December 26 (Saturday)
Thank God, we got a fire at last. Looks so small but cost us a thousand. At least, it will be warm now if we manage to get any firewood. Otherwise, nothing new.
December 27 (Sunday)
Today, we bought half a meter of firewood for 1500 roubles. This is not expensive. But we had to carry them all by ourselves. Now we have the fire and firewood. Under our calculations we should last with this until March.
December 28 (Monday)
The air is dry and pleasant – no snow this December. Otherwise, everything is the same. No, it used to be cold and now it is warm. Ah, it feels so good. I have a new job. I sit and look after the fire. The job is nice, but I have to fight Vitas sometimes. But this doesn’t matter. I collect the creative work of the ghetto. Very nice songs.
December 29 (Tuesday)
We were spared at last – they gave us light. Despite the rumbling stomach, it is so pleasant to sit in a lit and warm room and to read a book. It’s so different from a dark and cold room that reminded more of a basement
December 30 (Wednesday)
I haven’t mentioned Mr. Gaistas. Sorrowfully, I must say that he has died. I feel sorry for him, but my heart is not as sentimental as it used to be. We are all going to die sooner of later.
December 31 (Thursday)
A grim night of the New Year’s Eve. Our destiny is being determined. Will we see the sun in 1943? We try to be cheerful, but we are not very successful in this. We do not want to break the traditions, therefore we are at least preparing a better dinner tonight. Can you imagine? We even have sour cabbage! Gunshots can be heard a midnight. Thus the city celebrates the New Year. But we are silent and we do not hear all of this. We have fallen asleep long before the midnight.
1943
January 1 (Friday)
I hail you, new morning! What do you bring? Is it joy or is it suffering? A resolution signed with our blood or forgiveness as a New Year present? Our destiny was written this dark night without the stars – the memory of it will stay with us until our dying day.
January 2 (Saturday)
Our workers were given two days off on the occasion of the New Year. All works have been finished in the airport. Only women go there now.
Men were appointed for another kind of servitude – the construction of the Green Bridge. Work there is very hard, therefore people are being rounded up for the Green Bridge just like last year for the works at the airport.
January 3 (Sunday)
Hitler gave a speech. He did not forget us as always. But his tone has changed compared to the last year! A great battle is going on at Velikiye Luki. The city goes from hand to hand. Even Stalingrad is rarely mentioned in the paper.
January 4 (Monday)
We had a lot of snow. Father was in the city and brought back a lot of stuff. Again, we have contacted a few Lithuanians we know.
January 5 (Tuesday)
Vitas stopped going to Sargėnai. He gave back his card and it’s over. He now goes from one brigade to another like a vagrant. Mommy is not well: she has a fever and she has such a huge boil that she cannot sit down. I work non-stop.
January 6 (Wednesday)
The air is warm, but we have lots and lots of snow.
January 7 (Thursday)
We are doing pretty well. Father started earning more. We also have support from the city. It’s far better than last year. The room is drier. Last year, we had water dripping from the ceiling. But it is still very damp. Water is seeping down the windows and walls. You never know what malady you can get in such an apartment.
January 8 (Friday)
The mood is ill. Rumours are coming about actions in Vilnius and Riga. We fear that something similar might be carried out here. Pretty horrific.
January 9 (Saturday)
The frost has come. My God, the feet are dead with cold. Well, my fellows, it’s not the last time the winter is showing its power. It was too early to celebrate. The room is not too warm either. Well, we are gone.
January 10 (Sunday)
Lots of work with the firewood. Every Sunday, we saw it and chop it for the whole next week. The firewood we bought was not first-grade – quite wet. We took our case of the lost suit to the court. It’s stupid.
January 11 (Monday)
Its -15° today. We are counting the days to March. We can’t wait for the spring. We got a portion of horsemeat which does not give much appetite. We don’t have a single drop of fat. Vitas works in a brigade, but he as well might not, as he does not bring much stuff home anyway.
