Ján Goč

“Of course, we studied Marxism, the world doctrine. I couldn’t pass an exam in Marxism because they made me to fail it three times; they wanted to foil my education. There was a signal. I made some excerpts and tried to cram for that exam: Menshevik policy, Bolshevik policy, two policies of social democracy, democratic revolution… Then, about the conference and so on, someone said something somewhere at the congress... Finally, the mentioned man who examined me asked: “How many files does Lenin have?” “Thirty-two volumes.” “What is written in the twenty-ninth volume?” And I stared at him: “Are you crazy?” And he responded: “Just take those files home and study them.” “Thirty-two volumes!”

“On Sunday morning I looked, looked round because visitors were walking there but they didn’t permit visits; however, people in the distance waved to prisoners. It was a signal which prisoners were familiar with. It meant that some relatives would come to see them. “Doctor”, I ran up to him, “probably your wife and two daughters are there, girls, one about ten years old and the second one about twelve.” “Oh, boy, are you sure?” I grabbed him under his arms. I took him to the corner of the building and his daughter shouted: “Mammy, mammy, look daddy is there!” I held him there and I tried to be inconspicuous, we both didn't want to let them see his disfigured body. I stood the way they couldn’t see me. He cried and girls jumped for joy and hugged their mother. Can you imagine how I felt, what a joy it was to watch them? He was absolutely happy, waved them, and then we had to go back. So I also experienced events like this in the camp, too.”

“They sent that prisoner to clean the troop carrier. “Take the rag and clean it there because the belt is sliding. Clean it well mainly around the launcher!” As soon as he put his hand there (my cellmate told me because I didn’t witness it, he spoke about it and warned me), as he gave his hand there, they pushed the button, his hand blew off and he fell down on the ground. He bled to death. They went as far as to say that he caused his death because of his own carelessness. And then I paused for a while: What are they doing here? Killing people? Why? But then I recalled that they used to arrest people gratuitously. Because I reproached the Reds that they loaded Jews on the truck and then poacher turned gamekeeper? I just told the truth! So that’s why they wanted to take vengeance on me. Well, and maybe they would want to kill me here too... Well, I stayed in silence, though, and watched not only myself but others as well.”

“Why did they arrest the dean? Actually, he managed to unite the entire Marian congregation in the town of Stropkov. He was a really good preacher and likeable man, people appreciated him near and far, and it was clear that they had to get rid of him. So the two State Security members agreed on this: “You will go and confess to priest, and then I will ask him what you told him. And I will pretend being an anti-state rebel.” After all, their action was revealed. But at that time, the dean finished the confession and went to sacristy and the other State Security member followed him: “Excuse me, do you know that man?” “No, I don’t.” “Don’t lie to me,” he raised his voice. “What did he confess to?” “Sorry, I had to keep a confessional secret. I can’t reveal it.” “You are the same!” he said and immediately they arrested and accused him. They fabricated the accusation and took him into custody for cooperation with an anti-state organization.”

“Just imagine when I came back home after I had finished the military service. I was very sad because I saw my mother and sister crying. I said: “Mum, why are you crying?” “Oh, son, you were far away from us in South Bohemia, so we didn’t write you that your father is in nick.” “What? Our father was nicked? Our father, do-gooder, who used to help people so much, such an honest and brave person and he was arrested?!” “Son, they had already wanted to reap together, so they commanded a sowing plan, who, where and what should be seeded and do you know what father told them?” “Drunkards and idlers will never dictate me what I should do! I will seed what I want.” “Son, instead of rye he seeded wheat and this way he broke the sowing plan. Father was imprisoned. And now he is in nick.” “What? Our father was nicked...” Well, I had that black case, young and, you know, lively boy… I threw that piece of luggage on the floor and I almost destroyed it. Opposite our house there flowed a brook, I ran across the bridge straight to the Local National Committee (MNV), I grabbed the notary by the throat and told him: “Why did you arrest my father?” And he pointed at the former commander of the guard and said: “Mr. Goč, I had to do only what he directed me.” And I responded: “You brute! (I couldn’t say the Bolshevik one). You let three Jewish families load on a truck and then you arrested respectable people to cover up that filth!” I didn’t spit at him but on the floor and I left in anger.”

“Suddenly Simonis came and said: “Patrolman is coming! Watch out!” The priest quickly removed that book, just like nothing had happened. We sat down again, the mass was disrupted and Klorus said: “I have no children; I'm going to stop him!” “Janko, don’t do that! You would get in the scrap.” Simonis ran up to us and said: “The patrolman went away, he turned and went back.” “Now, Janko, you can see that the prayer is really powerful; also the holy mass needs to be finished!” And it was the truth; we finished the mass properly and felt happy, even though we stayed behind that barbed wire.”