THE STORY OF MY TIMESBy MIKLOS N. SZILAGYI

(With Zoltan C. Szilagyi)

Copyright © 2007 by Miklos N. Szilagyi

I cannot tell this to anyone; therefore, I will tell it to everyone.- Frigyes Karinthy

Volume Two:In the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

4. World War II Breaks Out

So we moved to Budapest. My grandfather rented an apartment in the 6th

District of the city, at Lövölde Square #3. This was a solidly built old house, builtin 1848. It had four stories. Our apartment #10 was on the third floor: four roomsfacing the square and an additional room at the back. We paid a rent of 1,600pengő per year to the owner of the house, Dr. Róbert Róth, an urologist fromBrassó, who lived just above us, on the top floor. He was an old man who livedwith his wife and daughter. His wife had a heart disease and - according to thosedays‘ medical practice – spent almost all her time in bed. Their daughter, Magda,was a not so young but joyful woman. The good doctor died at the ripe age of100 a long time ago, but his name-plate was removed from the wall of the housejust recently.

The location of Lövölde Square

Lövölde Square #3

There were four apartments on each floor. I remember many of theiroccupants. On the top floor the other tenants were Mr. Raáb, a merchant, withhis family and Mr. László Tanos, a teacher, with his wife. Our immediateneighbors were Mr. and Mrs. Henrik Pórász. Below us lived the Steiner family.Mr. Steiner was an antique dealer. His daughter, Zsuzsanna, was a universitystudent. Mr. Dános lived alone. He was a very nice man who became a friend ofmy grandfather but he was homosexual. The Bulyovszky family also lived on thesecond floor. They had a ten-year-old son.

On the first floor, Gizella Ullmann, an old spinster lived alone. There wasalso Mária, a fleshy German dame with her henpecked Jewish husband. Theyhad a little dog and Mária frequently sent her husband to walk the dog while herlovers visited her.

The most important tenants were the doorman of the house and his wifewho opened the gate if someone came home after 10 PM. They were very proudof their son who was an ensign in the Army.

There were two shops in the house: a small dairy shop owned andmanaged by the Kunitzer sisters and Mór Hollós‘s photo studio. Mr. Hollós was ajovial old man, approximately the same age as Dr. Róth.

There was a taxi station right in front of the house with a telephone. Whensomeone called for a taxi, the driver manually started the engine. Otherwise,there were few cars on the streets. Horse-drawn carriages were still the mainmeans of carrying freight to the shops. I admired the enormous backsides of themuraközi-brand horses used for transportation.

Ice-chests were used for keeping food in them. Ice was carried in bigcarriages. The iceman shouted loudly to inform anyone about his arrival: “Jeges,jeges, jeges!“ There were other shouting men on the street, too. Itinerant Slovaktinkers offered their services: “Drótoznyi, fótoznyi!“ Second-hand dealersshouted: “Ószeres, szeres, szeres! Használt ruhát, mindent veszek!“ (Junkdealer! I buy used clothes and everything else!)

Lövölde Square is at the intersection of five streets. When I looked out ofthe window, on my left I saw the beautiful Queen Vilma Alle leading to the CityPark and named after Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands who helpedHungarian children after World War I. The Alle continued on the other side of theSquare as Király Street where there was a famous operetta theater. Tram # 10ran there. Cafe Kairó was on the corner of the square and Király Street. A youngman by the name of László Kazal was singing there. After the liberation hebecame very popular. I will list many of his songs later.

Felsőerdősor Street joined the square right at our house. Tram # 46 ranthere with great noice. (“A 46-os sárga villamoson kalauz az anyósom…”) On theother side of the square was Rottenbiller Street that continued in Szív Street.

The largest room of the apartment was used as the dining room. In thesecond largest, my parents lived with me. My two uncles lived in the third room,my grandpa in the fourth. We had a domestic servant girl who lived in thebackside room.

I did not like the apartment. I was missing the garden and was angry thatthe doorhandles were too highly placed and I was not yet tall enough to reachthem. It was interesting that we could make the apartment dark by folding thewindow-shutters.

