Alfonz Petreje

“After we got back from work, we used to have lunch around 2 pm. Then we were getting ready for a square drill, marching, marching with singing, making turns at the position or during the march. Eventually we had political training, where they clearly told us: 'We cannot equip you with arms, since you might use them against us!' Sometimes after the hard work we would have alarm training, or other times just line-ups with full combat gear, so to say it. Sometimes we had to march about two or three kilometers away from the barracks, and then in the morning, of course, continue working in mine again.”

“Germans entered the room, where we slept, and they lodged themselves. Their commander was dividing them, choosing the rooms; they brought straw and slept on the floor. I slept with my father, but he had to get up early in the morning. One of those soldiers lay to my bed instead of him. I don't even know what crossed my mind that I turned towards the wall and kicked him, so that he fell down. He got so mad that he drew his bayonet and pounced on me. By coincidence my father returned and opened the door. It was such luck, because otherwise I can't even think of what could have that soldier done to me.”