moment I did not recognize her, all the present ones were in diary clothes, but there a lady got up and told: "I am Sonja Hammer!" Presented myself and explained my appearance. Then she exclaim:"Ach, Ulli aus der Tchechei!" (My name in german Is Ullrich and abbreviate is Ulli, thus was called in Germany).And, in sequence run to embrace and kiss me.. only people of the theater, artists know in a minute make of nothing a feast! And all women went to kiss me and the men to embrace me, ordered me  to seat in the meadle of them, took the hunchback and already offered me tidbit, beer and whisky. And the questions rained.. I remembered years later, after watching  theater peaces and operas like La Bohéme, Manon Lescau (Pucinni) and Carmen (Bizet), that described the artists life - poets, pinters, that lived in misery, but always found moments to meet and make a feast, cheering up, this is the artist life! Sonja call me by part to give me explanations: The name Sonja Hammer was her artistic name, used in the theater, presented to me a tall and sympathetic man and told me: He is my fellow from the theater, we are not married, but to the society is my husband and we live in this house. I explain to her that I am only by passage and that I would like to travel to Vienna today yet, where I had a relative, but confessed that I did not know how and that I had only czech money. She initialy protested, that I could sleep there, that has a Gastzimmer, enough food and austrian money, that to the trip arrange. What good people! Badly knew me  and already offered residence, food and probably they were not rich: artists...I did not find it was good to abuse of this people kindness and insisted that I want to travel today yet, that I do not want to upset them. Mr. Hoffmann then gave me the explanation: from Karlstein there is no train to Vienna, need to take autobus to Weidhoffen and from there can take the train to Vienna. Asked about the Russians, told me that there is certainly some in the station and in the train, but as the place is touristic, many people use hunchback and consequently I will not call attention. Recommended otherwise, to avoid contact with them and if boarded to talk only german. I then took leave of all, gave thanks to the gentility and was accompanied to the autobus by Sonja's husband. Sonja took leave of me with tears in her eyes and desidered me good trip and ask me to write! I promised and we parted. Mr. Hoffmann help me to take the autobus, pay me the passage and gave me the necessary money to take train to Vienna. In Weidhoffen the autobus stopped in front of the railway station, I bought a third class passage, saw some russian officials taking the same train, but in the second class, I got into the waggon and around two hours trip already the train arrived in Sudbahnhoff in Vienna. How I had been in Vienna many times before the war, knew the way to my aunt. Took the streetcar, that carried to the street where she lived, only asked a citizen where to take off. He gave me this information and at two o'clock in the afternoon arrived in my aunt's apartment, knocked the door, was not home. Asked a neighbour, he told me  that my aunt probably went to the cemetery. She was widow of uncle Josef - brother of my father, died two years ago. Sat down in the stair - she lived in the third floor, and waited her arrival. Aunt arrived and was surprised with my visit, explained to her everything and she asked me to go in. Took off the hunchback  and shoes, washed lightly, in the meanwhile my aunt prepared mix eggs, bread and a cup of wine and we talk... came the night, I lay in bed, that was of my uncle and after two days of travel, by the first time, breathed profound, without fear of the Russians ( she leaved in the french Zone). 

I need to explain the term "Zone", very utilized in Europe in that epoch. Zone does not mean a part of the city, not a brothel, (used in Brazil), in Vienna, as in Berlin there were four occupation Zones, but with the difference that in Vienna it was possible to circulate between them without passing the post control, that existed only in paper. In Berlin the control posts were very rigorous, specially between the Russian Zone and American Zone...

The day after I got up very late, felt strong pain in my back, proceeding of the heavy hunchback and my aunt did massage with the arthritis pomade that she used. But, little by little I was improving and resolved to communicate to my father, but knowing that the exterior letters were censured I ask my aunt to write to him a letter, that uncle Francis came to do a visit, after many time, and gave remembrances also to my father's family. In fact, my father understood the message, because in a week came a letter from him thanking remembrance of "uncle Francis" and that is happy with his good health. That first week in Austria I resolved to know a little more about Vienna, that during the war had not visited and that liked much because remembered of the good times that passed there with family, generally during my father's vacations. I and my brother were still kids and the dead uncle Josef was very fanny and brought us to various beautiful places: In the Vienna woods, Danube river, to the Prater amusement park, to Schoenbrunn, that was the summer castle of the emperor Habsburg family's, with beautiful gardens and zoologic, in the beautiful candy shops with savoury cakes and ice-creams and marvelous avenues and parks - was the emperor's city, very well cared, the jewel of the empire, known also as the music, theater and opera city, of the castles and of the walks. The city of the Johann Strauss waltz, of Franz Lehár operettas, of the classics Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and many others. 

