I write this history of my family’s escape from the horror of life under the Russians during the early 1940s because I feel deeply that Ukraine under the Russians would be tragic. My story begins when I was a little girl in Latvia.
It must have been a traumatic experience in 1944 for my parents, Janis (John) Zeltins, 38, and Alma Asaris Zeltins, 36, to pack what they could carry and with four children, Zigrida Emilija, 12, Rita Olga, 9, Eriks, 5, and Benita Lidija, 1, in tow, to start a journey with destination unknown from their native country, Latvia. It is truly said that the fear of the unknown is really great, but in this case, the fear of the known was greater than the fear of the unknown. To fully understand what might seem like a “foolhardy” decision, some background is in order.
At that time, Latvia suffered under communist dictator Stalin’s ruthless domination. Our father, being a Baptist minister, was scrutinized for his activities and reported to the Russian government during their occupation. Many people during this time mysteriously vanished, especially people with influence, such as teachers, clergy, and other community leaders. Some were killed outright but many were deported to Siberia for hard labor. Families were sometimes separated; children were taken from their parents for indoctrination into the Russian dogma. Our family had been on the list to be deported but fortunately we were able to escape this fate. As a matter of fact, knowing what occupation under the Russian regime was like, one million (half of Latvia’s inhabitants) left the country. To this day, you can find Latvians in every part of the world as a result of WW II and the Russian occupation.
My family was very fortunate to be able to board a train heading toward Germany. Since we were not Jews, Germany was relatively safe for us, although trains were a risky form of transportation during a war. They were used to transport supplies and troops to the fighting armies, so we were in danger of being bombed by both the Russian and American air forces. When airplanes were detected, the train was stopped, all got off and laid in ditches or fields, in case the train was bombed. If we happened to be near or in a potato field, we’d be assured of dinner. So we continued until we reached Germany. Germany was inundated with refugees from every country bordering Russia. It was a mass exodus.
We traveled, by whatever means possible, further and further west. At one point, we were put up at a large well-to-do farm that needed farm hands since all the able bodied German men were serving in their army. Now our father had steady work and ample food for the family. Our mother was able to work in the garden as well. We had a small apartment on top of the animal barn. The heat generated by the animals and feather down blankets kept us warm.
The end of the war came suddenly. One day, the American army arrived at the edge of the village, and before entering, they discharged some tank artillery down the street to see if anyone would shoot back. None did! The American troops peacefully occupied the village by slowly passing through the street in their tanks. People cautiously came out of their houses and greeted the Americans. We were happy and finally felt safe.
The hope was that we’d be able to go back home soon. That hope was short-lived. It seemed that Germany was to be divided among the Allies and whatever else was occupied by Russians would become status quo! That meant that Latvia would remain under Russian domination and the area where we were in Germany would become part of the Russian zone. Our journey, once again, had to continue toward the unknown, as far away from the Russians as possible.
This turned into a trek by foot on the German autobahn, dragging our belongings in a small farm wagon, with Benita and Eriks perched atop our “riches”. While our parents pulled the wagon, Rita and Zigrida trailed behind. We shared the autobahn with the American troops as they moved west toward what was to be the American zone of Germany. So, if we were going in the same direction as the Americans, we should end up in the same place. When the American troops saw the sight of us walking, some of them generously threw some oranges and chocolate bars to us. I remember that sometimes we also got rides in American army trucks or jeeps. So we continued until we arrived in Hanau, a city near Frankfurt, which was definitely in the American zone of Germany. So we sighed a sigh of relief that we had arrived at a safe place.
Housing for displaced people in Germany was the next step in our lives, and from there my family was fortunate to be welcomed into a small town in Pennsylvania where my parents found work and eventually were able to send my sisters, brother and me to college. How different our lives were in America than had we lived under communist rule.
As I think about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I am reminded of the reason my parents chose to endure a very risky journey to the unknown in order to escape Communism. Should Ukraine fall to the Russians will Latvia again in the future suffer its cruel repression? What about Poland and other neighboring countries? The Ukrainians are fighting valiantly to remain free of the evil Russian control. The United States must fund its effort.
