Juraj Stern

“He hid us in the stable. I was there for two or maybe more weeks, hidden in a trough. Just imagine a four-year-old child that learned he couldn't scream or go out, could not cry or call onto anyone. Literally – who had to be completely quiet. Only when Mr. Zelenay or his wife Borka came to milk the cow I was allowed to talk to them a bit. The cow chewed next to my head. I was covered with straw and I used to drink water from the same bucket as the cow. I went to the toilet there and everything. The Zelenays always brought me some food, so I ate. I even washed myself in that bucket, if I needed. It was horrible. And it's very difficult to explain to you the emotions of such a child. Until today, I cannot understand or ever explain myself, how had I managed all of that. When it was over, I was unable to talk.”

“When the occupation of Slovakia began and the Slovak National Uprising broke out, he had to figure out something different, thus he hid us in a basement. There was anything – bottles, wine, cans, preserves, and such. He piled all the preserves into one shelf and behind it, there was some more space. There we were hidden and there we waited during the last period, the last months, until the liberation. Hlohovec was liberated by Romanians and I remember the moment we came out of that basement. It was a beautiful and sunny day and I remember that light. This way I came out of the dark and everything was sun-shaded. Ever since, the sun has been my freedom.”