The Road to Liberation: Trials and Triumphs of WWII

by Marion Kummerow

  Rachel told them a little about their journey from Germany to England but they both sensed the young girl kept the worst of the details to herself.

  “Next stop is ours. Come on everyone.” Maggie stood up, shaking her skirt as the crumbs from their picnic fell.

  Tomas hesitated, shooting a question at Rachel. She answered him, before translating.

  “He wanted to know if Heinz is getting off now, too.”

  So, he had seen his brother get on the train.

  Sally answered, “Yes, he will be staying near our village.”

  “Will we get to see him?” Rachel asked.

  Was there something between Rachel and Heinz? They were of a similar age, she guessed.

  “The farm is quite far from the village but the farmer brings his family to church on Sunday. There’s the farmers’ market too, on Saturday.”

  “Church? You will make us go to this place?” Rachel asked, a worried expression on her face.

  Sally hadn’t given it any thought. She glanced at Maggie for guidance, but the older woman shrugged.

  “I think you should discuss it with Reverend Collins, Rachel.” At the paleness of her face, Sally added. “I don’t believe you will be forced to attend if that is something against your beliefs.”

  Rachel sighed. “I don’t think Papa would like it.” At the abject misery in her face, Sally risked giving her a hug.

  “Sweetheart, you will be well looked after at the Reverend’s. Maggie is a wonderful woman.”

  She didn’t know if Rachel understood everything that she’d said but the girl looked a little relieved, giving Sally a weak smile.

  The whistle announced they’d arrived. Rachel carried Liesl, so Sally gathered the bags together taking them down from the luggage rack. Ruth took Tomas’ hand and led him off the train, following Rachel. Sally glanced around their seat to check for anything left behind.

  “Shouldn’t be bringing those foreigners over here. Got enough kids of our own, don’t we?”

  Sally looked up but the man who’d spoken wasn’t speaking to her. He was talking to the person sitting opposite him.

  “Germans they sounded like. Never forget that language. Heard enough of it in the trenches. What’s a bunch of Gerrie’s doing, coming here, then?”

  Sally had heard enough. “Those children are on the run for their lives. The least you can do, Sir, is have a little heart.”

  With her heart racing, Sally stepped down from the carriage and slammed the door shut behind her. The satisfaction didn’t last long. Was that the welcome that awaited these poor children? Couldn’t people understand Hitler was their enemy too?

  15

  Heinz changed his name to Harry, as it sounded more English and he refused to be German anymore. Hitler had taken his home, his family, and left him with nothing.

  He hated it at the farm. The beds were lumpy and the room freezing. They had to use the outside lavatory, which was no fun, especially when it seemed to do nothing but rain.

  He dreamed of crunchy rolls with butter and jam while eating mouthfuls of tasteless porridge. Starving most of the time, he couldn’t get used to having a sandwich at lunchtime instead of dinner. That was served in the evenings but the portion sizes for him and the boys were too small to fill them up. The farmer was a grumpy git who’d lost his older brothers in the first war. He called Heinz and the other boys names, the nicest of which was “Germans” and he often hit them.

  One of the other boys had hit the farmer back but that didn’t stop him. The police had been called and the boy taken away by someone in uniform. Not that different from Germany really. He thought about running away but Tomas was close by. Regardless of what he’d said to his brother in the train station, he’d made a promise to look after him and that was one he was going to keep.

  The farmer insisted the boys join the family at church on a Sunday. Harry didn’t protest. Not that he was interested in prayer or converting but it took him into town. He wondered if the woman would make Tomas go to church but the first couple of times, his brother wasn’t there.

  One day, all his hours of boredom finally paid off.

  “Heinz! Heinz!” Tomas had broken away from the woman and raced across the street. His brother spoke rapidly to him in German, telling him Rachel and Ruth Bernstein were staying with the Reverend and he got to see them every day. Rachel came to see Liesl. It seemed the woman didn’t know much about taking care of babies.

  “I knew you’d come into town someday. I told Aunty Sally you wouldn’t stay away. How are you?”

