English Translation

49a - 4 - Asked about the reasons for the emigration of young Czechs to the USSR, Eger explains that according to the statement of the Protectorate there and in Slovakia there was a rumor that all young men were forced to work in the Reich, where they were housed in Baraques and treated very badly. In Russia, on the other hand, one enjoys freedom, there is a lot of work everywhere and one could earn much money there. Eger wants to have been persuaded by his comrades and finally by his brother to emigrate. He denies any recruitment or political influence. He never wants to be a communist and does not call himself a German enemy. There were very few communists among the foreigners at all. As the main reason for the emigration of the Ruthenes from the Hungarian-became areas, Eger gives a strong hatred against the Hungarians. Since the emigration by the authorities was forbidden, it took place secretly and meant a task of the homeland. By train it went to the vicinity of the Polish-Slovak border and from there on foot over the Carpathians. The border crossing took place at Lesko am san on 30.10.1939. All refugees from the former Czechoslovakian Wakei were arrested immediately after the border crossing by the Soviet militia, sent to Lviv in prison and distributed from there to other prisons. Eger was first taken to Poltawa, later to Kharkov. In August 1940 he was then transported to a working street warehouse near Kujbyshev, where he was employed with assembly work on the "Mechsawod", a large plant already finished in the shell, for the production of fine mechanical parts for aircraft. In the labour camp there were against 15,000 convicts, political and criminal criminals of all nationalities, including former Czechoslovak nationals of different ethnicities, altogether about 120 to 140 men. The treatment was bad, the guard strict. The food was scarce and bad. The work lasted 121⁄2 hours a day and was very difficult. With a work performance of 150% according to the Stakhanov system for at least 10 days a month, the convicts received 15 rubles a month's pay, but none without any extra work.