Adara's Diary

1939

February 2, 1939

Dear Journal,

Things have been not much calmer since the beginning of this year. just a few days ago Hitler did a speech saying war would mean the end of Jewry. What have we done to make him hate us so? Mama has been a little under the weather recently, father says it is the flu. Bekah has also taken ill with it and it is really awful. Father brings home what he can and treats her at home. He won't even take them into his office. He is fearful that the police will come in and take them away or be arrested. We are not allowed away from home, if we must play outside it must be in the apartment grounds. We are not allowed to visit friends, we only leave for school and outings with father. When I complained of this to mother while she was in bed all she could say was "Your father is protecting us listen to him" Constantly she repeated that to me. Today I was bored but then Hester knocked at the door. "Hey Hester, How are you." She looked up and muttered quickly "fine, come quickly something is happening around the corner." She grabbed me by the arm with a tight grip and pulled me down the street with her I was wondering what was going on "What What" I shouted she said nothing just pulled me aside the building wall and put a finger on her mouth telling me to shush and look. We peeked there was a man uniform screaming " schmutziger Jude"

He was elderly man about in his late 60's or early seventies. He had gray hair and was wearing a black hat and coat and had a beard. The man I recognized to probably be in the S.S grabbed the man and took his knife he cut of his beard a few other S.S men joined in. Kicking and beating the man "I am sorry, I am sorry" the man cried out. Hester had a frightened look of terror on her face she was pale. Then the one man pulled out a gun and fired five times. The man spoke no more, the men all laughed and walked away. Blood seeped into the sidewalk. People walked causally by the man's body as had nothing occurred. They didn't see this man as a murdered man just a animal dead on the sidewalk it disgusted me. I was crying and so was Hester we ran in terror back to the apartment up the stairs into my home. We ran into my room, Bekah was there. I asked her "What is wrong" she muttered softly "I was just looking to borrow your fountain pen, you weren't here I didn't think you would mind. What is the matter." She looked at my tear stained face. "A man was shot around the corner we saw it with our own eyes." she cringed her face was pale "Oh'' she said with a shaky voice and we laid on my bed and talked of other things.

February 27, 1939

Dear Journal,

Today mother told us the news we are to have a new sibling this year. She sat us down and told both Rebekah and I we are both really excited. I asked mother what she prefer "Well, I love both you girls, but I love to have a boy this time for your father." she smiled and Rebekah said rolling her eyes "I'd prefer a girl still." Well I don't really care boy or girl. I hope its healthy of course but I worry how this child will grow up in today in Germany. Will he or she suffer what we are today it could get worse or better who knows. They baby is due sometime in August father says. He is overjoyed since his last child was born 10 years before its quite exciting. Then again there will be quite an age difference between us then again Rebekah is 5 years younger and we are close as two peas.

Also father hasn't been working as doctor since November. He was practicing helping fellow Jews with illnesses and he was paid under the table. But his license was taken away in July. Father decided to stop in November after the Kristallnacht. I am just learning of this now, he didn't want us girls to worry. So now the Nazis have conscript him and he works in a factory 20 minutes away. He said it is a armaments factory.

March 29, 1939

Dear Journal,

This month has been really rough for me. Last week I was walking home from school which is 2 miles away. When I saw three boys with swastikas wrapped around their arms.I got kind of frightened, but I looked away from them. Minding my own business when I heard "grab her" from behind me. The black haired boy grabbed me and threw me to the ground. While the shorter boy grabbed my backpack and dumped its contents on the floor.He grabbed the little money I had into his pockets.The brunette yelled "How much Erich" the shorter one muttered "5 Reinmarks" then he grunted "nothing worth much just school books otherwise " the blonde smiled an evil smile at me. "Let's teach this Jew a lesson, Rudolf, hold her down.Erich kick her". Then they started beating me after the one big held me down the other kicked and punched me the blonde stood and watched.He then shouted "Enough, let's go" and they dropped me to the ground and took off. I laid there for a few minutes and stood up. Nothing broken my face hurt though and my abdomen.I ran home as fast as I could.I slammed the door behind me and ran to my room.Mother appeared in my room "What's wrong, oh Adara" she cried she saw my face my bruises and my black eye. She left the room and got a cold compress for my eye she cried "what has happened, who did this to you." She stared into my eyes."Three boys, on my way home attacked me and took my money".Father came home and checked me out.He said I was fine just badly bruised, mother and father went to their rooms.I heard them arguing mother shrieked "It is not safe". Father muttered softly "Its going to be okay, we will be fine." Rebekah entered my room " Are you okay" she muttered softly. " I think so" I added she climbed into my bed. "I am scared Adara" she told me.I look into her eyes and said "We will be okay , Bekah" and we drifted off to sleep.