Fire and Steel, Volume 6

by Gerald N. Lund

  “Also,” Nigel added, “just ten days from now, any Jewish child who may still be attending any school in the Fatherland—public or private—will automatically be expelled. No more education for the Jews.”

  Emilee dropped her head into her hands. “And where will it end?” she whispered.

  Nigel answered her. “As I said, it seems cruel that we share these terrible things with you when your burdens are already so heavy, Frau Eckhardt. We do so only because this provides the context now facing us. If your government were shocked at this national travesty, promising to seek out the perpetrators and bring them to justice, then we would have reason to hope. But just the opposite is true. Your leaders are doubling down, defying the world’s outcry, denying that they are the ones at fault. Hitler is really hammering back at these critics, pointing out their blatant hypocrisy. And in this I must agree with him. The nations of the world are vigorously condemning the Germans for the anti-Semitism that led to Kristallnacht, yet those same nations continue to close their borders to the thousands of Jewish refugees who are desperately trying to escape the Third Reich. Even President Roosevelt, who oozes sympathy for the plight of German Jews, had the U.S. Navy turn away a shipload of Jewish emigrants and send them back to Europe.”

  Nigel’s chest was rising and falling as he sat back. Cassie picked it up from there. “So, as Herr Bergau has said, these are the realities you are facing. Waiting for mercy, waiting for justice for the loss of your son, father, and husband, is fruitless. Thinking that someone will condemn the murder of Alemann Zeidner and release his wife and daughter from prison is a hopeless fantasy. And we must accept that reality, cruel as it is, and act accordingly.”

  Emilee was crying, but her head bobbed. “We understand.”

  That brought Nigel out of his moroseness. “This brings us to the situation at hand. The other day, we promised Benji and Lisa that we would initiate inquiries to learn two things. First, are Richelle Zeidner and her daughter Erika currently alive, and if so, where are they being held?”

  “And did you find out?” Lisa cried.

  Nigel held up a hand. “Number two, what is the status of possible investigations concerning Hans Eckhardt and Alemann Zeidner?”

  “Our efforts have produced some fruit,” Cassandra broke in, “but as you can imagine, in Germany right now, at most levels of government things are pretty chaotic. So these findings are not conclusive. We are still seeking more information, but we thought you should know what we have learned.”

  “Yes!” Emilee cried. “Oh, please.”

  Cassie took a deep breath. “The good news is that we have positive confirmation that Richelle and Erika are alive and unharmed.”

  Lisa felt her whole body go weak. “Really?”

  “Yes. That we have definitely confirmed. The other good news is that witnesses at the scene have confirmed to the authorities that neither of them took any part in the hostile action against German troops in the plaza that day. It is clear that they were simply trying to get to their husband and father. This is very important, because if they had participated, they would be guilty of treason and would likely face the death penalty.”

  “That’s good,” Lisa cried. “Right?”

  “Yes,” Nigel said. “But the bad news is that Alemann was unquestionably set on killing a Gestapo officer, which is a treasonable offense. So his wife and daughter have already been tried and convicted in the ‘people’s court’ as accomplices to treason because they did not report Alemann’s sedition to the police. They were sentenced to a minimum of five years in prison.”

  Lisa closed her eyes and began to weep.

  “According to our source, they are now being held in the women’s compound in Dachau concentration camp northwest of Munich. However, construction is currently underway on a concentration camp for female political prisoners in Northern Germany, near a village called Ravensbruck. So in a few months they will be transferred there to complete the remainder of their sentence.”

  “Oh, Leyna,” Lisa whispered. “Poor Leyna.”

  Benji drew Lisa to him as she broke down and her whole body was racked with sobs. As he stroked her hair, Benji spoke softly. “There is one small bright spot in all of this. They have found nothing in the Zeidners’ personal documents that shows they are of Jewish heritage.”

  Inga turned to him. “Which means that their Austrian papers are holding up to scrutiny?”

  “Yes,” Nigel answered. “But our source says they are examining them more closely because if he was not a Jew, why did he react so violently to the killing of the boy?” He shook his head in further disgust. “Only in Germany would you expect that the murder of another human being was a circus to be watched rather than a horror to make you sick.”

  “Which reminds me,” Cassie said. “What about Leyna’s papers? Does she have them, or was one of her parents carrying them for her?”

  Lisa answered. “She has her papers. Papa and Alemann didn’t want us making our way through the streets together, so we split up. So we each carried our own papers.”

  Nigel exhaled audibly as he looked at Cassie. “That’s good to know, though we don’t want to use them, for they will tie her to her family.”

  Cassie continued. “Though we have no evidence that this is so, we have to face the very real possibility that if the Gestapo continue to investigate Alemann’s background, they may discover his true identity, which. . . .” She shrugged.

  “Which puts our family at risk,” Emilee said in a low whisper.

  “Yes,” Cassie murmured. “That is our fear too. We don’t see that as a high likelihood at this point, but neither can we discount it yet.”

  “How long have we got?” Inga asked. “As I’m sure Benji has told you, we planned a holiday visit to America next month, with the intent that we would just stay there and ask for asylum. We are scheduled to leave in three weeks.”