The apartment was heated by coal and wood in tile stoves. There was acopper stove in the bathroom. When someone needed a bath, we had to burncoal in the stove. My grandfather bought coal and wood at the Railroad Companyand we stored them in the cellar. I loved the peculiar smell of the cellar, but didnot know that soon I would be forced to smell it almost every night.

Although the apartment was clean and freshly painted, we suffered a lot atnights from bedbugs. Twice a year, we had to leave the apartment for a day. Aspecial service came in, they sealed all doors and windows, and destroyed thebedbugs by fumigating the apartment with cyanide (the same method was usedlater in Auschwitz for the destruction of human life). The bedbugs were all killedbut they soon came back and continued to torture us until the next fumigation.

There was a child day care facility in Szív Street for children of the agebetween three and six. They enrolled me there and so started my social life. Weplayed games and learned little songs like these:Boci, boci tarka,Se füle, se farka.Oda megyünk lakni,Ahol tejet kapni.

Nyuszi ül a fűben, ülve szundikálva.Nyuszi, talán beteg vagy, hogy már nem is ugorhatsz?Nyuszi hopp, nyuszi hopp,Máris egyet megfogott.

Elvesztettem zsebkendőmet, megver anyám érte.Annak, aki visszaadja, csókot adok érte.Szabad péntek, szabad szombat, szabad szappanozni.Szabad az én galambomnak egy pár csókot adni.

Egyszer volt egy kemence,Belebújt a kis Bence.Kormos volt a kemence,Fekete lett kis Bence.Ránézett a mamája,Nem ismert a fiára.Becsukta a kemencét,Jól elverte kis Bencét.

Sétálunk, sétálunk, egy kis dombra lecsücsülünk, csüccs!

Aki nem lép egyszerre,Nem kap rétest estére!

The child care facility. I am second from right in the second row.

We also found a primary care physician in Szív Street. His name was Dr.Béla Réz. He was a kind man who spoke in a strange way. His office was at hishome, a rather dark apartment. The waiting room was especially dark.

Once Aladár Weisshaus was temporarily ot of jail and he came to visitgrandpa. (We already met him in Chapter 6 of Volume 1). In the conservation hementioned Vienna by its Hungarian name, Bécs. I did not know this name andcorrected Weisshaus: “You probably wanted to say Pécs (the name of aHungarian city).“ I felt ashamed when I was reprimanded: “Uncle Weisshausspeaks Hungarian.“

At another time Laci Friedman came to visit with his fiancee. When theywere about to leave, my parents went with them to the door. I said rather loudly:“Don’t see them out because they may come back!“ I do not understand why Isaid that. I loved Laci as much as everyone in the family and was not a nastyboy, either.

I have another fond memory of Laci Friedman. He had been a doctor atthat time for several years. When I received a mechanical train with lots of rails,the two Lacis (my uncle and Friedman) set up the rails through the four rooms ofour apartment and started to play with the train like little children, lying on theirstomachs. I was not allowed to come close.

The Deutsch family were frequent visitors with us. Uncle Ödön thoughtthat it would be beneficial to his son, Gyuri, if he and I played together. Gyuri wasa very spoiled child. He called his maternal grandfather, Uncle Zsiga (Zsigmond)Csigabiga (a childish name for snale). When they walked on a street and passedby a toy store, Gyuri could point to a toy in the shopwindow and his father boughthim that toy instantly. He went as far as calling a shopowner on Sunday to comeand open the store because his son could not wait until Monday. As a result,Gyuri did not value any toy. He usually dismantled them shortly after he receivedthem. I was just the opposite. I cared for my toys very much and when Gyuricame to visit, I stood in front of my toy cabinet with extended arms and protectedmy toys from his intrusion. So, when they came, Gyuri shouted loudly: “Itt laknakaz irígyék!“ (Envious people live here!)

I was still a Hungarian boy

Otherwise, I liked to look at pictures in books and play with lead soldiers(they were very cheap at that time; today, they cost a fortune). I also started tolearn reading by myself. When I asked grandpa a question, he answered it, butnever tried to force me to learn anything. My favorite books were those byZsigmond Sebők about the travels of Mr. Bruin and his cubs. These booksoriginally belonged to my uncles when they were children and were wellpreserved. I also liked Oz, a csodák csodája (The Wizard of Oz), The Adventuresof Baron Münchhausen, and Csí by István Fekete (a friend of my father).

