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

May 24, 2004

Life in the Refugee Camps

1949

By Anton Zakelj, translated and edited by John Zakelj

Introduction

(Translator's comments:) As we began 1949, we were in the Trofaiach Displaced Persons (D.P.) Camp, located near the city of Leoben, Austria, about 50 miles southwest of Vienna. The camp was under the auspices of the International Refugee Organization (IRO). At this point, it may be useful for the reader to know more about the IRO and the situation in Europe at that time. The following interesting article is from Miff Crommelin in Vancouver, British Columbia. Miff's father, Edward Crommelin, worked for the IRO and the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) from 1945 to 1952. This article is from the Stars and Stripes News sometime in 1950:

More than 750,000 people today are becoming established in new homes in 80 countries throughout the world, thanks to history's most outstanding example of international peace-time cooperation - the United Nations' specialized agency, the International Refugee Organization.

Although World War II demonstrated the ability of many nations to band together against a mutual enemy, the IRO has best illustrated their capacity to cooperate smoothly in peacetime, without the stimulus of a common threat to their individual security.

The work of the IRO in the three years since it was started has produced hundreds of administrative, operational, social, financial, political and diplomatic problems. All have been settled by negotiation, conference and compromise within the organization to the satisfaction of all nations involved, and to the permanent benefit of more than 1,000,000 persons uprooted and displaced by the last war and the political upheaval that followed it.

From our standpoint as refugees, things didn't work quite as smoothly as the description in the Stars and Stripes article. Nevertheless, throughout 1948 and 1949, we were finally beginning to see resolution of the uncertain and dangerous situation that so many of us had been in since the Communists took over our homeland in 1945.

Saturday, January 1, 1949, in the Trofaiach D.P. (Displaced Persons ) Camp near Leoben, Austria

The Trofaiach D.P. Camp is located about a half hour's walk from the market ("trg") in Trofaiach. During World War I, this was the site of a gunpowder factory for the Austrian Army. When Austria (and Germany) lost that war, the machinery for manufacturing the gunpowder was apportioned among the new countries that were formed after the war. All the buildings were destroyed and only the foundations remained. During World War II, the Germans built barracks on this site for their Ostarbeiter, workers whom they had forcibly relocated from Eastern Europe (mostly Ukrainians). On this site, the Germans also built a crematorium to burn the bodies of workers who died.

(In 1986, my son and I visited Trofaiach. At first, we had a hard time finding the site of the D.P. Camp because nobody could remember it. Finally, when we asked about the old gunpowder factory, people remembered the location. When we arrived there, we found that a youth camp had been built on the site of the former D.P. Camp.)

Today, January 1, 1949, we're taking turns praying in the chapel to make sure we always have someone praying 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Last night, I didn't sleep well because I was worried I would miss my turn at 3:30 a.m. I finally fell asleep and then woke a few minutes late. I prayed in the chapel from 3:35 to 4:30 a.m., 30 minutes longer than planned to make up for being late. We are praying for a new home where we will be safe and free.

About 5 inches of snow fell last night. At 8 a.m., I went to Mass. At 2 p.m., we had a special New Year's dinner: soup, potatoes, pork, cider and a little red wine. I bought a bottle of red wine yesterday for 21 Schillings.

Baby Janko is 4 and a half months old and weighs 16 pounds. Our friends' daughter Jolanda is 15 months old and weighs only 17 pounds due to her health problems.

Sunday, January 2, 1949

At 11 a.m., the Slovenians in the camp were supposed to elect new representatives to participate in the camp administration, but nobody came. I was asked to replace Gutovnik, who will be leaving for Argentina, but I refused, and nobody else wants to run. Camp administration is thankless work, always full of controversy . And, with so many people leaving regularly for other countries, it's hard to maintain any continuity.

Monday, January 3, 1949

About 300 refugees left for Argentina this morning, including about 70 Slovenians; among them were Rot, Mejac, Svenšek, Kovac, Gutovnik, Primozic, Košir, Mocnik, Cukjati, Meden, Zlatar, Fradl, Fišer, and Est with their families and some students from Gradec (Graz). Not one of them is glad to be going to Argentina. They wish they could go back home to Slovenia - but not to slavery, suffering and death.

I canceled my subscription to the "Morning News." Reading the "Morning News" has helped me learn to be a fluent reader of English and even a decent writer.

Tuesday, January 4, 1949

After 15 months, the doctor is no longer prescribing milk for my ulcers, which means that I must be healthy now.

