Memories from the Abyss

Chapter 2: UNDER GERMAN OCCUPATION

The city of  Stanisławów under Nazi control

Summary

As the Red Army retreated, the Hungarian Army marched in. About a month later they were replaced by German invaders. The Hungarian Army was doing a good job at fighting; however they did not protect the Jews. One could simply go into any house and steal or take whatever he wishes. In July of 1941, the Hungarian officials left Stanislawow and were replaced by German Gestapos. When the Germans took over the Jews felt very unsafe and intimidated. The Germans made a Jewish Council in order to “help” ease the tensions between the races. Prisoners were viciously beaten and either starved to death or had been executed. William’s brother-in-law was one of those victims. There were many new laws aimed at the Jews that they had to follow, they could not possess luxurious items like jewellery, silver, gold, fur coats, gloves, etc.As the Red Army retreated, the Hungarian Army marched in. About a month later they were replaced by German invaders. The Hungarian Army was doing a good job at fighting; however they did not protect the Jews. One could simply go into any house and steal or take whatever he wishes. In July of 1941, the Hungarian officials left Stanislawow and were replaced by German Gestapos. When the Germans took over the Jews felt very unsafe and intimidated. The Germans made a Jewish Council in order to “help” ease the tensions between the races. Prisoners were viciously beaten and either starved to death or had been executed. William’s brother-in-law was one of those victims. There were many new laws aimed at the Jews that they had to follow, they could not possess luxurious items like jewellery, silver, gold, fur coats, gloves, etc. Jewish men could not wear their hats; they could not walk on the sidewalk, and they every Jew was deprived of basic civil rights. Every day Jews were dying in small numbers, Charlotte’s brother and his wife were arrested for having more than the “allowed” amount of meat in their kitchen. They did not return. Later the Jews were relocated to a ghetto. They had to leave their houses and some of their expensive supplies. William worked outside the ghetto walls in the recycling yard, separating metals. When his family had moved to the ghetto, they agreed to join Uncle Fishel and his family in his apartment. The Jews were so overwhelmed by the German military power power that they could not imagine German defeat. As time went on, the Germans decreased the supply of modities and foods in the ghetto.Starvation became a major issue for the family. Charlotte and the baby were deprived of food which was very sad. Charlotte got the chance to take up a job in the recycling yard to satisfy the hunger of her baby. Uncle Fishel left his apartment to get some food, but he got shot right after a soldier spotted him. Everyday, Jews would try to smuggle items into the ghetto. Some would get shot because of that and some would go to jail. One day Charlotte tried to smuggle in a bed sheet and caught but was luckily let go. William got relocated to a different sector where his first duty was to get water for the public. Asides from that, life was hard. The ghetto policemen would be so cruel to the Jews. Back to the recycling yard, Jews found ways to get food to their families, through Polish transporters. They would transport foods from the outside of the gates. German would not visit the recycling yards frequently, but when they did it was very dangerous. There would be an alarm sound when a German approached the yard. William’s mom got deported to Belzec which is a concentration camp, although William was aware of it there was nothing he could do. Charlotte’ dad lived in an apartment by himself. He would be teased by the Germans, but he was really nice helped his daughters and sons. He later died quietly and Charlotte and William were able to burn his illegal supplies before the burial department came. William and Charlotte had to give up their baby until the war so that someone could take care of her properly. Jozia looked after their baby and persuaded Charlotte to escape the ghetto and stay in the village Pozniki with her family. The escape was successful, Charlotte boarded a train and paid the family for their help. Finally, she was reunited with her child. Even though there was good news with Charlotte, William was suffering in the ghetto. The Germans were picking up the pace of killing. The German forces were retreating by the Soviets up north, and by William’s calculations the Soviets would reach Stanislawow. They actually came in two years. Anyways, William could not wait to be with Charlotte so he made a plan to escape to Pozniki. He made it there and talked with Charlotte. Charlotte said that Jozia was a cheat and wanted to take William’s money and also she spilled the beans that they were Jews. William and Charlotte would live in the attic and would hear nasty comments from Joasia’s friends. It was very sad, they didn't even have enough clothes with them. Anyways, the Soviets were nearing Pozniki, but unfortunately a Russian traitor found William and Charlotte in the storage room. They took them outside to shoot them, but luckily a soldier stopped the shooting and said that a Gestapo needed to interrogate them. They were kept in an empty house where they were given meat to eat before they were going to be tortured by the Germans. However, William and Charlotte found a way to escape. They stayed in the woods for 3 days without food and water. They went back to Pozniki not caring if they would die, they went to Joasia’s house and she gave the couple food and shelter until one day she announced that they were free! The Soviets made the Germans retreat. They finally were able to go home, to Stanislawow.

Reflection

I find it very traumatizing that the Jews went from a normal environment where they had a job and could live peacefully to an extreme environment. Jewish people were slaughtered daily and the laws were so extreme it was almost as if they were made to ruin the Jews before death. I am very surprised that William made it that far with dying. He went through so much misery already; some of his family members have been executed. I have learnt from these pages of the memoir that life was extremely hard for these Jews in the ghettos. I am sure I would not have gotten away with half the things they got away with. William was extremely clever, he could support his family with food and other supplies without getting caught, He would find ways to do things that are unimaginable. 

This reminds me of the time I tried to sneak past my mother some candy bars from Halloween. I felt clever, but compared to the Jews in these ghettos, I was an idiot. Whatever anyone could get, they would take. They were very careful and steady, which is a key skill. The Jews only had one chance and it was a major risk, because the Germans could kill them at any time. 

What really angered me was the lack of compassion from the Germans. How can someone find pleasure from seeing children, women, men die and suffer? It shows how the Nazis were not human! William and Charlotte had to make so many sacrifices for their baby. They were willing to risk their lives in order for the safety of the baby. I am so proud of what they accomplished for the baby. They also had to go through so much to escape from the ghettos. It takes intelligence and timing to plan an escape like that.

I am extremely mad at Jozia and Joasia, even though they offered a home to the couple. They had no compassion for the couple and the baby, William and Charlotte would barely be fed and Joasia and Jozia took so much money and clothes away from them. Also, it was rumoured that Jozia  wanted William and Charlotte’s money which made me angry. This sort of makes me think back to the Japanese internment during WWII. 

Anyways, I was extremely happy when I found out the Soviets were making the Germans retreat, I was biting my nails while reading these pages because I wanted to know if William, Charlotte and their baby would survive. Thankfully, that happened and they went back home. I could never imagine the feeling of freedom, because I was never under someone else’s control in my life. In conclusion, this chapter was very dear to me, it almost made me burst into tears. However, it made me realize that in some points in life you might want to give up, but it’s about getting up that makes the difference.