Your Grandparents

I had the opportunity to meet my grandfather in Budapest in 1966, again in 1967 and in 1969. He was a former artillery general in the Royal Hungarian army, a playful, disciplined man but a total rebel. He taught me about many things when I was still a young teen, such as pouring cold water on the wrists to wake up in the morning (it works!) and that one should always respect persons who are older and expect respect from those who are younger. He also explained to me what a gentleman needs to be, at all times.

As for my grandmother I met her only once in 1966, having committed suicide a few months later (some say the Communist authorities turned on the gas). She remains famous in my mind for an incident that occurred during WW2 , when the villa she was living in was being used by retreating Waffen SS troops and an SS major asked the SS commander what to do with the family who were present  as they withdrew. He answered “Who cares what happens to Gypsies!”, to which my countess grand-mother promptly replied by administering a terrific slap across the SS officer’s face, stating in perfect German “Watch your tongue, you scoundrel”.  The SS man immediately begged for forgiveness, kissed her hand in apparent apology and walked out , humiliated.