I was there.
Petre Pandelică was born into a settled (meaning non-nomadic) Romani family from the south of Romania. He was deported along with his parents and siblings to Transnistria in 1942.
By the end of war in 1945, Petre was eventually able to return to Romania. Having no house in Romania to return to, Petre joined the army and moved to Transylvania in northern Romania.
Petre and two of his brothers were the sole survivors of the family.
Petre Pandelică (1927), Romania
My Family (1927-1941)
Petre Pandelică talks about his family and what life was like before the war.
1) Listen to Petre Pandelică as he talks about his family and what life was like before the war. Then answer the questions.
1a. What did you learn about the living conditions of Petre Pandelică’s family?
1b. What was the difference between being employed by the state and working in their own home?
Deportation to Transnistria (1942)
Petre Pandelică talks about deportation to Transnistria.
2) Listen to Petre Pandelică as he talks about deportation to Transnistria. Then answer the questions.
2a. What did the family have to endure in Transnistria?
2b. What is Petre Pandelică referring to when he says that they were treated like animals?
2c. Why do you think the gendarme treated the people who had been deported so cruelly?
In the Transnistrian Camp (1942-1944)
Petre Pandelică talks about the situation in the Transnistrian camp.
3) Listen to Petre Pandelică as he talks about the situation in the Transnistrian camp. Then answer the questions.
3a. What kind of sufferings afflicted them in the camp?
3b. How they were treated by the guards?
Returning to Romania (1944)
Petre Pandelică talks about his return to Romania.
4) Listen to Petre Pandelică as he talks about his return to Romania. Then answer the questions.
4a. Under what circumstances did they return home from the camp?
4b. What happened when they got home? Did Petre Pandelică feel glad to be back?