The Fight For Love

1939, March 23

She remembered the sound of silence in the dead of the night. She lay awake unable to sleep. Then she heard a distant drumming, she thought it might have been the beginnings of an earthquake. Yet it turned out to be something much, much worse. The stampede of soldiers. All simultaneously marching through the streets, all dressed the same as if they were all replicates of each other. A brotherhood of armed killers. She remembered running downstairs and her father screaming at her to run away, to flee, escape. Her brother was no where to be seen. She saw the back door was open, he had already run away. But where? Where did he go? She looked frantically about her as she ran but it was all a blur. She gasped as someone grabbed her nightshirt. She turned to see a ghastly figure looming above her, his German uniform and malicious scowl sending horrified chills up her spine. Her eyes widened with terror. A young man came up from behind him and smacked him over the head with a long wooden rod, the soldiers grip was released from her nightie. She went to thank the man, but he already held at gun point by another two soldiers. Without a moments hesitation she ran into the woods.

She remembered running for some time, but lost track of how many times the sun rose and fell over the landscape. Food was scarce, what she found in abandoned homes she savoured as much as she could. The nights were cold as she lay on concrete behind buildings and whatever small crevice she could fit herself into. Yet it was never enough, one night she found herself alone crawling along an abandoned sidewalk. She was starving, she couldn't remember the last time she had a drink. She shivered violently all over. She closed her eyes and prayed for the end to come swiftly, for her suffering to end. For the running to stop. She didn't want to leave this world, but at least she would see her mother again. She felt something tap her shoulder. She opened her eyes expecting to find her mother there, ready to guide her into the eternal afterlife. But she awoke to see a pale young woman standing in front of her.

"Are you alright? What happened to you?" She turned to the voice, hands trembling. The woman gasped. "You're a Jew." That was it. Surely this woman would alert the nearest German authorities and have her turned over, rendering all her suffering and running useless. But she didn't. "Quick we need to get you off the street, my house isn't far from here. We need to move quickly otherwise you'll be seen." Together they hobbled down the lamp-lit streets of the freezing night, until they reached a small cottage estate. The woman let her in and sat her down with a warm drink and many blankets. The whole time she didn't say anything. She told herself she ought to, but she was too tired. Was this woman trustworthy? Or was she keeping the Jewish girl here until the German's showed up and took her away, giving the woman a handsome amount of credit. She told herself to remain sceptic, but she gave in to the temptations of the warmth and fatigue. After some time, she spoke her voice cracked and hoarse.

"Why? Why are you helping me?" The woman smiled slightly and spoke in the calmest tone.

"It is indeed a long story child, and one I doubt you will remember by morning. I used to live in Germany over a year ago with my fiancé, then Hitler took rule and started coming for the Jews. My husband was one of the Jews they were after, despite his German-born ancestry. He and I, we fled the place and took off to a far corner of town that no-one knew about with the exception of a few well-known members of family and friends. It was late one night when the soldiers came and took him. I ran out screaming, how did they find us? I was overwhelmed and bewildered by it all. But as I ran outside I saw two people standing with the soldiers, my brother and my lovers best friend." She stared off into the distance, as if she had dissolved into her tragic past. She composed herself. "I promised myself I would never stand by like that and let the Germans wreak havoc and destruction like they did that night. I promised I would fight. That I would protect."

"Thank you, I understand I must be off soon." The woman batted her hand in the air."

"Tut child, you will stay with me. I will teach you how to become a true Polish Girl. When you are ready I will introduce you to the outside world, and you can start again. A new life." The woman bowed her head sadly, "I cannot guarantee it will be a pleasant one, I fear you will always have to be wary of your surroundings and your actions amongst others but-" The girl cut in.

"Any life, not matter how cruel or harsh or unpleasant, is better than no life at all. It is better than this." The woman smiled and petted the girl's head.

"Well then, you may call me Madam Klein, and you shall be Carla Ritcher. Now you best get some rest, you have a long fight ahead of you." It was on this night that this woman she hardly even knew became the only hope she ever had of living amongst the Nazis and Germany. It was on this night that she became Carla Richter, Polish Girl.