Zakelj Diary Home Page: http://bbhhs96.dyndns.org/~zakeljdiary/

4/2/07

Life in the Refugee Camps

1948

By Anton Zakelj, translated and edited by John Zakelj

Thursday, January 1, 1948, in the Liechtenstein refugee camp near Judenburg, Austria

Last night I had a dream that we were moving to a new home. I had two full backpacks, two mesh bags full of green apples and various packages. But I didn't have anything for my wife. Our roommates Cene and Franc Kokelj said they had similar dreams.

I often have dreams about returning to our home in Slovenia, but they turn into nightmares. The partisans are chasing me, and I am trying to escape up through the overgrown ravine near our home.

Saturday, January 3, 1948

My wife Cilka, Franc Demšar and I took a train this morning to Feldkirchen to visit our friends Tomaz and Dora Pivk. (They were our neighbors in Ziri, but had to leave their homes like we did and are now living with relatives in Feldkirchen.) We arrived at their home at 8 p.m. and stayed up talking till midnight.

Sunday, January 4, 1948

Cilka and Dora went to church in Feldkirchen at 8 a.m., Tomaz and I at 10. Dora made us a wonderful dinner including soup, roast veal and potatoes.

Tomaz and Dora are not happy here. They don't know what will happen with them.

Monday, January 5, 1948

We got up at 5 a.m. to catch the train from Feldkirchen back to our camp. Dora gave us some apples, canned plums and potica to take with us. After a long delay, the train left at 9:30 a.m. and we arrived back in Judenburg at 1 p.m.

Tuesday, January 6, 1948

Today is the holy day of the Three Kings. Back home, this was one of the most important church holy days. Here it's not recognized as a state holiday.

In the evening, I went to the Festsaal to watch the operetta, "Zum weissen Rössl" ("At the White Pony"). It was poorly performed.

Wednesday, January 7, 1948

Cilka continues to work on leather uppers for local shoemakers. Today I helped fashion and glue some of the pieces.

Our roommates Franc and Pavle had an argument about firewood.

Saturday, January 10, 1948

Pavle is angry with Franc because he gives our firewood away to other people.

Sunday, January 11, 1948

I sent Mr. Dellafiore a price list for our bobbin lace.

Cilka and I went for a walk along the Mura River, and then to a German movie called "Dangerous Summer." It was mediocre.

Tuesday, January 13, 1948

Today I worked all day on the bookkeeping records for our lacemakers.

Friday, January 16, 1948

Frank Mlinar arrived on a visit from St. Kanzion.

Sunday, January 25, 1948

Cilka and I watched a nearby ski jumping competition this afternoon. The best jump was 69 yards.

Sunday, February 1, 1948

Cilka and I went for a walk along the Mura River today. It was a nice day, but I was in a bad mood. I don't have a job. Our sales of bobbin lace are not going well. I'm bored. We don't know if we can ever go back home, or where we will find a home.

For a while, I was making brushes out of larch branches (to sell to nearby villagers), but that hasn't been going well either. People don't have money to buy things. I've tried to learn to make bobbin lace myself, but I don't see well enough. Why didn't I take the camp administration job that the IRO (International Refugee Organization) offered me last December? Cilka advised against it: "Don't get involved in the administration of the camp - they'll blame you for everything!"

Monday, February 2, 1948

Cilka and I walked to Weisskirchen and sold some bobbin lace for 42 Schillings and 2 loaves of bread. Prices have been falling lately - a pound of butter costs about 50 Schillings, one egg costs 3 Schillings, a loaf of rye bread - 8 Schillings.

Wednesday, February 4, 1948

The residents of the camp are maintaining a round-the-clock prayer vigil in the camp chapel, praying for a resolution of our situation. Cilka took her turn from 9 - 10 p.m., I did 5:30 - 6:30.

I worked for 2 periods of 2 hours each today, making bobbin lace until my eyes gave out. I did about 600 knots per hour, compared to the 1,000 that a good lacemaker would make. Meanwhile, Cilka sewed leather for a nearby shoemaker.

Friday, February 6, 1948

I'm feeling sick due to stomach ulcers.

Saturday, February 7, 1948

This evening, Franc Demšar brought his radio to our room. He's been taking it around to different barracks. He bought it 3 months ago - it's a good radio. People tell me that the radio my brother left with me is now worth about 3,000 Schillings. My radio has a better sound, but Franc's is better at picking up the short waves.

Sunday, February 8, 1948

This evening, the camp's residents put on a funny play called "15th Street." It was very entertaining!

Monday, February 9, 1948

Last night, a storm damaged our roofs.

Friday, February 13, 1948

Jernej Vrhovšek and his wife left for Canada.

Sunday, February 15, 1948

I went to Mass at 6 a.m., and then tried cooking some goulash in our room. Unfortunately, I burned it badly.

Wednesday, February 18, 1948

Since Cilka is pregnant, she went to the doctor to ask for a supplemental food ration card. The doctor performed a detailed exam and confirmed that she is 3 months pregnant. But he denied her request, since supplemental rations are not granted until a woman is 4 months pregnant.

I cut firewood to heat our barracks.

Thursday, February 19, 1948

Cilka's brother-in-law Mire heard that he is on a list of criminals (maybe due to his black marketeering) and he may be sent to Germany.

It's cold outside - as low as 0F. Last night, we continued our prayer vigil in the camp chapel.

Friday, February 20, 1948

I helped Cilka prepare leather pieces for the shoemaker she works with.

Franc Demšar was fixing his radio. It was making terrible whistling noises.

We hear that communists are taking over the government in Czechoslovakia. This means it's more likely the communists will stay in power in Yugoslavia, which means it's less likely we will ever be able to return home.

