1936 – August 1940


In 1936 at the height of the autumn harvest, Euphrosinia's father died. His creditors turned up with their claims; but instead of accepting their heavy repayment schedules she contracted with the State Federal Bank to export high-quality gain, and with the loan granted by the bank she repaid all of the family debt. The farm continued to flourish.

World War II broke out in September 1939. In 1940 Euphrosinia's brother Anton was called up for service in the French Army and was sent to the front. In May he was reported as killed in action, and separately as missing in action. Both reports were wrong. Anton was wounded and returned to Paris.

The USSR-Germany Non Aggression Pact, signed on August 23, 1939, provided for the annexing of Bessarabia by the Soviet Union. However Stalin delayed doing so, as Rumania had an alliance with France. Stalin's hand was freed by the defeat of France by the Nazis in May and June 1940.

Euphrosinia's estate was not far from the city of Soroca. On June 28, 1940 the Russian Army reached the city after crossing the Dniester River from the Ukraine. From there they went on to occupy the whole territory of Bessarabia, which on the 2nd. August became part of the Moldovian Soviet Socialist Republic.

A wave of arrests and repression began immediately. In July 1940 Euphrosinia and her mother were evicted from their own home; their entire property was confiscated. The same happened to her father's younger brother, Boris Kersnovsky; he left for Rumania with his large family. Euphrosinia also sent her mother to Rumania, to relatives in Bucharest, so as to preserve her from hardship.

Euphrosinia wanted to become a responsible full citizen as quickly as possible and to work effectively enough to bring her mother back and surround her with care. She registered as a farm labourer and so received back from the Soviet authorities a small portion of her own equipment. She set out to find work, but because she was classed as a former landholder she had been stripped of all rights, including the right to steady employment; this restricted her to seasonal work as a farmhand at the Soroki Agricultural College.

A series of drawings and paintings is provided with the above text.
  
Album 1. Section 1