May 3, 1966: Man returns home after spending months in concentration camp
THIS DAY IN JOURNAL HISTORY
Construction worker Eric Schmidt returned home to Edmonton after spending a terrifying 75 days in an East German concentration camp.
Before his release, Schmidt had to forfeit $5,000 in cash and possessions.
The 31-year-old naturalized Canadian left for his hometown of Leipzig, East Germany, in December 1964. His troubles began when he decided to return to Edmonton in May 1965.
When he tried to leave, officials told him they thought he was a spy. Two days later, he was taken prisoner and sent to a concentration camp for political prisoners in Waldheim.
“They tried to get me to sign confessions that I was a spy,” said Schmidt, adding the worst part of his confinement was not knowing how long he would be detained. Others in the camp expected to remain there the rest of their lives.
He said he thought about escaping, but the concrete walls were about 4.5 metres high.
But as suddenly as he was taken prisoner, Schmidt was released.
“I was told to pack a change of clothes and was put on a train for West Germany.”
The East German government kept the 1965 Volkswagen he had bought in Edmonton, along with $1,100 in cash and about $1,500 in clothes.
He approached West German Chancellor Ludwig Erhard on the matter, but was told nothing could be done.
Schmidt arrived in West Germany with $2 in his pocket and stayed with relatives for eight months.
Finally, he appealed to his employer in Edmonton, Bernstein and Stein, which advanced him the money to return to Canada.