VIDEO
Ivan Danylchenko, born June 22, 1926 in Letenka village, Poltava Oblast, describes the dispossession of his family.
ID – They came to our yard, five or six of them. My father had a horse, a cow, a calf, and sheep. They told him to bring the horse, tie it to the wagon. My father tied up the horse. They went to the house and took everything they could. And put it all on the wagon.
Interviewer – Furniture, everything?
ID – Furniture, everything they could get their hands on. We had an oven, which heated the house, and where bread was baked. They climbed on top of the oven, took it apart. I didn’t know why, but later I found out that they were searching for grain. They had steel rods, and searched the garden. I remember this very well.
Interviewer – You saw this?
ID – I saw this. They walked around, searching everywhere with these steel rods. Neither my sister, who was two years younger than me, nor I, knew what was happening. When they took everything away from us, my mother had a bundle of corn. My mother was trying to pull it away from him, saying that she needs it for the children. He pushed her and took that bundle. I remember as if it were now.
