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When the war started, Bobruisk was almost instantly bombed. The authorities ordered everybody to leave the town. We went to Shzedrin by foot, but Germans arrived there very soon. Not to trouble our relatives, we decided to return to Bobruisk, where we had left all our belongings. Daddy went first. Frosya was the next to go, to gather her things.
She came back and said that our house was intact, that Father was all right, that he had found a job and was receiving a good ration and wanted us to join him. And so we all – my mother, brother, little sisters and grandparents walked to Bobruisk. But it turned out that Frosya had deceived us; her father had become a policeman for the Germans. Our home had been robbed, Father had no job, and Jews were ordered to wear yellow stars on their clothes. We were not permitted to communicate with Belorussians. Father was very scared when he saw us.
She came back and said that our house was intact, that Father was all right, that he had found a job and was receiving a good ration and wanted us to join him. And so we all – my mother, brother, little sisters and grandparents walked to Bobruisk. But it turned out that Frosya had deceived us; her father had become a policeman for the Germans. Our home had been robbed, Father had no job, and Jews were ordered to wear yellow stars on their clothes. We were not permitted to communicate with Belorussians. Father was very scared when he saw us.
Period
Year
1941
Location
Belarus
Interview
Grigory Erenburg