Warren Commission (09 of 26): Hearings Vol. IX (of 15)United States. Warren Commission
History
Warren Commission (09 of 26): Hearings Vol. IX (of 15)
United States. Warren Commission
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 -- Assassination; Oswald, Lee Harvey
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. So from Leningrad, during the occupation by the
Germans of Minsk, you see, we escaped from the Communists in Leningrad,
and moved to Minsk back again, because it was German occupied.
Mr. JENNER. This was in World War I?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes, in World War I. That was in 1918 or 1919. I
don't remember exactly what year it was. That area was still occupied
by the Germans. Anyway, there was famine in Moscow, or Leningrad, I
don't remember which one---there was famine there. So we escaped.
Mr. JENNER. Did your whole family escape to Minsk?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I don't remember what my brother was doing at the
time. I think--I think just my father, mother, and myself. I think my
brother was in the Naval Academy at the time.
Mr. JENNER. I want to ask you about your brother in due course.
He is about 12 years older than you?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes--11.
Mr. JENNER. A man of some scholarly attainment, by the way.
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. He certainly is. He loves books.
Mr. JENNER. Now----
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Anyway, we escaped from the famine, frankly,
more than communism, and moved back to Minsk--whether we had a house,
or I don't remember, but we had some possessions there. And we arrived
there. And from then on we stayed there, although the Communists
eventually occupied Minsk. Then my father was put in jail. I will make
it short.
Mr. JENNER. Please--that is all right. I don't mind the shortness. But
I want times. About when was your father put in jail?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. The first time in 1920, I think.
Mr. JENNER. And you were still with your family then?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. At this time you were 9 years old.
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. Your mother was still alive?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. Your father was seized?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. By whom?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. By the Communists, by the Communist regime.
Mr. JENNER. Why was he seized?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. For being outspoken, I guess. I remember--the
first time I don't remember, frankly. But the second time I remember
very well, because this is very interesting. He was seized the first
time. Then the Polish Army arrived--the Poles and the Russians were
fighting at the time. And at the last moment the Communists released
my father, because of the intervention of some friend, you see. And we
always had some friends whom we had protected once upon a time, who
always came and helped him at the right moment with the Communists,
because many Jewish people he had helped became Communists, or halfway
Communists. They helped him. And that is how eventually we were able to
escape from Soviet Russia.
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