Dorothy Kraus Memoir - Our Friends, the Intelligentsia

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Dorothy Kraus Memoir

Our Friends, the Intelligentsia
Mother attracted the intelligentsia from the village. Most of them were young people not yet of military age or who were exempt due to physical handicap. Also there were some of the new refugees. They would come to our house once a week, though if they bore some important bit of news they appeared unannounced. The subjects discussed were the war, the Russians, the Germans, the future of the Jews, the Revolution, and others. There were sharp political debates. Sometimes a newspaper clipping would be brought and it became the center of conversation.

The young masculine intelligentsia of Wysokie Litewskie, who often met at our home. They are not wearing military uniforms but the kind of garb that was customary among students at that time.

A few of these young people belonged to merchants' families who dealt in the black market. They would bring candles or kerosene, but never any food.

One night several of the boys came dragging a huge, round log covered with snow. They brought it right into our one room. Someone had brought a saw and the operation of cutting up the heavy log lasted half the night. We stacked wood under our bed or in the kitchen covered with a sheet so that it would not be noticed. Miriam and I were given strict orders not ever to mention our acquisition to any of the other children.

Editor's Notes: The intellectual activity and the subjects discussed demonstrate that, despite the lack of newspapers during the war, some news was reaching the town.

This material is from Original Page 29a, Original Page 34 and Original Page 35.

Page Last Updated: 15-Nov-2012