My father was a very likeable man and had many friends. Two of his bestfriends were Ferenc (Feri) Braun and Andor (Bandi) Várnai. Uncle Bandi was hiscolleague. He was a bachelor who ate regularly in a fast-food establishment on

Gyuri and I

Király Street called Halló Büfé (it still exists under a different name). I felt sorry forhim that he did not have a family.

I still lived in a family. My mama was an excellent cook. She was evenable to produce strudel all by herself. Even old ladies came over to watch as shestretched the dough over a big table. She also baked very tasty fritter-like pastry.My favorite dishes were lentil soup, wienerschnitzel, and plum dumplings. Therewas a cloth poster in the kitchen. It said: “Hamar készül itt az ebéd, váratlan isjöhet vendég!“ (Dinner is prepared fast here. Guests may arrive unannounced!)

Strudel is being prepared

Mother bought live chickens and fish on the market. I enjoyed to watch thefish swim in the bathtub but was frightened when mother hit their heads withheavy weights to kill them. Sometimes we received live carp in the mail fromŐcsény. They put bread with brandy in the mouth of the poor fish and it arrivedalive. Grandpa was the only member of the family who was able to kill chickens. Iwas horrified to see how they flew around in the kitchen with bloody necks.

My father cared about his mother. We brought money to grandma everyweekend. She lived in # 10 Nefelejcs Street with Miklós, Manci, and Béla. Miklóswas gravely ill, Manci could not work because of her arthritis. Only Béla had ajob. Grandma always offered me bread and drippings as a refreshment. Thetaste of the white lard is still in my mouth. We also had a firkin at home wherelard was held and sometimes pieces of meat were “frozen“ in the lard.

Once we went to visit my paternal grandfather who lived with his wife,Aunt Emma. They offered us apples with wrinkled skin, then we sat down in frontof the stove. My grandfather shouted out: “Umberuffen, hogy megnőtt ez agyerek!“ (Exceptional, how much this child has grown! The first word is inGerman or Yiddish). This is my only memory of my Szilágyi grandfather. (It isinteresting to compare my grandfathers: one played an extraordinary role in mylife, the other payed no attention to me at all.)

We were not religious but had a mezuzah at the door to the apartment andobserved the important Jewish holidays. On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur wewent to the synagogue of the Boy Orphanage situated in Queen Vilma Alle. I

learned that Yom Kippur was a very solemn day. We all fasted on this day andprayed all day very diligently. We celebrated Passover and Hanukkah at home.My mother prepared a Seder dinner according to the traditions and I asked mygrandfather in Hebrew: “Ma nishtano halaylo haze mikol halaylos?“ (What makesthis evening different from all other evenings?) On Hanukkah, we lit the menorahand sang the song “Mo aus tzur yeshuosi.“

I also looked forward to December 6, the day of Mikulás (Santa Claus)that happened to be my nameday, too. I put my shoes on a window and foundsome gifts in them next morning together with chocolate and a birch to remindme that I had to be a good boy.

Sometimes they took me to Margit Island, a beautiful large park protectedfrom poor people by a substantial entrance fee. “Uncle Oszkár,“ a white-hairedwriter of children’s books told his tales and we listened with enjoyment. It wasalso possible to buy ovomaltine (a tasty drink resembling cocoa but quitedifferent from it) in small glass containers. I liked it very much.

Uncle Oszkár in action Ovomaltine is fresh strength and better health

I was a sickly child infected by almost all childhood diseases: measles,chicken-pox, whooping cough. Scarlat fever waited until 1940.

New movies appeared in 1939. Fűszer és csemege (Grocery andDelicatessen) and Halálos tavasz (Deadly Spring) are still being enjoyed today.Pál Jávor and Katalin Karády played the leading roles in Halálos tavasz. Themovie was a great hit. It was about a man who loved two women at the sametime and was unable to choose between them. Of course, it was restricted toadults only. My parents went to see the movie and took me with them. I have noidea why and how I was admitted. This was my first time in a movie theater. Iremember this movie very vividly. The idea of two women at the same time had adeep impression on me. This song from the movie is still popular in Hungary:

Ez lett a veszted, mind a kettőnk veszte,E csillagos mély, forró május este.