My uncle Josef, my father's brother, was a blacksmith by profession, worked more than twenty years in Vienna and when retired himself (during the Second world), already was sick and soon died. He was a nature's lover, every  six o'clock morning went out of home and walked in the park near house, where there was a known squirrel  family, that already knew him and came out the tree to receive some tidbit, that uncle carried always in his pockets and also the little birds receive their seed portion's. My uncle Josef and my uncle Mary had one daughter named Mitzy, she was much older than me and already married with a patrician, named Jan Stocek. This couple had also one daugther and they used to spent their vacations in our house in Kridlovice. My father did not like them much, because in accordance  with the own aunt Mary - "Stocek is a scoundrel and have no permanent job, is intelligent and know how to do everything, but he is not honest". Told the aunt that he even falsificate a doctor's diploma and worked in a hospital in Vienna. But in an emergency was called Dr. Stocek to execute one operation and there the medical mates perceived that he coud not be a graduated doctor, order investigation and he was discovered: The diploma was false! I could tell a series of similar "cases", but the fact is that he was one man extremely sympathetic and joyful. In Vienna, he took all our family to various places, mainly to the amusement park- Prater-, where he took us in the gigant wheel, in the horror castles, in the russian mountain - but never payed anything, showed always his document as being one police's inspector and nobody dare to charge of "his family"  one coin... The Stocek's had one more defect: Eaten a lot - in the morning six hard eggs each one, three milanese steaks, a bowl of salad, eaten all day through and poor mother could not get off  the kitchen, was coffee, tea, milk for the girl - without end...My uncles also avoid contact with Dr. Stocek! My father had in Vienna one more brother - Rudolf, that had a little firm of mobiles sale, I went also to visit him in Vienna, 1949, his wife was Russian, but very convinced and anthypathetic and consequently was of little friends. I stayed the first week in Mary 's aunt house, widow of the good uncle Josef and in the weekend we both went to visit the other aunt Mary, my mother sister's and mother of my beloved cousins Hilde and Poldi, whose were of my age. They all leaved in a little city 25 km from Vienna, my uncle Rudolf, Mary's husband, was also a blacksmith, but afterwards mounted one toolmaker shop - and as was the first and unique in city, became well known and rich. Unhapilly, when I arrived there in 1949, he was already sick, internee in a hospital - cancer of the bones and soon died. My aunt Mary was a saint, I have never seen somebody more kind and sympathetic. She was very religious, every day at six o' clock in the morning already went to mass. In the absence of the husband, she assumed the shop, cared for the girls education, the garden and the big backyard, had also a vegetable-garden nearby house where she planted legumes, vegetables, potatoes, had various fruit trees and many flowers. Worked all day long, helped the poor and monthly payed the church, that supported the elders and invalids. She was the most darling and respected woman in town. Well then, she became very surprised with my arrival and soon installed me in a mobile little room and I was received by her like a son. Told me about her husband death, passages during the war, occupation of the city by the Russians, that occupied a part of her house also, although she had talked to the superior officer that she was Czech and that the Czechs fought by side of the Russians and Americans in the war. The officer cordially admited the facts and told that had problems with the soldiers installation and as her house was big, a part was temporarily used as lodgings. The big problem was that the invaders russian troops, that marched in front, were of the asiatic regions, and were not accustomed to civilized people, probably not even in houses they lived and consequently soon caused damages. They broke the windows, used curtains to clean their boots, and made the necessities inside the room.

I read once, in a german's newspaper, that the Stalin commited two errors in sending the russian troops to Europe: "Show the Europe to the Russians and the Russians to Europe". 

Happily, after around three months, my aunt was able, with the officer she already knew, that he ordered the house's liberation.  My aunt put everything in order, but the dirty she was obliged herself to clean....Her daughters - my cousins, lived during the house's occupation, in some place in the Austria's interior, that was occupied by the Americans. When I came in my aunt's house in 1949, the house was in order, the older cousin was already married and lived in one of the rooms, but both worked all day long in Vienna. The youngest cousin assumed the control of the toolmaker shop and my aunt cared for the house. I, during three-weeks, "lived in a good", ate and slept well and tried to help my aunt in the domestic tasks, read the newspaper and magazines and planned my future: had plans to immigrate to the United States by preference, but there I need to obtain from the american's consulate in Vienna, informations and I resolved, consequently, to visit the consulate. Created courage and went. Received me a functionary that gave me the following explanations: "There is a maximum number to all - called the immigration "Quota" of each nationality, to go ahead - the immigration Quota of Czechs nationality was already drained, in a general way the USA is accepting only  the high specialized technicians (- kind Einstein, Oppenheimer-), that needed to be proofed. There is naturally the opportunity of you, sir, to register in the IRO (International Refugee Organisation) in Saltzburg, that is in the American Zone and try to immigrate to another country, like Canada, Australia or likewise."

I went out the Consulate crushed, my dreams to immigrate to the USA shattered. But thinking well, I can immigrate to Canada and afterwards cross the frontier to EE.UU. By certain the frontier is not so watched as in the Europe - (only much more later I knew the contrary). In the Consulate I knew other patrician, educated and well dressed, presented himself as Frantisek Novák of the Brno city. He went in the consulate to know the same as I, but he did not speak german and consequently was happy to knew me and offered to accompany me when I was going to travel to Salzburg. 

