Notes from the Translator

Notes from the translator

Dear reader,

My name is Vera Teresa Gomes Votava. I am the older daughter of Oldrich Votava. I am neither an example of a good daughter and even less of a human being. But as my father wrote the saying in his introduction, of that wise people who told that the youth lived of dreams, maybe my dreams where much high for me and maybe in oldness I recognize my true friend who never gave up hope of me. 

I am making his writings open to the public not because he had the pretension of becoming a greater writer, not even to boast that his life was more interesting than others, no. 

I am making his writings open because they are very interesting reports about the second World War and about people of that time. Anyone can read it in a weekend and know, even recognize throughout his history, people like the little german girl named Francis ( Fanny) who although with only seventeen years helped  my father so much! (With Franz little push, I suppose.)

The lovely Helena (Czech) and the actrees Sonja  Hammer ( Austrian). And I think, everyone has in his head an image of  someone who is like the marvelous  "Tereza", of the North of Italy, of Módena, a girl so full of energy, so sure of herself, so courageous, knowing all the answers and already carrying maybe some secrets, having even to change her name!

Also greateful to the lovely baroness of Austria, who worked in the IRO and helped to bring our father to Brasil.

Well, there are even histories of families who survive these terrible war, never loosing their hope, like the marvelous Burda (Czechs) and Wetzlinger (Austrian).

I write in English, an universal language, also to greet people who helped our little family so much in Brasil, directors of my father who came to visit our house bringing joy to our hearts, the north americans Mr. Max Ledou and his family from Pennsylvania, Mr. Demanche from Houston, Texas, and also Mr. Tamas Macray.

 

Talking about the Second World War, I can not go on without giving thanks to a person who was a great man, as told my father, and brought dignity and security to those people lost in the Austria of old days, to the north american  CWO Orel E. Markin Jr..

 

Thanks also to my father Brazilian doctors, Dr. Emil Hacad, Dr. Alfredo Correia Soeiro and Dra. Mariangela Ivanov who also encourage him to write his memories.

Oldrich Votava abandoned his body on september 4, 2013, in his epitaph the family wrote: "your kindness and love for life made us see the beautiful side of life...missing you every day...", I would like to be bold enough to add: "your kindness and love for life and toward persons..."

Well, thank you all readers, I sincerely hope you all to enjoy our father writings.

Great embrace and hope in a better world...

 

If you like this work you can help me with the least you can to:

from any Change House 

swift code:         BBDEBRSPSPO

                            2799-5    661553-8     

                           VERA TERESA GOMES VOTAVA

                           Sp-Sp - Brasil