I sent a 20 pound package to my brother Joze in Slovenia, where basic necessities are still very hard to get. I received letters from my sister Mici and my father. Cilka got a letter from her friend Ivanka Zakomeli.

I bought a new suit from Spreitzer for 470 Schillings.

Wednesday, January 5, 1949

I began studying Spanish, in case we will go to Argentina.

This evening, the men were working, so only the women participated in the traditional procession and blessing of homes on the evening before the holy day of the Three Kings.

Thursday, January 6, 1949

We went to Mass at 7 a.m. Rev. Malavašic says the holy day of the Blessed Three Kings is one of the most important holy days, but it's not recognized here in Austria. We didn't have any special food today - for lunch we had sauerkraut and a piece of bread, for supper we had peas.

Friday, January 7, 1949

I received a 30 pound package of food from Mlinar, worth 220 Schillings. My friend Karl had said he would pay for the food from Mlinar, but now he can't afford it.

Saturday, January 8, 1949

I have started doing camp work again. Today I shoveled coal - very tiring work.

Sunday, January 9, 1949

I wrote a letter to Dr. Krek, asking his help in finding Karl's uncle in America.

Monday, January 10, 1949

Last night, at 12:30 a.m., they took Angela Filipic to the Leoben hospital to give birth. She had been complaining of pain for some time, and she has been long overdue.

In the evening, I attended Spanish class. It went well!

Tuesday, January 11, 1949

Angela Filipic died in the Leoben hospital last night at 11 during childbirth, but her baby, a boy, survived. Her husband Marjan was here in the camp, waiting anxiously for news about the birth, but the hospital didn't send word until 1 p.m. today. A nurse arrived with the news 10 minutes after Marjan had left to go to the hospital. So he got the news when he arrived there. He returned to the camp at 5 p.m., in complete despair.

This tragedy has shaken me deeply. What if this had happened to Cilka? I would feel responsible for her death for the rest of my life.

Wednesday, January 12, 1949

Marjan stayed in our room till 11:30 last night. After that, I couldn't sleep all night.

At 8 a.m., Marjan and I took the bus to Leoben. In the hospital, we saw his dead wife - on the dissection table. We picked up her things and then went to the government offices to arrange for the transport and burial of her body, but we weren't able to accomplish anything because the necessary papers weren't signed yet. We returned to the camp at 10 a.m., and took the train back to Leoben at 2 p.m., but still could not make any arrangements. The doctor who had examined Angela's body had left without signing the papers. When we returned to the camp, we saw Mr. Šepin (Angela's uncle), who had just arrived from Celovec (Klagenfurt) with his two daughters.

This evening, Štrukelj began a collection to pay for the transport and burial.

Thursday, January 13, 1949

Marjan and the Šepin family went back to Leoben to arrange for transportation of Angela's body back to Trofaiach. After paying a driver 200 Schillings, they returned with her body before noon. Štrukelj and I went around the camp all day, asking for contributions. We collected 498 Schillings. I cried frequently; no other tragedy has shaken me as much as this one.

This afternoon, I went to the Health Commission for a required exam. Dr. Meršol is one of the three IRO doctors. They decided I am not healthy enough for hard physical labor, but good enough for skilled labor and for emigration.

In the evening, there was an announcement over the camp's loudspeaker that the funeral would be at 3:30 tomorrow.

Friday, January 14, 1949

Marjan Filipic and Toncka Šepin brought his baby boy from Leoben around noon today. He was immediately baptized and christened Andrej. During the afternoon, he slept in our room, and people came to look at him.

At 3:30 p.m., Angela's body was buried in the Trofaiach cemetery next to the chapel, in the presence of a large number of Slovenians and others. Marjan's farewell to his wife was deeply moving.

At 8:30 p.m., the Šepin family returned to Celovec with Marjan and his 4-day old baby Andrej. Marjan will return here next Monday.

Saturday, January 15, 1949

This morning, I cut firewood with Karl. In the afternoon, I looked for others to help with the camp work.

Sunday, January 16, 1949

A heavy snowstorm blew all night. I got up twice to close doors and windows which the wind had blown open. Our entryway is full of snow.

The Spreitzer family left for Holland today. Mr. Spreitzer is originally from there. He had married a Slovenian woman; they were living and working in Slovenia when the war ended, and wound up as refugees with the rest of us. As Mrs. Spreitzer was leaving, she gave us some kitchen supplies and thanked us for teaching her how to make bobbin lace.

Monday, January 17, 1949

Marjan returned from Celovec.

Today is my father's 70th birthday. I wish I could be with him at home in Slovenia.