Coming in the house of my aunt Mary 2 (The  toolmaker), told everything in the presence of all family. Then, I was shown one map, that delineates the occupation Zones in Austria. To arrive in Salzburg, that was in the American Zone, have to pass by the train and autobus controlled by the Russians. That control is rigorous, any foreigner caught in flagrante, any refugee, became arrested and sent back to the original country! One of my cousins, that knew the region, explained that I can travel by train until the city in the Alps, named Steyr, afterwards cross by foot a little mountain ( cause the russian control was also in the roads). Being in the other side, already in the american Zone, take again a train until Saltzburg. 

Saltzburg (Casttle of Salt)- has its origen in the salt mines, that existed in old days in the region, from where stones of salt were taken, cleaned, crushed and sent all over Europe. Nowadays is know as a Musik-Festspiele place, where every year in August conserts are organized, presented operas - Music Festival in remembrance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, that was born in this city. In Saltzburg presented every year the cream of the best musicians of all over the world. 

I studied well the map, made notes of all important places and showed it in Vienna, to my new friend Frantisek, who was ready to go soon.  In the next week, it was combined between us to meet at railway station. In the agreed day, I gave goodbye to everybody, my aunt gave me her bless and told me that was going to pray for me, and more important, gave me money to travel and to the eventual expenses. In the agreed day, I met Frantisek in the station, we bought the passages until Steyr and in due time  we embarked,  without problems. Arriving in Steyr, I asked a train employee how to arrive in the place indicated by my cousin. He indicated me an autobus stopped in front of the station and told to go until the final point. We took the autobus and followed around 12 km in a field road and the region impressed me by its natural beauty. It was a sunshining day  that iluminated the Alps's top, that was covered with snow. The mountains ahead of us occupied all the horizon and the autobus was going through open fields, covered by high green grass, in contrast with the blue and white. It was one of the most beautiful regions and this passage was engraved in my memory. Steyr is a turistic and sport region specially to the lovers of mountains and alps lakes, also to skaters- besides we met many sportsman, carrying the ski, following the mountains direction. 

I remember compositors like Franz Liszt and Frederik Chopin that inspired by the natural beauty composed marvelous musical pieces. Also Beethoven that passing by region of Mondsee composed  the  "Moonlit" sonata, seeing the moon reflex in the lake.. (Years later, in vacation, passed with my wife in the Alps - swiss, german and italian and we were astonish with the beauty, magnitude and profound of colors  lightning from the mountains and the lakes reflecting this beauty in still and profound waters). 

Finally we arrived in a little village in the foot of a mountain. The one indicated by my cousin, that made frontier between the Russian Zone and the American Zone. We looked to the top of the mountain, full of snow... My niece estimated 300 meters of height, we, two adventures, soon perceived it must have at least three times more. We seated in the grass, ate our lunch, cause we knew in our front some hours of difficult clamber, not much steep, but long. A mount or hill of these height could  not be climbed in straight line, its necessary to turn the hill, climbing by little and being careful not to be seen from the road, that surrounded the mount. We also saw - down there - a little house with a barrier crossing the street, and by the side of the barrier, two russian soldiers. They walked with rifle and who passed there was obliged to show the documents to be allowed to pass the barrier. We climbed step by step and in a while stop to acquire breath and straight the body, always bent. While we climbed  the strength of the cold wind increased, sometimes a white cloud passed and covered us in approaching the top, the ground was covered with 15 cm of snow and to worse, the snow began and a strong wind throw little stones of ice in our faces, that hurt. Finally we achieve the top, but we did not see much because the clouds where under us. In the climb, when the visibility was not good we followed my compass, that - accompanied me in all walks. We follow West. Afterwards  the declivity begun, that was already a little easier and coming to the railroad station, it was already 16 hour (4 o' clock in the afternoon). We walked around 5 hours and the legs were already shaking of tire. We took the first train and in a little while arrived in Saltzburg. Installed ourselves in a hotel in the center (aunt Mary 2 gave money!), dine and took the famous dark beer in Bierhaus and went sleep, because it was ahead hour. In the next day we searched the indicated IRO office, to catalogue ourselves and obtain more information. The office was located near a big building, in the principal avenue that accompany the Salzach river. In the street were found some luxurious residences and offices of big factories. The river crossed inumerous bridges, some only to pedestrian and large ones to vehicles. The principal bridge - Staatsbrucke - linked the new and the old city - Hohestadt,  where above the river emerged the old medieval casttle and by the big gate arrived in the middle of the city with a great square adorned with various statues and in the middle of the square the principal church with archbishop palace. To this square followed also an old street, narrow, full of shops called Getreidegasse (Cereal Street), most famous in Saltzburg, because in this street founded the house where in 1756 was born the famous musical genious - Wolfgang Amadeu Mozart - transformed in a museum.

