It turned dark, very dark, just like all the other nights before, at least the air attacks had stopped. Powerful gusts of wind broke parts of the mast off and scattered all over the deck. We all were at mercy of the raging storm, our despair of ever reaching land became reality by the minute. The ones who stood near the side of the boat were swept overboard. It was impossible to save them. I clung to the barbed wire…..
My parents and I had finally arrived at the harbour of Riga (Latvia). A small group of people were being loaded on a small cargo boat. Below the deck were prisoners reaching their hands through the barbed wire. The boat started to leave the harbour, the refugees were singing the national anthem “Dievs sveti Latviju”, ( God save Latvia). We were leaving the burning city on one side and facing the relentless sea on the other. There was no other choice……