  Despite himself, Harry picked up his five-year-old brother and threw him into the air as he had done in the past. Tomas giggled saying, “More, more,” as Harry repeated the action.

  Then he set him on his feet. “You’ve grown,” Heinz exclaimed.

  “Aunt Sally feeds me all the time. She’s really nice. Heinz, why can’t you come live with us?”

  “Because I can’t. My name is Harry now. Don’t call me Heinz anymore.”

  Tomas drew back at his tone. Harry kicked himself. He reached out but Tomas pushed his hand away.

  “Papa wouldn’t like it.” With that Tomas strode across the street without looking back. Harry called him but he didn’t stop. The farmer shouted at him to get into the church.

  Harry glowered at the Reverend the whole way through church. It was his fault for bringing them to this village. They should have left him and Tomas alone. They could have gone with the rest of the boys. Then he might not ache all over the place, his hands cut to shreds. But most of all, he might still have a brother.

  After service, the Reverend greeted everyone as they left. The farmer shook his hand as did the wife, both thanking the minister for the good service. Harry walked past the outstretched hand.

  When they got back to the small cart the farmer used to save on petrol, Harry got a cuff around the back of the neck. “Treat your betters with more respect, boy. Englishmen are gentlemen.”

  Harry stared sullenly into the distance. Nothing this man did could come close to the pain inflicted by missing his brother. Only when the farmer was deep in conversation with his wife, did Harry close his eyes. Then he allowed the memories to come. Papa laughing by the fire, Papa gazing at Liesl, his eyes lit up in wonder. Liesl looking at him on the train, the protective feelings that she raised in him. He’d let Papa down. The last thing Papa had said was to mind his brother and sister. A sole tear ran down his cheek. It was pointless thinking of Papa. What did one promise matter, when everything had changed beyond recognition?

  16

  3rd September 1939

  Tears filled Sally’s eyes as she turned off the radio to the sounds of “God Save the King.” Her hand caressed the top of her prized possession. Closing her eyes, she could see Derek’s smile as he presented her with the gift that last morning before he left. “Derek, darling, be safe. I love you,” Sally whispered, before saying a quick prayer to keep her husband safe and make the war short, so he could come home.

  Her backdoor banged, as Maggie arrived in, closely followed by Rachel and Ruth.

  “I know we expected the news but I can hardly believe we’re officially at war. The girls wanted to be near Tomas and Liesl.” Maggie’s look spoke volumes.

  Sally forced her voice to sound cheerful. These children had been through enough already. They didn’t need to see her crying.

  “Rachel, you know the way. Off you go while I make Maggie a cup of tea. I made some cake yesterday so I will give that to you later.”

  “Thank you, Aunt Sally.”

  Sally smiled. Tomas had started calling her Tante Sally. She’d corrected his German automatically. Soon all the children called her Aunt Sally.

  She closed the door behind Rachel as Maggie took a seat at the table, picking at imaginary crumbs on the tablecloth. Sally knew Maggie was just agitated and not finding fault with her housekeeping.

  “What will happen now, Sally? To those poor children? They won’t be able to send
letters to Germany or get any from their parents. Rachel’s had a couple from her mother. She doesn’t say a lot but always asks Rachel to try to find her a job in England. We were working on it but now it’s too late, isn’t it?”

  “Maybe she got out before they shut the borders?” Sally knew it was unlikely, but she hated to see Maggie upset.

  “I don’t think so. Reverend Collins was in tears earlier. They had another train ready to leave from Prague. I don’t know why it was delayed but it was. Now it’s too late. All those children are stuck under the rule of the Nazis. Oh dear God, Sally, what’s to become of them?”

  Maggie broke down as Sally pulled her into her arms. She hugged the older woman letting the storm of weeping pass.

  “Maggie, dry your eyes. We can’t let the children see how upset we are.”

  “I am so selfish. You are much stronger than me and you, with your Derek at war. I should be comforting you, not the other way around.”

