Life in the DP Camp

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After the trauma of the war, the DP camp provided the family with a welcome respite. However, with millions of refugees scattered throughout Europe, they knew that they would be in for a long wait before their eventual fate could be resolved.

In the meantime, they tried to live as normal a life as possible.

With exile in a foreign land inevitable, everyone had to attend language classes and learn new skills.When my mother wasn't attending classes as a student of the Latvian Grammar School in Oldenburg,she doubled as a schoolteacher.My grandfather Janis took a course in motor mechanics whilst Raimonds was introduced to the field of elctronics which became his career in later life.

Some family and friends, separated during the mass exodus from Latvia, were re-united. My mother's friend Ausme Lamberta, from Liepaja, turned up at Ohmstede for a happy re-union.

In the end the Dizgalvis family only spent 14 months in the DP camp before they were selected for passage to England. These were again emotional times for everyone. The feelings of loss and separation felt when leaving Latvia would be re-kindled.New friendships that had grown in the camp would be cast aside as people went their separate ways.

On the 7th November 1946, Anna, Zina and Raimonds boarded the ship 'Emp. Holladale' for their final destination.They set foot in England, their new home, on the 11th November 1946. Janis was to follow shortly after.

Zina the schoolteacher	Camp Commander pays a visit
Janis Studying	Presentation for author Janis Veselis
Waiting to depart	England here we come!

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Created by Viktors Vins viktor.vins@ntlworld.com