Czechoslovak Political Prisoners - über das Projekt Political ...

Then a čůzák came and said, “Take out what you have done.” We answered we didn’t have anything
as we didn’t get any glue. So they gave us a stone vessel, full of glue. Again, we pushed
that under the bed because they didn’t give us a single brush. When he came up again we said
we unfortunately didn’t have anything as we didn’t have a brush. So he took everything from
us and we figured he wouldn’t make us do it, that he would lose his nerves on it. We never
glued anything after that.
How did the investigators behave towards you? Did any of you go through some physical
violence?
Well, firstly, nobody would be trying that on me, and secondly they were not that cruel at
that time yet. Yes, we heard a couple times shouts from next door and how they were punching
someone, but from my point of view, that was happening sporadically. All that increased
rapidly in 1949. Although they were on a first-name basis with us, threatening us, calling us
names, they never physically attacked me.
You mentioned your younger sister was also arrested, for what reason?
She was held as a precaution before the funeral of President Beneš. At that time I was cleaning
at Pankrác and mother came to tell me. Somehow, inconspicuously, she told me in the
corridor. After the funeral they let my sister go back home. Well they were really worried that
people would be rioting and so they held various people as hostages. Then she was tried with
me and convicted for six years.
Did you ever meet again in prison?
We met just once. She had a lesser punishment than me, and so she could get on something
called commando. She went to the town of Varnsdorf to an Elite factory, where nylons were
made. I was sentenced to be in a normal prison, but once when I went to Chrastava, they allowed
me to see her on a visit. I came over there in the afternoon, maybe more the evening
and early in the morning I had to leave again. Anyways, I was happy I could sit down with her
for that moment and we chatted a little. Then she visited me when she was released. I can even
tell you that two of my friends visited me. Each of them just once, but I was glad anyways, since
they didn’t throw me overboard. One friend kept sending me letters and also a picture of her
son. I was lucky in this way because some people were not afraid and came to see me. It was
real heroism to not be worried and be seen with a convicted person.
When did you have a court date?
I had a court date on June 6, 1949. I received a notice only two days before the process. When
I wanted to give it to my mother, my own lawyer jumped up and tore it out of my hands, saying
I wasn’t supposed to have it. She was appointed to me by the court, but she still demanded
money from my parents. Mrs. Dr. Turečková had a husband who was a chairman in the Chamber
of Law and so she had the high privilege to take money. My parents paid her something,
but afterwards they opposed. She didn’t defend me at all. She came up to the court, had blond
hair, a light blue dress, and came there as a star. She didn’t get me ready for the situation and
how to behave at court. The only thing she said was about my hairstyle and that I shouldn’t
have it because it could make jurors angry. Then she asked what dress I would be wearing at
court. That was all she told me for the run of the whole process. When they asked me after
whether I felt guilty or not, I didn’t know what to answer. Finally, I said I felt partly guilty. At
that time I was counting I would get twenty years. When I finally got thirteen, I was quite
happy. Twelve of that I sat, but I wasn’t wondering why, I wouldn’t have given freedom to
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