Monday, March 1, 1948

I am being tormented by back pain. I tried heating my back with a warm iron but it didn't help much.

Tuesday, March 2, 1948

Cilka finally received a supplemental food ration card, and I received one as well, for my work with bobbin lace and other things. Finally we are receiving reasonable amounts of butter, meat, bread and polenta. Cilka also gets a pint of milk each day, some chocolate and other things. All this is free, at least for this month. That's wonderful because people are no longer buying much of our bobbin lace or our homemade brushes.

Wednesday, March 3, 1948

Mire was summoned to a meeting with a British officer, who informed him that he (Mire) may be sent back to Slovenia, and that he should try to emigrate to England before that happens. Four of our other men were told the same thing. They're not sure what to do.

Thursday, March 4, 1948

This evening, I attended a meeting of the leaders from each barracks. The camp director read a list of 48 refugees, including myself, who have been approved for construction jobs in Canada. The men will have to leave first, and the families will be allowed to join them later. All the married men said they will refuse to leave without their families. After the meeting we prayed in the chapel till midnight.

Friday, March 5, 1948

A number of us went to the IRO offices, where we were informed that we will lose our rights to food and lodging if we don't sign forms agreeing to have our men move to Canada without their families. We felt we had no choice but to sign.

Sunday, March 7, 1948

We maintained our prayer vigil in the camp chapel.

This afternoon, Cilka and I went for a walk and picked some dandelion leaves for salad.

Tuesday, March 9, 1948

I got up at 3:45 a.m. and got ready to take a train to Wolfsberg to sell bobbin lace there. I reached Wolfsberg at 7:30 a.m. and visited a number of stores, but sold very little lace. Even people who had placed orders didn't want to pay for their orders, and I could not get any new orders. I had lunch in a restaurant and tried selling lace to the diners, but couldn't sell anything there either. Hopeless!

At 5:50 p.m. I took the train to Weisskirchen and then walked about 2 miles from there back to our camp.

Wednesday, March 10, 1948

Cilka and I went to photographer Kuballe to have our picture taken, and then to the city government office to apply for a marriage license. (We heard that some countries, such as the United States, might not accept our church marriage, and that we need to have a civil marriage.) We had to provide them with lots of documents and 42 Schillings.

Thursday, March 11, 1948

This evening, we had special prayers for our bishop Rozman and for Pope Pius XII.

Friday, March 12, 1948

Some of our roommates have been playing cards every evening, with frequent loud arguments.

We got our first lettuce; Cilka loves it, I don't.

Saturday, March 13, 1948

Our roommates Janko and Franc Demšar had an argument about boots under their beds. I was afraid they would start hitting each other, but the others intervened.

Sunday, March 14, 1948

Cilka and I went to the Leoben hospital to visit our friend Rudolf Primozi, who has been in the hospital for 8 weeks. He still hopes his ulcers will get better without an operation.

Monday, March 15, 1948

This morning, all the wives were summoned to the camp office to sign forms allowing their husbands to emigrate to Canada without them. Most of them, including Cilka, refused to sign the form. Instead, she and I signed a form saying that we would move if we can go together.

Tuesday, March 16, 1948

At 5 a.m., all the men in our barracks were taken to the IRO commission in the city of Gradec (Graz), where some of us were again told that we will have to emigrate to Canada without our families. They actually never got to me, maybe because I'm too weak and sickly for heavy construction labor. They examined some of the other men as if they were horses at the county fair: they checked their teeth, feet, everything.

Jernej Zupan and I used the occasion to walk around the city, see the sights and try selling some bobbin lace. We returned to the camp at 8:30 p.m.. Cilka was disappointed that I didn't sell any lace.

Wednesday, March 17, 1948

Some of our men stayed in Gradec (Graz) overnight and returned today. They said they saw corruption throughout the IRO offices. Bribes often resulted in special treatment.

Some of the men wanted to get approval to emigrate to Canada and were worried they wouldn't get it. Cene Kokelj told them he was 4 years younger than his real age. (Many years later, this lie meant he had to work 4 years longer, till age 69, to retire.)

Saturday, March 20, 1948

Many of the men in our camp are going to spiritual training every day from 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 21, 1948

This morning we went to Mass at 6 and again at 8. In the afternoon, Cilka went picking dandelion leaves. In the evening, we went to a play called "The Young Songstress." Two parts were very bad, and three parts good.

We're all in a bad mood because we haven't been able to sell our goods and we're running out of money.

Monday, March 22, 1948

We hear over the radio that the U.S., Britain and France are negotiating about the future of Trieste, which includes many Slovenians. (Trieste was part of Slovenia/Austria before 1918, was captured by Italy in 1918 and by Yugoslavia in 1945, and has been under United Nations control since then.)

Tuesday, March 23, 1948

I completed an inventory of our bobbin lace. We have 432 pieces worth 8,500 Schillings, but we can't find buyers.

Wednesday, March 24, 1948

The camp leadership has arranged for agrarian reform in our camp! We now have 20 square meters in front of our barracks designated for a garden. However, we are also being told that we will soon have to move to the Trofaiach camp about 20 miles away. Why should we plant anything?

Thursday, March 25, 1948

This morning, a Russian emigrant named George Kilin tried to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge nearby, but he survived because he landed on a telephone wire. He said, next time, he will take a closer look before he jumps.

I went to the city offices and learned that Cilka and I have been approved for a civil marriage.

Saturday, March 27, 1948

I bought a tie for 29 Schillings and a liter of wine for 16 Schillings. Then Cilka and I, together with our witnesses Mire Kolenc and Franc Kokelj, went to the city offices for our civil marriage. It's a year and a half since our church marriage, but we were told that some countries require proof of a civil marriage before we will be allowed to emigrate there.

