Missing People
During World War 2, Eva lived in Czernowitz (also known as Cernăuți or Chernivtsi), Romania.
During that time the town was occupied twice by the Soviets and once by the Germans.
Help find the friends that Eva lost during that time. They are real people. They may not still be alive,
but Eva's family would love to know what happened to them.
Nutzi
First name: Nutzi
Surname: Unknown
DoB: approx 1938 (Nutzi's age is changed in the book)
Nationality: Probably Romanian
Location in 1944: Cernăuți (Czernowitz/Chernivtsi )
What We Know
Nutzi's family came from Bucharest to Cernăuți (Chernivtsi), probably in 1940, to live with her father's wealthy parents in a 'communist paradise'. When the secret police came for Nutzi's grandparents, they decided to take her father too, to make up their numbers. His distraught wife leapt out of the window and was killed, leaving young Nutzi and a sibling behind. A childless aunt took them in.
Nutzi and Eva were friends for some years, but lost touch toward the end of the war.
What happened to Nutzi?
If you find anything, email info@winterofwhispers.com
Miss Licht
First name: Alma
Surname: Licht
DoB: approx 1920
Nationality: Probably Polish
Location in 1944: Chernivtsi (Cernăuți /Czernowitz)
What We Know
Alma Licht taught a primary class in the Polish-speaking school while Czernowitz was under Soviet rule in 1940 and 1944.
She was described as 'young and beautiful'.
She worked for the resistance during the war.
She lived with her mother and aunt.
She was arrested by the NKGB, presumably because of her resistance work, in about Jan 1945.
After that the trail goes cold.
Can you find her?
If you find anything, email info@winterofwhispers.com
Miss Kukla
First name: Dzidzia
Surname: Kukla
DoB: approx 1920
Nationality: Probably Polish
Location in 1944: Chernivtsi (Cernăuți /Czernowitz)
What We Know
Dzidzia Kukla taught a primary class in the Polish-speaking school while Chernivtsi was under Soviet rule in 1940 and 1944.
She was also described as 'young and beautiful'.
She was arrested by the NKGB for refusing to work for them, in about Jan 1945.
After that the trail goes cold.
Can you find her?
If you find anything, fill in the contact form and let us know.
Rosa
First name: Ella (changed for the book)
Surname: Reisch
DoB:1923
Nationality: Romanian?
Location in 1944: Transnistria camp then Chernivtsi
What we know
Ella was Eva's babysitter. When the Germans came in 1941, Ella, her sister and mother were deported to the camps in Transnistria. Ella's mother died of typhoid.
She came back in 1944, after being released from the camp and worked for Eva's family again.
What happened to Ella?
If you find anything, fill in the contact form and let us know.
Henryk
Pochmarski
Henryk and Lenka Pochmarski
First name: Henryk
Surname: Pochmarski
DoB: around 1900
Nationality: Polish?
Location in1944: Chernivtsi (Cernăuți/Czernowitz)
What we know
Henryk was the principal at the Polish school in Chernivtsi, when it was set up by the Soviets in 1944.
He had also taught at the Polish school when it ran in 1940/41, the first time the Soviets occupied Cernăuți.
Henryk helped Eva’s family escape by turning a blind eye when Regina borrowed the school’s official stamp to fake some documents (something he could have been arrested for), then by holding reporting them missing for as long as possible.
He later returned to Poland and stayed with them in Warsaw.
After that, the trail goes
What happened to Henryk?
If you find anything, fill in the contact form and let us know.
Uncle
Olek
First name: Eliasz/Alexander (Known as Olek)
Surname: Hausmann
DoB: 14/12/1909
Nationality: Polish
Location in1944: Unknown. Went missing in Russia in 1941.
What we know
Eva's uncle was an engineer.
He married Gola Mire in 1939. They had baby boy who died of starvation.
Olek left Poland in 1941 with the Russian army and was last seen in the Crimea. He then disappeared.
You can find more about Gola and Olek here.
What happened to Olek?
If you find anything, fill in the contact form and let us know.