Diaries: 1943 January 14-1943 May 26; 1943 May 27-1943 October 13; Loose material from diaries

9 in your own country. You can give back the blow though. So after all, modern devices only mask war more wasteful and more insane, then ever before.

Antisemitism is spreading. Best means to lead sentiments on a bye-road. Anti-German feeling turned into anti-Semitic channels. Cheap too.

Yesterday the Russians announced the capture of 22.000 Hungarians, about the 12 Jan. God knows only how many of our friends have been there? Hanna’s husband was there, south of Voronyezs, Bandi Szerdahelyi too. Not half of them will survive the strain of exposure and hunger of prisoners. Hanna worries herself to death.

Jan [January] 21. Thursday I told you already about the Clavels, who arrived recently from occupied France (the part occupied since two years) and who tell different tales and opinions, depending to whom they talk. To Gizi, Elma said how they hate the English, to Mrs Zorrai (Jewess) how they hate the Italians. Now she told Gizi (don’t forget Gizi’s German family

10 name) that she and her husband belong to the new French who want sincerely a cooperation with Germany! This I think is more than just opportunism to have lessons among pro-German inclined families. As it is a fact that as a rule Germans did not let people leave occupied France and the Clavels got visa – as they said – without difficulty, I can believe only that they were sent by the Germans, to get informations here. They have many friends here, were never very enthusiastic about Hungary (only to live here, they like it) and Germany wants their own secret police people now elsewhere. These French are mercenary enough to sell their friends, or, if not mercenary, (René I can believe hardly capable to do such a thing) they are frightened by the Germans.

Marika Kánya has recent information from Romania. There are disorders, they are fed up with war, allegedly Maniu has made some contract with Great Britain and they are eager only to jump out of German friendship at least five minutes before Hungary. Antonescu was

11 one of Germany’s best puppet there but now, as they are tired of war, Germany is playing out Horea Sine , chief of the Iron Guard against him.

After the Swedish prime-minister’s declaration against the German system, rumours are in currency about breaking up of Swiss-German commercial [strikethrough] exchange contracts [/strikethrough] relations. It all points to the last developments of this war.

I am again told from several sources that Germany want Hungary to expel all our Jewish population until July this year. I hope we are going to sabotage this but I do not see what would it help Germany if not only to mix us up being guilty in these cruelties.

Do you know for what I hope all those years? I see you one day to come and fetch me. I see you before the gate getting out of a car wearing something what is “dernier crin” . Come you will, that is sue but whether you find me here?

Jan. [January] 22. Friday It seems the airraid over London the day before yesterday made some damage at BBC. headquarters as

12 since yesterday only the most outstanding features are given in the usual strength. No noises this time but my accustomed wavelengths (I used to listen to home service news, they are more reliable than their foreign propaganda stuff) are inaudible. So radio is rather bleak now, on middle wavelengths the German program is on, on twenty and odd places. Scarcely anything else.

Nothing new to tell you. Going on with absolute passivity. Somehow I have the feeling I must go on with this, this is the best course to take at present.

Jan [January] 29. Saturday. Tea with the Horchlers. Mrs Forrai and Laci were there too. I had to hurry home as Dédé promised to come here for the evening. Due to the “disorders” on the frontline, their departure is delayed.

Incredible what silly stuff these young officers are fed with. Of course they have no perspective, for every wrong they are told that Jews and free masons are the cause. My Dédé told me tonight earnestly that the Germans don’t want

13 any more from Russia but just until the Ural, Japan will join them somewhere in the near east, all these next summer. Between themselves they will dispose about [underline] Mongolia [/underline] and India.

This afternoon’s paper was absolutely sweet. Today, when Tripoli fall [fell] (rather disagreeable thing for Mussolini, as this time the Germans made loose [lose] them something that belonged to Italy from before fascist days), there was nothing else in the paper about Africa but that second German scientific men Africa and Northern America are going to turn into sand, like the Sahara. Is it not charming?

Jan. [January] 24. Sunday. Hanna Sz. got news that her husband somehow got out [strikethrough] with [/strikethrough] on skis from the encirclement of the Hung troops south of Voronyezs. He is at Debrecen in hospital with a frozen hand and 20 kgs minus, very exhausted. No news from or about the boys who had been out with him as ski [strikethrough] teachers [/strikethrough [instructors. This all she told me in the morning here in my flat then we walked to the hill, where I had lunch