Wasyl B.: Former “OST-Arbeiter” (Eastern Worker), went to England after 1945
Wasyl B., 2006 in England
Image Credit: Internet-Archiv "Zwangsarbeit 1939-1945"
"OST-Arbeiter" (Eastern Worker) in the camp Schwandorf
The Ukranian Wasyl B. was deported to Baveria to perform forced labor in 1942. He did not want to return to the Soviet Union in 1945, so he went to England via Belgium in 1948. Looking back, he considers this to be the best decision he ever made.
- Born 1923 in the Ukraine countryside, grew up in a poor family
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His father was an agricultural laborer on a kolkhoz (collective farm), was executed during Stalin’s reign
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Did not finish his apprenticeship as a chemist
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May 1942: Deported to Germany, works in the metal industry in the Bavarian city of Schwandorf
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An escape attempt; shortly before the end of the war he works in agriculture.
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After liberation, he stays in Germany as a displaced person
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1947: Immigrates to Belgium, works in mining
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1948: Returns to Germany, immigrates to England
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Twice married, six children from the first marriage, three children from the second marriage, one adopted child
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Works in agriculture, staunch proponent of rural living
Interview Data:
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Video interview in English
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Recorded in Norfolk on March 13th, 2006 by Christoph Thonfeld, camera: Almut Leh
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Interview duration: 4 hours
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Transcript, photographs and documents