The Diary of František Josef Geisler: A Czech Escape Across Europe, December 1939 – April 1940 (English Translation)

Key points

Language detected: English (translation from Czech).

• The diary traces a perilous escape route starting in Brno, Czechoslovakia, moving through Slovakia into Hungary, and culminating in Budapest, during December 1939. It highlights border crossings, the use of intermediaries, interactions with officials, and the precarious efforts to obtain passage or asylum in Western Europe. Page: N/A
• It offers a vivid portrait of refugee life under strain: scant funds, limited meals, improvised living arrangements, and the emotional toll of being separated from one's homeland. The narrator describes being mistaken for a Polish refugee, the burdens of dealing with consular authorities and guards, and the constant sense of danger in a landscape dominated by shifting political pressures. Page: N/A
• The entries also reflect resilience and critical observations: moments of solidarity from Slovak associates, pragmatic decisions to endure hardship, occasional humor amid fear, and a persistent hope for restitution and return to the homeland, including plans to cross into Yugoslavia. Page: N/A

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