Friday, January 21, 1949

Gross tried to fix my radio, but couldn't because our electricity kept going out. The transformer for the camp overloads and shuts down frequently.

Saturday, January 22, 1949

Another snowstorm last night and all day today. Marjan returned to Celovec to see his baby and his wife's relatives.

Sunday, January 23, 1949

Engineer Karlin and Mr. Lorber, who work in the camp administration, offered me the job of assistant Quartiersmacher (quartermaster) with a monthly salary of 250 Schillings, beginning February 1. If I were healthier, I would seek better-paying work elsewhere , but I feel I have to take this job.

Monday, January 24, 1949

Cilka and I were vaccinated against typhus today. Almost all children under 18 are being vaccinated against tuberculosis, but they have not included our 5-month old baby Janko as yet.

Tuesday, January 25, 1949

Tomaz Pivk sent me an accordion which my brother Joze had left with him. Karl says it's worth more than 500 Schillings.

Wednesday, January 26, 1949

The camp gives us points which we can exchange for goods in the camp store. I exchanged about a month's worth of points for a pair of galoshes, a shirt and socks.

Thursday, January 27, 1949

There will be no further emigration to Argentina for the time being. The IRO is trying to force the Jesenko family to emigrate to Brazil.

This evening, I went to an English class. We had a contest between two groups, and my group won 16 to 14. I was the best in our group, maybe because I got easy questions.

Friday, January 28, 1949

Our friends' 15-month old daughter Jolanda is beginning to walk.

Saturday, January 29, 1949

Cilka's sister Manica writes from Slovenia that my sister Julka might come visit us. We also received a letter from Helen, a friend who went to Argentina. She says they are doing well, but are having problems because they don't know Spanish. She also writes that they have had some success in selling bobbin lace for borders on curtains and tablecloths, but they can't find any buyers for larger, more expensive pieces. (We had been hoping that, wherever we go, we could get some income by making and selling bobbin lace.)

Sunday, January 30, 1949

Nice day. Cilka and I went for a walk in the woods on the nearby hillside.

Monday, January 31, 1949

We received our second vaccinations against typhus. Another snowstorm outside.

I asked engineer Karlin about the job I was promised. He said the major (the camp commander) hired a Russian, but Karlin is not happy with him. He will arrange for me to get the job, but it won't begin February 1 as we had expected.

February 1949

Tuesday, February 1, 1949

This evening, we met with Frank Lorber, who explained the possibilities of emigration to Canada, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. He recommends emigrating anywhere, the sooner the better.

Wednesday, February 2, 1949

We went to Mass this morning in celebration of Candlemas, the feast day of St. Blase.

This evening I went to English class from 7 - 8, and Spanish class from 8 - 9.

Thursday, February 3, 1949

I took my turn praying in the chapel from 11 p.m. to midnight. The chapel was very cold. Outside it's - 4F.

Saturday, February 5, 1949

We each received a loaf of white bread, for the first time in a long time. For lunch, we usually get cabbage, peas, polenta or barley porridge with beans.

Sunday, February 6, 1949

I wrote to the national bank for permission to send my brother's accordion back to him in Slovenia. I also took care of business correspondence for a number of friends and relatives. I have become like a "clearinghouse."

Tuesday, February 8, 1949

Jernej Zupan thinks I should write to Dr. Krek and ask him to help us emigrate to the United States.

Thursday, February 10, 1949

I received my first ration card for milk in 40 days. The doctor prescribed milk for my ulcers again, but the card lay in the clinic for the past 10 days.

Friday, February 11, 1949

We received 200 pounds of coal for our barracks.

The national bank denied my request for permission to send my brother's accordion back to him in Slovenia.

Saturday, February 12, 1949

After three weeks of repair, I finally received my radio back, but it still doesn't work right.

Monday, February 14, 1949

We received a letter from our brother-in-law Mire in Canada. He says he was sick and had to spend all his savings. Now he's working in a factory. He has not been able to sell a single piece of the bobbin lace we had sent him. We had hoped this might be a source of income for us.

I was the only one at Spanish class this evening. Since Argentina is not accepting applications, nobody wants to learn Spanish.

Cilka was informed she will not be receiving extra food rations any longer, since our baby Janko is now 6 months old.

The following families received approval to emigrate to Canada: Hribar, Zorc, Levicar and Zonta.

Tuesday, February 15, 1949

There were 12 people at English class this evening. I was still the only one at Spanish. Our teachers are very demanding.

Wednesday, February 16, 1949

For the first time, our baby Janko said, "Ata, teta."

