Božena Valterová

“They drove them all to the Municipal House in Přerov on a big truck. The truck drove into the yard. We, their family members, were allowed in. The truck reversed in and they led them in one by one. We cried, called dad, and my brother, about ten years old, ran to the father. The warden kicked him off. My mum complained about it because everybody saw it. The hearing was in the morning, then there was a break, and the verdict was made in the afternoon: they are antisocial political elements, they were in collusion, and they exited the cooperative intending to damage and disrupt it. That’s what they were on trial for.”

“When they came by car, did the house search and upset everything, wardrobes and all, we said it was like you were not a human anymore. It was a disaster. I said, ‘Mum, write it all on the window pane so people can see what we are.’ But the people knew. My mum would make pastry for every wedding and feast. What a pastry maker she was! She had been to the housekeeping school in Rožnov. When there were dances they made everything in our place because we had a large kitchen and lobby, with enough space to store it. She had crates and everything she could provide to people. She said, ‘Who have I wronged now that I have to suffer so much?’ It took a toll on her; she died aged just fifty three.”