  Cassie turned to Nigel, who reached up and began to massage his temples. Finally, he spoke without looking up. “Benji told us that Alemann’s source had learned that your applications for exit visas had been red-flagged.”

  That brought Emilee’s head up. “Yes, but nobody knew why. Alemann thought it might just be bureaucratic inefficiency.”

  “Yes, that was our hope too.” When her face fell at Nigel’s use of the past tense, he rushed on. “Our sources in that department are fewer and less reliable than we have elsewhere. But we were able to find out that the red flag had not been removed as of yesterday. Your paperwork is still sitting in someone’s basket waiting for final approval.”

  As Emilee and Inga exchanged stricken looks, he hurried on. “We feel terrible to keep hammering you with bad news, but here is our concern. We’ve asked our source to see if there is any way he can break those exit visas loose. If the answer is yes, then you would get your visas in a matter of a few days.”

  “But if not,” Lisa commented, feeling horror rising up in her again, “our visas could be denied.”

  Nigel’s pain was palpable. “Yes. And if they discover your father’s connections to the Zeidners, then all of you are in the same category as Richelle and Erika. Aiding and abetting are treasonous acts against the state.”

  “We don’t think that is likely,” Cassie said quickly as she watched the color drain from their faces. “We’re hoping that they have concluded that Alemann was not Jewish and will allow his body to be buried. That will end the risk of someone recognizing him. That is our hope. But. . . .” She hesitated.

  Lisa looked up at Benji and whispered, “I hate that word.”

  “But the death of your husband has made all the papers, Emilee,” Cassie said. “Which means that the emigration people will know that too. Is the reason your paperwork is sitting in a basket because they assume you won’t be going? You have to admit that after experiencing a tragedy of that magnitude, it seems somewhat strange for you and
all of your children to leave for a Christmas holiday to America.”

  When Emilee just stared at her, Benji spoke up. “Good point, but in another way, what better reason to leave? To get away from the prying eyes and curiosity seekers.”

  Cassie hesitated, then sighed. “That would be our hope, but we see the other scenario as the more likely of the two. Not to necessarily block it, but to keep it flagged at this point.”

  Nigel sighed. “And if we try to work from our end and get it expedited, it may only make the situation worse. So either way, your visas are still on hold, with no inkling of when that will change.”

  That added one more layer to the pall that hung over the family. After a long silence, Benji leaned forward. “I think that pretty well sums up the situation, Herr Bergau. So why don’t you and Frau Bergau lay out the possible options we came up with in London?”

  “If this is all bad news, I’m not sure I want to hear it,” Lisa murmured, staring at the floor.

  “No, it’s not all bad,” Nigel replied quietly. “But there’s nothing simple at this point. And the only safe way to move forward is to assume the worst in each of the situations we have described. Maybe it’s not as bad as we fear, but we can’t sit around and wait to find out. And, by the way, one bit of good news: If you do get approval to go to America, we have an associate who has assured us that he can see to it that your family, and Leyna, would qualify for asylum there.”

  “Which is a very big deal,” Benji pointed out.

  “And if they don’t approve our visas?” Emilee asked, finally looking up. “Then what?”

  Nigel smiled sadly. “We have found another option for you. Not a perfect one,” he added, “but a good one. It is a program called Kindertransport.”

  Inga leaned forward. “Children’s Transport? What is that?”

  Nigel turned to Cassie. “Frau Bergau is the one who stumbled across this, so I will let her explain.

  November 21, 1938, 8:55 p.m.—Eckhardt Home

  All right,” Cassie said, leaning forward. “Let me give you some brief background. The horror of Kristallnacht made headlines all over the world, including in Britain. There was tremendous outrage. In response to that, and to vigorous pressure from several charitable refugee organizations, the British government agreed to relax immigration restrictions for certain categories of German refugees.”

  Nigel spoke up. “Our government agreed to take an unspecified number of children under the age of seventeen from Germany and German-annexed territories.”

  “Unlike America.” Cassie shook her head bitterly. “The U.S. Congress put forth a bill to admit 20,000 Jewish children into the United States. But the bill died in committee. Guess why. One of the congressmen said that bringing in Jewish children without their parents would be contrary to the laws of God.”

  Nigel snorted in disgust. “Well, don’t get us started on that. Anyway, a day or two later, two of the charitable groups spoke to Mr. Chamberlain, our prime minister, and proposed that a program be formed to bring Jewish children out of Europe to England until conditions become safe here. The PM asked one of his staff to have Parliament look into it. A member of Parliament was then asked to draft a bill.”

  Cassie took it from there. “To everyone’s surprise, because it is rare that Parliament acts this swiftly, last night the bill was debated in the House of Commons and passed, effective immediately. The bill basically sets no limit on the number who may come as long as two conditions are met. One, this is limited to unaccompanied children because they offer no competition in a very tight labor market. Two, they must have a sponsor willing to deposit fifty pounds with the government to ensure that they will not become wards of the state.” She stopped, noting the astonished look on the faces of the three women.

  Finally, Emilee broke the silence. “Unaccompanied children?”