We received two packages from our friend Paulin in New York. The packages included food, which we are very happy to use here, especially lard; and old clothes, which I send on to our relatives in Slovenia, and which they are very happy to receive. The packages also included 3 Reader's Digests, which I enjoy reading and which helps me practice my English.

Friday, February 18, 1949

We received a letter from our friend Vinko in Canada. He sent one dollar for our baby Janko and one dollar for our friends' little girl Jolanda.

237 people left the camp for Brazil today. There were no acquaintances in this group.

Saturday, February 19, 1949

I bought an American dollar for 36 Schillings. Later, I sold the same dollar for 40 Schillings.

Monday, February 21, 1949

We received firewood for the month of March. I gave some of our coal to Miller in exchange for more firewood.

Thursday, February 24, 1949

33 people left for Canada today, including Mimi Albiani and her children.

The New Zealand immigration commission visited our camp.

Friday, February 25, 1949

The group that was planning to emigrate to Canada (Levicar, Zorc and Zonta) has been told they cannot leave because Levicar can't get approval from the Field Secret Service. They were supposed to go meet with the Canadian immigration commission in Gradec today, but received word to not come.

American agents have been in the camp for the past 2 days interviewing the Gosar and Zupan families.

A number of camp jobs have opened up due to people leaving. Franc Zupan is the new quartermaster and Adolf Kokelj is working on finances in the camp administration. I haven't asked again about a job for myself.

Sunday, February 27, 1949

I wrote letters to friends and relatives all day.

For Sunday lunch, we had cabbage and potatoes in the camp dining room, followed by soup with meat and dumplings in our room. The camp food doesn't even provide enough energy for a person to die, so we have to supplement it with our own cooking. Despite the shortages, people in the camp are healthier than rich people outside the camp.

Monday, February 28, 1949

More than 200 people left the camp for Australia.

March 1949

Tuesday, March 1, 1949

Fat Tuesday. We celebrated in our room with a meaty soup, cookies, rolls and a bottle of wine. Despite all this, I was in a bad mood. I'm worried - where will we go? What will become of us?

At English class in the evening, there were only 6 of us; and at Spanish class, three.

Thursday, March 3, 1949

I meant to visit the camp's work office, but instead I mistakenly stepped into the office of the Yugoslav repatriation commission. I saw the Yugoslav representative, but didn't talk with him. Other refugees have been stopping in to argue with him about relatives back in Slovenia who were murdered by the government.

Friday, March 4, 1949

I took a 15 pound package to the post office for my brother Joze in Slovenia. The package included a pair of boots, a thermos bottle and an electric cooker.

Tuesday, March 8, 1949

More than 30 people left for Canada, among them the Hribar family, heading for Alberta.

Wednesday, March 9, 1949

I received letters from my father in Slovenia and from Mrs. Edwards in Tasmania, Australia. Last year, she somehow heard about our needs in the refugee camp and so she sent us some food. I wrote back, thanking her. She replied by sending a nice wool blanket for our baby, and we have exchanged a couple letters since then.

Sunday, March 13, 1949

I wrote back to my father in Slovenia, and to Rudl Primozic (who left our camp for Argentina two months ago).

Monday, March 14, 1949

I received letters from my mother and from my sister-in-law in Slovenia.

At the camp store, I exchanged 80 points for clothes, mostly for our baby Janko.

Miss Lili asked Cilka to teach her how to make bobbin lace. Miss Lili is a secretary in the camp offices. She is a refugee herself, a "Volksdeutscher" (a Native German who had moved to Slovenia during the war).

A new doctor examined Janko in the camp clinic. He recommended giving him Vigatol and lots of fresh air to prevent rickets. Janko weighs 19 pounds.

This afternoon, I was at the IRO offices with Seliškar, translating for his application to emigrate to America.

Our Spanish teacher is so demanding that I cannot keep up.

Sunday, March 20, 1949

I wrote letters to my mother, my sister, and to a friend who had emigrated to Canada.

Wednesday, March 23, 1949

At 7 a.m., I took the train to Leoben to buy things that my brother Joze needs in Slovenia.

Thursday, March 24, 1949

This morning I split firewood. Cilka now thinks I should take a job in the camp offices so I wouldn't do so much physical labor. Earlier she had been opposed because she was worried I would be blamed whenever things went wrong.

Friday, March 25, 1949

I received another food package from my friend Paulin in New York, worth about 100 Schillings. These packages really help.

