English Translation

- 5 - 50 It was possible to buy certain food on a limited scale in the warehouse canteen. After completion of the "Mechsavod" in April 1941, Eger was transported to Uchta-Pechora in the area of Arkhangelsk to forest work with about 1500 men, among whom were also the most Czechoslovakians. Living conditions were very poor. As a standard, 5 cbm of wood had to be cut in dry forests, 4 cbM in swamps. At a rate of 125 and 150% there were food allowances. But very few could achieve this extra power in general catering conditions. Working hours were 12 - 13 hours, in winter from sunrise to sunset. There were numerous deaths in the camps, which were occupied with 500 men each, due to malnutrition and cold. About the experiences of Czech officers who emigrated from Czechoslovakia to Russia until entry into the Czech troop departments, it is only known to the editor that they were housed in a camp closed. The crews of the Btl. came to 70 - 80% from Russian criminal camps, i.e. for the most part there were people who had emigrated on their own in 1939 and were then taken up by the Soviet authorities and then locked up. People from the prison camps received orders from the NKVD department of the camp to go to Busuluk and report there to the Czechoslovak troops. They were able to travel freely to Busulak. The Czechs, who were at large, etc. Some of them volunteered to join the troop, some of them were also ordered by the exile government, which was published in the daily press. Also, the Czechs who were introduced to the list of the II.Btl. until the end of January 1943, etc., came from criminal camps. The troop became, as far as the relatives of them did not earlier in Czechoslovakia, the flag oath.