The wedding began exactly at 9:45 a.m. in a nice hall. There was an organ playing, and then the official (an old man named Gelter) preached to us about marriage. He acted so much like a priest that we all thought he looked very silly and funny. I needed all my willpower to keep from bursting out laughing. Mire and Franc could see that I was trying to hold it back and they were just waiting to see me start laughing. Cilka thought it was all very funny, too. But we got past that, and as we listened to the old man preach, tears came to our eyes. Mr. Gelter really had some beautiful advice and heartfelt wishes for us.

After the ceremony, we signed the register and received our official papers. I gave Mr. Gelter an envelope with 20 Schillings, and I gave two pieces of lace to the secretary and 10 Schillings to the organist. We all left in a happy mood, visited Kuballe the photographer, and arrived back at our barracks by 11 a.m. Since Cilka and I have now been married twice, our marriage should certainly last (57 years later, I can say that it worked!)

At 1 p.m., we had a wedding feast in our room: soup, roasted potatoes and chicken, beets, wine, potica and cookies. Then Cilka and I went picking dandelion leaves.

I received letters from my father and sister Julka in Slovenia that our brother Janez was called up for military service by the communist government, despite having served in the military during the war. And our brother Stanko (who is a priest) is in a communist prison again, without any specific charges against him.

The camp gave us some extra food so we will be able to cook a proper Easter dinner tomorrow. We are looking forward to it!

In the evening, we celebrated Christ's resurrection with a solemn procession through the camp. I helped carry the baldachin (the canopy over the priest carrying the Eucharist). The camp residents said our ceremony was more beautiful than the one in the city.

Easter Sunday, March 28, 1948

We went to Mass in the camp chapel at 6 a.m, and then again at 10 a.m. in Murdorf. Then we attended a meeting regarding plans to close the camp and move everyone to a new location. It's not clear why we have to move. We are very worried that conditions in the new location will be worse. Everyone signed a petition asking permission to stay here. But it looks like it won't do any good.

In the evening, Mire, Cene, Franc (Kokelj) and I went to a nearby tavern to celebrate Easter. We drank 2 liters of wine at 38 Schillings each. People are feeling more hopeful these days. We no longer have such terrible shortages of food and clothing, and the political news gives us hope that we will find permanent homes somewhere.

Tuesday, March 30, 1948

The elected leadership of each of the three refugee camps in our area sent telegrams to the British commandant, the pope, the IRO and others, asking that we be allowed to stay here.

Thursday, April 1, 1948

Despite our protests, all our things are being moved to the Trofaiach camp about 20 miles away. The IRO is saying we can stay here, but we will be on our own, without food or other support. Reluctantly, we started packing and we prayed. Twelve trucks left in the morning from one of the other camps in the area, and another 17 in the afternoon.

Friday, April 2, 1948

I mailed a 20 pound package to my family in Slovenia. I know they still have shortages there.

Cilka has been sewing shoes for Russheim, a local shoemaker. He wants us to stay, but he can't pay enough for us to survive here.

First they told us our camp will move next Tuesday, now it's been delayed to Wednesday.

Sunday, April 4, 1948

At 11 a.m., Cilka and I went to say a sad farewell to Russheim, the local shoemaker who has been providing Cilka with some paid work during our time here in Judenburg. He wrote a nice letter of recommendation for Cilka, to help her get work in our new location. Russheim's wife hugged Cilka, cried and could not let her go.

This afternoon, Cilka and I picked dandelion leaves and went for a walk. We found a farmer who was willing to give us 2 pounds of bacon in exchange for a pair of shoes we had made.

In the evening, the children in the camp put on a play called "Mother's Tears." Then we had a beautiful farewell ceremony in the camp chapel. The ceremony gave us comfort and hope that we will survive.

We have lived in barracks #27 in camp Liechtenstein for almost three years. During that time, we have experienced many sad times as well as happy times. Some people think that refugees in camps lose their morals, but we have lived a more "Christian" life here than we did back home. I'm not saying that we haven't had any cases of marital infidelity at all. It's been especially difficult for some of the men who had to leave Slovenia without their wives, and who have not seen them for many years. But, considering the fact that so many of us are healthy young men and women, we have behaved very honorably. We've prayed a lot and we've had a lot of innocent fun. And, despite the crowded conditions, we've gotten along reasonably well.

Monday, April 5, 1948

Now they're telling us we will move tomorrow. We have no idea what to expect at the new camp, so we are packing everything we have, including our firewood. We took down the boards that walled off a corner of our barracks for me and Cilka. We are also taking apart beds, furniture and electrical wiring that we had set up in our barracks during the past two years. (Later, we learned that we didn't need to pack all those things.)

Tuesday, April 6, 1948

I got up at 4 a.m. and finished last minute preparations for our move. By the afternoon, it started raining and we were still waiting for the trucks. The drivers said they wouldn't do any more trips, so we took everything back into our barracks. We set up the stove again and connected the electrical wires. We didn't put the beds back together, so we slept on the floor.

Wednesday, April 7, 1948

Everyone got up at 4:30 a.m., but the trucks didn't arrive till 7. Some people paid the truck drivers to take them first (thinking that this would allow them to choose the best rooms in the new camp). Mire paid a driver around 10 a.m., and we finally got onto a truck around noon. After an hour's drive across some poor mountain roads we reached our destination - Trofaiach. During the trip, I got so sick that I felt half-dead.

At the new camp, Cilka and I were assigned to a room with two other families, who were already there. They were very unfriendly to us and I had to use some strong words to convince them to let us have a corner that was just big enough for a small bed for the two of us. They each have their own bed, and they are holding a bed open for a friend who may be returning. I was so angry: these are devout, religious people, but they are willing to make us sleep outside just so they can have a room all to themselves. I am trying to understand why they are so unfriendly to us. Are they blaming me for not getting them a supplemental ration card in our previous

camp? (Later I learned that they had received some inaccurate information about us. We corrected that and then we became good friends.)