  “You support me every day of the week and twice on Sundays.” Sally smiled through her tears. “It’s true. Who taught me how to look after two youngsters? I couldn’t cook for them if it weren’t for you teaching me when I was younger. I owe you a lot, Maggie Ardle, and you know it. Derek will be fine, just as those amazing children will be too. At the end of the war, we’ll find their parents and reunite them. In the meantime, we just have to keep them fed and watered and give them lots of cuddles.”

  “You make them sound like farm animals.” Maggie gulped some tea, burning her mouth in the process. After a glass of cold water, she recovered her composure. “Reverend Collins is worried about something else.”

  “What?”

  “Tomas’ older brother and the boys like him. He said he saw Heinz at the church on Sunday. The boy was barely civil to him. Not at all like the well-mannered young man Tomas is. He says he is very pale, with large, dark circles around his eyes. He looks thinner than he did when he arrived on the train. He implied he might be working too hard.”

  “Working at what?” Sally’s legs wobbled. “Are you saying Reverend Collins thinks those boys are being mistreated on the farm?”

  “He didn’t say that, as such.”

  “But he implied it. We have to do something Maggie. We can’t let that horrible woman mistreat those boys. They’ve suffered enough.”

  “But what can we do? I can’t offer Heinz or any of the boys a home, not when we have the girls living with us. It wouldn’t be proper, especially as the rectory isn’t big enough and they aren’t related by blood.”

  Sally stirred her tea. She could see still see Tomas’ brother, as clearly as if he stood in front of her. So proud and brave, trying to hide his pain. Rachel had confided, in her, about Tomas meeting Heinz on the street.

  “Did you know he’d changed his name. Told Tomas his new name was Harry. Heinz didn’t exist.”

  “The poor lad, he must be trying to fit in. There is a fair bit of anti-German feeling around from the last war. It’s not going to get any better. We have to do something for them, Sally. One of us should take a trip out to the farm.”

  “And do what? We can’t go trespassing. Constable Halton would have our guts for garters.”

  Maggie picked up her cup, cradling it in her hands. “I remember Jack Halton when he was smaller than your Tomas. Leave him to me. Now, what reason do you have for visiting?”

  “Me?”

  “I can’t go. Reverend Collins wouldn’t like it.”

  Sally choked on her tea, causing it to spurt out of her mouth, in a very unladylike manner. “Maggie Ardle, you never let that stop you before.”

  Maggie wouldn’t look her in the eyes. She stared at her friend until Maggie gave in.

  “Okay, you got me,” Maggie admitted. “I’m afraid if I go and find the boys mistreated, I will not be able to control my temper. You know Aggie Dalton winds me up just by looking at her. She’s a horrid, old bat.”

  Sally knew the two had history and the comments the farmer’s wife had made about Maggie never having children were just one of many such snide remarks made over the years.

  “Okay, I will go but can I take Rachel? I don’t know how much English Heinz or Harry, or whatever he wants to be called, can speak. I know he understands more than he lets on.”

  “Yes, take Rachel. I’ll mind Liesl and Tomas. That’s settled. You can go tomorrow if it's dry.”

  Sally glanced at Maggie but her face looked innocent enough. Yet, she was left with the feeling Maggie had planned this outcome before she’d even walked into Sally’s house.

  17

  The next morning, Sally dropped off Liesl and Tomas at the Rectory. Rachel and herself set out on the walk to the farm. Sally had planned on riding a bicycle but Rachel wasn’t keen. Still, it was a bright, dry day, so a walk would do them both good.

  “So, how are you settling in? Are the children nice to you at school?”

  “Yes, most are. The teachers too. It is some parents who find it hard to be pleasant. They do not smile.”

  Rachel wasn’t smiling much either. Sally guessed she was worried about her mother.

  “Maggie said you were waiting on news of your mother.”

  “Yes. But the letter did not come. No telegram either. Now the borders are closed. She won’t get out. They will take her away. Like Papa.”

  “It might be different for women, Rachel. Your mother is likely to have lots of friends. Maybe some will be able to help her. Don’t lose hope.”