Rita Zeltins Heacock
Easton
Jane Bollman says
This story of peril and hardship makes it clear that life under the Russians was unimaginably difficult. Life in Ukraine under the Russians would be equally bad. Congress must fund the Ukrainian resistance immediately with no strings attached.
Rita Heacock says
Thank you, Jane, for your help and support and your understanding of the situation in Ukraine.
Al DiCenso says
This story brings to mind one which one which I lived and participated in. At the end of WWII, our church in Williamsport PA sponsored several families of “DP’s” (Displaced Persons). Because one family, from Latvia, had a son my age, we were quickly enlisted as friends and “counselors” to the Dzelzgalvis (later Delgalvis) family, and spent a great deal of time with them socially. When I returned from college, the family had begun to disperse; I never found what had become of my friend Ints, or of their two daughters, but the youngest son, now a sub-teen, was living with his parents in their home next to the home/office of the company I worked for. I soon found that the dad, Nicholas, who had been an educator in Latvia, became an instructor in European languages at our local community college and ultimately became head of the department. Mom Diana had been a dentist in Latvia, and had subsequently brushed up on her skills here, received her degree and license to practice, and opened an office locally. I still look back on those days and that wonderful family, with a feeling of pride that I did a part, however small, in getting them acclimated to their new life in America.
Rita Heacock says
Yes, the Latvian DPs are scattered throughout the world with similar stories to tell so that we and the world will remember!
Marcia Kirby says
Thank you for sharing your terrifying story, Rita. I had heard about the oranges and candy bars from Benita, but since she was so young at the time, she wasn’t aware of the danger you all were in. I wasn’t aware of the apt. on the farm or walking the Autobahn. God surely watched over your family and brought you safely to the USA.
Such stories should be a wake-up call to those of us fortunate enough to live in freedom and to the leaders who care only about what happens within our borders.
Rita Heacock says
Thanks, Marcia, for your concern. It was an unimaginable time. And to think that history is repeating itself!
Suzanne Todd says
Contact Representative Andy Harris to ask him to vote for aid to Ukraine. I did that today.
Charles Barranco says
Unfortunately, Harris only votes with the Republican Radicals, Johnson, Gym, et al. If he would vote any other way, he would be out, like Wayne Gilcrest.
Rita Heacock says
Thank you!
Eva M. Smorzaniuk, MD says
Thank you for sharing your story, Ms. Heacock. I was fortunate enough to be born here, but my father, born in Ukraine in 1933, suffered under the Stalin-induced famine and genocide in Ukraine that began in 1929 and extended throughout the war. Like your family, my father’s family found refuge in Germany during the war, and then in the US after the war, as “displaced persons”. To my mind, we are fighting a proxy war with Russia in this conflict. If we don’t support Ukraine, what will we do when Putin attempts to reassemble the USSR? Have we already forgotten the past? Is Latvia important to us? Are Poland or Estonia? We haven’t respected our historical promise to defend Ukraine; will we defend out NATO allies?
Charles Barranco says
Doctor Smorzaniuk, you are so on point!
Americans seem to ignore how evil Putin is. Navalnky was murdered the same way as Surgey Magnitsky., beaten to death because of his beliefs or poisoned like so many others. And, Trump continuously cozies up to Putin.
Unfortunately, Trump supporters don’t see it, they are in denial. They don’t get Trump’s adoration for Putin. They won’t change! I hope America doesn’t become a Putin satellite.
Rita Heacock says
Well, you know exactly what I am talking about. And your questions are all valid. Indeed, what if…….
Suzanne Williams says
Thank you fior sharing your story. The more stories are told hopefully the plight of the Ukrainians is better understood. And their need of our help is imperative.
Rita Heacock says
Thank you!
Bishop Joel Marcus Johnson says
My heart is with you, and I thank you for this inspiring memoir. My father, God rest his soul, escaped tsarist Russia in the 1890s, was educated in England, and became a judge in the United States. What was certain to bring a tear to his eye was any mention of our constitution, exclaiming, even in poetic terms, the righteousness of our nation of laws. To this day I can remember how I asked if even a president of the United States was not subject to the law, he replied especially a president would be. I wonder if my father would want to be alive right now? Or on Aprill 22? Or in eight weeks hence?