Jávor Pál, Karády Katalin, and Somlay Artúr in Halálos tavasz

Once my grandpa had to do something in Mátyásföld and took me withhim. Mother gave me some bread and jam. While we waited for the city train inCinkota, I started to eat. A dirty boy appeared from nowhere and he was lookingat me with hungry eyes. I gave him what was left from my snack. I wasastonished by the way he was stuffing himself with the bread. I did not know thenthat five years later I would be much-much more hungry than that unfortunateboy was then.

As Komárom was no longer a foreign city, my grandmother decided to visither sister, Aunt Katica and her family. The Szilágyi family took a train to the citythis side of the Danube and then walked through the bridge to Komárom. Iremember the Hungarian flags that were everywhere on the bridge. This was myfirst trip “abroad.“ We have never seen Aunt Katica and her husband again. Theywere murdered in Auschwitz.

The Komárom bridge is being opened by troops

Tamás (Tomi) Tabák was born on March 17. Her mother, Aunt Irén,proudly declared to my mother, that she had now three kids because “egy gyereknem gyerek“ (one child is not a child). I cannot possibly imagine how could anastute man like Hermann Tabák not see the situation and create a new life inthose times (fortunately, Tomi has survived those times together with hissiblings).

I remember many posters on the streets of Budapest. One said: “Mondja,Marha, miért oly bús? Olcsóbb a ponty, mint a hús!“ (Tell me, Ox, why are you sosad? Because carp is cheaper than beef!)

Hansom cab in front of the Western Railroad Station in Budapest

Odol mouthwash Haladjon Ön is a korral,süssön Váncza sütőporral!

(Keep up with the times and use Váncza baking powder!)

I also remember the Telefonhírmondó ("Newsteller by phone"), whichused the phone network to broadcast news. It was established in 1893, butcontinued to function even after the establishment of the Hungarian Radiobecause of the high cost of the early radio sets. The first cheap radios appearedin 1939 and they gradually led to the disappearance of this service.

And, of course, the songs:

Váci utcán, Váci utcán, hogyha egyszer végigmész…

Nagyságos asszonyom…

Száznak hazudtam, egy nekem hazudott,Annak az egynek a bolondja vagyok.

Szép hely, jó hely Teherán,De ott is teher ám a feleség!

Vártam, reménytelenül vártam én Terád,Vártam reménytelenül ezt az éjszakát.Vártam, nem volt az életemben más remény.Kérlek, ne haragudj, tovább nem várok én.

Csak egy nap a világ,Csak egyetlenegy csók az életünk.Ki tudja, mi vár ránk,Ki tudja, holnap mire ébredünk?Ma nevet rám az ég,Ma csókra hív a szád, a két karod,Ma szívem a Tiéd,Mit bánom én a fájó holnapot!Add nékem ezt az éjszakát,És én az életem adom!Csak addig éljek, ne tovább,Amíg a szádat csókolom.Csak egy nap a világ,Csak egyetlenegy csók az életünk.Ki tudja, mi vár ránk,Ki tudja, holnap mire ébredünk?

Lehet könny nélkül sírni, ha fáj a szív,Csak a fájdalmat titkolni kell.Lehet bármit megírni, ha fáj a szív,De a címzetthez ne küldjük el!Miért tudja meg, aki csak játszik velünk?Miért tudja meg azt, hogy mi úgy szenvedünk?Lehet könny nélkül sírni, ha fáj a szív,Csak a fájdalmat titkolni kell.

Most amikor minden virág nyílik,Orgonától a kis gólyahírig,Mikor vége van a fagyos télnek,Amikor a fecskék visszatérnek,Mikor a természet újra éled,Valahára boldog leszek véled!Megölelném az egész világot,Néked adnám mind-mind a virágot.

Bokrétát kötöttem mezei virágból.Küldeném is, nem is, messze-messze távol.Nagy sötét hegyen túl, fényes úri házba,

Aranyos kehelybe, szép lány asztalára.Nézek, nézek az én tarka bokrétámra,Jobb lesz neked itthon kis üveg pohárba’.Hervadj el, epedj el szép ibolyám kelyhe,Mezei virágnak kunyhóban a helye.

