| #17 July 5/44
It's almost 2-1/2 yrs since I entered anything in the diary; since that time I have traveled pretty extensively over Germany and East Prussia. We arrived at Sagan in May 17/42 and arrived at Heydekrug on the Baltic on June 10/43
Since I last entered anything here, the war has taken strange turns. The Germans were winning in 41, and now the Germans are almost defeated. The Red Army at this moment is 160 miles east of this camp advancing rapidly. Rumor has it that the Germans haven't time to take us out and we will be left to the Russians when they get this far, which means ultimately that we shall probably get back to England in time for the armistice. Other rumors say we shall be taken to the port of Mernal and from there shipped to Sweden; however a fortnight will probably show which way the wind is blowing.
The Russian now have taken Minsk and pushing west of the city. Wilna is ecpected to fall hourly, if it hasn't fallen by now. Wilna is 160 miles away. The camp is very calm but tense, waiting for further events. If they decide to evacuate us the journey shall be hell as only a forced march or cattle truck journey in Germany can be. |