Memories of the Abyss

Chapter 3: UNDER THE SECOND SOVIET OCCUPATION

Soviets Defeating Nazis

Summary

William and Charlotte entered the city on Sapierzynska, the main street, where they went to William’s parent’s house. It was occupied by the maid who gave Charlotte and William a hot meal. They then visited Rutka who is a pharmacist and found out that William’s former boss at the recycling yard (Edzio had survived). The next morning the couple went job hunting. William got a job at a power station and Charlotte got a job at a pharmacy. They got advances in salary and a place to stay. It was decided that it would be best for the baby to come home, it was hard for the baby to transition from one environment to the other. However the baby received lots of love from Charlotte and William. Asides from that, William was so angry at the Germans that he wanted to kill them, therefore he tried to join the army. That soon failed. He thanked everyone who helped him sell his family’s possessions. He also found a way to get food, through bartering. After  long time, the Soviets conquered what is known as Western Ukraine. The Soviets then declared everyone as a citizen and they had the right to be drafted in the Red Army. Both William and Charlotte were accepted into the army and made some new friends along the way. In April, 1945 Berlin was taken over by the Red Army and Hitler committed suicide. It was the most glorious moment of William’s life. Charlotte and William decided it would be a good idea to move out west. So, they quit their jobs and left. On the train, William drank a bottle thinking it was vodka, but it had 30% peroxide so he started foaming. Luckily, there was a doctor that saved him. After that situations, the Tannenzapf family was on their journey to start a new life in the west!

Reflection

From rock bottom to the top, William went through it all. As soon as the Soviets put in the new laws, the Jews became more respected and got their jobs back. When William got the job at a power station I was surprised that nobody discriminated against him. I guess everyone was so surprised a Jew survived. 

What really surprised me was that around twenty-five thousand Jews lived in Stanislawow and after the Germans took over there were little over a hundred left. The Nazis were successful in annihilating all these Jewish people. 

Charlotte and William did a great job in staying afloat (financially) with a baby. Hats off to them. However, I never understood why they decided to leave Stanislawow, because they had great jobs, had friends, and they were respected by society. Although, I  think they have a good reason for doing that and I will soon find out.