Nazi or Not

CHAPTER ONE

Ten o’clock tonight: that is the time we meet on highway fourteen near the woods beyond Cologne. I have been on quite a few missions but tonight I am extremely nervous. I try not to think about what we are to do, but yet, tonight, I know it is most important to get this accomplished. What I feel is the truth that thousands of lives are depending upon our success tonight. We have been tipped off that there is a shipment of gas, Zyklon B, to be exact, en route to Auschwitz, and the trucks carrying the load will not be German Army trucks but civilian trucks going undercover. We do know that they will be accompanied by hundreds of soldiers. We are only a force of eleven. How can we succeed? Only God and his undivided help can make tonight successful.

The hours are passing so slowly here at the library. We close at six o’clock today; it is open an extra hour a week. The war, of course, has a lot to do with the reason why we are so busy lately. People are afraid and they hide their fear through reading. It is almost common knowledge that the Germans are losing the war. Last month the Sixth Army surrendered at Stalingrad. The Americans are already at war with Japan. The newspapers that are still in operation are alerting us that the Americans are also losing. If the Americans lose the war in the Pacific, Europe will certainly fall to Adolf Hitler; and if he loses, the Russians under Josef Stalin will conquer Europe. And we feel that he will continue the war against the Jews. I am a Jew and a freedom fighter. My name is Joseph Israel.

I feel like it is taking so long for dinner. My grandmother is old but very alert. Perhaps she is taking her time to prepare something special. We had lamb, potato, carrots and bread… a good meal anytime, especially in these days. After dinner we spoke around the table. There is nothing new on the radio about the war.

The word we heard yesterday is that our troops are regrouping for a major attack on the resurging Red Army. If we defeat this army we are guaranteed victory by the Fuhrer. Time is passing quickly again. I feel that time is on a merry-go-round. First it slows up and then it speeds forward. It must be my fear that drives the carousel.

I am hurrying through the woods to meet up with the others. I spot them about fifty meters from the highway leading East. We all take our assigned spots: the two women are separated by three men on each side, and the other two men are hiding fifteen meters away from them. I am stationed twenty meters ahead of the others in order to spot the convoy first. I hear the roar of their engines coming closer. When they are past me, I am to open fire on the trucks in the middle. If I shoot at their tires, it will hold up the drive. The two men in front will open fire on the first truck, and the middle will come under fire from the interior of our party.

Everything goes as planned; we are receiving fire back at us. Klaus with his hand grenade gets the trucks that are carrying the gas. There is an explosion of deadly gas all around the soldiers, and we are shocked to see so few of them. Some of the others have taken their position in a crevice on the side of the mountain. There is luck on our side. The winds are moving the cloud towards the opening where the soldiers are positioned. Their screams I will never forget. The others are lying on the ground trying to protect themselves. Within all this confusion we regroup and make our escape back through the woods and into the safety of our homes. Only now we are eight, Klaus, Hans and Bertha are dead.

Everyone in town today is talking about the horrible smell coming from the woods near highway fourteen. The area has been blocked off and is heavily guarded. Everyone has their own idea about the incident. Most people feel the area could have been bombed, or the Germans blew up the area. Everyone talks, but no one would dare investigate. That’s what is good for my side, nobody to knowing anything. It is not the first incident to happen around our town, but it seems like the most spoken about. As far as we are concerned, we will wait a few days before anything else is done.

I came to work early to put some new filing system into operation. Our library files according to author and book title. Now we are going to try to assign a number to all books, by category and then break it down to author and book title. To give it a working start we will begin with publications, allowing the new system to work out any complications and then possibly go into full gear.

I met with Harold and Eva for lunch today at the café. We spoke very quietly about the other night. I was most concerned with what the parents of the three we lost thought and were saying. They must be wondering about the whereabouts of their children. I will send them a note stating something like, they died fighting for justice. Of course I will not assign any name to it.

We know their bodies will be exhibited in the center of town for all to see. We only hope that no revenge will be too high a price to pay. The very next day three hundred citizens were rounded up and shot at dawn, for all who dare to witness. Three hundred innocent and three guilty sacrificed their lives in order to detain or possibly save thousands of Jewish lives. It was not fair for the three hundred. We were also concerned with all remaining eight of us. We will all still work together as a group, but we are shaken. We will speak together at the very next opportunity.

CHAPTER TWO

Today the Germans were going around the town posting a decree on the building walls that all people of Jewish descent must register at the town hall, regardless of the fact they have already been registered at birth. The decree stated a work camp is already set up and in need of secretaries, bookkeepers, and clerical help. The position attained would last no more than six months and the rate of pay would be comparable. Also, due to the war, there is an immediate need of doctors and nurses at the hospital camp near the Polish border. The registration is mandatory and must be completed by the end of the month.