Tele van a város akácfavirággal,Akácfavirágnak édes illatával.Bolyongok alattuk ébren álmodozva,Mintha mindegyik akácfa nékem virágozna.Ó, hol van az álmom, mit alattuk szőttem?S az a világ, ami akkor állt előttem?Hová lettél, hová, ábrándok világa?Te maradtál csak egyedül, akácfa virága.

Szervusz te vén kujon, köszönt a Hold,Ilyen jó cimborám még sosem volt.Mi ketten sűlve-főve együtt vagyunk,Hajnalig kimaradunk,Te hű barát.

A papír előttem, s a toll a kezembe'És semmi, de semmi sem jut az eszembe,Mert hazudnom kéne és hazudni fáj,De sajnos, oly hatalmas úr a "muszáj".Ha túl lesz az első kiábránduláson,Olvassa el újból e pár sor írásom.Majd megbocsát nékem, sőt el is feled,Oh, míly szép lett volna, de jaj nem lehet! Bözsi, ne sírjon, Bözsikém drága, feledjen el!Ilyen az élet, Bözsikém édes, feledni kell!Maga a legszebb emlék életembe'A neve könnyeket csal két szemembe!Bözsi, ne sírjon, Bözsikém drága, feledjen el! Mert szívem, én nem vagyok méltó magához,Jobb, ha ma megírom, mint holnap, ha átkoz.Mert magácska, mint a hó oly fehér,S én könnyelmű vagyok, meg léha, ledér.És nem tudok szeretni hűséggel, lágyan,Mert rózsáról-rózsára kerget a vágyam.Csak kerüljön el inkább engem, ha lát,Én jobb sorsra méltónak tartom magát. Bözsi, ne sírjon, Bözsikém drága, feledjen el!Ilyen az élet, Bözsikém édes, feledni kell!Maga a legszebb emlék életembe'A neve könnyeket csal két szemembe!Bözsi, ne sírjon, Bözsikém drága, feledjen el!

Hogy mondjam meg Néked, mennyire szeretlek?Az egész világon kivel üzenjem meg?Megüzenjem-e a víg dalos madárral?Elsuhanó felhők szellő sugalmával?Vagy az eső cseppje őszi éjszakákon,Az vigye meg a hírt, hogy csak Érted élek,Te légy a halálom!Hogy mondjam meg Néked, mennyire kívánlak?

El kéne dalolni az egész világnak!Az egész világon hadd tudják meg Rólad,Hogy Te milyen szép vagy, hogy Te milyen jó vagy!Hogy a szidásod is símogatón édes,Akkor sem feledlek, ha a szíved egyszer mégis a másé lesz.

Many of the songs I remember from 1939 were performed by the verypopular singer, Pál Kalmár:

Vannak egészen furcsa dolgok,Például mikor az ember boldog,S valami a szíve mélyén mégis úgy fáj.Vannak egészen furcsa percek,Az ember azt hiszi: király, vagy herceg,S a szíve mégis egy szerény kis szobába' jár.

A Duna felett dalol a szél,Eldúdol egy bús nótát,Melyben a múlt emléke él.Zokog a szívem, valami fáj,Én se vagyok boldog már,Rám is csak az ősz búja vár!Hol az a színes álom, hol az a remény,Mely boldogított nyáron és tavasz idején?Hova repült el a vágy,S a vágy tüzével az ifjúság?Vissza sose tér, közeleg a tél,Már a hegyekre lehull a hó,Nincs sehol vigalom, csak bús jajszó!Nincs szerelem, nincs ki velemÁlmodozna még, borús köröttem az ég.A Duna felett dalol a szél,Mennyi titkos csókrólÉs mennyi szerelemről mesél.Add ide a kezed, kicsi babám,Egy utolsó csókkal mégElbúcsúzunk csendesenegymástól örökre tán.Isten veled Édes!Isten veled Édes!

Az nem lehet, hogy engem elfelejtsen,Könnyet se ejtsen értem soha.Az nem lehet, hogy minden véget érjen,S már ne kísérjem titkon haza.Az nem lehet, hogy új tavasz kinyíljonÉs így símuljon máshoz Maga.Az nem lehet, hogy engem elfelejtsen,Könnyet se ejtsen értem soha.

