"As a" fascist "I spent 5-6 months in the camp, but as an anarchist - 4-5 years" - remembers Hristo Kolev

Two years have passed since I graduated from high school, yet never was able to sign up to follow. Not me and went to the barracks - where sickness, where in the office reluctantly postponed. I was in the village, dealing with agricultural work, ergenuvahme with friends. Late evening wandered the streets and constantly argued on various issues. Often conflicting with rural governors - they constantly complained about us in the city. So I spent the village until October-November 1947.

On November 21, 1947 Kaushal door open and ordered the policeman to come up with their luggage. We took what we had and went before him. We walked through the office, policeman took some papers in which I suggested that we are portrayed as criminals. We went to the station and there for us emptied first compartment of the vehicle, as officials. Bathroom station the train stopped. My parents were brought from the village of luggage that I submitted, and the train went by Christo and his wife France - Lalka.

We arrived in Plovdiv, walked the streets. Far behind us Christo's wife followed us like a shadow. The day in Plovdiv was visited Tito. Guess that our holding is a kind of precaution for the security of the great guest. There we met with a rather large group, we loaded the next day the Sofia train, which we transferred to Pernik.

KZ "Kutsiyan"

Wooden sheds, wire mesh, militia towers, secret posts. Permanent protection of the region and the guard - Gershanov captain, armed with gun and rod, just looking for a pretext for beatings. The premises are two rows of two floors. Inmates are dressed in all sorts of "uniforms" - old army trousers and coats, torn clothes police, striped prison rags. Shorn heads with prison caps.

We worked on the open pit "Kutsiyan" which previously was the state reserves. Until mine was two kilometers distance traveled in an hour. Viewed from the side not to notice that the column moves.

The worst in this camp was great famine. Finally, the court there was a mountain of cabbage, covered with snow. It was about all winter. The bread was very small and young as we only abstained not to eat when you get that evening. Then the whole day riding without bread. Worried about the abuse, hunger, work, cold, young people who fall for the first time in this situation shall be submitted to despair. Changes and outside us. Unshaven, greasy, and we were not able to wash your eyes and on top and lice. Complete neglect!

The camp was then about 30 people anarchists that we had found. Among them was Manol Vassev. Ninth of September caught him with an illegal death sentence. Watch us someday that person - young people, does it tumble - gathered in our room, we did pull a quarrel:

- Shame on you! Take for example the aristocracy during the French Revolution. Before you get through the guillotine, they become morning, a shower, perfume and heads straight going under the knife. You hungry and festering! Heads up, not freedom fighters serve a mockery of his enemies!

Naprikazva us and much more, but these were sufficient to affect you. Since that time we had new people. Unlike other inmates, we always help each other. We were divided into several "chairs" and his kotelkite the sharing. The patients are turning more attention. So the victims were between us except, unlike other groups inmates.

For the new 1948 was allowed visits. We newcomers, however, had no right to visits. However, I homework, thinking that they come, will allow them to see. The meeting took place on a fluke. We go to work in mines and in that time I saw that in the same direction to move a man with two bags on his shoulder. When I looked, I recognized his father. He also saw me and walked faster. Leveled with me and had a short conversation. I told him to forward the baggage of someone who has visited with anarchist and I will get it. Food obtained from outside, was allocated among all anarchists.

The group of anarchists working separately under construction separately, we had a Baccarat. It was Michael Mindov called Mulyu. Check out work under the order, be sure to track. Our march was labor Marseillaise, which was corrected text - instead of "communism" as we sang:

"Anarchism is our flag

Our sacred watchword in the fight. "

To punish and humiliate our management has come up with an other "service" after completion of work - guarding the camp, together with the militia. Security of the militia had so much that our presence was not only unnecessary but dangerous because you could policeman to calm every time they shot under the pretext that he ran away.

Of camp life I remember many things that I will never forget while I live. I remember one evening roll - cold winter evening, snow was collected in a heap on the drill field. Penalties - do not remember exactly who it was - had to sit on the pile of snow to keep cabbage that is dared to steal, and with uplifted hands, while faint. For nearly died this "criminal" who dared to reach for the "socialist property."

The camp had a lot of Turks and Pomaks. Their situation was desperate, hopeless. Nowhere is nothing - neither money nor parcel. They lived only camp ration. That meant a slow death, death from starvation. We were not indifferent to the crime perpetrated before our eyes, but what can you do? Anyone who has undergone "Kutsiyan" will not forget him. Brutal regime with much hunger. To me this was meant to spend 5-6 months there, but in the early history of the camp that thought for a long time.

With the release happened to me something that marred the joy my freedom now. And until now I have qualms about it. Changes of solidarity with the friends that have suffered so much pain. The case is this - we learned that we, anarchists, will be released the next day. The practice of camp administration was relieved to sign a statement that waives fascist activity. This was done to show out - to show the authorities that the camps are only fascists - and it was a mere formality, which decided to confront it. In the morning, built before the office, go one by one to the management. All refuse to sign and return the premises. But Christo enter France and signed and Ivan Kolev and Yordan Mladenov. I also signed. Our desire for freedom was stronger than the humiliation of his friends. I will never forget how the four went to liberty, and the rest - no. After a day or two others also release them. I'm not interested in whether signed or not. This somewhat calmed my conscience, but the act was to reprimand me.

Village of my friends greeted me warmly, but I remained some black sheep. After only eight months of freedom on December 16, locked me in again "Bogdanov Dol," then the "Belene".

As a "fascist" in "Kutsiyan" I spent 5-6 months, but as an anarchist - 4-5 years. Tell me now what you are dangerous to the Bolsheviks - fascists or anarchists? •

October 22, Karlovo

Hristo Kolev