Diaries: 1945 March 11-1945 June 20; 1945 June 25-1945 November 5; Loose material from diaries

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Charlie states, that the last German effort of the siege, the breaking out [strikethrough] of [/strikethrough] from the fortress was on a [strikethrough] schmiedet [/strikethrough] forged order, given by the Russians on radio, by German chiffre. It does not matter, whether is was so or not, but it is sure, the outbreaking forces have driven before them the Hungarian University students, boys of 17 and 18 years old half of them at least were [strikethrough] annihilated [/strikethrough] killed. This, sure, was not in the orders.

Since Saturday I feel – unexplainable – so happy I am sure, something is going to happen to me, with regards to you. This morning I cleaned the flat furiously. I [strikethrough] take [/strikethrough] took care of my appearance, as if you would turn up any moment. I perfectly well know, though my surprise is not to be expected in the near future. In a few weeks or in one or two months sooner. But the foundations for my surprise were [strikethrough] [?] [/strikethrough] laid about last Saturday or Friday. Perhaps it will turn out, that instead of Baumantyné YOU! will be sent out by the Company. Or Baumantyné coming you could sent a letter and parcel with him.

March 27, Tuesday The giant tour for the second time: I had to go over to Pest. At first, after coming, I went to see the Fidys. They are all living, but seven of the family dead. Ernő and wife, Pali, Gyuri Fidy, Böske’s sister in law, Olga Holy’s mother and somebody else I forgot. Apu and Pista together with Csege were taken away by the Russians. The last news about them from Brassó. Éva pregnant. Poor Tercsi néni is almost [heart]broken by pain, but I could not help, she and Böske together were like chattering

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silly old women. She not so bad but Böske knows of course everything and everything better as anybody else. At Oti I made my report about my work there (until Xmas), they won’t pay me until several months. Went to see Nene, they are Ok, their flat partly destroyed but all safe and Not much hope for reopening of the mozi . Nene promised to get my own sort of cigarettes, Daru, this would be splendid, but almost too good to be true, I could not buy any butter, but bought a sheet of cellophone for the left side of the balcony door about one metres 2, for 10 Ps, one candle for 28 PS, met my hairdresser and Kata Máthé on the Rákóczi út and arrived home, three patients waiting for me.

March 28, Wednesday With the shortage in food – not even scarce ration are to be obtained regularly – I think the giving [strikethrough] free [/strikethrough] toleration of black marketing is not a bad system. It is made open, no more black, therefore prices are going steadily down. Flour per kg was two weeks ago 180 Ps and more, yesterday I have seen in a shopwindow bread flour for 50 Ps, white flour for 70 Ps, but Mrs. Fidy bought white flour for 50 Ps already. Of course, prices are absurd, but people from the former months’ inflation have generally left money enough to pay for it and in a few weeks, when they will be out of it, there will be rations, so I hope. There was butter yesterday at the Pauscz shop, 50 Ps/10 dkg, I asked for it, but there was no more left the afternoon.

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The traffic between the two parts of the capital is unnatural. Distances are too big in a [strikethrough] town [/strikethrough] city of one and a half million inhabitants and no way of [strikethrough] communication [strikethrough] communicating but walking, no thoroughfare, but one single bridge. People dressed as tramps, but you can see well dressed ladies too with [strikethrough] perambulators, fully [/strikethrough] baby carriages loaded with the funniest things: clothes, skillets, lampshades, etc. Moving from Buda back to Pest or vice versa. Russian bridgebuilders are already working on the Horthy Miklós bridge. The progress can be seen daily, only our poor Elizabeth and Chain bridges remain untouched, though it would be so important to reach the heart of the city. Maria Paló tells me, your statue at Eskü tér is unhurt, I could not visit it yet.

Dearest it is the fifth day since Saturday I have this nice expectation – feeling, you will turn up sometime or send word by someone else. This morning at 7 a.m. I got up and brushed the floor, cleaned, tidied, though I know, nothing will happen in the near future. I know only something in connection with you and me is beginning. If the anxiety about the lost cheque would not be here, everything would be OK. Since a few days I am no more hungry, I do not have to think of food, when I think about you. Putting on, against my best intentions.

The Dutch consul and vice-consul are sent out of Bpest or out of the country (I suppose to Bucharest today. Other legations too. Foreigners, especially Americans,

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British, French and Dutch subjects are left now without representatives[on] and have to report at a Russian command, at Hungaria krt 9. Elly is exasperated, as usual, I do not see anything special tragic in it. The Russians are not so stupid at all, they want to have the nazi-collaborators even foreign citizens and that is very natural. They want them, before they would take refuge in foreign, even allied legations. When they have their men, legations will be let into the capital, I am sure.

Same night. Food is going slowly to give out, not much left out of last week’s reserves and nothing coming in. I begin to be hungry again, though I have bread this time. I shall have to do something about it soon.

March 29, Thursday. Over to Pest again. It seems to be an obsession with me to do the good two hours hiking, just to see “big” [strikethrough] town [/strikethrough] city life. Véndiák espresso opened one coffee 12 Ps, one [piece] cake 15 Ps. It is the same with Flóris, Gerbeau [strikethrough] is pillaged [/strikethrough] has been looted. I met on the way Mária Zorkóczy, they [strikethrough] [?] [/strikethrough] went with a wheelbarrow to [strikethrough] fetch [/strikethrough] get an ironstove. They are not so dangerously ruined as last time. She was over, she bought lots of cakes at Flóris, per piece 18 Ps. This I can not do. In town I met Hella Csapkay, they all survived, coming home I met Lacy on the transversal road, she was to see me, did not find me at home. Arriving home a Mrs. Bane awaited me with a message from the Kartals.

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I was relieved, to have news about them, they all survived too, still living at Pécel, may be moving back into their [strikethrough] townflat [/strikethrough] city next week.

I am told by Mamuci, the legations and consulates are sent out of the country [strikethrough] finally [/strikethrough] for good until the peace-treaties will be signed. This will be at least two years. By then the political atmosphere will be entirely changed but still to get a visa will be even then not so easy. I do not see clearly, in what a position for example the Americans at Maort will be without their own legal representation? Will this joint mission do for them?

In a shopwindow at Üllői út I have seen very cheap prices (for these days) walnuts 300 Ps/kg, potatoes 22 P/kg, [strikethrough] sultanas [strikethrough] raisins 400 P/kg, oil for cooking or salad 200 Ps/kg , [strikethrough] mák [/strikethrough] poppyseed 120 Ps/kg, walnuts 320 Ps/kg , sugar [strikethrough] (christal) [/strikethrough] granulated 400 ps/kg, etc. So black market is digging its own grave, even if slowly.

March 30, Goodfriday I believed there will be no work for the weekend [strikethrough] for holydays [/strikethrough] people does not like to be ill on holy days [strikethrough] as a rule [/strikethrough], but in spite of the fact, three patient had to be seen this morning. Weather deteriorating, clouds, here and there rain, a bit of sunshine between: then clouds and wind again. In one of the cases I should like to have a consultation but the heart specialist who lived here for weeks, left for Törökbálint. Many of the refugee doctors left for home too, we shall have