Mykola Jejna and Bohdan Jejna

Recorded July 22, 2009 39:17 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id: MBX005587

Description

Bohdan Jejna interviews his father Mykola Jejna about his youth and his family’s escape from their home in the Ukraine during World War II.

Subject Log / Time Code

Bohdan asks his father about his life in the Ukraine form 1943 -1943 during World War II. The German occupation was ending because the Russians were forcing the Germans out of the Ukraine.
Mykola’s parents had to decide whether to side with the Germans, the Russians or go their own way. They decided to go west and be on their own.
Train travel was difficult with a long journey ahead on over packed trains. Many of the trains were not passenger trains but freight trains. Mykola was 14 years old and thought it was an adventure.
When the train finally arrived at its destination Mykola was forced to work for the owners of the train in a labor camp. His parents did not know where he was until two weeks later.
The family decided to go further west as the war front grew nearer. Mykola remembers his father using whiskey and cigarettes to barter for food and services along the journey.

Participants

  • Mykola Jejna
  • Bohdan Jejna