Verners Starasts was born Werner Kascherus in Insterburg, East Prussia, in 1935. His father died in uniform during the war. His mother worked as a nurse in a military hospital; staff and patients were evacuated westwards at the end of the war. Werner stayed behind with his grandmother and her two sisters. The four of them also fled west from the advancing frontline but returned to Insterburg in May 1945. By then the town had come under Soviet military authority. Ten-year-old Werner and the three women had to move house frequently and never found another permanent home again. In such a state of insecurity, they were without protection against trespassing Soviet soldiers. The worst part of it all was hunger: his grandmother and his two great-aunts starved to death, one after another. Werner had to bury the last of them himself, in the garden. From then on, he was entirely on his own. Banding together with other children, he managed to scrape by somehow or other for two years, always scavenging for food. The children were severely malnourished, weak and sick; some did not survive. LETTER FROM THE CENTRAL TRACING SERVICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS TO VERNERS STARASTS Geneva (Switzerland), 06.10.1972 ‚We are delighted to inform you that [...] we were able to trace your mother’s, Ms Margareta Kascherus’, whereabouts. Her address is as follows [...]. We enclose a letter from your mother.’ A Wolfskind in Latvia VERNERS STARASTS 218 219
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