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16 WWW.UNWLA.ORG “НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЖОВТЕНЬ 2015 The 70th Anniversary of DP Camps The following article was printed in the October issue of Our Life in Ukrainian. We thought it may also be of inter- est to readers who might be better versed in English. Since we are remembering the 70th anniversary of DP camps, we end this translation with the ending of camp life. It was a pleasure translating this piece, but please remember that these experiences and recollections are those of Oleksandra Juzeniw, a member of UNWLA Branch 83. —Ulana Zinych When World War II ended in May of 1945, hundreds of thousands of refugees found them- selves in Germany, fleeing not so much from the German-Soviet front as from the Communists, the Soviet regime. Among these were Ukrainians, Poles, Russians, Belarusians, Latvians, Estonians, and Lithuanians. Having endured bombing and poverty, they were heading west—to larger cities, as far as possible from the Soviets. My mother and I, along with tens of other Ukrainian families, experienced the end of the war in a small German town, Kal- teneck. Since it was summer, the refugees often lived outdoors in fields, schoolyards, and home- steads, in various barracks. We all survived by trad- ing possessions we had brought from home with local Germans—clothing, jewelry. Additionally, hav- ing registered with the local town government, we received “food stamps” and thus were able to obtain a bit of bread, cheese, grains... One day my mother, I, and a few more Ukrainians from Kalteneck were able to get a truck and drove to the closest larger city, Passau. There was a Ukrainian Refugee Aide Committee there and we wanted to get some information and assistance as to what to do next because the Allied forces al- lowed Soviet soldiers to drive among the refugees and convince them to return back home. The sol- diers were certain that all would gladly return. But such was not the case. In some areas people were forcefully put on trucks because the Allies did not understand that we, the refugees, did not want to return. While my mother waited in line to speak to the Committee workers, I was standing on a high bank admiring the three wide rivers which in Passau merged into one. They were the Danube, the Inn, and the Ilz. I also went to the main town square where the ancient St. Stephen’s Cathedral was locat- ed. Unfortunately it was locked. Passau remains in my memory as a beautiful city of the Middle Ages, like the engravings of Dürer. And why have I not revisited this city? Maybe subconsciously I was afraid to see tall skyscrapers, souvenir booths, res- taurants... At the Refugee Committee, we learned that in the large cities refugee camps were being organized and it would be best to head there. We did this. A few families chipped in some money, hired a driver with a truck, and headed to the an- cient city of Augsburg, where a camp for Ukrainians, Sommer Kaserne, already existed. The UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Reparation Administra- tion), organized by the British, Americans, and French in 1943, and later the IRO (International Refugee Organization) helped care for the refu- gees—men, women, and children. The UNRRA or- ganized camps in former German barracks in many German cities. There was an international law that former (up to 1939) Soviet citizens were supposed to return to the USSR, but they did not want to go—knowing what fate awaited them. People from “Velyka Ukraina” (Eastern Ukraine) were especially fearful, and with the help of those from Western Ukraine, they frequently changed their last names and re- ported fictitious places of birth and employment. Even later, when the DP camps were running full force, we were informed via loudspeakers that the next day a Soviet delegation would be coming to the camp and registering all who wanted to return. The camp leadership suggested that the refugees stay in their rooms. People followed this suggestion. The main square was empty: all were in their rooms and covered the windows with sheets and blankets. In fear they looked toward the square only through cracks. The Soviet delegation arrived, accompanied by workers of UNRRA, and through loudspeakers they encouraged people to return home. No one came out, and after some time they left. The camps were organized according to na- tionality, which was partially responsible for their success. Refugees were called Displaced Persons— DP for short. By 1945 a great number of people were flocking. These were single men, married couples with children, women, as well as young men and women whom the Germans had forcefully sent to Germany as laborers. The camps were very well or- ganized: the administration, the police, varied insti- tutions and schools were all in the hands of the DP, while representatives of the UNRRA or the IRO act- ed in supervisory capacity and provided food, bed- ding, sports uniforms, and so on. Each large room was occupied by a few families, divided by army blankets. The community kitchen provided break- fast, lunch, and dinner. Students received additional vitamins, and little children most likely got addi- tional nutrients. From time to time the Americans held the
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