My Encounter with the Russian Military

All this talk of the Russians in Crimea reminds me of the time when I spent a night behind the Iron Curtain.  Don's school friend who was an auditor at the War Office was put into uniform and sent as an officer to Austria.  At that time the Allies were still in charge of Austrian affairs.  Austria was divided into Zones.  There was the British Zone, the French Zone, the American Zone and the Russian Zone.  Each one was in charge of administration in their area.

Our friend, Arthur, and his wife and family were to be in Austria for at least three years.  We gladly accepted when they invited us to stay for ten days.  We spent a night in Paris and prepared to travel overnight to Klagenfert  in South Austria. We changed trains at Basel and had supper at the station buffet.  We had some bread and two fried eggs.  I remember thinking how sensible it was to be given a spoon and a fork to eat them with.  The next train had wooden slatted seats but finding a carriage to ourselves we stretched out on either side and were soon fast asleep.  Our repose was rudely awakened when two girls got on at Salzburg and we spent the rest of the night sitting up.  It was very beautiful but very cold in the mountains.

Arthur was at the station to meet us.  After a foul tasting cup of coffee made from acorns we set off for Arthur's house which was very nice and spacious. The weather was hot and sunny  We spent the next few days sightseeing and swimming in the lake.  We visited Hochostewitz Castle on top of a mountain which was reputed to be the model for the castle in the film  Snow White.  All along the roadsides were little shrines.  The scenery was so beautiful with the mountains and lakes and wild flower everywhere.

At the weekend Arthur and his wife were invited to a Regimental dinner in Vienna.  As the Russian Zone lay between Klagenfert and Vienna this involved getting a special green pass.  Arthur managed to get passes for us too so that we could see Vienna.  They were to stay in splendour at the Schonnbrun Palace where the dinner was.  Our hotel was very much more humble.  the maid was going to look after the two very small boyswhile we were away.
We set off  early in the morning and almost met with disaster as a train rushed across the road just in front of us at an ungated level crossing.  Phew!  We went three times round a square in one town trying to find a way out watched with great interest by a traffic policeman.  Eventually we were on our way up the mountain to the Semmering Pass and the beginning of the Russian Zone.  We passed the British checkpoint and came to the Russians.  Two very young soldiers looked hard at us. scrutinised our passports and passes and disappeared with them into the hut. Great relief when he came out and returned them to us.  We set off along the road known as the British Corridor from which we must not deviate.

To be continued....