Testimony of Josef Smolnik Smoly, born in Merkine, Lithuania, 1919, regarding his experiences in Kovno, Belorussia, Novosibirsk and as a Red Army soldier

Testimony of Josef Smolnik Smoly, born in Merkine, Lithuania, 1919, regarding his experiences in Kovno, Belorussia, Novosibirsk and as a Red Army soldier Life before the war; from a well-to-do family; Jewish, Zionist education; attends a Hebrew high school in Alytus; move to Kovno; life in Kovno including work. Soviet occupation, 1940; escape with young women in the direction of the Soviet Union, 1941; finds a hiding place in the home of a villager, 03 July, 1941; crosses the border into the Soviet Union illegally; life in Belorussia; escape to Novosibirsk; life in various kolkhozes in Novosibirsk including work; drafted into the Red Army, 1942; life in the Lithuanian Division; transfer to the front; wounded twice; discharge from the Red Army. Move to Lublin; life in Lublin including activities as a Hashomer Hatzair youth leader; aliya to Eretz Israel on the ship, "Providence", with Aliya Bet, 1947; life on Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk; marriage and starts a family.