But, let us return to IRO - International Refugee Organization, created by the ONU after the war to resolve the dramatic situation of the refugees in all countries. The central of the Organization was found in Geneva, Switzerland and with affiliates in all important cities of Occidental Europe and United States of America.

As I have already mention, with the criation the the Iron Curtain and the began of the Cold War an enourmous movement of people appeared, trying to flee from the communist regime, that seen to repeat the nazi regime: confiscations of properties, patrimonies, industrial and agricultural enterprises, nacionalization of particular patrimony, latifundium, earthy and fluvial transportation, personal censure, radio and newspaper censure...Anticommunist activies suspected persons were arrested and important politics of other parties also. People forced to work without payment in cereal crops... 

The terror and threating made thousands of people to abandon their homes, many times with families, and direct themselves to the occidental countries, where the Marshall Plan reconstructed the devasted war cities, and if they could find no work there, try the immigration to other hemispheres: North and South America and Australia.

In the IRO's offices the work's offers across the Ocean were concentrated and through the registers of refugees and their professions and aptitudes could be organized the immigration, and consequent fulfilling of the existent vacancys. These were giant tasks that necessitate thousands of functionaries with languages, psychology and intelligence knowledges, posts in the great majority fulfiled  by qualified refugees... We went into the big gate, in an ample room indicated as "Reception", full of men, women and children, seated in various benchs of aligned files. A functionary by the side distributed the password to people in accordance of entrance. Received our password and seated in a desoccupied bench, by the meanwhile. In a corner of the room there was a writing-desk and a big steel archive and in a swivel-chair was sat a tall woman- blond with a pipe in the mouth. When she got up to consult the records I saw that was big of body also, of strong voice, like a man. A neighbour in my bench whispered to me: "Is a baroness and speaks eight languages". In accordance with the call of the password numbers, the people got up and direct themselves to seat in a chair in front of the writing-desk. The baroness pick up a new card to each refugee, or family, asked documents and registered the name, city of origin, profession, place where would like to immigrate, eventual relatives and their addresses and other date indicated in the card. When my turn came in showing my czech documents, she looked at me, had beautiful light blue eyes - gave a smile and began to interrogate me in czech. I asked if she was a patrician - answered: "I have there some properties."  

Many noble families were proprietors of lands, castles, that were soon disowned by the communists and distributed to the colons. While the owner's of the latifundiums had profit, the colons needed government's help to survive.

The nobles were patronized between each other, many had properties in various countries ( like our baroness who had castle in Austria and properties in France, as I became aware later, and even relatives in the EE.UU.). Many people think that the nobles do not work, that they live in feasts and voyages around the world, but is a mistake, the great majority work and do useful things. They are mecenas of art, music and pinture,they build marvelous castles with gardens, theaters, support education and culture in schools and institutes, help people and organizations, have their value...

I asked about the refugee's lodgings, indicated me "Informations" in a nearby waiting room. Gave me also date and hour to the medical examinations, that were realized in the first floor of the same building. The refugee's lodgings was found around 2 km away from the city, arrived there by bus, it was a whole of wood barracks with amianthus roof, like the lodgings in Munich, but with only the ground floor and not with one more floor, like in Germany. 

In the administration we showed our IRO register copy and other new registration was made.  Afterwards, we were indicated a house with two vacancys, received our bedclothes and a cover. In the barrack soon make acquaintance with a family of patricians, his name was like mine, Oldrich, surname I do not remember anymore. Told us the adventure of the flee with his family, a couple with two little children: They payed a professional, that promised to cross them through the river by boat, the river that makes the division between Czechoslovakia and Austria. In the agreed hour the family arrived with their suitcases in the river, found the boat, but the boatman -scoundrel - nothing! And more - the boat had no oar. Oldrich put the suitcases and the family in the boat, loose the boat and went in convey by the current. But the current conduct them to the czech frontier and without oar it was not possible to drive the boat. Oldrich took off the clothes and only with underware jumped out off the boat and swimming pushed the boat to the other margin. In this moment, in the czech margin, a frontier guard appeared and shouted to the family to return. Oldrich was already nearing the Austrian border and did not obey. The guard began to shot with the pistol to the boat, the shoots attracted also an austrian border guard who begun to shout that the boat is already in Austria, and that the czech guard was violating the law. The noise of the shoots and the shouts attracted more people in both sides of the river and the match begun. Finally some Austrians jumped down the water and helped to took the boat to the austrian border, took the fugitives to a home, where helped the terrified family. 

