It was around this time that one of my friends from the unit got back from Deutschschutz, Germany, István Forschnen (Fazekas). Apparently most of the unit was executed.
My colleague, Dr. József Ellman from Nagyszalonta was shot as were so many: the young actor, Vilmos Komlós' son, Jancsi, Gabi Kurschner, Pali Lisszauer, Laci Propper and as mentioned earlier Emil Werner from Debnecen and Pubi Blum, the medical student, the two Blayer brothers. Poca Havas, grandson of Kner from Gyoma, Feri Haiman, Ákos Gáli from Gyula, László Sárkány from Sarkad and the list goes on. We were anxiously awaiting a colleague who was a neighbour and a friend - Dr. Ferenc Fischer. He took care, of my office after I joined up. Then he was taken away to forced labour camp and we have not heard of him since 1942. He was the best, a strong character, brilliant and honest. Dr. György Erdélyi endorsed communism and it is presumed that he was killed with Feri Fischer on the Eastern battlefront while clearing minefields. Csibi Guttman, a cheerful soul made it out of Auschwitz. Her husband, the eminent Dr. Endre Brüller, her childhood sweetheart and love of her life, did not return. He had been my schoolmate and university classmate. László Havas from Szeged, not long married, was very proud of his father, the regiment's bugler, who died a war hero. László is missing. Dr. István Weisz another hero husband of Lili Vajda, a medical student, put to death at labour camp. Dr. Árpád Bosnyák, Dr. Viktor Färber, Dr. Károly Fenyvesi, Dr. Henrik Herzog, Dr. Ernő Károlyi, Dr. Dezső Kemény, Dr. Géza Lusztig, Dr. Ernő Prónai, Dr Gyula Schwartz, our martyrs and colleagues, deported to Auschwitz, ever to return. These names will not be forgotten.
Ah there's good news about Dezső Tardos and his daughter Olga. Through some stroke of luck, they were not taken to the Auschwitz death camp but to the Graz area, where he was employed at the gas works. Olga's husband was there as well. He had been in our unit in 1943. All three were liberated. But then tragedy struck on their way home - father and daughter were killed during an air raid. Laci Sándor, the young husband, survived. Tardos loved both his children, but Olga was his favourite. She inherited her father's brains and his wonderful spirit.
This was the first grim account we learned from eyewitnesses. There was no news about Olga's mother. She had been "choosen" along with Dezső bácsi's daughter Kató, from his first marriage and with Mrs. László Frenkel. The Tardos' had lived in complete harmony - a wonderful family - always in a happy mood. Dezső bácsi loved to play cards and was the most dedicated family man. The legal fraternity had the utmost respect for him.