Some of our previous roommates have it even worse than we do. The Kokelj brothers and Vinko Krzišnik are assigned to upper bunk beds with no place to put their things. Mire Kolenc and Janko Demšar are assigned to a barracks with people from Št. Jošt; and Karl Erznoznik and his family are assigned to live with the Jesenko family.

Thursday, April 8, 1948

I got up at 7. It was a nice day outside. In the morning, I set up some shelves and exchanged our small bed for a larger one from Mire. Friends invited us to sleep in their room, but I declined since I heard all the arrangements will change again in a week. I gave Karl some of our boards so he could create some privacy for his family in Jesenko's room. He agreed to take care of Cilka's bicycle, since we do not have space for it in our room.

For breakfast and dinner, they gave us coffee, and for lunch, pea soup and a little bread. You can get milk and white bread if you have a doctor's prescription.

In the afternoon, Mire, Cilka and I went for a long walk. We found a shoemaker named Franz opi - a Slovenian! His father came from Slovenia but he doesn't know Slovenian himself. We talked to him in German. He invited Cilka to sew leather for him and said he could use an assistant.

I like the surroundings here better than our previous camp. The spruce woods just behind the camp are especially beautiful. But the farmers seem less friendly.

Friday, April 9, 1948

At 6:30 a.m., we went to Mass in the camp chapel. The chapel has no windows and the floor is a cold concrete.

At 9 a.m., Cilka, Karl and I walked to town and looked at the market and the stores. The market is a good half hour's walk from the camp. The storekeepers seem friendlier than the ones in Judenburg.

It's cold - we can see new snow up in the mountains.

Sunday, April 11, 1948

After Mass, I wrote letters to my sister Julka in Slovenia, and to our friends Silva and Tomaz. In the afternoon we watched a soccer game. It's very cold!

Tuesday, April 13, 1948

I signed up 8 women to make bobbin lace, but I don't know whether we will have any customers.

I learned that I can get some ration cards for milk in the nearby village of Gai. Milk is good for Cilka's pregnancy, and it helps soothe my ulcers.

Friday, April 16, 1948

Although I obtained ration cards for milk two days ago, I was not able to find an open store that would take them until today. Finally, I got 2 liters.

We had our first meeting of craftspeople in this camp, but couldn't agree on anything. We agreed to meet again next Monday.

The camp administrator in charge of refugee labor assignments is a British sergeant, a fat man named McKeon. He called a meeting of the refugee men today and assigned 10 of us (including myself) to pound fenceposts along the camp's roads. We didn't work very long.

The men from our village who applied to emigrate to Canada received word from the immigration commission that they were approved, except Franc Demšar and Pavle Kokelj. Both of them appealed and Franc received approval, but Pavle did not. They said Pavle was turned down because he has a wife and child, and because he tried to bribe the commission. He was the one that most wanted to go to Canada and was willing to pay anything.

Saturday, April 17, 1948

Karl Erznoznik applied to go to Chile. Cilka and I are worried we may be the only ones left. The fat man says most of the refugees will leave in 3 months, and the rest will be moved to Germany.

Cilka finished sewing a pair of shoes for the nearby shoemaker opi. He said, "This woman sews beautifully! She will be like gold for a master shoemaker!" But he doesn't want my help, since I don't like sewing. He said he would get us some milk, but he hasn't yet.

Sunday, April 18, 1948

Last night, we moved our clocks one hour ahead.

Rev. Malavašic has arranged the camp chapel to be as much as possible like the chapel we had in the previous camp. It looks good, but I can't stand the cold cement floor.

Cilka and I went to shoemaker Copi again. He was working (on a Sunday!). This time he gave us some milk. He said he will have work for Cilka from time to time, so she can earn a little extra income. Then Cilka and I went for a walk in the woods and picked some dandelion leaves.

Monday, April 19, 1948

All day I pounded fenceposts with Levicar. McKeon said I could continue this type of work for the camp, but the pay would be very low, barely enough to buy a few loaves of bread each month. I said I will see how the crafts work goes. If that doesn't work out, I will try to get a job in the woods with a logging crew.

Tuesday, April 20, 1948

Pavle Kokelj took a train to Gradec (Graz) because someone there promised to help him get to Canada, but it didn't do any good.

Our roommates have become friendlier.

Wednesday, April 21, 1948

This morning, I walked into town to get some milk, and then I worked with the women in the gardens all day.

I received an invitation to apply for Canadian immigration, but I don't think they will accept me once they learn that Cilka is pregnant and I have ulcers and other health problems. I was also invited to a doctor's exam to see if I qualify for a ration of white bread.

Many of our refugees now have jobs with the railroad in the city of Leoben, or in the nearby woods.

Thursday, April 22, 1948

I've been feeling sick - headaches, no energy, can't sleep. I waited two hours to see a doctor. He said I will need to go to the hospital in Leoben for an X-ray.

Friday, April 23, 1948

Four other people were taken to Leoben for X-rays. They told me I will need to wait.

Cilka and I met with a Canadian immigration commission. They asked if we know how to work on a farm. "No." Do we speak English? "A little." Sometimes they spoke so quietly I couldn't hear them. Finally, they said, "Maybe in the future we'll need such workers."

We hear rumors that 4,500 Slovenians will be emigrating to Argentina.

Sunday, April 25, 1948

Today we went to a special Mass for fellow refugees who will be leaving tomorrow for Canada. Even Mire went to Holy Communion.