Cases like that I listened later  - or looked like. In each barrack there was refugees of other nationalities, it was a little united nation - the relationship between us was cordial. The food in the lodgings was served once a day, but as I had some money given by my aunt completed the meals with the sandwiches sold in the lodgings by a smart greek that openned a kiosk, where "fast-food" was made and sold soft drinks also. I also became aware that the service available to the refugees, authorized by the government, was only manual work and even being manual, scarce. Austria - in its american and british zone, received Marshall's plane help and was beginning the reconstruction, mainly of the destructed buildings and roads. The processing of our papers in the IRO was slow and lasted weeks or even months... 

Then one day came Frantisek to me and told: "Let us return to Vienna, there we have relatives, house and money, here we have nothing, the money is finishing and the documents the IRO can sent us by mail". I initially answer negatively, but Frantisek insisted, that alone could not return, he would not know even to buy a train ticket, etc. Finally agreed, but only thinking in the danger of crossing again the Russian Zone and the difficult cross of the high mountain - scaredy me. 

Returned both, after staying a week  in Salzburg by the same way to Vienna, it was spring, there was no snow in the mount, by the contrary was full of many flowers. I have the hapinness, downstairs a stone, to find the Austrian national flower, a little white one called Edelweiss, took her off the ground carefully to offered it to my aunt. The flower is very rare and grow only in the Alps between stones, above 2.000 meters (above the sea level). 

The aunt and cousins where surprised by my return, but in explaining them the situation, agreed. Divided the time between the two aunts, passed some days in Vienna, where I could observe the movement of a big city, frequented the movies ( in that time appeared the first north american films, some made even before the war  ("Going with the Wind", "To whom the Bells Toil", "Casablanca", Far-West films and adventure), I went to the national Theater where there was a comedy with Magda Schneider- mother of Rommy Schneider, future famous world star. I used to swim in a lake made from one Danube's branch, in the Russian Zone, many russian soldiers in holiday swam by my side and made fun, I only was careful to not clash with one....

In the other aunt's house, worked in the garden, helped the cousin in the toolshop to count nails and spins that the clients ask and made some domestic work. 

After three months my IRO card came with a letter that the card gave right of a political refugee and international protection - less russian - and in the case that I pretend to immigrate, need to treat the matter in the Salzburg's offices - and that the IRO card does not serve as passport and is not recognized by sovietic institutions. 

I went searching for my friend Frantisek in his home. A young girl attended me and informed the he is in the Diana-Bad, a sport and beauty institute, with a big coverded pool by a blue glass cupula, saunas and massages, a club reserved to fine people. I was attended by the doorman of the club, asking me the Club's card. Explained that I was not member of the club but I am searching my friend Frantisek - "A, Herr Frantisek is found in the massage room, I will inform him". Sooner returned and asked me to accompany him. By the way there were beautiful  white marble statues with greek images of Venus, Diana hunter, Apolo - the environment all imitating the roman bath houses. There in a relaxing bench, lined with white satin reposed Herr Frantisek, being attended by a beautiful brunette. Ask the girl to go out and only covered with a white towel, got up, greeted me gladly, asked me to seat and opened himself. He met a girlfriend, separated, rich, with various properties and lived with her. Received also the IRO card but pretended to stay in Vienna and justified himself: "I will not change these here by an infested with fleas barrack, I am going to naturalize myself Austrian!". He was more than 40, I was 26, maybe he had reason. I desired him good luck and abandoned Diana-Bad. Aunt Mary 2 thought that I must stay also and try luck in Austria. But I did not change my opinion: Immigrate and away of Europe! Returned next day to Salzburg, by the same way troughout the suffocating mount - now it was summer: beautiful vista from the Alps, the cupulas of snow diminishes, the wanderful meadows were green with many margarites and little savage roses. I went to talk to the baroness of IRO, she recomended me to inscribe in various countries to the immigration, if it is not right in one, there is another by reserve: Made application to USA, Canada, Australia, Argentina and Brasil! And resolved to find a job. Near the river was build a new cinema and in passing saw a plate with the announce: "In search of bricklayer helper". I went to talk to master of work, he asked if I had ever worked in construction, I was sincere, never, but needed job. The master sympathize with me and told me: "Come tomorrow at 7:00 o'clock, come with work chothes!". In the same hour, while talking with the master, appeared another patrician - a Slovak, that did not speak german, would like also to work - interpretered to the master and he consented, admited as both. In the next day my learning began, scrape the future building foundations, pile up great stones in the scraped profounds, discharge sand, lime trucks, sacks of cement (each weighted 50 kilogramas) - and everything rapid, the bricklayers were already waiting..., everything  "schnell-rapid, are you sleeping?". Confess that in the first days I thought I would not support, my hands were becoming full of callus, the arms scratched, legs trembling - at night could not sleep with pain in the back and arms, but the Slovak mate encourage me:"Soon you will be accustomed" - and in fact passing the first weeks I was able to carry two sacks of cement, (- on in each shoulder , 100 kg-!) and I waited 60 kg....After 15 days, the first payment came, resolved to rent a room near the service. Saturday afternoon we did not work and I went to find a room to rent. Find soon in a family, the man - ex-soldier (and as I discovered later in talking, nazi sympathizer), had a woman and three sons and needed money. The room had only a bed with mattress, a table and a chair and an old wardrobe, combined the price and on Sunday already changed there my little things - paying in advance! The owner of the house was unemployed and was always complaining, that in old times - in the Hitler's time - everybody had jobs and now  - with the Americans could not find work. 

