Jiří Janisch

“We came to Jihlava and my mother was summoned to the police headquarters. They told her that, since she was of a German nationality and Czechoslovak citizenship, she should change it all to German. My mother refused, and this saved me from having to join the army. It was my mother’s gesture. I didn’t know at the time, that’s what she did; otherwise I would have to go to the front. My cousin, my mother’s sister’s son, was in Germany with his family. He was two years younger and was drafted. By coincidence, he served in Jihlava. We didn’t know it at the time. He was with the SS. My aunt told him not to contact us, as this could have severe consequences, and we only learned that he was there after the war.”

“I was walking home from work at two pm and suddenly I felt like I was followed. The man caught up with me and told me to get in the car. They took me to the StB office in Hluboká Street in Jihlava. They told me that I was smart and popular among my friends, and that they needed someone to tell them about the sentiments in society, how people perceived the atmosphere and who was for socialism and so on. They said that we could meet. I told them that I couldn’t do it, that it was not my nature to spy and tell on anyone. I just couldn’t do it. They kept convincing me that I was the right person they trusted, and I kept refusing. I never told anyone at home about this except my father-in-law.”