Cilka baked cookies all day for the "Canadians." Many of our closest friends will be leaving tomorrow. They are saying goodbye to their women today. Everyone is sad.

I went to the clinic to see Dr. Kozin. I sold him 32 pieces of lace for 1,400 Schillings. Now I can pay my debts and start working again.

Monday, April 26, 1948

There was a big storm last night. Cilka got up at 4:30 a.m. to make polenta for her brother-in-law, Mire Kolenc, who was among those leaving for Canada today.

The "Canadians" had to turn in their blankets at 4 a.m. At 6:30 a.m, it was time for them to get on trucks for the ride to the train station in nearby Leoben. Those leaving included Mire Kolenc, Franc and Janko Demšar, Franc and Cene Kokelj, and Vinko Krzišnik. Each one was allowed to take 200 pounds of luggage. Cene even took his bicycle with him. It was very hard for all of them, but especially for Mire, who has a wife and two children back in Ziri. He's convinced that he will probably never see his family again. Even Franc Kokelj cried. These are our closest friends, all people from our home village, people that we have lived with (usually in the same room!) for the past 3 years. Through all the adversities of these years, we supported each other. We shared our sorrows, hopes and joys (including some weddings), and now we will probably never see each other again.

I knew this would be hard for Mire, so I had bought him a bottle of rum, which I gave to him this morning. He appreciated it.

Soon after they left, I noticed that they had forgotten their food ration cards. I rode my bicycle to the train station and made it there before the train left. At the station, I noticed that it was a special train with the sign "I.R.O. Austria." The train had 11 cars, including 7 Pullman cars. Each car had about 60 men, all totaled about 400 people. In one of the cars I also saw Jozica Zonta from the Špittal camp. Vinko gave me 20 Schillings and asked me to give them to a priest for some Masses. Some young students from Gradec (Graz) sang, danced and played their instruments. Everyone else was sad and quiet.

We said many more farewells until 9:30, when the train left, on its way to Salzburg and beyond. They say everyone will board a ship in Bremen in 3 days.

As we were saying our final farewells, we cursed the people who had brought so much suffering to this world.

During the past week, the "Canadians" gave away many of the things they had accumulated which they could not take with them now. Each of them sent packages to their families in Slovenia. After they left, there were still 5 packages for me to take to the post office, including one for Vinko's mother and one for Mire's wife and children. They also left a number of things for me and Cilka - polenta, macaroni, potatoes, flour, coffee and old torn shirts. The torn shirts will be very useful as diapers when our baby arrives!

(Editor's note: In order to help our readers understand the Canadian immigration situation at that time, we provide the following quotes from p. 190 of Mark Wyman's book, "DPs, Europe's Displaced Persons, 1945-1951.")

... the possibility of emigrating to Canada still seemed remote in mid-1946. But changes were occurring in Canadian public opinion, as the long-feared depression turned instead into an economic boom ... Despite French Canada's opposition, Canadian leaders were turning toward the DPs by the fall of 1946 as the best solution for the nation's worsening labor shortages. ... By March 1947 two Canadian resettlement teams were operating in the (refugee) camps. The first DPs sailed for Canada on 4 April 1947, beginning a stream that would reach flood tide at various times over the following five years. Lumbering operations, sugar beet farms, mines, railroads, and other major employers rushed to fill their labor needs with refugees. ...

But ...most of the early nations recruiting DPs were taking mainly the young, single and strong. ... Many DPs were rejected as too old or too weak; others were unacceptable because of health problems or dependents or both.

Tuesday, April 27, 1948

Karl invited me to come work with the logging crew in the woods. I would like to go, but I get motion sickness riding across the mountain roads.

Wednesday, April 28, 1948

I worked in the camp all day, pounding fenceposts. The work is tiring, but listening to the other workers gossiping is worse.

I received postcards from Janko, Cene and Vinko, which they sent when the IRO train stopped in Salzburg.

Thursday, April 29, 1948

I pounded fenceposts again. My arms hurt. Everyone says I should take more breaks, but I can't just stand around.

Our lunch included soup with some meat, and plenty of macaroni with cheese. Very good!

McKeon, (a camp administrator) announced that every nationality will have to do camp work 2 days a week: the Slovenians get Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 - 11 a.m and 2 - 5 p.m., including all women age 16 - 55, except for women with children under 3.

Each evening, Cilka and I go visit Karl Erznoznik, his wife Mici and baby daughter Jolanda, and the Jesenko family with their 11 children. (This was a different Jesenko family from the one on Cleveland's Westside. Because of the large number of children, this family had many problems getting any country to accept them for immigration. Eventually the family had to be split up, with some of them staying in Austria and some going to other countries, including Australia.)

Saturday, May 1, 1948

This evening, we attended the first day of May devotions to Mary. The camp chapel was beautifully decorated with 100 lights.

Sunday, May 2, 1948

Today was Easter for the Greek Catholics. They celebrated the "Alleluia" in the camp chapel from 5 - 7 a.m.

I went for a walk with Cilka, but I was bored most of the day.

Monday, May 3, 1948

Levicar and I worked all day in the camp, including McKeon's garden. McKeon gave us a nice lunch: bread with butter and marmalade, tea with milk, and cigarettes. McKeon was just a farm hand in Scotland, but here he's the "boss." He lives with a Hungarian woman, and they have a child.

Fellow refugee Ivan Oven had to leave the camp by 5 p.m. today because of his sharp words against the British last month. He led our protest against the forced move from Judenburg to Trofaiach. (I don't know where he went.)

Tone Babnik has also been told he has to leave the camp, but he hasn't left yet because he can't find any place else to live.

Tuesday, May 4, 1948

This morning, I felt a sharp pain in my back and I couldn't make it go away. I must have injured something when I was working yesterday.

