Object numberM2006/100:002
DescriptionEugene Foltyn was from Slovakia. In 1930 at the age of 20, Eugene was called up for his two years national service. In 1938 Eugene was mobilised and was trained as a Non-Commissioned Officer, he was later demobilised in October 1938. Eugene and some of his other colleagues from the army decided they would not stay in Czechoslovakia and so they decided to go to Poland where they registered themselves with the British consulate as political refugees. It was then that the British consulate issued Eugene with a refugee identity card (M2006/100:002). When the German’s invaded Poland they escaped to the Soviet Union.
They then joined a Czech unit formed in Russia. With the Czechoslovakian unit, Eugene participated in the liberation of Kiev, where he was injured. Eugene spent some time in a hospital, but was later reunited with his battalion where he was placed with the anti-aircraft battery which was mostly staffed by women; this is when he met his wife Herta who he soon married.
Eugene later participated in the Battle of Dukla Pass, after which they entered Czechoslovakia. At the end of the war Eugene’s battalion was directed to move into Prague, at which time he took some leave to go back home to his village. Upon arriving home Eugene was informed that his family had been deported in 1943, and was told by a friend that the headmaster of the local school, who was president of the local fascist organisation had organised the deportation. Eugene recalls that his first impulse was to shoot, but did not because at the time his wife was 6 months pregnant. Eugene also learnt that both of his brothers had not been deported as they had presidential exemption due to the work they were involved in; however, both brothers were killed. Eugene was told that one of his brothers was pushed onto the train tracks and killed when he went to see where his parents were going, and the other brother a journalist had made enemies with the editor of the Slovak fascist party newspaper who Eugene believes was instrumental in his death.
They then joined a Czech unit formed in Russia. With the Czechoslovakian unit, Eugene participated in the liberation of Kiev, where he was injured. Eugene spent some time in a hospital, but was later reunited with his battalion where he was placed with the anti-aircraft battery which was mostly staffed by women; this is when he met his wife Herta who he soon married.
Eugene later participated in the Battle of Dukla Pass, after which they entered Czechoslovakia. At the end of the war Eugene’s battalion was directed to move into Prague, at which time he took some leave to go back home to his village. Upon arriving home Eugene was informed that his family had been deported in 1943, and was told by a friend that the headmaster of the local school, who was president of the local fascist organisation had organised the deportation. Eugene recalls that his first impulse was to shoot, but did not because at the time his wife was 6 months pregnant. Eugene also learnt that both of his brothers had not been deported as they had presidential exemption due to the work they were involved in; however, both brothers were killed. Eugene was told that one of his brothers was pushed onto the train tracks and killed when he went to see where his parents were going, and the other brother a journalist had made enemies with the editor of the Slovak fascist party newspaper who Eugene believes was instrumental in his death.
Production placePrague, Czech Republic
Production date 1939-08-29
Object nameRefugee identity card
Materialphotographic emulsion, photographic emulsion, paper, paper, paper
Dimensions
- height: 150.00 mm
width: 105.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Eugene Foltyn