Én mindig csak adtam, de kapni sose kaptam, én úr voltam,A pénzzel sose spóroltam és könnyű szívvel csókoltam.Én mindig csak adtam és koldusabb maradtam a koldusnál.Az ember mindig rosszul jár, ha szívet ad és szívet vár.Én ott hibáztam mindent el, hogy egyre tettem mindent fel,

Egy lapra, hogy szeretsz, s Te játszottál a szívemmel.Én mindig csak adtam, de kapni sose kaptam, én úr voltamÉs könnyű szívvel csókoltam, csak boldog nem voltam.

Songs from movies:

Szép divat a szerelem,Én szívesen viselemIdebenn, dobogó szívemen!Régi divat, az igaz:Ősidőktől ugyanaz,Mégis új, mégis úgy szeretem!

- From “Egy dunaparti randevu”

Nem tudom, az életemet hol rontottam én el,Gyógyitgatom a szívemet a cigányzenével.Elhúzatom halkan csendben,Hogy ebbe a szerelembe bele lehet halni,Ne hagyjál a legszebb nyárban engem elhervadni.

- From “Kölcsönkért kastély“

Balalajka sír az éjben, benne sír a bánatom.Míg a Volga zúg a mélyben, Rólad álmodom.Bús, magányos éjszakákon azt se sejtem, merre jársz,Ám a percet egyre várom, melyben rám találsz.Az nem lehet, hogy két szerelmes szív hiába vár!A boldogságra várni kell, de egyszer ránk talál! - From “Toprini nász“

Álmaimban valahol már jöttél felém,Álmaimban valahol már vártalak én.Szálltunk a boldogság kéklő vizén,Velence tündéri alkony tüzén.Álmaimban valahol már imádtalak,Álmaimban valahol úgy kívántalak.Meghalok érted, a szívem úgy fáj,Mert nem szeretek senkit már. - From “Tóparti látomás“

Egy kis itóka, ha bennem van… - From “Egy bolond százat csinál“

And songs from operettas, like these:

Ma Önről álmondtam megint, bocsánat, asszonyom,De nincsen abban semmi bűn, hogy Önről álmodom.Fehér selyemben jött felém a csókok éjjelén,Rám mosolygott könnyedén, s oly boldog voltam én.Rózsa virult az ágon, csók tűze gyúlt a számon,Arca pirult, hozzám simult, s a rózsa kint lehullt.Ma Önről álmondtam megint, bocsánat, asszonyom,Mert szeretem nagyon, mert szeretem nagyon.

My golden baby, my beautiful baby,My darling, my sweetheart, my song is for you.Te vagy my sunshine, my beautiful baby,Szívem csak for you!My golden baby, my beautiful baby,My darling, my sweetheart, légy Te velem jó!

There is a song from the operetta Hamburgi menyasszony (Bride formHamburg) written by Zsigmond Vincze and Ernő Kulinyi. It was a favorite of theincreasing irredentist movement in Hungary and is still popular today.Nevertheless, Kulinyi was murdered in Mauthausen and the Arrow Cross regimebanned the song because both authors happened to be Jewish. Here it is:

Hol szőke sellő, lenge szellő játszik a Tiszán,Ott él egy nép, legendák népe, ott az én hazám.Az ősi Kárpát őrzi álmát, hű Csaba vezér,Ki csillagoknak égi útján vissza-visszatér.Szép vagy, gyönyörű vagy Magyarország,Gyönyörűbb, mint a nagyvilág.Ha zeng a zeneszó, látom ragyogó, szép orcád.Táltos paripánkon odaszállunk,Hazahív fű, fa, lomb, s virág.Úgy sír a hegedű, vár egy gyönyörű szép ország.

Hungary, you are beautiful and wonderful!

On January 6, Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann published a paper thatwas a report about the accomplishment of nuclear fission in Germany. On August2, Einstein wrote a letter to Roosevelt about the feasibility of the atomic bomb.

On January 30, Hitler spoke in the Reichstag: “If Jewish financiers againsucceed in plunging the nations into a world war, the result will be theannihilation of the Jewish race in Europe.”

