Hedvika Heráková

Hedvika Herakova’s first husband was taken [by transport on 28 January 1944 (ed.)] together with their four-year-old son to a gypsy camp[1] where they both died. As she was in an advanced stage of pregnancy, she herself escaped the decreed transport from the village of Újezd where they had a house. She therefore ended up in custody in the prison of the police headquarters in Brno, and was taken from there to the municipal maternity hospital. After giving birth[2], she was again taken to prison and after a month she was released with her new-born son. She says that her son thus twice saved her from suffering, and perhaps even from death. She named him Ivan after the Red Army soldiers who were already approaching and bringing with them the hope of rescue.

[1] It is not stated where.

[2] On 17 February 1944. (ed.)