A War Torn Mystery

Prologue

Think of a time when you had to let someone go............

Did they come back?

I still remember, all those decades ago when I had to let my family go. It was better that way, them being safe... safe from death....

It was the September 2nd,1939, I was 15 and my family was living in Budzigniew, a town in West Poland about 28km from the German Border.

All I can remember is sounds of screaming and the loud rattle of gunfire. I remember running outside and grabbing my sisters hands as I dragged them inside, BOOM! The left of the house collapsed, then I saw my dad, who had been crushed by the collapse, We ran over to him as we all sobbed. "We have to go! My mother screamed, a phrase that still rings through my ears, I remember sobbing, pleading that we can't leave him but mum took mine and my sisters hands and rushed us out of the house.

We wandered for days with what seemed like no sense of direction, We stopped in numerous small towns but never stayed for long. It was hard to tell whether they'd been evacuated or destroyed, the escape of the inhabitants was always rushed and panicked. But the only thing that lingered on my mind was my dad, everything had become so complicated.

My mother promised us we'd be safe in Warsaw, but I had my doubts. I remember dreaming about arriving in Warsaw and my dad standing right in front of us as we entered. I knew it was stupid but I held onto any hope I had, no matter how unlikely or unreasonable.

We continued into the night and rarely stopped for breaks, so we could be there as quick as possible. On the 5th of September we reached Warsaw, it was early in the morning and still dark.We were not the first to arrive amongst those who's homes had been destroyed nor were we the last. Most people slept in refugees facilities, hotels and in homes, but we were not so lucky and we were forced to sleep in the streets, I can recall cold and frozen nights. It had been around 2 weeks from when we arrived, We were beginning to let out guard down, the German invasion had slowed and activity had halted, but we were alerted that the Soviet Union had begun to invade East of Poland and that the Soviet forces out numbered us 10 to 1. My mother told us we were leaving straight away, but there was nowhere to go, we were surrounded by Axis Forces in every direction, but my mum insisted.

The next day we boarded a train that would take us through Slovakia and Hungary and to Sarajevo in Yugoslavia, an allied territory. As the train sped away, I looked back at what I was leaving, my home. We entered the Slovakian border relatively easy. As we travelled through Slovakia I remember extensive farmlands and green fields. The real trouble began when we made it to the Hungarian Border, we were questioned by police officers and briefly taken into captivity until we were released shortly after were we continued out travels to Yugoslavia. Upon arriving in Sarajevo we assumed we would be able to live a safe and peaceful life. My mother and I worked as farm hands to keep a roof over our heads and to provide education for my younger sisters. At first I found it hard living in a completely

new society, lifestyle and having to learn a new language but I learned to cope. It seemed perfect at times, but then I would remember my dad, it was something I could never get out of my mind, even to this day. All was good enough until April 6th, 1941 when Axis Forces begun the Invasion of Yugoslavia, I lost what seemed like all hope. Sarajevo became part of the Independent State of Croatia a German Puppet State. The laws and lifestyle which I'd spent a almost 2 years adjusting to had been completely abolished, the Nazi Government undertook mass genocides against the Jewish and Roma Populations and Slavs were strongly opposed by the Government.

I remember one day when the Nazi soldiers came marching through the city streets demanding that anyone of age would be conscripted for the army, my mother hid me for several days but eventually the guards coming knocking on door of our apartment, My mother told me to leave immediately out the fire escape, but I almost couldn't. As I looked into her eyes I couldn't leave, it was even harder when I thought about my sisters. But I did, I'm not sure if I regret it, leaving. If I stayed I problem would have died, but I could of grown up with my family.....