The man who was distributing mail in the camp lost his job. I hear it was because he was removing too many stamps from the letters. If I felt better, I would try to get that job. It's not a paid job, but you can get a decent income from the tips that people give you.

Wednesday, May 5, 1948

My back is a little better. Cilka is sewing shoe leather for Copi.

Thursday, May 6, 1948

Today was the holy day of the Ascension of our Lord. I went to Mass at 8 a.m., and then read the "Morning News" most of the day. The "Morning News" is in English and I don't understand it all, but it's good practice for me.

I received a letter from the men who left our camp for Canada. They wrote from Diepholz in Germany. They arrived there after being on the train for 35 hours. They had to wait in Diepholz for a week and were told they would be going to Bremen or Hamburg on May 4 to board the ship for Canada.

Friday, May 7, 1948

My back still hurts, but I did camp work with Levicar again. The others have received extra food rations as heavy laborers and 100 Schillings each, but I haven't received anything. I think McKeon hates me because I refused to give him some lace for his "wife."

Saturday, May 8, 1948

I attended a meeting with Major Leadbetter, the camp director, regarding refugee handcrafts. The major agreed that I could continue selling lace and employing lacemakers as I did in Judenburg. I loaned the major 15 pieces of bobbin lace worth 700 Schillings to display as samples in his office.

Seven lacemakers have agreed to continue working with me. One of them is Mrs. Spreitzer, who didn't know how to make bobbin lace until she attended classes in our previous camp. I will try this for a month, but I don't think we will make much money. Nobody wants to buy lace anymore. I'll have to find a job that pays more.

Karl says I should go work with him in the woods, cutting lumber. I don't think my health is good enough for that.

Sunday, May 9, 1948

Today is the third anniversary of the day we left Slovenia and became refugees. How much longer?

A fellow refugee, Ivan Loeske, age 75, died this morning. The official cause is a heart attack, but people say he was poisoned.

Wednesday, May 12, 1948

Karl and I got a ride this morning to the nearby city of Leoben. Karl bought a radio - it seemed very expensive. It's small, works on all wave lengths and all voltages. He doesn't know much German, so he appreciated my help with the shopping.

We walked around the city. Everywhere we went, I tried selling bobbin lace, but nobody wanted to buy. People don't have money for this kind of luxury!

I took a package to the post office for Cilka's sister Manica in Slovenia. The package included a coat we got from our friend Silva and some money.

I haven't received any mail from Slovenia for over a month.

At 4 p.m., we went to the funeral for Mr. Loeske.

Thursday, May 13, 1948

I drew new designs for bobbin lace. Maybe people would buy something different.

Friday, May 14, 1948

I went back to Leoben to exchange the radio - they gave us the wrong model. Again, I tried selling lace, but nobody wanted to buy.

Sunday, May 16, 1948

Pentecost Sunday. Karl and Mici's seven month- old daughter Jolanda is very sick.

Monday, May 17, 1948

I wrote a letter to my mother in Slovenia for her name day, and a letter to Mire's sponsor in Canada (hopefully, Mire will have arrived there by the time my letter arrives.)

At 4 p.m, I walked to the nearby castle, hoping to do some sightseeing. But there was a sign posted, saying that DPs from the camp are not allowed there.

Tuesday, May 18, 1948

I started doing daily camp work with Levicar, but it's not going well because I feel tired and sick. Mostly we pound fenceposts. Mr. Pahonov said he would get me a job in the woods.

Friday, May 21, 1948

I received extra food rations for my work, and Cilka received extra rations for both her work and for being pregnant. For a week, we got 4 pounds of bread, about half a pound of meat, 2 pounds of polenta, some butter and other food. This will make a big difference.

Saturday, May 22, 1948

We realized that, for the first time in a long time, we have more meat and bread than we can eat. If only we could send some to our families in Slovenia! We haven't received any mail from them for over a month, but we know they're hungry.

Cilka and I divide all our income into 3 parts: 1/3 we send to our families in Slovenia, 1/3 we use for ourselves, and 1/3 we invest in bobbin lace, which we hope we will be able to sell in our new homeland, wherever that will be.

Monday, May 24, 1948

Despite Karl's recommendation, I was not accepted for lumber cutting work. They hired a Croatian instead.

Tuesday, May 25, 1948

Finally, I received our first mail from Slovenia in two months. My sister Mici says they had to pay a large tax for the package I sent them. She asks me to not send any more packages.

Thursday, May 27, 1948

Today is the holy day of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Almost all the Slovenians in the camp participated in a solemn procession through the camp. The major and others watched. The Slovenian barracks were beautifully decorated for the occasion. I helped carry the baldachin (the canopy over the priest carrying the Eucharist).

Saturday, May 29, 1948

I received 130 Schillings for my work in the camp this past month - my first paid work in 3 years (other than my income from selling bobbin lace).

Sunday, May 30, 1948

I met with my lacemakers from 9 - 10 a.m. They agreed to work for another month. If I can't sell the lace they make, they agreed they would keep what they make, and that would be their pay.

Monday, May 31, 1948

I received my first letter from Mire and Cene in Canada. They say their trip across the Atlantic took 10 days, of which 8 were so stormy and rough that they almost lost all hope of reaching their destination.

Karl and Mici went to Gradec (Graz) today to apply for immigration to Chile.

Wednesday, June 2, 1948

Levicar and I have been doing camp work almost every day, pounding fenceposts, tarring roofs, whatever they tell us to do. He's a former judge and he doesn't like this kind of work. I don't like it either. We didn't get much done today.

Friday, June 4, 1948

We had rain and snow today, enough so the surrounding mountains turned white. I stayed in my room and drew designs for bobbin lace.