Sunday, March 27, 1949

I wrote a reply to Mrs. Edwards in Australia. I sent her 33 stamps and a lace collar. The postage was 11 Schillings!

Monday, March 28, 1949

I drew patterns for slippers for Cilka and Janko.

Tuesday, March 29, 1949

We used a Linguaphone (a machine like a record player) for the first time in our Spanish and English classes this evening. I can't keep up with the teacher!

Thursday, March 31, 1949

I made slippers for Cilka and Janko.

April 1949

Friday, April 1, 1949

Sun and snow today. This morning I went shopping for our families in Slovenia. This afternoon, I put together a package for Cilka's family.

Saturday, April 2, 1949

This evening, we began spiritual exercises; we prayed till 11:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 3, 1949

We picked some dandelion leaves near the camp clinic.

Monday, April 4, 1949

For the first time in this camp, I was attacked by bedbugs. As a result, I slept poorly last night.

We have a new English teacher who seems better than the one we had.

Tuesday, April 5, 1949

I have bedbug bites all over me. Lice stay away from me, but bedbugs seem to really like me. This afternoon, I sprinkled DDT powder.

Thursday, April 7, 1949

It's a year since we arrived in this camp.

Reberšak promised me I could become a camp policeman whenever one of them leaves for America.

Saturday, April 9, 1949

J. Zupan says I should take over his mail carrier job when he leaves for America. The job has no official pay, but he's making 300 Schillings a month from tips.

Tuesday, April 12, 1949

I sent our friend Silva 80 cigarettes to thank her for the food she's been sending us. The camp continues to provide us with cigarette rations, which I don't need.

I sent Mihelic the remaining Kocmur photos from last summer. Last June, Kocmur sent me 685 copies of photos he had taken in the camp. We had hoped I could sell them to the other refugees at a profit, but I have not been able to sell them all, and have actually lost money. The ones that are left are mostly of Croatians. The Croatians in the camp preferred to buy from a Croatian photographer.

Thursday, April 14, 1949

Our friend Silva sent us ration cards which will allow us to buy some meat.

Our baby Janko is beginning to walk if we hold his hand. He made one first step by himself and stopped when he realized there was nobody holding on to him.

Friday, April 15, 1949

This Sunday will be Easter. Cilka baked a potica for the Jesenko family, two for us and three for the Erznoznik family.

We received Easter cards from my sister Julka, Cilka's sister Julka, and letters from my mother and from Cilka's brother Rupert and sister Manica.

Saturday, April 16, 1949

At 4 p.m., we went to the camp chapel for the traditional Easter blessing of food. Then we had a wonderful dinner: potica, klobase, horseradish and tea.

At 6:30 p.m., we had a solemn procession through the camp. I helped carry the baldachin which covered the priest carrying the Eucharist. The Croatians sang poorly, our Slovenian singers sounded much better.

Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949

At 9 a.m., we attended Easter Mass. The camp chapel was packed, and the singing was glorious.

At noon, the camp provided soup with macaroni, potatoes and pork. Even though we were grateful to get some meat in our soup, it was a disappointing meal for Easter. Back in our room, Cilka prepared some potatoes and chicken. I bought a bottle of wine and we had a more appropriate Easter celebration.

We had our first picture taken with our baby Janko, who is now 8 months old.

Tuesday, April 19, 1949

We received two dollars from our friend Pavle Kokelj in Canada. That means he is doing well.

Thursday, April 21, 1949

This morning, we listened to the major speaking about emigration. He recommended Australia, Brazil, Canada, Venezuela and the United States. This was my first time in our beautiful new movie theater.

This evening, the staff reviewed each person's plans for emigration. They are threatening to evict us from the camp if we refuse to make plans for emigration, or if we are too picky about where we want to go.

In the camp store, I exchanged some of our points for a coat, shirt, underwear, soap and shampoo.

Saturday, April 23, 1949

I spent my last Schilling to buy some meat.

Sunday, April 24, 1949

A beautiful day. We took our boy for a walk in the nearby woods; we saw a deer and a rabbit.

Monday, April 25, 1949

216 people left our camp for Australia.

Tuesday, April 26, 1949

I wrote letters to friends. Sold 100 cigarettes for 20 Schillings. Those cigarette rations really help us get by.

Wednesday, April 27, 1949

430 "campers" left for Australia.

I am attending two Spanish classes in case we have to go to a Spanish-speaking country.

Thursday, April 28, 1949

For the second time this week, I was awakened by swelling in my eyelids. I don't feel good.

Dr. Klaus gave me 30 Schillings each for my two dollars.

