Lino Kmet

-" Where did you get the idea to escape? - My idea to go away was not because I could not find a work as I was working, but if you want to do something, always you have been asked : “Are you in the Party or not?” That was what irritated me. I am not an expert but in my soul this disturbed me. - You were disturbed when someone else impose other opinion or if other person who is not competent? - Yes. I remember exactly some things which they didn´t let you go if you are not a member of a Party. I was not a Party member. For this reason my friends and I started to use the word:” Kommunist!” That we use to yell, when they did not allow us to the dance for example. - ” Kommunist!” - I remember this so clear. I can guarantee. - Great! Good. You did not finished a school year as you run away. - No, I did not finished it, no. Then I came back to Pula and start to work. - Can you please, tell us this story when you came back to Pula and how did you first time escape and got caught? - They caught us because we were naïve, went on a road that led to the border and they, they caught us. They caught us in Sežana and from there we went to some place, near Ljubljana, to the place called Brestolica, Brestonica, some place named like that I think. - There is Brestovica? - Brestovica! - Brestovica, do you know how I know? One digression: there is one inn, very Popular. - Don´t know. I was in prison. From there we have been transported to Zagreb, from Zagreb to Rika(Rijeka), from Rike by boat to Pula, and when we came to Pula, there were already about, all together maybe 10 of us. As they did not know where the police headquarter was I lead them through Giardini, center City. We were tethered like this and on the way everybody who knew me and saw me use ti say: „ciao Lino, ciao Lino“. So, this time has passed, but then I have done something even worse, normally. As I was under aged, not 18 yet and when I run away for the first time, they had to let me go. And they told me: “Next time you escape, let me know if you succeed.” Ironically, I did succeed."

- Me and another man who had uncle in France. We wanted to go directly to France, without any stop in Trieste, in that camp. - "In San Saba? - In San Saba, yes. We went directly to France. I was working and I had some money saved , so we could pay for train tickets all the way till Ventimiglie. So we went. In order to get out of Pula we needed a good plan. We took a train and bought a ticket to Vodnjan. As we started our way, we have been already, already controled. “Documents? Where are you going to?”, and we said: “ We are on our way to Vodnjan, here is a ticket.” In Vodnjan we get off the train and waited for a bus to Buzet. Then in the bus no one controlled us anymore. When we were in Buzet we went to restaurant an old house. Today everything is new, don´t know if still exist. - In Buzet is a new bus station, there is no old one anymore. - Yes, we get off where this big inn was, it was down. One old dirty road was there which use to led to Koper. - And that was it, we came there during day, came to eat something in this restaurant, and already saw that one man who let say “sent” us, that we want to escape. He aproach to us and he said:” You are running away”, my colleague answer:” Yes, yes”. “ Good”, he said, “when night fell, come here, I will take you to the crossing point and I know where it is.” My colleague told him:” Yes, yes, yes, yes.” - When we eat, we went further away, into the hidden part of forest into the bushes and stayed there and waited for night to fell. My companion said:” He said to go there and he will take us”. I told him:” You are stupid!” If he will take you across, he will take you to the area I have already done. So, we waited night to fell, and then, took this dirt road, today probably is asphalted road. I know there was some spring of fresh water down there. After, I have never been taking this road again, one day I will I hope. And every time when a car supposed to passed, we were prepared to hide. So, that all night we were walking and not any car has been passed through. For that reason we choose night. Not one single car, not a lorry, nothing has passed along this road that night. It means, the offer to help us was just a bait to catch us. And I, tell you, we came to this factory. I do not know what kind was. So, we passed behind. - That is in Koper? - That is in Koper. All night we walk. -From Buzet to Koper you walked? - From Buzet to Koper. - Through the bushes? -No, we took the road! - To dirt road? - To dirt road. And every time when a car supposed to passed, we were prepared to hide. Otherwise they could catch us. Then we went to this famouse factory, we did had some hear – say directions, how to escape, and when came behind, we saw we are close as the army start to move from watching point. As I said before, we went behind this wall, and we hide. Then we and came behind the barrack and listen what they were saying, as window was open, because it was a summer time. So, we came to a valley and there we are! Then we were saved. We came to Italy. Over there one Italian farmer was cultivating, so when he saw us he asked us do we have any cigarette. We gave him a cigarette so he gave us a few liras. Then we came to Trieste, we bought a ticket for a train to Ventimiglia, where we came. In Ventimiglia uncle waited for my colleague, with motor bike. Uncle went with him on a motor bike, and drive away to Nice. Me, I was left there alone."