Memories of the Abyss

Chapter 4: IN BRZEG NAD ODRA

Brzeg nad Odra

Summary

The train ride was very fascinating in the perspective of William. They got to know some other Jewish survivors. The train stopped in the middle of nowhere and everyone had to get off. People were walking in different directions, but the Jewish brothers they met were going to a place called Brzeg nad Odra. The brothers offered William and his family to join them. William accepted the offer enthusiastically. William picked an apartment on the second floor which used to be owned by Germans. Later onwards, William got a liquor license through bribe of course. He found an empty store and was set to sell liquor. There was a big problem in William’s apartment though, it was filled with landmines. William did not know if they were live munitions so he got two soldiers to remove them. William’s business was a success, everyone came to enjoy a nice drink and some deli products. He went into a black market business for a small amount of time, but later stopped because it was getting too risky. One day Tusia or Renate was playing outside then suddenly William heard an explosion. It was a cow that stepped on a landmine, William was scared that Tusia might have been killed so he got some soldiers to find her, offering them a drink and sweets for a reward. Luckily, they found her and everything was fine. As time went on more Jews came to Brzeg and they formed a club. However, with an increase in Jews there was the start of anti-Semitism. Some Jews would get beat up and injured greatly. After all this, William decided to get out of Poland. He had an idea to get American dollars so he drove to Berlin with a friend who was a soldier. On their way back they got stopped by two Soviet soldiers. There was money in the car and the National bank got robbed recently. It turned out that William’s two associates purchase black market stolen money so all three of them were arrested. Eventually, William and his associates were released, but illegally. William his money and documents in the process but it was worth it. They went to the Jewish Community Centre to ask the chairman if he could help them out of this mess. He agreed only on one condition: that a portion of the money be donated. They were told to go back to Poland and wait for the money and documents to come. However, getting to Poland was not easy, there were Soviets everywhere and William did not have his documents to get back. A girl offered to help them get to Poland only if they could protect her. William and his associates agreed. They found a way on the train headed to Poland, but a terrible commotion broke out. The Soviet soldiers were robbing and beating the Germans and raping German women. Finally, William got home to Charlotte. They faced reality and knew that they could not last in the anti-Semitic environment of Brzeg. William decided to move to Palestine. It was free transportation because the organizers felt like they owed William for giving them jobs.

Reflection

When reading these few pages what really surprised me was that the hatred never stopped. Even after the war, the Poles were still anti-Semitic. Brzeg was a good and bad experience for William. He was able to support his family from the fortune he made from his store, but he was forced to live in a an anti-Semitic environment.

What I realized when reading this chapter was that the Soviets were no different than the Nazis. The Nazis were brutal with people who were non-Aryans, but Soviets were brutal to the Germans. I ask myself when will this hatred stop?

When I found out there was an explosion outside the liquor store my heart stopped. I knew that little Renate was playing there and I was hoping she didn't die. Thankfully she did not.

I was relieved when William was released from prison, he did not do anything wrong yet the Soviets needed to find a reason to keep him there.

I was happy when William decided to go to Palestine. That place is filled with many Jews and at least there William and his family would be treated properly.