The escape from the Ghetto could have been fatal, but being a "refugee from Transylvania" offered some security. The real refugees occupied hotels - of course only those with money. The Pannonia was packed with them. They too were given rough treatment by the Arow-Cross, and were submitted to interrogation by the police.
To be an illegal at the Pannonia was risky, especially with the Arrow-Cross newspaper publishers on the first floor!
There were many air raids at this time. Everyone was forced to go down to the air raid shelter. During the raids the rooms would be checked for illegal guests. Of course they would suffer the consequences.
Romanian Ambassador, Dajano and his wife moved from the Embassy on Szentkirály street, to the third floor. Their apartment faced the street. The counsellor and his wife moved in as well. Even the Royal Hungarian police is here with his young wife. To the coterie is added the secretary László Iritz11.1, the physician Dr. Szamekiu, Romanian citizen, actually Dr. Oszkár Szamek, my dentist uncle.
Oszkár and the family have two rooms. One is Vera's with her year old son Jánoska. It has a bed with a little cot in front of it. I am to share this for the time being. Oszkár introduces me his good friend, a refugee from Erdély (Transylvania) to the young police inspector and to the blundering chief of police Horváth. We go to a room a few doors up. There is a lady dressed in mourning, heavily veiled. She is sitting by the window, deeply engrossed in the Bible which she holds. She turns toward us and looks at us curiously. Then she lifts her veil. It is my mother! Péter had rescued her from the Ghetto. I learn that my mother and I are siblings! We had a lot to talk about. She tells me what she had been through. Our I.D.s particularly those for the men - were not the final papers. Everyone was a registered hotel guest as the Romanian Embassy, its employees and their families. They ate at the hotel dining room. I could only leave my room under very special circumstances. Vera would leave Jánoska with me and explain to the kitchen staff that she would like to bring some food her child. Like this I got something to eat. During the air raids I was quite worried should I be tracked down.
On one or two occasions I did go down to the shelter. It seemed that some of the hotel guests stayed in the shelter - not ever coming out, awaiting their fate. There were some who were hoping that the fortunes of the Germans would change.
Dr. Gyula Varga, a colleague was sitting near me. He was the last mayor in the town of Gyula. He did not recognize me or perhaps he did not want to?
In one of the booths were some old acquaintances: Béla Mesko, manager of the Hungarian National Bank at Kaposvár. He was with his wife. It was so good to see them. They used to live in Csaba. Zsuzsa back then was Dr. László Schwartz's wife. He was in lumber. Béla was interested to hear about Gombos' career...Then he winked at me...Zsuzsa could hardly contain her surprise at my turning up. On one occasion I sneaked into my mother's room during a raid. She wasn't there, but I hear her door being opened. They were checking to see if anyone stayed behind. I quickly disappeared into the closet..., then my door is opened...they find the room empty. Had the Arrow Cross checked the closet, then for sure I would be gunned down into the Danube.
I had enough of being a "Hotel Guest." I had to get out. But where could I stay? Surely this state of affairs can't go on much longer. Then a visitor happened by. An old schoolmate, who had been a close friend. We shared many fond memories. He was a doctor, who in these difficult times made himself very helpful. On the other hand, he refused any help for himself. Then the theatre building next to us being bombed. The hotel windows are shattered. There is a huge cloud of dust and a state of panic. We hear about Hitler's and Szálasi's proclamation "Hungary's capital must be defended to the last man". Apparently the Red Army is at the outskirts of Budapest and the battle is raging from house to house.
Rumours circulate at the Pannonia. The city is surrounded on three sides. Székesfehérvár is back in Nazi hands. We learn that "A temporary Hungarian National Government has been established in Debrecen" and we rejoice. Peace talks are going on in Moscow...we can hardly believe this...The government is represented by János Gyöngyösi11.2 Minister of External Affairs. István Balogh, a clergyman from Szeged, has been nominated Secretary of State. We are feeling hopeful. Gyöngyösi is well known as Csaba's left wing politician. Up to 1919, he taught Latin and Hungarian. Because of his politics, he could not get a position in Budapest. He returned to Csaba where he opened a bookstore. Later he was appointed director of the Chamber of Commerce, and then he became editor of the Békés County newspaper. The next step was politics as left wing Member of Parliament for the small landowner's party.
On December 22, the provisional national assembly was formed, the first sign of liberation. We whisper a proclamation that was shouted at Debrecen's Calvinist College: "Hungarians will live again, Hungarians arise!"
In the meantime the battle line is drawing nearer. The Red Army's advance guard is now in Kispest! We can hear them through their loudspeaker - "Lay down your arms soldiers". There is even some reparation for Christmas. The sirens are silenced. The quiet is almost deadly. The police are told that Budapest will be completely surrounded by the next day.
"You had better leave" I am warned. "The Arrow Cross have taken people from here to the banks of the Danube. The last time it was a little boy with his father...