Manfréd Fabián

"It was probably an order from the army that we had to leave home. It was terrible. We called it Stalin's organ. So the katyusha... the way it flew... it was always whistling. Also at night. And they took it place by place. Everything in our village was burned down. There wasn’t a single house that wasn’t damaged. There wasn’t a single barn that wasn’t burned. Everything was destroyed."

"We received a paper telling us to get ready and a date would be announced when a car would come and take us to Opava. In Opava at the eastern station, there, as there is a loading area, there were wagons ready for removal." - "And how did you prepare for that?" - "It was cruel. I don't remember that because... The suitcase... I can't imagine it today. Because seven kids. I'm the oldest. The youngest a few months, and now you're going into the unknown. How will you be greeted there? What will you do there?" - "Were you prepared for this at home? Have you prepared any things?" - "We had our suitcases and they were ready. Seven families had already left before us and now the next transport was going to go. Seven families from Oldrišov who had already left. They were displaced in Germany. I remember that. Then there was an order, whoever wanted to go, could go. Mr. Urbanský from the municipal office came to tell us. That it was discussed in the council of the national committee. Even though we already had the papers that we were going on the removal, that if we didn't want to go, we didn't have to go. Whoever wants to, can stay."