May 1949

Sunday, May 1, 1949

I gave Jeric a pack of Lucky Strikes to fix my radio.

Monday, May 2, 1949

The IRO offices will move to Kapfenberg, but we will stay here.

Wednesday, May 4, 1949

This evening, we attended another meeting in the camp hall regarding emigration. For most people, the IRO officials are recommending emigration to Australia. For us, they recommend getting an "affidavit" from our brother-in-law Mire in Canada, or from someone we know in Argentina. Right now, due to my illness, they can't force me to move.

Mr. Povirk asked the Australian representative if they have cows and churches in Australia.

Friday, May 6, 1949

Mr. Jesenko was called to meet with the IRO staff. They demanded that he decide between Australia and Brazil. He said he would rather go to Argentina.

Saturday, May 7, 1949

This afternoon, we planted lettuce (for the first time) and red beets.

Sunday, May 8, 1949

The first group left for New Zealand today - 50 people, among them 3 Slovenians and a number of Ukrainians (including Strihacenko and engineer Pahonov). The train went off the tracks in the Trofaiach station soon after everyone got on board. They had to move everybody into trucks and transport them to Leoben, where they boarded another train.

Tuesday, May 10, 1949

We took our son Janko to the clinic for an exam. He weighs 21 pounds. The doctor recommended lots of fresh air and Vigantol D (Vitamin D). I am taking Janko for walks in the nearby woods almost every day. The other day, we saw a beautiful little fawn with spots.

I talked with the farmer who usually sells us milk. He agreed to lower his price from 2.50 to 2 Schillings per liter. This will save me 6 Schillings a month.

Wednesday, May 11, 1949

Snow and rain today. I was called to meet with the IRO staff to discuss emigration to Argentina.

Thursday, May 12, 1949

Again I was called to meet with the IRO staff. I gave them the address of my friend Ceferin, who emigrated there last November. They said they will write to him.

Saturday, May 14, 1949

My friend Karl bought his wife Mici a watch for 467 Schillings.

Monday, May 16, 1949

Jernej Zupan is sick with the mumps, so he asked me if I could go get the mail for him and distribute it to everyone in the camp. I ran around doing that from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In the evening, I read my English essay "My Home Village" to the class. The teacher corrected only a couple words.

In the evening, Erznoznik, Jesenko and I applied to emigrate to South Carolina to work on the tobacco plantations.

Tuesday, May 17, 1949

I distributed the mail from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. I ride around on a bike, but it causes my heart to pound.

Wednesday, May 18, 1949

Each day, I'm getting the mail distributed 15 minutes quicker.

Saturday, May 21, 1949

Today, we had rain so I had to walk instead of bike when I went into town to get the mail.

Monday, May 23, 1949

Tone Seliškar, the Gosar family, and the Zupan family went to the American consulate in Gradec (Graz) and were accepted for immigration to the United States. Okorn and some others were not accepted.

I agreed to take over Zupan's job as mail carrier after he leaves for America.

[Editor's note] To help you understand the situation, the following are excerpts from Mark Wyman's book, "DPs, Europe's Displaced Persons, 1945-1951."

There was initially little hope that America would take in many DPs. President Trumans early moves brought in 40,000 DPs in less than three years, as regular immigrants, but it is noteworthy that Truman did not propose to go beyond existing immigration laws in 1945 and 1946.

Wheels were starting to turn, however, slowly and painfully. More and more Americans began to realize that Europes refugee problems could not end without massive immigration into the United States. The other possible solutions--large-scale repatriation or assimilation into overcrowded Germany--were finally seen to be impossible. A Citizens Committee on Displaced Persons (CCDP) was created in the fall of 1946. ... The CCDP launched a nationwide campaign to convince the public that DPs would not take jobs or homes from Americans, that they were neither collaborators nor Communists, and that only a small proportion were Jews, contrary to widespread belief.

The fight in Congress was bitter, and opponents delayed the DP bills passage until the spring of 1948 using "all the parliamentary tactics of stall, evasion, confusion and deception," according to one scholar. At the same time that President Truman signed the compromise measure on 25 June 1948, he attacked it for combining the worst features of the Senate and House bills resulting in "a pattern of discrimination and intolerance wholly inconsistent with the American sense of justice." Truman said he was signing it, despite its negative features, to allow resettlement to proceed for the 200,000 DPs authorized to enter over the next two years ...

