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The arrests of 1937 [14] didn't affect my parents. As far as I know, none of our acquaintances suffered either. There may have been discussions in the family and they were probably scared of hearing the engines of a 'Black Maria' [police prisoner vehicle] in the yard, particularly considering that there was an NKVD office [15] across the street from our house in Kanatnaya Street, where they took their prisoners. In the late 1930s my parents joined the Party, but not for their convictions. They had to do it since they held official posts. In May 1941 my father defended his doctor's dissertation in the First Moscow Medical College. When he returned to Odessa, the war began.
We suffered few bombings in Odessa. When an air raid began, we went into the basement. I remember that my friend Truda was terribly scared and I comforted her. Somehow I wasn't as scared as other children, probably because I had to pretend to be brave for Truda. It was clear that we had to leave. We left with Mama and Grandma. My mother went to work as a doctor on the 'Sacco and Vancetti' boat. It was overcrowded and we stayed in the ward that also served as a medical office. Many passengers were overstressed and my mother stayed with them for a long time and I stayed on the ward to be on duty for her. I was a serious girl at thirteen years of age. I could apply iodine onto a scratch, apply a bandage and knew who needed what medications.
Our boat was bombed several times, but we managed to arrive at Rostov [one of the oldest towns in Russia, located on Lake Nero in Yaroslavl region] all right. My father also came there with his Medical College. Since my father was a Professor and Doctor of Sciences he got a job offer from the Rostov Medical College straight away. My mother also found a job. Everybody believed that the war would not spread as far as Rostov.
We suffered few bombings in Odessa. When an air raid began, we went into the basement. I remember that my friend Truda was terribly scared and I comforted her. Somehow I wasn't as scared as other children, probably because I had to pretend to be brave for Truda. It was clear that we had to leave. We left with Mama and Grandma. My mother went to work as a doctor on the 'Sacco and Vancetti' boat. It was overcrowded and we stayed in the ward that also served as a medical office. Many passengers were overstressed and my mother stayed with them for a long time and I stayed on the ward to be on duty for her. I was a serious girl at thirteen years of age. I could apply iodine onto a scratch, apply a bandage and knew who needed what medications.
Our boat was bombed several times, but we managed to arrive at Rostov [one of the oldest towns in Russia, located on Lake Nero in Yaroslavl region] all right. My father also came there with his Medical College. Since my father was a Professor and Doctor of Sciences he got a job offer from the Rostov Medical College straight away. My mother also found a job. Everybody believed that the war would not spread as far as Rostov.
Location
Ukraine
Interview
rimma rozenberg