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

24 but it didn’t take place only nearly an hour later, reason: RAF bombardment of Berlin. During his speech I heard once from far but quite clearly: Hilfe! (Help!) Was it on consequence of the raid or simply some police action? Who could tell? In the afternoon Göbbels made a speech and read a message on behalf of Hitler, he spoke much better as Hitler used to speak. The sense of the speeches is just blackmailing of the people. Seemingly they like it. Of course, you can’t hear those who are silent but only the shouting ones.

Near midnight. At 9 45 p. m. Budapest radio fall silent and not come back until 11 15 p. m. No alarm was sounded and all stations around us, i. e. Vienna, Prague, Belgrade, Athens, Sofia, Bucarest were going on undisturbed. I don’t know, what it may mean.

Jan [January] 31. Sunday. Mamuci asked me for lunch and the Horchlers for supper, so I divided my day between them, with the exception of the morning, when all washing up, washing and cleaning had to be done as Sunday is the only hot-water day of the week

25 and except the time spent with walking to the hill and from the hill to Gizi’s. It was a nice sunny day but by dusk it begun to be cold again and frost was on the roads. People are panicky now, who, before a year would not hear of the bolshevik danger. For long time Gizi evaded to talk about politics and eventualities, tonight we talked things over. They believe me now and I told them, there seems to me a bit more hope today as a year ago. Things are taking a greater speed now and if nothing else, this is a good point.

Febr. [February] 1. Monday. Prices are rising all the time. My monthly salary would buy about 30-40 kgs of mandarins Statemonopoly-prices, are higher by today, cigarettes with 26-63%, alcoholic drinks and scents, luxury taxes, stb. One glass of beer 1 Pengő. On the blackmarket there [strikethrough] is [/strikethrough] are still Camel cigarettes to have, 6 Pengős apiece! Flats (öröklakás) 30-40 thousand P per room. * The insecurity of everything but above all of money is to be felt on the whole time. * As 1944. Jan. a three room flat was taken for 200.000 Ps

26 Febr. [February] 2 . Tuesday After Churchill’s Adana talks with Jamet Jnonü it seems as if Turkey would after all this time join the allies. The idea seems to be that German troups, [troops] trapped by the Russians in the Caucasus, would try to evade into Turkish territory. Or, if not, it gives a good excuse to the allies to cross Anatolia towards Saloniki. One more reason to hope for decisive events this spring.

Outside a warm rain, which tries to wash away the accumulated snow and ice from the streets. Result: terrible mud and filth. Better inside.

The already mentioned luxury taxes amount to 50% with Persian rugs, gramophones, better sort of radio, furcoats, etc. It would kill commerce, [strikethrough] would [/strikethrough] had it not been already killed by war and blockade.

A slight comparison: from American and B.B.C. news we have heard about the [underline] capture [/underline] of twenty four German and Roumanian generals at the last stages of Stalingrad. The German, in their news speak all the time as they would be [underline] fallen [/underline]. They do not say it

27 exactly but they let you understand. These are the subtleties of Göebbels.

Air is tense with expectation because of the coming European campaign. Looking at the map I [strikethrough] look [/strikethrough] search for suitable harbours, the bulk of the offensive troups [troops] must be transported by way of sea, only surprise and shock troups (whatever that means) will be transported by planes. So Saloniki may be one of the initating points, possibly, through Turkey one of the Roumanian Black sea ports too, then Naples, Marseille. From the Atlantic side of France airtransport seems more possible. E-boats would be apt on the Channel coast but second British commentaries, the whole Maginot line is transferred to those [strikethrough] wouln [/strikethrough] vulnerable parts. On such vast territories, as the Germans occupy at present, only some big encircling and isolating movements would promise success.

It was funny to hear Mr Bevin on BBC. Today speaking to farmers of Britain about mancraft shortage, promising them for the harvest time more Italian prisoners of war.

28 Febr. [February] 3. Wednesday The sort of commentation, British news service gives to Churchill’s Adana conference is so pointedly and expressedly against Germany that I have to believe it is meant against Russia, to protect the Dardanelles. And mentioning the Dardanelles it is not probable that the allies would suffer bolshevik influence in Bulgaria, if they can help it. Again a ray of hope for us. Last year, when Eden visited Moscow, the allies had nothing, no arms, no planes so they would promise anything to Russia to go on with the war. This year – it seems to me at least – they are strong enough to make their own conditions and Russia is so strong still that they begin to be suspicious as to her real aims.

Jew’s situation is not so bad in Hungary. This morning I had a strong whish [wish] to taste real coffee so I ventured to have on at Gerbeaud’s, best place in Budapest. I used to go there sometimes before, the mornings used to be quiet there, only an occasional guest, mostly foreigner sitting here and there at the tables. But today! All the big rooms