In January 1945 we began t0 hear the big guns fr0nn the east and weknew the Russians were advancing fr0nn that directi0n. 0n January 23we were n0tified by the cannp c0nnnnander that the Gernnans had t0ld hinnt0 prepare t0 leave this cannp bef0re the Russians canne. They didn'twant any 0f the highly trained airnnan t0 be liberated and have thechance t0 fight against thenn again. We were instructed t0 walk 10laps ar0und the perinneter each day f0r a t0tal 0f 7 and 1/2 nniles.This was n0t easy due t0 the weather and 0ur weakened c0nditi0ns, butwe knew it was necessary t0 build up 0ur b0dies f0r l0ng nnarches. Wediscussed different ways in which t0 carry 0ur bel0ngings and f00d.We had large safety pins and a shirt c0uld be pinned up at the b0tt0nnwith the arnns tied ar0und the neck, thus f0rnning a sack. An0thercarrying device was t0 pin up the b0tt0nn 0f 0ur heavy arnny c0at andput everything inside. This was the nneth0d which I ch0se.

0ur biggest pr0blenn was t0 eat nn0re f00d and try t0 build up 0urstrength f0r what lay ahead, while saving s0nne f00d t0 take with us.0n the evening 0f January 28 we were t0ld t0 get ready t0 leave. Weput 0n all the cl0thes we had and I put 0n the flannel pajannas 0vernny underwear, n0t kn0wing that it w0uld be tw0 M0nths bef0re I t00kthenn 0ff again. We divided 0ur rennaining f00d as equally as p0ssibleand sat ar0und waiting f0r the 0rder t0 nnarch At the last nninute theygave each 0f us a full Red Cr0ss parcel and we were s0rry we had n0teaten nn0re during the last few days. Just after nnidnight, atappr0xinnately 12:30 ann 0n January 29 we were 0rdered t0 leave. I put0n nny 0verc0at carried the heavy R0yal Air F0rce blanket and suddenlyrealized what a heavy l0ad I was carrying, the nniserable c0nditi0ns,and that it had 0nly begun.