During the week the other seven members of our group came to the library in teams of two to discuss the decree. We had to register because we were registered at birth and those records are in the hands of the occupying forces. I knew I would be taken because of my clerical skills, so did Eva and Harold. We had no choice but to comply with the new order, and try to stick together as best as we could, or they would allow. We went to the town hall together and there were many people there. Some of them we knew and others we recognized; everyone was leery. We felt uneasy, but we wanted to think such a decree posted all over town for all the towns people to see might be stating the truth; for how could the authorities outwardly lie to everyone.

Four days later there is knock on my door; a heavy knock so I detect it might be trouble. A Gestapo is standing at the head of a group of a half dozen soldiers. He tells me to pack some clothes and that I would be coming with them. Where am I going? The Gestapo tells me I am needed at the work camps that are mentioned in the posted decree. I tell my family not to worry; I will be back in about six months. I am probably going to the work camp that needs clerical workers. My grandmother is praying aloud for all to hear. I pack three pair of pants, three shirts and some heavy sweaters and socks; I also pack a heavy coat, toiletry, and change my shoes to my boots. I leave with the soldiers. They put me in the back of a truck. The truck is exactly like the ones we saw in the woods that night.

Inside the truck there are about twenty people, there are some girls among us; two of them are crying. I am seated next to the one that is not crying so I ask her to try and calm down the other two. She agrees and tells them not to worry until it is necessary to worry. I thought that was a good way to look at this situation. We arrive at the train station. There are many people jumping out of the back of the trucks. There are armed soldiers with dogs, the ones that are called German shepherd dogs. I guess they are used to round up the sheep, only now they are employed to keep people in order. The sight that scares me most is a machine gun nest set up and aimed at the crowd. We are all told to take our belongings and step up into the railroad train in front of us. On my way into the train I spot Harold and Eva getting into the car next to mine. We are all crammed into an open railroad car with barely a dozen wooded make shift seats. We must be at least forty all packed together; and most of us are standing. Some are crying, some are cursing, others are scared beyond words could express.

After one hour passes, we are all quiet and start to talk to each other. Everyone is concerned where the train will take us. Some are saying they are doctors and then a couple women say that they are nurses in the hospital in Cologne. Others like myself state that we have been working in some capacity in the clerical field. One man says that he is an accountant and probably will be going to the work camp. A nurse says, I guess I will be going to the hospital camp near the Polish border. A make believe calm has come over the crowd. We are all truly scared, but we are trying to act calm. I remember the words of the girl in the truck, not to worry until it is necessary to worry.

The train blows its loud whistle and starts to roll away from the railroad station, slowly at first for about a mile, and then when we are traveling through the country side the train picks up considerable speed. There are no windows to look out, just a small opening in the boards. I notice that there is no toilet or sink inside our train. Most of us have brought a small amount of food, and about half of us are eating. The train rolls onward for three hours, and then starts to slow down and just moves slowly for several miles. Everyone is starting to stand and ask questions. The train comes to a halt, a soldier yells to the other soldiers to open the doors and let the people out to go to the bathroom. Everyone jumps out, but are kept very close to the train. We are told that if we have to go to do it now. The men go to one side and the ladies to the other. Embarrassing as it might be, we do what we have to do. At first it’s hard to go. Toilet paper is passed from one to the other. We know we are all in the same situation, only no one looks at each other. After fifteen minutes we are put back on the train, the doors are locked and off we go into the unknown.

The train is moving rapidly towards its destination. It has started to rain and it is leaking everywhere. Some people have formed groups to prevent from getting soaked. For hours we have been moving at a steady pace. I am wondering if they will stop the train and allow us to relieve ourselves again. Another thought has really upset me. Will they ever feed us on our journey? More hours pass and still we have not stopped. Everyone is starting to get nervous and grouchy with one another. Two women are arguing about whose turn it was to lean on the back wall of the train. But the train keeps moving. Every once in a while we hear the blow of the whistle as it passes yet another railroad station.

About four hours later the train starts to slow down. We are all hoping to get off and go to the bathroom. The train finally stops. The soldiers open all the locked doors and tell us to get off the train and do our business. We take our positions as we did the first time, only this time there is not enough toilet paper to meet every ones needs. The men use their handkerchief, and the ladies use whatever they have available to them. Some have little handkerchiefs under the top of their dresses near their breast. Some must tear off a small piece of their clothing. When everyone is finished a signal is given for food to be distributed to us. One soldier from each railroad car is giving out a potato and some sausage to each of us. We have no plates or utensils to eat with. The potato is very hard and not cooked. The sausage is fairly edible. We are given close to a half hour to eat. I suppose the soldiers are eating at this time also. Someone asks, Is there something to drink? An answer quickly comes, There will be water at the next stop. At least we are eating and taking care of our toilet needs.

After everyone is finished, and is given enough time to relax and move about a bit in front of our car, we are instructed to get back on the train. Everyone gets back into the car and tries to get back to their original spot, only now there are more arguments. A man is accusing another man with a family that they took his place and to move over and give him room. The two men start cursing at one another and the man with the family tries to reach over his children and