  “Meaning no adults?” Lisa blurted.

  “But. . . .” Inga couldn’t finish her sentence. She was too dumbfounded.

  Nigel got up and began to pace. “We know this is not ideal, but—”

  “Not ideal!” Lisa cried. “To send the children without Mama and Oma Inga?” She was looking at Cassie in disbelief. “How could you even suggest that Mama and Oma would send the children away?”

  “Because we see no other viable alternatives,” Cassie said. “To put it bluntly, Lisa, if the Gestapo discovers the relationship between your father and Alemann Zeidner, your brothers and sisters are going to lose their mother and grandmother anyway.”

  Nigel quickly came in again. “If you get your exit visas approved, then fine. You’ll be off to America. But this program starts on December 2. We have to make application for Jolanda, Nikolaus, Enrika, Hans Otto, and Leyna now if they are to be accepted.”

  “Leyna?” Benji exclaimed. “She won’t leave while her mother and sister are here.”

  “And what do you think her mother and sister would say to that?” Cassie asked softly. “Would you leave her alone when you all go?”

  “Oh.” Benji felt like a fool. Beside him, Lisa fell back, teetering between tears and anger.

  Nigel went on. “If we wait on your visas and you are turned down, it may be too late to get them in with Kindertransport. Then that option would be off the table. But our embassy colleagues in America are working right now on getting emergency visas for you and Inga. And a marriage visa for Lisa. So our recommendation is that we send the children with Kindertransport rather than risk losing that option. If your exit visas come through, then you and Inga can immediately come to London. There you will rejoin your children and Leyna and then go on to America. Remember, since you’re not Jewish, you’re not under that limited quota set by the U.S. Our friend assures us that he can get you admitted.”

  Benji turned now, looking at these three women he had come to love so much. “We have gone over and over the possibilities. This is the only one where we can guarantee getting your family to safety. All of your family. I think it is the right thing to do.”

  Lisa found little comfort in that and turned to her mother. “Five unaccompanied children, Mama? Going all the way to England? They’ll have to take a boat across the Channel and—Mama, Jo and Leyna can’t do all of that by themselves. Leyna’s still too fragile.”

  “When it says unaccompanied,” Nigel said, “that refers to parents or family members. The sponsoring organizations will send adults with each group. They won’t be alone.”

  “Hans Otto is thirteen now, Lisa,” Benji reminded her gently. “And he is a fine young man.”

  Inga turned to her granddaughter, tears making her eyes shine. “And they will be accompanied by our prayers.”

  “So you think we ought to do it, Oma?” Lisa asked finally.

  “I’m not sure,” Inga replied. “But I don’t dismiss it out of hand. There is far too much at stake here for that.”

  Emilee spoke up. “Aren’t you forgetting something? As you just said, our children are not Jewish. But Kindertransport is for Jewish refugee children.”

  “I can answer that,” Cassie said. “The bill makes exceptions for children with special cases, such as children whose parents have died or whose parents are political prisoners of the Reich, whether they be Jews or not. When we tell them that Hans gave his life trying to save his Jewish friend, and that put his children at tremendous risk, they’ll be approved. We’ll see to that.”

  “Thank you,” Inga said, her cheeks streaked with tears again. “You have thought of everything. It is hard to believe. Earlier today we had little hope. Now we have alternatives. Viable, hopeful alternatives. Thank you.”

  Nigel stood up. “Frau Bergau and I must be on our way soon. So I would suggest this. There is considerable paperwork that we must have for all five of the children. We would like to take it back to England with us. That doesn’t commit you to anything right now, because we won’t submit the applicati
ons without your permission.”

  Emilee turned and looked at her mother-in-law. Something passed between them, and Emilee turned back to them. “I think we are agreed. Let’s submit the papers, Herr Bergau.”

  “Gut, gut! It is a wise choice.” He turned to Lisa. “Do you agree?”

  She nodded without hesitation. “Absolutely. You have convinced me that this is the best choice we have.”

  “Thank you, Lisa,” Nigel said. “The paperwork will take a while. Would you be so kind as to call us a taxicab, and tell them to be here—” He looked at his watch. “—at 9:45. And once you’ve done that, Benji has something that he would like to discuss with you.”

  Lisa’s head snapped up as she groaned. “No. You can’t take him back to London. Not again.”

  Nigel chuckled. “And put my life in serious jeopardy? No, Benji is staying here, where he belongs. He will not be going back with us.”

  “Good.” She slipped her arm through Benji’s. “Actually, I’m going to chain him to his bed each night just to make sure. He has a habit of slipping away.”

  9:48 p.m.

  When Lisa returned to the living room, leaving the others in the kitchen, Benji took her hand and pointed to the sofa. As they sat down again, she drew her legs up and curled up against him. “I hope what Nigel was talking about is what I want you to talk about.”

  “Our marriage?”

  “Of course.”

  “Yes, that too.”

  She gave him a hard look. “That too? What else is there?”

  Benji’s brow furrowed and he drew in a deep breath, then let it out wearily.

  Lisa sat up straight and turned to face him. “What?” She was suddenly anxious.