Tuesday, June 8, 1948

The camp administration is moving people around. Some of them are going into barracks that have been renovated and some into space that has become available due to people leaving. Even though it's an improvement for most people, there are still many complainers who don't want to move. People also have preferences about who they live with, but the camp staff don't care about that.

I talked with the camp staff and they agreed that Cilka and I could have 1/4 of a room in barracks #64. Joze Cerar helped us move our two beds and all our things.

Thursday, June 10, 1948

Levicar and I have been pounding fenceposts next to the guard station at the camp entrance. I worked all day without my shirt and now I'm red as a lobster.

Friday, June 11, 1948

We started digging a foundation for a new dance hall. The ground is sloped, so we have to dig quite a bit to lay out an even base.

Cilka baked cookies and a potica for my upcoming birthday and for the upcoming confirmation ceremony for our young people.

Saturday, June 12, 1948

Papal delegate Dr. Jagodic arrived in the camp today to a nice welcome. He will be performing confirmations for our young people tomorrow.

Our friend Marjan Kocmur, the photographer,

also arrived and stayed in our room overnight. He will be taking pictures of the confirmations and of camp life in general. As we have done before, I agreed to buy his pictures and then re-sell them in the camp. Kocmur said I could keep 10% for myself.

In the evening, a group of refugees sang songs outside the building where Dr. Jagodic is staying.

Sunday, June 13, 1948

Today was my 41st birthday. Only Cilka and some of the other women noticed.

We went to Mass at 7 a.m. and again at 9. At the second Mass, Dr. Jagodic confirmed 30 youngsters. Kocmur pushed past 3 other photographers to make sure he got the best pictures.

Cilka was the sponsor for Irena Primozic. She gave her 25 Schillings, a prayer book, a rosary, cookies and some cake. (See also 6/23/46)

After the confirmation, we had a wonderful banquet, including soup with meat in the soup, potatoes, roast chicken and lettuce.

Dr. Jagodic left at 3 p.m., Kocmur at 9.

Monday, June 14, 1948

I went to see the doctor because I was feeling sharp pains in my ribs. Dr. Antonov said I have inflamed muscles. He ordered me to lie face down on a bed. Then they brought in something that looked like a saddle with lots of electric lights. They put that on my back, and then blankets on top of that. Soon I felt like I was being cooked. I sweated and that seemed to help. Dr. Antonov gave me permission to skip camp work for two days.

Dr. Antonov mentioned that he is treating two refugees with penicillin for syphilis. If this were known in the camp, it would be a huge scandal.

I received letters from Cene, Mire and Franc in Canada and replied immediately.

I received approval from the camp administration for us to have an electric "hot plate" in our room.

Wednesday, June 16, 1948

The Chilean consulate accepted 100 Slovenians and about 400 Croatians and Ukrainians for immigration, including our friends Karl Erznoznik and Rudolf Primozic.

Dr. Antonov approved two more days of sick time for me. I am using some of this time to write letters to my father and sister in Slovenia.

Friday, June 18, 1948

After 4 days, I started doing camp work again. I'm still too weak to lift a sledgehammer, so I've been stringing fencing wire and peeling bark off logs so we can use them as fenceposts.

This evening we had a rainstorm with hail and thunder.

Monday, June 21, 1948

I received a 6-pound package of photos from Kocmur, altogether 685 pictures, for which I owe him 3,031 Schillings. They're all very well done. I went around the camp this evening and sold 1,000 Schillings worth.

Tuesday, June 22, 1948

Ristic, a Serb in our camp who is also a photographer, came to look at Kocmur's photos this morning. I wasn't there, so he talked with Cilka. He said he is the only one with permission to sell photos in our camp. He asked Cilka to give him Kocmur's photos, but Cilka refused.

Ristic returned this evening - with a police officer. The officer wanted me to turn over all the photos and pay a percentage of their value to the camp administration. I refused and we almost got into a fistfight. Instead we went to see McKeon to help us settle the matter. Ristic said he was the only one with permission to sell photos in our camp. Kocmur had permission to take photos for the newspapers, but according to Ristic, not to sell them in the camp.

After some debate, McKeon decided that Kocmur and I were not at fault, the problem was with the camp administrator who allowed Kocmur to take photos. I should tell Kocmur that, in the future, he will have to pay a percentage of all sales to the camp administration. "How much," I asked. "Let's talk about that tomorrow," McKeon replied.

Wednesday, June 23, 1948

McKeon told me to forget about the whole affair with Ristic.

Thursday, June 24, 1948

My co-worker Janez Levicar was appointed to a paid position in the camp administration. Frank Lorber had that job before him, but Lorber quit and went to a job in the woods because he became so frustrated trying to work with the British. I congratulated Levicar with the words "My sincere sympathies! I don't think you will like this work." He disagreed.

Another co-worker, Ivan Fradl, and I met with McKeon, who said our pay for camp work will have to be reduced to 120 Schillings a month. I argued with him, saying this was not enough to stay alive. He said I could quit and he will find 9 other people to take over my job. He called in 9 Ukrainians and offered them the job, but 4 of them said they won't work in the camp. One went so far as to say he would rather find an unpaid job outside the camp. One of them said he would take the job, but only until he leaves for Chile.

Rudolf Primozic had to go to Gradec (Graz) for an operation on one eye. They are concerned that his illness may spread to his healthy eye. This will probably delay his plans to emigrate to Chile.

Friday, June 25, 1948

Ristic still contends that I am selling illegal photos for Kocmur. I was asked to attend a meeting today with Ristic and camp leadership, including Ozeg and Levicar. We agreed that Kocmur should pay Ristic 10% of the value of 200 photos, or about 90 Schillings. I agreed to write to Kocmur.

