Eva Tolkovsky

"We had lived across the street from the Ministry of Interior. In the morning, we could see tanks parking there. The Russian soldiers were looking around confused, not knowing where they were or what was happening. People were running to grocery shops to buy supplies. We listened to the radio which was saying goodbye to us - it was an amazing drama. I joined the mass protests. Friends were coming over to say goodbye. I remember Karel Kovanda telling us he was leaving for Austria; I felt really sorry about that. Then my sister, her husband, two kids, and my mum also packed up, decided to go to Vienna. I wasn't willing to make a move. I decided to stay in Prague because I didn't want to emigrate and because I was sure I couldn't handle it."

"It was in late 1969. Up until 15 September, there was amnesty. Although there were the protests that year, Palach burnt himself to death and such things, people started losing hope that there was anything to be done about the situation. Plus there was the amnesty up until 15 September when everyone could freely return from abroad. That was a challenge. I thought something would probably happen past 15 September. So I went to see my dad whom I haven't been in touch with for ages and asked him to get me a flight ticket to London. He helped me out and I left on the 13th, determined to see what happens after the 15th and based on that either return or stay. As it turned out, on 15 September they shut the borders and so I knew that it would have grave consequences. I was still a minor which meant that they'd put me in a boarding house and my study plans would have no chance of succeeding. So I ended up staying in London."