Everything I have written in this diary is true. These are events I experienced and things that happened in my life, to which I bear witness. Because of my advanced age, I was able to put down only a small part of my memories; had time and strength allowed, I would have continued and written almost all of them.
I wrote what I managed to record here at my wife’s encouragement, and I am grateful to her. Throughout my life she supported and helped me to a degree that words cannot describe.