Izor's Journey: My Grandfather's World War I Odyssey

Izor Rejtő, a young office clerk and a new father living in Budapest, Hungary, was conscripted into the Austro-Hungarian army following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914. During the course of the war, he embarked on a journey spanning 25,000 miles, where he bore witness to a spectrum of experiences, ranging from humor, horror, hope, to being a part of historical events.

His six-year odyssey comprised vivid firsthand accounts of World War I battles on the Eastern Front, including Ukraine, incarceration in Siberian POW camps, the tumultuous days of the Bolshevik revolution, and developments regarding peace treaties that would ultimately reshape the world.

The English manuscript was meticulously compiled and crafted by Izor's grandson, Laurent Rejto. Upon inheriting the weathered journal, Laurent felt a profound connection to his ancestor through the diary entries, letters, postcards, news clippings, and even dried flowers. The journey allowed Rejto to gain a deep understanding of his grandfather and the history that shaped the 20th century.