Adara's Diary

1940

January 31, 1940

Dear Journal,

Packing and Packing is all we have been doing this month. Father announced to us we were leaving Germany this month. Things have been very different since the outbreak of war a few months ago.Father has sold much of our values and furniture left in our small apartment. We all packed our belongings and left the apartment to together in the dark of the night. It took many days for our travels and we feared the police were going to catch us poor Azriel being only a couple of months old was wrapped up in mama's arms most of the trip. We didn't get to say goodbye to our friends. Before we left we went to the Schedler's home and Maria, Hester and Flora walked out with 3 suitcases with them. "Where are we going papa" Rebekah asked constantly father never answered.Father handed us documents which I clearly understood were forged, and we got on the train. All 7 of us sat near each other scared and speechless. We took off from Munich after the police checked our papers and we proceeded.We reached Aachen,then the border with again the papers were checked and we passed into the Netherlands. Papa then told me " I have decided for us and the Schedler's to go to The Netherlands its a good country. It is known for being neutral in the first war. We will be safe here, here it won't matter if your a jew or not.We are going to Rotterdam to live will be happy I promise Addie." I looked out the window and imagined my new life here what was it going to be like?

February 26, 1940

Dear Journal,

It is has been somewhat difficult here, we made to Rotterdam and we found 2 apartments; one for us and one for the Schedler's. Hester, Flora, I and Rebekah have been hard a work to learn the Dutch language and we have all enrolled in the local Montessori school not far from our apartments.Father has found work in a small clinic and I believe he is so happy to be practicing medicine once again. Mother is even delighted she loves decorated our apartment and helping Maria with hers. Our apartment is small only 2 bedrooms, but the rent is decent. Mother, father occupy one room with Azi and Rebekah and I the other room. The Schedler's apartment is the same one for Maria and the other for Flora and Hester.

The other day Hester and I were walking down to the Bakery with Flora and Bekah walking a little behind us. We all were talking doing our best to speak Dutch, we entered the bakery to buy the bread, Bekah got ahead of us and asked the baker in Dutch "Alstublieft, meneer, mogen we één brood". He gave Bekah the bread and I gave her the money to pay, I was surpirised but I always knew that Bekah was smarter than me and was quicker to learn. I told her "Nice job, Bekah your dutch is good I need more help I guess". We all laughed and walked back to our apartments and Hester started to talk " Don't you think Addie, that Gerrit Jansen is cute" and I agreed. Gerrit was a year older than us he had black hair and dark blue eyes he was cutest boy in the school. Hester and I had both became friends with his sister who is our age her name is Verena Jansen and she looks nothing like Gerrit. She has blonde hair and green eyes. She became good friends with us and we have spent time with her and her brother. School is great it is nice to meet others and not to feel discriminated against. This country is wonderful, I miss Munich somewhat, but I hope we have a bright future here.

March 18, 1940

Dear Journal,

We have been spending more time with Verena, she is very sweet. Yesterday I received my first kiss, Gerrit after school asked to see me home he carried my books. "See you tomorrow" I said as I reached our apartment steps. He grinned and kissed me there. I haven't told anyone except Hester, and she was happy for me. A lot has been going on with the war in the passing months, father is very worried that Italy might enter on the Axis' side, I hope not. Many people said the war maybe a year or a few months, but it has been dragging on.We hope for the best, we just recently had Flora's birthday which was the 14th she got many presents and she invited all her friends from the Montessori school I am happy to see both Flora and Bekah having so many friends, I myself have Hester and Verena. Azriel has been growing much he is 7 months old almost, he is already crawling and he has beautiful chestnut eyes and dark brown hair.Azzie is a darling, father is doing well at the clinic and Mama is happy with staying in the apartment taking care of the baby. Bekah is very happy with school and her new friends. Who knew we'd be so happy here, then back in Munich we didn't have much of a life we were just surviving day to day.