I used to return from the service after 5 o' clock in the afternoon, many times worked later, doing extra hours to receive more money, that rested only to pay the rent and some food. Eated in a little bar nearby, whatever they had. In Sundays wrote letters to aunts and to my brother - who already finished serving three years of military service and returned to end his studies in the Comercial Academy. My father also wrote me and my Swiss friend that I met in BMW, in Munich. When the time was good made walks by the side of the river Salzach, found strange that nobody bathed there in whole summer and asked, received the information, the river  has its fountain in the mountains covered all year with ice and snow. I did not believe - the high mountains were at least 50 kilometers away and to verify, went down one of the bridges of the river and in putting my hand in the water - cold, cold as ice. The time passed, summer went and autumn began, from the mountains a cold wind began to blow and now I began to worry - in winter we do not work in construction and I will be without job... and do not have winter clothes and only a bed cover. Wrote to my aunt Mary, asking for help, but this time the disheartening answer came: The toolmaker shop gave prejudice, another guy open identical shop in other quarter and to win, lower the prices, that my aunt could not imitate because of the compromises already assumed, my older cousin married and changed to Vienna and could not help. 

And more - the room I rent had no calefaction and there was no more covers. November first fell the first snow and the temperature drop bellow 0 - went to work but the master told me "no more, only in spring..". I already had only finance reservation to one more month rent pay and nothing more. Went to the IRO office but the baroness told me:"without news". 

I met a patrician, of middle age, from the city of Prague. In the conversation appeared his offer, that before the war he had an art-shop in Prague, where he bought and sold art objects: books, pictures of academic painters and other knick-knacks. To open a shop like this in Salzburg was not possible - because as me, had no money, and he did not speak german. But if I helped, maybe we could visit some painters, finding them in the telephone list and intermediate their sell of paintings, visiting some rich houses. I thought good the attempt and day after we begun our work. We went to a painter-artist house and I was impressed by the quantity of beautiful pictures in his house- hundreds, each more beautiful than the other, great majority of nearby Salzburg's landscapes. I soon see also the artists poverty, as showed well in the La Bohéme opera, made so beautiful things, but nobody bought! Talked to the painter, showed him our IRO documentation and we asked initially four or five pictures, that my friend chose. The painter agreed - had not to loose. We picked up the pictures and went away to rang the bell in a beautiful house with big garden around. A man appeared in the window, opened the door house and three big dogs barking, discharged in direction of the gate, where we were together with the pictures. The man approached, looked rapidly the pictures and told: "I buy pictures in the gallery and not at the door!".

We went to other house - the lady owner not even cared, opened the window and shout: "Away vagabonds or I call the police!". In another house received us gently, looked at the pictures and asked if we did not sell in  pay times. I perceived soon, that the people although with beautiful properties had no money to buy pictures. Next day visited other artist, but the result was zero.... The patrician insisted in doing more tries, argumenting that in Prague sold five to ten pictures  by day, but I recall him that this was before the war, now people wanted to buy food and not pictures. That day we visited one more house, gate opened, we entered the garden slapping hands, sudenly from the back of the house a big dog appeared, caught my patrician's leg and tear away part of the trousers to the knee! A little puddle came from behind, and put up the little leg and weted the picture that my friend put in the ground, to see the damage in his trouser. An old lady appeared and expelled the dogs and told: "They are gentle, do nothing!". In seeing  the damage in my friend trouser, invited us to enter and told that sewed the torn trouser of my friend. And so did. But, with this day we finished our activity of "helpers of artists" and returned our homes.

My father was called with one of his brothers, who lived in the country, because was said that both had critized the communist government! Who made the denounce? One of the nephews's family, of the interior, that occupied a high post in the communist regime. But both brothers negate and how there was no testimony, were released with an advertency... The nephew later hanged himself in his own house - nobody in the family went to the funeral!

In march the climate became warmer, the snow melt, but only in the beginnings of april the constraction builds began again. I was one of the first to appear in the work, but my Slovak friend, that worked with me in the last year, disappeared - in the IRO's offices also nobody had notice of him, appeared rumour that during winter returned to his land - it would not surprised me: Without work and without money had not many choice. I missed him a lot, he was a good fellow and had good heart.

I returned then to the heavy work, but with more experience and development.

