Refugee in search of a homeland

and retreat? I felt extremely weak, when I got up. I said to a comrade: "I feel sick. I don't think I'll be able to go on duty today."

"You had better report to the sick bay." My temperature was 38.7°. No wonder I had been so tired and completely listless. My left ear ached, and I had no energy left.

"You have to stay here in the sick bay," the orderly growled. There were already two others in, and he seemed to be annoyed that another one came, adding even more work for him.

He gave me some aspirins. "You have to stay here for two days, and if it is no better, you'll have to go to hospital."

My ear ache became unbearable whenever the effect of the aspirin subsided. After two days, the orderly couldn't stand it any longer.

"I've had enough of your whingeing. You have to go to the hospital today."

"How can I go to hospital in my condition?" "Just get up, get dressed and go!" he roared.

I could hardly stand on my wobbly legs. I dressed and sat down again. "I can't walk far."

"Oh, it isn't far," he lied. He showed me the direction to walk, and I made a start. After about 200 meters, I had to sit down again. I was too weak. The orderly must have watched me, for a few minutes later he came stomping after me.

"I'll get you there," he shouted, "even if I have to kick you all the way to the hospital."

I felt too weak even to argue, so I got up and went perhaps another 200 meters with him behind me. When I tried to sit down again, he screamed: "I'll kick you in the arse." I felt his boot landing on my backside. The kick reverberated through my whole body.

"I'm not pretending," I said weakly, "I'm really sick." "That's why I'm getting you to hospital, you É (expletive). Now shut up and walk."

He bullied and kicked me in my behind several times, and swore in the foulest way possible. I was outraged. I was treated like a stray dog. It was sheer torture, and he knew it. Did he have no compassion? A real hatred welled up inside me. This must have given me supernatural strength, for I made the long road to the hospital, over three kilometers! Once there I collapsed on a stretcher. My temperature was 39.8°.

From then on things took their own course. Nurses looked after me. I was allowed just to lay there, happy to have escaped my torturer. The people in hospital treated me with kindness and compassion. They soon realised that I had a middle ear infection and that I needed immediate treatment.

After a few days I was transferred by ambulance to a military hospital, which was established in Beelitz Heilstätten, formerly a sanatorium for

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