...An elaborate system of recruitment was worked out quickly, known in the U.S. Displaced Persons Commission as "the pipeline." It carried DP applicants through twenty-two steps, ranging from medical and skills checks to an FBI investigation and a search among records of the Nazis' Berlin Document Center. ... The crucial feature of the American program was the "assurance," a promise from an American sponsor that a specific DP would be provided housing for his family and employment. (This was a moral, not a legal, obligation.) Assurances were mainly collected by voluntary agencies, then approved by the DP Commission in Washington ...

Time spent in the "pipeline" ran from three months to more than twelve months, depending on the nature of medical problems (such as old TB scars) or collaboration charges. ...

The chance to move thousands of refugees to America shifted voluntary agencies' operations into high gear ... The organizations pleaded, scrounged and advertised to locate sponsors in the United States. Churches were especially active ...Catholics had a DP resettlement committee in each diocese, usually working with ethnic organizations. ...

Friday, May 27, 1949

This evening, Zupan and I collected 160 Schillings in tips for distributing mail in the Slovenian section of the camp and in the transit section (for people passing through).

Saturday, May 28, 1949

I collected only 10 Schillings for delivering mail to the Croatian barracks.

The Chilean commission accepted only 38 people out of 360 applicants (for emigration to Chile).

Sunday, May 29, 1949

I sold newspapers in the camp, including "Sunday," "God's Love," "The Carinthian Chronicle," and "Steierblatt." People tell me I might be able to make 70 Schillings a month selling newspapers.

This morning, we attended the blessing of the new scout flag.

This afternoon, we went for a walk in the woods. Our son Janko really likes these walks and pays attention to every detail; he notices birds or squirrels quicker than I do.

Monday, May 30, 1949

At 9 a.m., our first large group left for America, including Tone Seliškar, the Jernej Zupan family (5 people), the Gosar family (3 people), Korencan and others, altogether 26 people. I gave Zupan 80 Schillings, some bobbin lace and some postal coupons to write to us when they get to America.

They say that none of the camp staff (including many of our fellow refugees) will be paid for the month of May, or in the future. People are very upset and refusing to work.

The camp food is the worst in 3 years: nothing but coffee in the morning, bean soup or polenta for lunch, and coffee or inedible soup for dinner. Is this how they will force us to leave?

June 1949

Wednesday, June 1, 1949

New people are working in the camp kitchen to replace the people who refused to work due to lack of pay, but the food is still just as watery. At least they're finally giving me some white bread again, after not getting any for some weeks.

I've caught a bad cold, probably from riding the bike when I get the mail. I get hot and sweaty, and then I get the chills.

The Brazilian commission accepted only 35 families.

Friday, June 3, 1949

My friend Ceferin writes from Argentina that he has arranged an apartment for us. We can move in around July 1.

32 people received an invitation to come to the American consulate in Gradec (Graz).

I went to a store in Trofaiach and bought some food which we will cook in our room, including 40 pounds of potatoes, 5 eggs, some oil and some grits. I also received a supplemental ration from the camp warehouse: some bread, polenta and a little meat.

Saturday, June 4, 1949

Most of the camp staff are still striking, but I'm distributing mail as usual.

Monday, June 6, 1949

Franc Zupan received a letter from Dr. Basaj which says that John and Mary Brezic have agreed to be our sponsors in America! They are an older couple who want us to help them on their farm in Wisconsin, and maybe someday take over their farm.

So now we have a choice: we can go to either America or Argentina. Everyone is congratulating us about our prospects for America, but I'm still wondering if Argentina might be a better choice. Maybe it will be easier to sell our bobbin lace in Argentina. What if I could get easier work in Argentina? I've always been interested in farming, but I hear that farming in America is much more advanced than it is here. What if it will be too complicated for me? And I think I'm probably too slow and too honest for America. But Cilka is worried that the heat in Argentina will be too hard for her lungs (some years ago, she had a tuberculosis-like infection).

Tuesday, June 7, 1949

Levicar is teasing me about becoming an American farmer. People think we will soon become owners of a farm. I know it won't be like that.

Wednesday, June 8, 1949

Of the 30 of us who applied to go to America, all have been accepted.

Thursday, June 9, 1949

This morning, I took the train to Leoben and went shopping for sandals and a raincoat which I could use when I ride my bike to get the mail. Nobody had what I needed.

A large group left for Brazil today.

Friday, June 10, 1949

Some of the refugees in the camp were raising pigs for food. The pigs were all slaughtered today, I think because of hoof and mouth disease.

Saturday, June 11, 1949

I was a witness today for the marriage of Štefan Zorc and Joza Zaleznik. I distributed the mail as usual, but became very tired.

