Erika- A War torn Love

Chapter 10

Two years had passed since I helped Leisel and her family escape Germany. Two years since I met Eric.

Helmstedt had suffered several bombing attacks; slowly it had become a shadow of its former self. Remnants of the bombing attacks across the town were evident. Houses which had stood since as far back as the 12th century had been destroyed and the looted buildings which were once the proud homes of the Jewish people lay in ruin.

The saddest destruction however came with the bombing of the Türkentor. The gate which had been the most prominent feature in the town had been severely damaged, no longer resembling an arch, but rather two pillars which had a jagged top. The middle had caved in, and the rubble laid below where it once stood.

As I walked around our town on a warm, early summers day, I couldnt help feeling anger, as did most people who remained. I also felt so isolated. I no longer had any friends, no one I could trust. The war had robbed me of my friends, my family and my town. Instead of living like a normal teenager, exploring the world around me, I was forced to grow up in what could only be described as a nightmare!

I had not heard from Leisel directly since the day of her escape; however I had heard rumours that in the woods of Poland there were groups of Jewish survivors, hiding, hoping to wait out the war. I suspected and well really hoped this was where Leisel was.

I wasn't sure though because I had also heard these groups contained resistance fighters. In fact weekly we heard rumours of the resistance building in Poland. They were strategically attacking Nazi strongholds; I felt sure Leisel was not part of the resistance as her father would never willingly have put his family in the situation of having to fight. He was a kind man but by no means brave, nor was Leisel come to think of it.

Nobody in the town knew of my helping Lesiel to escape, for no one really knew what I did in my free time. During the day, now school had finished I looked after children of the Nazis who were in the vicinity. I hated the job, but it was how I got information, which ultimately kept me safe. In the evening I would tend to my fathers land, the potato fields were my specialty. These were located away from our house, through the woods, some in West Germany and some on the border. These again were very important in keeping myself safe.

Fritz and I had become very distant since we argued on the day of Leisels rape. He must have felt guilty about our argument, or wanted to try to smooth the tension between us, because saved the bike we had argued about. He gave me the bike before leaving Helmstedt for the Russian front. As I looked at the bike each evening, it reminded me of the once gentle brother I had known and loved before the war started.

I couldnt forgive him for becoming a Nazi, but the bike was very useful.

I used it as transport when tending to the fields. The basket on the front proved useful for hiding my (or rather my brothers former) rings which I carried for protection. The Mongols were still in and around the woods and there was no way I was going to enter them unarmed, not after what they had done. I also needed them in case I was caught by the Nazis, for my evenings in the potato fields were not exactly helping in their efforts to win the war.

That particular evening I rode through the woods, I was heading to my usual rendezvous point. I didnt pass any Nazis that evening, however even when I did I was rarely stopped. Every third day I would bypass the potato field, instead putting potatoes and root vegetables in my front and back basket and small trailer which was attached to the rear, from a hiding place –hidden the previous day- in the undergrowth. I would make my way through the woods to a large oak tree about half a mile from the fence which signified the East/West divide. The oak tree had huge roots which came much higher than the ground level. The centre of the trunk, where the roots joined was hollow.