Werner Meissner Part V: Onward to El Salvador

 


After settling into his small cell, Werner realized that its doors were never closed. Although the group was locked in a prison, their respective cell doors were kept open for all to have free movement. Werner quickly decided to work in the forge and soon the prisoners had opened various workshops in the camp including areas for tailoring, carpentry, baking, and cooking. In the beginning, Werner's group in the forge did some work for the camp and under the supervision of a Mauritian native, they moved on to fixing suitcases , making sheet metal covers for the heels of shoes and other odd jobs. The latter two helped Werner to make a little extra money but honestly, it did not really matter how much they made. No one had an abundance of anything at this point....much less cash.

Soon, money from abroad started reaching the camp. Werner began taking Hebrew lessons while others prepared lectures, plays, and various interest groups. After numerous attempts to get in touch with the outside world, the group finally received word from the Jewish community in South Africa. That community sent aid in the form of books, medicine, journals as well as moral support.

Werner remembers; "It was the first ray of hope."

Life in the camp became routine and soon the group had written "PW" (Prisoners of War) on the roof of each prison building. A group of 80 young Czech men organized themselves (with the knowledge of camp administrators) with the aim of becoming volunteers in the Czech army. Werner was one of these men and together, they trained and marched within camp walls. The camp police even escorted the group to train near the beach. In 1942, the group finally left Mauritius for Durban, South Africa. Upon arriving, they were given military uniforms but were told they were not soldiers yet. Nevertheless, the men were thrilled to be away from the prison and quickly made contact with the Jewish community in Durban, reporting the true circumstances surrounding their detainment in Mauritius.

Soon, the group was transferred to Sidibischr near Alexandria, Egypt. Since Werner had previous training, he was sent within weeks to Palestine for combat duty. Within a short amount of time, he was assigned to an anti-aircraft canon position between Yochnean and Tiron. His job was to protect a refinery near Haifa from missle fire. According to his written memoirs, this was a somewhat monotonous job so when volunteers were solicited for duty in England, Werner was eager. Along with 15 others from the Mauritius group, Werner departed by train south to the Suez Canal. Eight men deserted at the train station in Gedera which produced an embarrassing situation for those remaining. Anti-semitic remarks rang in their ears for the weeks to come. Despite the tense situation, the men boarded ship for England.

Werner joined the 310th fighter's squadron and was sent to the unit immediately. A short time later, he was assigned to a mechanic's course for three months--an experience which would serve him well later on in Salvador. Despite the distraction, the fate of his family weighed heavily on Werner. Only in August 1945, one day before his departure to Prague with the rest of his unit did Werner receive a telegram stating that Erich and his parents were being sent to Prague from Siberia (where they had spent the war). The family met in Prague but quickly learned the fate of brother Kurt and the rest of the family.

After locating a stable housing situation for their parents, Werner and Erich began working in a local factory. Their mother Lotte had written her cousin Herta Freund in El Salvador, updating everyone on the family's status. The Freunds responded quickly with an invitation for the boys to travel to El Salvador. There the cousins would help the boys get settled and find employment. Erich and Werner accepted the offer "without a moment's hesitation."

In April 1948, the brothers crossed the Czech border and in May of that same year year, they arrived in El Salvador. Their ship was approached by a motorboat out of which a young man wearing a white shirt introduced himself as Ernesto Freund.

He looked at the passengers and asked; "Now which two of you are my cousins?"



Photo: From the Meissner family collection. Erich and Werner on the ship to El Salvador in 1948.