In the afternoon, Fradl and I pounded 40 fenceposts.

Saturday, June 26, 1948

I worked in the basement under the kitchen sorting through 30 - 40,000 pounds of potatoes. Many of them had gone bad and the stench was awful.

Sunday, June 27, 1948

Today was a nice day. I sold some of Kocmur's photos. Cilka and I went for a walk in the woods.

Monday, June 28, 1948

Another group of refugees left for Canada this morning, including Karel Albiani, Pušelj and Ozeg.

Since I worked on Saturday, I thought I wouldn't have to work today. But McKeon got angry and ordered us to work. Fradl and I pounded another 30 fenceposts. After we were done, McKeon congratulated us and said we could take off tomorrow (the holy day of St. Peter).

Tuesday, June 29, 1948

We went to Mass at 8 a.m. Then we heard an announcement on the loudspeakers calling everyone to their jobs, and saying that anyone who did not report by 9:30 would face a fine of 50 Schillings. Angrily, I put on my work clothes, but when I saw that nobody else was going to work, I decided to stay in my room. I wrote letters to my mother and sister and put together a package for my brother Joze.

Svenšek went around the camp, collecting donations for a farewell gift for the major, our camp director. Most people refused to give anything, some gave 1, 2 or 3 Schillings. I gave 3 Schillings and asked the major to return the lace that I had loaned him for display in his office. I know the British, and I know I'll never get that lace back unless I get it from the major before he leaves.

Wednesday, June 30, 1948

We buried rotten potatoes near the creek.

Primozic returned from the hospital without his left eye.

I received a letter with 2 Canadian dollars from my brother-in-law Mire, which is a sign that he is doing well in Canada.

Friday, July 2, 1948

I received a telegram from Kocmur, asking me to meet him at the train station in Leoben tomorrow morning. I asked McKeon for time off from my job and he refused, saying "The major is not paying you to travel around."

Saturday, July 3, 1948

I couldn't find anyone to meet Kocmur at the train station.

Monday, July 5, 1948

I painted fenceposts with lime all day, but rain washed it all away.

This evening, we had a farewell ceremony for our departing camp director, Major Leadbetter, and a welcome for the new director, Major Pak. There was a nice dinner and then a dance. Of course, I didn't go to the dance. (I'm not a dancer.)

Tuesday, July 6, 1948

I helped pour concrete all day for the new hall. The work could have been done by 4 men, but 12 of us were assigned to the job. I was bored!

Wednesday, July 7, 1948

It was too rainy to work, so I went to the market. I met a person who is going to Canada. I sold him 3 Canadian dollars for 35 Schillings and 2 pieces of lace for 180 Schillings.

Thursday, July 8, 1948

160 people left for Canada today, most of them Germans who had been moved to Yugoslavia during the war.

Friday, July 9, 1948

Engineer Kirschner promised me a job with the loggers in the woods.

Ristic is still complaining about me selling Kocmur's photos. Levicar ordered me to work it out with Ristic.

Saturday, July 10, 1948

I continued to sell photos, but since Ristic is a Serb, the Serbs and Croatians are siding with Ristic and refusing to buy from me.

I wrote letters to Mire, Mlinar, Silva and Kocmur.

Sunday, July 11, 1948

Today it rained in the camp, and snowed up in the mountains. Cilka and I went out in the woods and found 11 mushrooms. For dinner we had polenta and mushrooms.

Monday, July 12, 1948

I asked Kirschner when I could begin the logging job. He replied that McKeon won't allow it. I went to McKeon, who said I can go. I went back to Kirschner, who said he had already hired someone else. I protested, so Kirschner went to McKeon. Kirschner returned, "McKeon says I can't take you because you're a bad worker." I explained to Kirschner that I think McKeon is biased against me, but that didn't do any good.

300 new refugees arrived from Kapfenberg, mostly Ukrainians. Everyone has to make room in their barracks for more people. A married couple moved into our barracks.

Tuesday, July 13, 1948

I refused to go to my camp job today. McKeon asked Fradl why I wasn't at work.

Wednesday, July 14, 1948

This morning I moved some firewood from barracks 60 to 64 and laid down stones for the path to the outhouse. McKeon asked me if I was back to my camp job. "No," I replied.

In the evening, I found 6 mushrooms and some strawberries in the woods. Zupan and Cebašek are advising me to get a job with Hittaler (road and railroad construction), or with the British in Leoben.

Thursday, July 15, 1948

At 6 a.m. I went to Mass for my brother Vlado's name day. At 7:30 I took the bus to Leoben to look for a job. The British are not hiring, but Hittaler said he would hire me if I could bring a recommendation from the government work office. I went there, but the line was so long I would have missed my bus back. On the way back, I bought some things for my family in Slovenia and a little baby outfit. Cilka's pregnancy is going well and I expect we will soon have a little son or daughter.

Fradl told me McKeon let another worker go because he wasn't willing to work for 120 Schillings a month.

Friday, July 16, 1948

Silva sent us more than 4 pounds of cherries. Cilka loves fruits and vegetables and was very happy to get the cherries.

I try to please Cilka whenever I can; I often go out to the fields to pick dandelions so she can make salads. As I think about the upcoming dangers of childbirth, I love her more than ever.

Am I pleased that we will have a baby? No! How will I support it? I have nothing to give it. But I will do my best to make sure that Cilka and the baby will at least have food and clothing. If God gives us good health, we will manage. After all, we have been completely dependent on God, and on people's good will, these past 3 years.

Saturday, July 17, 1948

I received our first letter from Vinko Krzišnik in Canada. He says the journey across the ocean was awful. Now he has a job in a factory in Victoriaville, Quebec. He makes only $24 a week. He p