Voice/Vision Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive

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Martin Shlanger - March 4, 1983

Then what, after this reunion?

I went back to my hometown.

By yourself? Your brother stayed?

By my... My brother wanted I should join the Czechoslovak Brigade. Of course, I uh, didn't want to do that. I wanted to go back home. I found nothing at home. There were a few Jews already living in the town. Uh, so I moved in with them. No families, just single boys, survived in the mountains or they were hiding someplace.

None from camps?

None from camps at the time. I was the first one.

What about some of these old friends of yours that, that turned to fascism?

They extend... they wanted to extend friendship again. But, you know, you... I felt uh, strange when he came and, "Well, I'm glad you're back uh, how are you? You look uh, you don't look very bad," or something like that. Some compliments, you know, but who wanted to make friends with them?

Did you decide to stay?

Yes. At first I wasn't interested in anything but um, have enough food. That's all at first. And I went to see a physician for my uh, kidney condition and I had sores in my mouth and I had boils on my body, and you name it, and I had it. And I had this uh, bad case of dysentery. I was weak.

Did anyone extend a helping hand to you?

Well, these Jewish boys that lived in the town.

No non-Jews?

I wouldn't think so, no.

Were any, any of the leftists still around?

Oh yes, the leftists, those that were leftist uh, they came to see me and uh, wish me the good luck and start a new life, and go back to school and yes, they were nice.