An innocent family trip became lifelong “curse” in cadre file
Cyril Ďurica was born in 1931 in the village Staré, East Slovakia. He was 6 years old when he became a half orphan as his mother died. Cyril studied locksmithing at the secondary school. During his studies he befriended a schoolmate Ďurkota and before joining compulsory military service, they decided to go for a trip to Czechoslovak border with Germany, where Ďurkota‘s brother lived and worked on building the Lipno Dam. During the train journey they were stopped due to suspicion of fleeing from Czechoslovakia. Following month they were detained in police custody for questioning in Prešov. After the month they were ordered to join Auxiliary Technical Battalions. After serving there two years, Cyril experienced difficulties getting a job because of his past. In the end, thanks to his hardworking attitude, he was employed in ZPA Dukla Prešov (Krížik) - Industrial Automation Works. He designed many inventions, but never received any financial reward. After the disappointment of being detained and held in custody he never had an interest in politics and devoted his life to work. He worked in ZPA from 1954 until his retirement. He is happily married and lives in Prešov.