One day I saw in the newspaper an advertisement, that a department of the Strength of north american occupation was admiting a certain number of workers in the military quarter near the center, condition: know how to talk and write English! Interviews in the own military quarter on may the first and second. May first was holiday in the Work and I resolved to try the luck. At 8 o' clock in the morning I was there with an austrian sir, that presented himself as Josef, of 60 years old. Told that talked  a little of english, but knew portuguese, because worked ten years in Brasil before the war, had known the Parana, Saint Paul, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte. With us both, appeared around ten people. The interviewer was sergeant Clark, a sympathetic man with a pipe in the mouth. We fulfil the formulary with the personal and professional data, nationality and origin, etc. When finished the fulfilment of the formulary he pick up us all and began to call one by one. He talked a little german, mixed with english - american. Explained that the service necessary is to help the soldiers, that worked in the clothes store and certain equipment ( less arms), in case of uniform used  or damaged substitution, decorations, honor medals, of merit etc.. Have to attend in balcony soldiers as much as oficials. Even more was necessary to maintain the cleaness in the store, sweep and clean the necessary, maintain the minimum stock of each uniforms type, their numerations (small, medium, large) - and as the great majority of soldiers speak only english, was necessary to speak english. The proof was simple: he indicated to various objects, located  in the store and people tell the name in english. I answer all questions correctly- then he showed to me the pipe and I told: "The pipe!" He happily and smiling told me soon:"Approved!" Also mister Josef was approved, more by sympathy and age than the knowledge of english. Sergeant Clark put OK in my form and passed me to talk to the chief official of store, that talked beautiful classic english, that after short conversation told me that later I would have the opportunity to work in the office, after a vacancy opened. All admited one had one month to work for experience before being definitevely admited. The salary offered was 2.000 Schilling, that was much more than I earned in the work, even with extra hours! In the next day went to the Work to ask dismissal, thanked the master for his kindness toward me, explained that appeared the opportunity to me to work " to the Americans" and my chance to work in an office, he understood and desired me good luck.  Afterwards went to treat of the necessary papers to go in and out of the American Military Quarter, took photographs to documents, proof that I was registered in IRO as a political refugee, proof of civil register of resident in the municipality and from police the good antecedents. There was lot of documents, but happily acquired them in time, without delay, in form that on Wednesday of the same week already took all documentation to the Quarter, where received provisory document that would be substituting in the future, after being formally admitted. I presented myself in the store to Sergeant Clark, that introduced me to the other fellows of the store, some american soldiers and others austrians and one Polish, refugee like me. In summation around fifteen persons, outside office, inside seven more. Gave me the key to a steel wardrobe, where I guarded my clothes and gave me also work clothes, rubber boots and a cap military style, everything new, clean. Afterwards explained our work, hour - saturday we worked only half day. Recommended in the beginning follow the soldiers and the fellows with experience, that already have worked there for some time. 

Impressed me, since the beginning, an Austrian-viennence, around thirty five years and already with little hair, that had profound english knowledge, unembarrassed and joyful, full of jokes. He told me already had worked two years in Canada, but missed Austria, mainly Vienna where had family. The "Pap", the oldest Austrian in the store, told us his adventures in Brazil, hunts to alligators, of enormous snakes (sucuri), of the house he had in Parana with mobiles made of good smelly woods and that his son was Brasilian, cause was born there etc.. The Polish, very young, joyful, had weakness for women and almost every day had "One to tell", in a general way was sentimental - remembered many Chopin, less physically, because was short and a little fat. In a general way, was a very funny group and the days passed rapidly, what a difference with the work in the Work... Sooner the end of the month arrived and from the first of June of 1950 on, we were all effetivated. Received also our first salary! Resolved to commemorate with a good dinner in a city restaurant, asked to one vienna's steak (Wienerschnitzel), with fried potatoes and one big chope! (The steak "by vienna" is of heifer - type "by milaneza" in Brasil). The waitress brought the chope, but excused that heifer meat is missing, asked if it could be of swine. Accepted, came a steak of the size of one plate and more the fried potatoes and pieces of lemon to the steak. After many time it was my first good meal! 

From this day once my luck began to change to the good: There is an old proverb, already sayed in the Bible in the Josef of Egypt History, that after 7 years thin then comes 7 fat ones, and in recall my past life, looked like I have to agree.

I tried to find a scientific base to this rule, that was known by the Babylonians, Ancient Egypt, Jewish Writings and in the world History: 7 years of war and 7 years of peace-appeared many times and the only justification I find in the astronomy and astrology: -The sun and the stars have strong influence in this planet life, the Sun, that is the fount of our life, irradiates in the Earth direction and other planets the cosmic rays, that have strong influence  in telecommunication, radiation, magnetism, appearence of boreal Aura and I believe influences our brains also- in this field studies are missing.  In the Sun periodically appears some dark spots, discovered by the wise Leonard da Vinci, in the 15 century. Later astronomic studies confirm the connection of the spots with solar activity with strength of thousands of atomic bombs, and the sun is a giant atomic works, that irradiates to the Universe all kind of rays, that without doubt must have some influence in our life. There are scientists that relate the solar activity with wars, revolutions and other human activities. Have influence also in the tides (every seventh wave is greater than the others), in the ocean currents ( hot and cold), in climate and consequently in the agriculture production ( the Josef of Egypt, or author of the history, must have observed that the Nile river increased its volume each 7 years and overflows greater land part and with this gave the chance to the old egyptian agriculturist to plant more grains and increase the harvest. 