On February 21, all Jewish valuables were confiscated in Germany.On March 2, Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli was elected Pope Pius XII.On March 15, Czechoslovakia disappeared from the map of Europe. In

blatant violation of the Munich Pact, Hitler occupied Czechoslovakia and created

the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The western powers did nothing tostop him. Slovakia became an “independent country” under Jozef Tiso who wasa lackey of Hitler. The same day, Hungary invaded Carpatho-Ukraine (EasternSlovakia).

The Spanish Civil War ended on March 28 as Madrid fell to Franco’stroops.

On April 7, Italy occupied Albania.On May 3, Stalin replaced Maxim Litvinov, his Jewish Commissar for

Foreign Affairs, with Vyacheslav Molotov.

Happy New Year from Russia A ticket to the “Death Boat”

On May 15, a women’s concentration camp opened in Ravensbrück.The same day, the Nazis allowed 900 Jews to leave Germany on the

ocean liner St. Louis, later renamed “Death Boat.” After 35 days of aimlesscruising, the ship had to return to Europe because no country on the AmericanContinent agreed to take the refugees. Roosevelt instructed the Coast Guard toprevent any passenger from landing in the US even if they should have jumpedship.

On May 17, the British Government issued the White Paper restrictingJewish immigration to Palestine. In America, even a legislation to grant entry to10,000 refugee children died in congressional committees. Nevertheless, some78,000 Jews managed to leave Germany in 1939. Most of them went to otherEuropean countries occupied later by German troops. Therefore, they could onlypostpone their fate.

On May 22, Hitler and Mussolini signed the Pact of Steel.On July 30, Chamberlain wrote “Jews aren’t a lovable people; I don’t care

about them myself.”According to an 1939 poll, 53% of Americans felt that social and economic

restrictions should have been imposed on Jews. 83% of them opposed theadmission of Jewish refugees to the US.

Some Americans also hated Jews

On August 23, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed in Moscow. Thepact divided Poland among Germany and the Soviet Union.

Molotov signing the Pact Ribbentrop, Stalin, and Molotov

On August 27, ration cards were issued to German Jews restricting themto 200-300 calories per day.

September 1: World War II started when Hitler invaded Poland. Hebehaved himself as a six-year-old boy stamping his feet over a new toy.However, the world started to take him seriously. Accordingly, on September 3,Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. The war later extended tothe Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria) fightingagainst the Allies (Great Britain, France, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, USA,

USSR, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, China, Greece, Poland, SouthAfrica, Yugoslavia) all over the world.

Hitler speaks about Poland His love, Eva Braun He is in Poland

France had an overwhelming advantage over Germany because most ofthe German Army was occupied in Poland. Nevertheless, the French politiciansdid nothing. The French army was idly sitting behind the Maginot Line under strictorders not to provoke the enemy.

On September 17, Soviet troops invaded Eastern Poland. CharlesLindbergh argued that Stalin was as much a threat to the world as Hitler.

On September 20, Jews had to surrender their radio sets in Germany.On September 21, the Iron Guard murdered the Prime Minister of

Romania.On September 27, German troops occupied Warsaw. The next day,

Poland was partitioned between Germany and the Soviet Union. Ten percent ofPoland’s population (3.3 million people) were Jewish. Two million of these peoplebecame under German domination.

On October 8, the concentration of Polish Jews in ghettos started.Deportation of Jews from Austria and Moravia to Poland began on October 12.On November 23, Polish Jews were ordered to wear a Star of David wheneverappearing in public. On December 5, everything was taken away from PolishJews.

Uncle Hitler with children A Jewish boy selling A Polish boy yellow stars

The removal of the Polish border and its consequence

The treatment of Polish Jews

In October, an “euthanasia” program started in Germany. Physically ormentally disabled Germans were put to death in gas chambers. The “success” ofthis program gave some ideas to the “final solution of the Jewish question.”

SS men were ordered to impregnate their wives and act as “conceptionassistants” to childless women. The Nazis established medals for those motherswho produced lots of children for Germany. Five children brought them a bronzemedal, seven – a silver, and nine – a gold.

On November 30, the Russo-Finnish War began. The Soviet Union wasexpelled from the League of Nations.

All this had no influence on America. Roosevelt repeatedly emphasizedthe neutrality of US. While even the Versailles Treaty allowed 100,000 soldiers tothe defeated Germany, the US Armed Forces had 135,000 troops equipped sobadly that they could hardly beat Romania in a possible war.