Sunday, June 12, 1949

I went around to some of the barracks and collected 40 Schillings in tips for distributing mail.

Monday, June 13, 1949

I'm 42 years old today. We went to Mass at 6:30. Cilka made me a cake for my birthday and gave me a kiss (we don't do that very often).

There was new snow up on the mountains.

Radulovi (a Croatian and fellow refugee) took our pictures for new ID cards.

Tuesday, June 14, 1949

The photos didn't turn out, so we needed to retake them.

This evening, people were singing outside our barracks.

Wednesday, June 15, 1949

At 10 a.m., 58 people left in trucks for Leoben, and from there on trains to a ship for America. Among them were Joze Staric, Franc Zupan, Franc Škulj, the Okorn family, and Povirk.

The Australian commission will stay here for a week. In two days, they have already accepted many applications.

This afternoon, I brought some saplings which we will use tomorrow as decorations for the procession.

Thursday, June 16, 1949

At 9 a.m., we went to Mass and then we all participated in the traditional procession for the holy day of Corpus Christi. Despite the bad weather and shortage of singers, it was beautiful. Even the Hungarians participated - under the leadership of Rev. Atila.

Saturday, June 18, 1949

I bought new sandals for 57 Schillings and a bottle of wine for 20 Schillings. On the way to town, my bicycle broke down, so I had to walk.

Monday, June 20, 1949

I brought a backpack full of packages from the post office and distributed them in the camp, but nobody gave me any tips today.

Thursday, June 23, 1949

This evening, many people made bonfires up on the hills, as we usually did at home on this date, the last day of spring. (Bonfires on this day are a tradition with many people, but for Slovenians, they are referred to as "Kres" and they commemorate a time hundreds of years ago when Slovenians used large bonfires on hilltops to warn neighboring villages about the arrival of attacking Turks.)

Friday, June 24, 1949

Our friend Karl Erznoznik received a letter and documents to fill out from the National Catholic Welfare Conference (N.C.W.C) for emigration to America. He feels very fortunate.

Dr. Maksimoff examined us to see if we are healthy enough for emigration. He recommended an operation for my varicose veins. He said my eyesight is good. I did not try to cover up my problems with ulcers. They took blood samples and injected some vaccine. They also did X-rays and wanted some urine samples, but neither Cilka nor I could produce any.

Saturday, June 25, 1949

Cilka still does some leather-sewing for Copi, a nearby shoemaker. He sold me new soles so I could fix my own shoes, and charged me only 7 Schillings (in the store, I would have paid 22).

Sunday, June 26, 1949

I went walking in the woods this afternoon with Cilka and Janko. Janko ate wild strawberries with great pleasure.

Monday, June 27, 1949

We received a telegram from our friend Silva, that she will come visit us next Wednesday.

Rev. Roman (Malavašic) made us extra copies of our birth and wedding certificates. We have been waiting for emigration papers from the N.C.W.C. for 3 weeks now. Other people who do not have a sponsor like we do have already received their papers.

Wednesday, June 29, 1949

I got the mail distribution done by 11:15, and then newspapers by noon. In the afternoon, I took the train to Leoben to meet our friend Silva. She brought two suitcases full of wonderful things for us: potica, lard, cherries, pants for me, an outfit for Janko, and a dress for Cilka.

For the entire month, I received 355 Schillings in tips for delivering mail. Although the job has no official pay, the tips add up to more than I could make if I had one of the camp jobs. Mrs. Cerar gave me more than anyone else, in the hope that I would deliver her mail first.

Cilka and I continue to use our income as before: 1/3 for immediate expenses, 1/3 for our families in Slovenia, and 1/3 for savings. We use much of our savings to buy lace that people make in the camp, because we think we will be able to sell the lace wherever we go.

July 1949

Monday, July 4, 1949

At 1 p.m., we said farewell to the first refugees from our camp to leave for Chile. There were 216 people in the group, including Anton Tisel with his wife Martina and Jeric with his family.

Tuesday, July 5, 1949

Hundreds of new people arrived in our camp, all bound for Australia.

Wednesday, July 6, 1949

A large group - 542 people - left our camp today for Australia. There were many Slovenians among them, including Lakajnar, Soko and others.

Friday, July 8, 1949

This evening we went to a meeting in the Slovenian reading room. Rev. Malavašic had bad news for us. Very few of us will be allowed to go to America. Argentina will again begin accepting applications, but we don't know when.

We received a large gift of food and clothes from American Catholics. Rev. Malavašic and I were chosen to do the distribution.