Diaries: 1944 July 3-1944 August 19; 1944 August 20-1944 September 13; Loose material from diaries

9.

After my work I ate [strikethrough] just [/strikethrough] a piece of cake at Szalay, then to see [strikethrough] Erzsi’s husband [/strikethrough] Emil, but this too in vain. I am afraid, something happened to them. Their medical friend is not very helpful, I am afraid. At home a telephone call from Sári, a [strikethrough] little [/strikethrough] young factory girl but a personality. Again back to town, at Rami I met Iván Waldbaum, we both got nothing, then to Tercsi néni, she was after the funeral, a sad affair. Éva, Pista and her brother in law, Henrik was there. The evening to Mamuci, they are back temporarily. I persuade them to go away at least for a fortnight. The southern railway is not more than 300 mtrs from them (as the crow [strikethrough] flys [/strikethrough] flies). Got home after 10 p.m. full moon, so no raid is probable. [strikethrough] Here [/strikethrough] a very long ‘phone [strikethrough] by [/strikethrough] call from Ibola, they are living at Hotel Gellért, having the intention to go away soon. – I crossed our hill this evening, on our usual [strikethrough] road [/strikethrough] path. The lawn below the [strikethrough] under [/strikethrough] lower gate of the park is full with very dubious looking, camping people. Are they blitzed or just afraid of a blitz, I do not know.

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Anyway, it is filth and terrible smell around them, when a raid comes, they invade the cave, church and have stolen even the [strikethrough] cover of the [/strikethrough] altar cloth.

July 6. Thursday.

Tercsi néni got a chicken for me yesterday, it was not even so very expensive, (17.50 P) but it is months, I did not even see one. I had five green peas from Elly, bought some carrots and had fine food, have it even for tomorrow.

The morning I had several telephone calls, the first at 6 30 a.m. from Mr Gonczlik, the blitzed Mátyásföld friends, he wanted me to see his wife, she has high fever. Before going out your “twin”, Marcsi Székely here. After Irmuska and my routine work I had to meet Erzsi at the Bazilika. They [strikethrough] are [/strikethrough] converted catholics, as you know and we spent [strikethrough] a [/strikethrough] half an hour in church together. Different plans, too much hesitation and above all, still too much faith in events and people’s conscience. Home Ancy, Elly and Mrs Székely, with milk. Tired out.

11. [[Clipping]][Hungarian] A bombázások rémhireivel ne nyugtalanitsuk a fronton harcoló honvédeinket

Pest, 1944. July [strikethrough] 7 [/strikethough] 6. You see, what consideration for our soldiers, fighting out. We must not [strikethrough] disquiet [/strikethrough] upset them with news about the raids. I wonder [strikethrough] only [/strikethrough] are they not getting any newspapers? Because they had headlines like this: “Night of horrors among the ruins.” This is not very reassuring either. - My flowers are lovely on the balcony. Cyklamen coloured antirrhinums. I shall put by some seeds for our garden in YOUR country. And how is Barbara? Our male and female population is drafted anew. Out of four men, living in our house, three are enlisted to military service and have to join up in a few days. Young women are called up in

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large numbers. Men, are taken even from war plants. Jews are taken too, by [strikethrough] means of gendarmery, and others [/strikethrough] gendarms, without the consent of our [strikethrough] war office [/strikethrough] goverment.

July 7. Friday

At 8 30 a.m. alarms, [strikethrough] began on the radio the usual way, [/strikethrough] Bácska – Baja – Pécs - Földvár. Then, as it would be just Bpest’s turn, it [strikethrough] seems to have swapped [/strikethrough] turned off to Győr - Sopron. Usually this means the Vienna area. Quick, [strikethrough] before [/strikethrough] as long as telephones may be used (only until the sirens are sounded and not until two hours [strikethrough] passed [/strikethrough] after the raid) we cancelled our rendezvous with Hanna (Sz). 930 Bpest sirens sounded. 12 20 p.m. I am up in my flat, nothing happened until now, some very distant [strikethrough] machine [/strikethrough] motor noise was heard from time to time. Gyuszi Viktor from his airdefence service back for a moment (with car of course) states, they were up in Slovakia and can be expected back soon.

We do not see one single G. here around the house though they used to drop in several times. There are rumours, [strikethrough] it is permanence [/strikethrough] they are kept on alert? (katonai készültség) in town. [strikethrough] May be they are in permanence [/strikethrough]

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[strikethrough] too. [/strikethrough] 12 45 Bpest alarm off.

[[Clipping]]

In today’s [strikethrough] paper, [/strikethrough] obituary column, I see the announcement about Otto Schiller. He must have been on labour service and cleaning the ruins.

I had a look into Károly’s office, to see Lacy, but neither of them was [strikethrough] at home [/strikethrough] there*. I left a note. Did I tell you the latest prices? One meter of silk (nyersselyem) 274 P, a pair of [strikethrough] knickers [/strikethrough] pants 73 P, a pair of gloves 103 P, one kg of coffeebeans 640 P, one kg of fruit about 6-10 P, one kg of fat 45 P. [strikethrough] Victuals [/strikethrough] Food on black market prices, the others seen in shopwindows.

I am told, that churches (r. kath.& protestants) are [strikethrough] christening [/strikethrough] baptizing Jews now in great numbers. Whether it will be any [strikethrough] use for [/strikethrough] help to them? It is not only looking for help on their part, they are deeply moved, having been taken in by the churches now, when they are treated like dirt.

I hear, that the morning’s raid was over Germany, Halle, Leipzig, etc.

* They are not living there any more.