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

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April 10, Tuesday. After four days intense cold, this is a splendid day again. Warm sunshine. Bö has been here this morning, fetched got some of her belongings, bought me a nice loaf of bread, gave me a cake of soap, a pair of silk stockings, it is difficult to refuse her. I made coffee, what she enjoyed. She is full of problems, does not live alone Guarreri, is afraid, after having been through such terrible things, she will be unfit for a [strikethrough] common [/strikethrough] life with Laci papa, etc. One Sunday, it was before Xmas, she went to church with a prayerbook in her hands (playing the assumed [strikethrough] role [/strikethrough] part, under my name a teacher of languages) and round the Teréz church scores of Jewish corpses lay, recently murdered. Such memories one can hardly share with others, who did not live here the same time. When Bö left, I had to see Marika Borbás, there they gave me a veal cutlet, this will be good for the evening (For lunch I had two sandwiches with boiled eggs.) It is not bad, that at least some food is coming in, as fees [strikethrough] are [/strikethrough] did not [strikethrough] coming since about ten [/strikethrough] come in the past few days. It is the fourth monthly the majority of people have no incomes. They begin to realize, the make-believe prosperity of nazi times has come to an end and get panicky about money. Neither can they hope any more for the nazi return with the Red army fighting inside Vienna.

Here is an amusing item from the paradoxes of these days: one person was found guilty for the offense of stating, the Red army is looting. Sentence: two years imprisonment.

April 11, Wednesday The morning over to Pest , shopping Have seen Lacy,

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Médike, Rózsi (Zlinszky), home early very hot and tired found Emil Kartal waiting for me at the Lángs. We were glad to see each other. They are all well, back at Bpest in guests in a janitor’s flat. At Pécel they had a peaceful time in spite of several Germans [strikethrough] instalments [/strikethrough] housed in the [strikethrough] house [/strikethrough] home they lived in and got liberated on the 28th December. Elly came in later, they were formerly acquainted, both left, then Mrs Bencze came in with a burnt arm (II. grade). The weather was splendid today, even too hot for such [strikethrough] enormous [/strikethrough] a long walk. In today’s paper I read, the Red army does not use artillery inside Vienna, in [strikethrough] view not to destroy [/strikethrough] order to spare historic buildings. I could burst, reading such like. Since when is the Soviet so very much pro-historic values? Here in Bpest the destroyed the dwellings of hundreds of thousands small people. Of course, all this was agreed upon months earlier, the allies having agreed upon, Austria ought to be treated differently, [strikethrough] as [/strikethrough] than Germany. But only had Budapest to be destroyed? I am not sorry for people, but I am sorry for myself and some decent people, who are caught in with the rest. [strikethrough] Second [/strikethrough] According to other news Sweden will [strikethrough] [?] [/strikethrough] send back to Germany all nazis, who recently took refuge on Swedish territory. What about Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Argentine?

American troups are 80 kms from Checkoslovakia. They soon will meet Russian troups, so I do not see, the war can last much longer. With regards postal [strikethrough] connection [/strikethrough] communication between us, I do not know, what to think or hope. Allegedly American troups are here, Emil has talked to an airman, they ought to have their way of communication with their folks, so

41 practically it will not be possible for long, to cut us from the outer worlds. Friday, when I have to go to Pest again, I intend to go and see Mrs Fabinyi at the American legation building. The Kartals too, Lacy too, as their maid, Ilus is ill and I have to see her a second time. If only the distances would not be so horrid! Today, coming home, I felt, my feet will not obey me.

April 12, Thursday There is a new problem, [strikethrough] presenting itself [/strikethrough] patients have disappeared, or at least patients, who pay. The reason for it is, people did not get pay had no income since four months and the big health insurance companies began to work already. These take so much of my patients out of my hands. I suppose, under present circumstances there will be no living out of general practice, inspite of all my good resolutions, to [strikethrough] stepping [/strikethrough] step out of my usual ebony tower. In case of some epidemy (which we were lucky to [strikethrough] evade [/strikethrough] avoid until now) I shall be looked for, I know, as I have been pretty popular in this region. But until then – almost no work.

Now gossip: you remember the Polyák family, the janitors at the former house of Sebestyéns. Sunday at Hegyalja ut I met Mrs Polyák, very down hearted (she was a vehement nyilas), her husband died in the shelter, their flat bombed out, her son away in Germany – Yesterday I met Dr. Pollermann, such a nazi too. His two son and a son in law out in Germany, he begging round by friends, as he did not get his salary since December. – I am told that Mimi, former

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wife of Pisti Szentkirályi is on intimate terms with Russian officers, among them one, who is living at Médike’s flat, Pity, she gave away herself so absolutely, she used to a lady, at least by birth- Of course, she was intimate with German officers, just the same.

-There is a ban an alcoholic drinks, but people buy the most obscure liquids on black market. Result: many deaths and blindness, in the opposite house the Ede couple too. – Second our papers, Zita Szeleczky the actress, committed suicide at Sopron, before her arrest. She was nazi and lived rather well, out of it – My hairdresser’s brother arrived home yesterday, he was deported with other factory workers to the German border and could slip away. He came hiking all the way and told, the Germans spread the news, Budapest [strikethrough] is [/strikethrough] was reoccupied by the Germans.

April 13, Friday Yesterday’s paper announced the death of Horthy,* our former regent, today’s paper the death of President Rosewelt. To my surprise I read, there will be no elections, the vice-president stepping into his place. I believe war and peace can be conducted on many lines, but, as it was conducted under him until now, it would be better to go the same time, as plans have been made before on the several conferences.

This morning I went to see Editke [strikethrough] at [/strikethrough] on the former American legation building. A [strikethrough] row [/strikethrough] line was standing on the street, an English [strikethrough] soldier [/strikethrough] marine and two Hungarian policemen before the door. It was funny, to hear English speech openly. Inside I heard, one can send a short message to folks over in your country,

* not true

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so I scribbled hastily a few words, made it for a lady too, who’s son is out at Oregon and gave it to Editke. She states, office hours will be only from the 1st of July on, visa first only for American citizens, other subjects only after one year or so, this would not be so bad, as I counted with two years at least. The best thing I witnessed there, young men, the real types of nyilas, reporting there to be conscripted for the American army. When they are told, it is open only for American citizens, they want to be English soldiers then Australians, etc. May be, this latter will be possible for them (to my greatest annoyance), they were told, to report in two weeks time. – My message will be sent in a few days time by radio and sent to you as a telegram, allegedly. I addressed it to Geo to Atlanta, but asked to be forwarded. If it is not absolutely a humbug * then in about ten days I ought to get an answer from you. There are but two Americans here, no more, many English, Scottish, et. Romanians are in the same buildings too. It is more crowded, than at the last days of their being here, December [1]941. – Coming home I met Marguerite Khuen-Héderváry, she is looking well but complained, they are beggars. Their estate is taken by the agrarian reform, her house is in ruins and uninhabitable. She is living at Szentendre, with her sister in law.

The nazi [strikethrough] ghost [/strikethrough] spirit is still flourishing here, boldly. Going over to Pest, unluckily I met a lady, wife of a former patient, herself on the scientific staff at the university.

* it was