But returning from science to our private life, my life in Austria: My work in the american store became attractive to me, with the knowledge of english and german, I soon dominioned my work and suggested some more rational service, organization and control of minimum and maximum stock, statistics - that I already knew in school. I also learned by heart the functions, posts and various decorations of american military and must have called the attention of some officers - clients, whose by their turn communicate to the store's chief officer, because one day was called in the office and the chief praises my work activity and increased my salary. Later, with the outlet of the Austrian-viennence, who went to his land, I became in charge of all the civil functionarys in the store and was called many times in the office to help with the monthly reports of activity. Always in my private life there was a change to better: One day returning home from work, I found a message of another patrician, Oldrich Novotny, natural from Prague, that I knew from the IRO offices. He asked me to search for him urgently in his house - Rosengasse 6. In that address there were beautiful houses, made from the austrian government, built before the war, with three or four rooms, living room and dining room, complete bathroom with bathtub and douche and one guest's room. All rooms with wall cabinets, central heating and big windows. The houses were of three floors, with a little garden in front, big gate in the entrance and marble stairs to go up all floors. The residents were government funcionarys, that payed a monthly tax, discounted in the payment of their salary. Having in sight that the house was spacious to one family, the great funcionarys majority rented some rooms to singles or to a couple without children. I went in the same night to visit Oldrich, that received me and took me into the guest room in the back-house, that was his. Enlighted me that received from IRO the visa for going out and passport to immigrate to Australia, and how his room was going to be vacant in the next week, ask me if I would be interested staying in his place with the room. Seeing the comfort of the house, the central heating in the room, a lavatory basin, wall cabinets, had no doubt - the rent was a little more that what I already payed, but the comfort would compensate. We went to talk to the house owner, Mrs Flora, a sympathetic lady of around 35 years of age, mother of four little sons, three girls and one boy. She interviewed me, asked me were do I live and satisfied ask to wait her husband, that was coming from service. He did not last long, appeared a thin, tall, impeccable dressed man,with suit and tie, presented himself with a broad smile: My name is Siegfried Wetzlinger, government employe, 42 years of age, ex-combatant of german army in the last war, where took one shoot in the leg and consequently  lamed a little. Soon I discovered in talking, that he is a joyful man, versatile and highly cultured. Combined my change to their house to the next week, I dismiss, thanked my patrician by the kindness and went out. Arriving in home soon asked dismissal, payed rent to all month, althoug stayed only half the time and passed the days changed with my little things to the Wetzlinger's house. In the first day at night, Mr. Wetzlinger knocked my room's door and asked me the kindness to attend at 8 o' clock at night to dinner. Arriving in the living-room I met all family reunited: Mr and Mrs Wetzlinger impeccable dressed - he with a marine blue suit and red tie and she with a light blue dress with a flower in the dark hair - was a beautiful couple. Herr Wetzlinger presented me the sons, one by one: Sigrid, Sigrun, Klaus and Dagmar - all germanic anthology names, the own Siegfried was one hero of germanic mythology, correspondent to the greek Aquiles, participant of the Troy war. In accordance with the legend, Aquiles's mother bathed the son in the waters of the hell river, that made his son immune to any hurt, save his heels- where he was caught while taking the bath, making a vulnerable place. In accordance with Homero's description in Iliad, the Aquiles arrived invincible in the Troys door, where Paris, hidden, darted the hero just in the heel and caused the Aquiles death. In accordance by the german legend, the Siegfried bathed in the seven heads dragon's blood, that he just ended to kill, and also became immune to hurts, less in the back, where a leaf of a tree felt during  his bath, and in this place was also vulnerable - and mortal, as in the Aquiles heel. 

But back to the presentation: The older daughter - Sigrid, presented me with a little bouquet of violets, collected in the house garden - I became touched, embraced and kissed the girl, became without words...And one more surprise: Mr. Wetzlinger presented me to a young czech couple, pharmaceutists from Prague, that occupied the other room and were ready to immigrate - also to Australia. And a young lady, single, who lived in a neighbour building, Mrs Flora's friend. After the presentation the children went out to their room and we adults seated in the table, where Mrs Flora served a suberb dinner. Came wine, liqueur and desert. All became joyful and talken, it was a beautiful dinner and beautiful day! The dinner was served every day, less saturday and sundays. In saturday Mr. Wetzlinger asked me with his wife to a restaurant to drink  chope and some different meal, splited the expenses. Thus happy days were gone. One day went, as was custom, to the IRO offices and the baroness showed me a vacancy bulletin: In Brazil was needed machine technicians, shoemakers and agriculture specialists.