Viktor Aleksandrovich Amerikov

Story

Viktor Aleksandrovich Amerikov and his wife Elena Ivanovna (Kazakova) Amerikova were captured and imprisoned by the Germans in early 1942 on Ukrainian soil (Zaporozhe). My father at the time was a Russian ‘tankist’ in the Russian Army and a qualified electrical engineer and my mother was a seamstress.

They were transported by rail to a POW camp on the outskirts of Munich, where the only way to stay alive was to use the skills that they had i.e. my father – fixing electrical equipment and fences and my mother – sewing clothes and cooking for those prisoners in the camp and the German soldiers and any prisoners that arrived from the concentration camps. They were in the camp in Germany from 7th April 1942 – 5th March 1945.

When the war was over, they were freed by the Americans, as they were in the American quarter. They remained in the camp for another 3 years until paperwork was completed. During this time their first daughter Liudmilla Amerikova was born 20/5/1947. They were then given an apartment in Munich. Returning to Russia was futile as Stalin was then in power and anyone that had been in POW camps and worked there to survive was classified as a traitor. Anyone who returned under these circumstances was deported to Siberia and families were split up. My father was given 4 choices, America, Canada, Australia or returning to Russia. They chose Australia. Why? Mainly because they had never heard of Australia. All they knew was that it was safe, warm, very far away and had bananas; even though they didn’t know what bananas were.

They departed Naples Italy on 20th February 1949 and arrived in Sydney Australia on the 20th March 1949 on the General Omar Bundy – Sequence numbers 20, 21, 22. The journey was long and tiring, especially with a 2 year old. On reaching Australian shores my mother sold her warm fur coat for a bunch of bananas, took a bite and never ate them again until many years later.

On migrating to Australia my father was classified as an international refugee and held this status until the 7th June 1951 whereupon he was given a Certificate of Authority to Remain in Australian with his wife and daughter. In 1956 my father and his family became Australian citizens. His 2nd daughter, Suzanna Veronika Amerikow was born on the 11/12/1959. He worked for various companies in various positions.

Australian Glass Manufacturers Company P/L – 1951 – 1952 – Electrical Assistant

Thom & Smith Ltd – 1952 -1954 – Wirer

AWA Amalgated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd – 1954 – 1958 – Radio Tradesman

1968 – 1970 – Radio Tradesman

1970 – 1970 – Technical Assistant

Admiral of Australia P/L – 1958 – 1960 – Television Technician

Bendix Electronics – 1960 – 1961 – Electronic Technician and Testing

H.G. Palmers – 1961 – 1968 – T.V. Mechanic (Road Service)

Swift & Bleakley P/L – 1971 – 1972 – Electronics Technician

Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board – 1972 – 1983

Electronics Radio Tradesman and Instrument Maker and Tester – Retired.

Throughout his lifetime he continued studying and furthering his work expertise. My mother worked as a seamstress with a company call Kauffman in Sydney designing and sewing men’s suits.

They both loved the opportunities that were being offered to them as migrants and their children and now grandchildren. For any migrant coming to a new country it is always very daunting; learning the cultures, the language and finally adjusting. Missing ones homeland is very common and to be expected. They were very grateful for the second chance at life that they were given in Australia. However my father was a great believer in that you should never forget your roots. They did a lot of work with and for the Russian Club / Society in Sydney. They spoke Russian in the home; their younger daughter attended Russian School and their grandchildren also attended Russian school.

On behalf of my parents, I would like to thank them for choosing Australia as their home and for instilling in their children / grandchildren to love this great nation but also treasuring their roots.

My father passed away on the 4 December 1998 / Ulladulla NSW Australia

My mother passed away on the 19 April 2004 / Canberra ACT Australia

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