  “You are kind, but it is hard. I try to tell Ruth everything will be fine but I am old enough to understand. Mama and Mrs. Beck wouldn’t have sent us away if there was no danger. Trudi, Mrs. Beck, she knew some people. They warned her to leave but it cost money. She didn’t have enough for everyone, so she spent it on the children. Mama did the same.”

  Sally didn’t know what to say to comfort the girl. She didn’t want to make false promises. Rachel was not a child. At her age, most English girls were out working. But for her need to learn English, Rachel could have found a job in a store or factory or something.

  “What would you like to do, Rachel? When you are older, I mean?”

  “I would like to be a doctor but that dream will cost too much money. Maybe I could go nursing. I think they will need nurses in Palestine.”

  “You want to go and live in Palestine?”

  “Yes, among my people. My brothers, Gavriel and Izsak went there, I think.” Rachel took a deep breath. “We will be safe there. I wanted to go there for years but my father wouldn’t listen to me. He not like to listen to children. He thinks he knows everything. Now he is dead.”

  Sally knew Rachel wasn’t as heartless as she sounded. It was her way to stop the hurt from destroying her. She’d seen how well the girl cared for Ruth, as well as Liesl and Tomas.

  “I think your parents did a wonderful job with you, Rachel. I would be proud to have a daughter like you. What do you think of Heinz changing his name to Harry?”

  “I think he is running away from himself. He is so angry. Has been since his father married his nanny. Heinz loved his mother, but she wasn’t a nice woman. She was very demanding and made life difficult for everyone. Or so Mama said. Trudi, Liesl’s mother, was a young girl without a family. She didn’t steal Heinz’s mother’s place. If anything, his father is to blame for what happened. I don’t believe Trudi saw Heinz's father as anything other than her boss until he, he… what you call it when men give you flowers and perfume?”

  “Courted her?” Sally was going to use the word seduced but quickly remembered Rachel, although fifteen, appeared to be very innocent.

  “Yes, he courted her. She loved the boys, not just Tomas. She and Heinz were very close but that changed when she fell pregnant with Liesl. Trudi married his Papa and that was when he started being angry with everyone. The Nazis, we can understand.” Rachel shrugged. “You cannot find a Jew who likes Hitler but with Heinz, he hates everyone.”

  “Except Tomas and you…” Sally prompted.
Rachel colored.

  “He loves Tomas. Tomas loves him too, but Tomas also loves Liesl. How could anyone not love Liesl? She is a baby. Totally innocent of everything. Heinz is stupid. Trudi sacrificed a lot to get him out of Dachau and onto that train. He has no idea.”

  “Dachau? What was that?”

  Rachel’s face whitened. She bent to pick up a stick and snapped it in two. “A camp where they sent the men after Kristallnacht. Some boys too, including Heinz and my brothers. He doesn’t talk about it. Bad things happened there. My father, Mr. Beck and other men we knew didn’t come back. Mama was told to collect my father from the police station. When she arrived, they gave her an envelope full of ashes.”

  Sally stopped walking, horrified at what she was hearing, and the fact Rachel spoke in such a monotone as if this was something that happened every day.

  “Rachel, that’s horrific. Your poor mother and you girls. I’m so sorry.”

  “They said he died from heart problems, but we heard rumors of people being murdered, being beaten up, and even tortured. I don’t know what happened to him, but he is dead. At least we know that for sure. Some people just disappear, like my brothers.”

  “I thought you said they were in Palestine.”

  “Rumors. That is all we have. They were alive when Heinz left Dachau. So, he says.”

  “You don’t believe him? He’d have no reason to lie about something like that, Rachel. Would he?”

  Rachel shrugged. “People lie all the time. Sometimes to protect you but it is still a lie. Like they said that Mama and the women would be safe. Why would they send us away if that was the truth?”

  As Rachel got more agitated, her English got worse. Sally wanted to reassure her but, how could she?

  “It was better when I could get letters. But now, nothing. I hate not knowing where Mama is.”