On April 30, the World Fair opened in New York. Germany did notparticipate but the Soviet Union did. The Fair was dedicated to “Building theWorld of Tomorrow.”

John Steinbeck published TheGrapes of Wrath, Henry Miller TheTropic of Capricorn. The movies TheWizard of Oz and Gone with the Windpremiered in 1939.

America was not yet influenced by the war

In Hungary, Imrédy formed the right-wing Magyar Élet Mozgalom(Hungarian Life Movement). Hungary joined the Anti-Komintern Pact in January.A bomb exploded in the Dohány Synagogue on February 3.

On February 16, “the Jew” Imrédy was replaced with Count Pál Teleki asPrime Minister.

Hitler and his friend, Horthy

Permit to use a Irredentist meeting Our God is a stronghold Bicycle

Hungary in 1939 We let her go with tears and will take her back with blood

“Magyar for Magyar.“ Stamps from 1939.

Can it remain so? NO! NO! NEVER!

On March 11, Munkaszolgálat (Labor Service) was established to enlistJews for construction and fortification work for the Hungarian armed forces. Wewill see later the role of this Service in destroying thousands of Jews includingmy father and uncle. The Levente service was also established that made itmandatory for every boy over 12 to participate in regular military training.

The infamous Nyilaskeresztes Párt – Hungarista Mozgalom (Arrow CrossParty – Hungarist Movement) was formed on March 15 after all of Szálasi’sprevious parties had been outlawed. Szálasi was still in prison but his party wasquite popular. It received 21 % of the popular vote in the parliamentary electionsof 1939 and became one of the major parties in Hungary. They had 49 seats inthe Parliament as opposed to as few as 5 Social Democrats. They also startedmarching on the streets of Budapest.

The Arrow Cross Party is well represented by its posters:

More than ever..! Scandal! Jews finance the Hungarist newspaper “Magyarság!”

Shame on you! You were We’ll win with this Brother! shopping again at a Jew! sign if Szálasi leads us The Arrow Cross Party

(the Fortress) is waiting for you!

Perseverance! The arrow cross and their flag with Árpád-stripes.

Szálasi and his chief brothers Emblems of the predecessors of the Arrow Cross party

Stalin: slave state. Szálasi: work state. Either we destroy or will be Make your selection! destroyed! Perseverance!

Their newspapers: Tomorrow, Arrow Cross, Hungary

Beat the Jew! They salute the prison where Szálasi is being held

Hungary followed Germany by leaving the League of Nations in April.On May 5, the Second Jewish Law was passed. It limited Jewish

participation in the Hungarian intellectual life to six percent. Jews could no longerwork in government, No Jew could be a high-school teacher. No industrial ortrade permit could be issued to Jews. As an immediate consequence, Laci wasforcefully retired from the Credit Bank with a 50 pengő per month pension in1939, at the age of 28. (They did not simply kick him out because eleven years ofbank service qualified him for a pension.)

Laci started a new career as one of Ödön’s furrier apprentices. When hebecame a journeyman, he earned twice as much as when he had been a bankclerk. He did not stop there but learned the trade of fur cutter, too, and soon hewas able to create much better fur coats than any of his fellow journeymen. Healso became an expert in ladies’ fox collars. (It was fashionable to wear a red,blue, or silver fox around female necks at that time.) The price of a Persian lambcoat was around 1600 pengő (eight months’ salary of a well-paid civil servant).Laci’s coats were better, nicer, and also cheaper (1000-1100 pengő).

Gyuri became an apprentice cabinet-maker.

Grandfather and his two sons, Laci and Gyuri in 1939

Gyuri‘s report card from the Contract between my grandfather and apprentice training school Gyuri’s employer

Laci could still vote at the election of 1939, but his request for a certain documentwas denied by the later butcher of the Hungarian Jews, “vitéz“ Endre László

After the occupation of Poland by the Nazis, many Polish Jews soughtrefuge in Hungary. These people were the first to be deported in 1944 becauseeveryone had to prove that his predecessors had lived in Hungary as far back as1851. My grandfather knew it well that this was only the first step. Later on,nobody looked at these documents: the Nazis murdered most of my relatives inAuschwitz anyway.