Behind Enemy Lines

Sixth Entry

June 14, 1943

I sat by that corner window and gazed out into the ruins of Poland. Down below I could see German officers scoping the streets with large dogs.

Papa said we needed to stay very still since the Germans were going to inside our house. We were well hidden in a secret upstairs room.

“Bolva this is an outrage! I knew we should have left in the first place!” Mama hissed as she slowly cleaned off the table. Papa let out a slight grunt and ignored her.

“Papa, this is the third time they came to the house. Why would they come if there no one down there?” Druka asked.

Papa had no words for Mama and Druka. He simply stared at nothing, his deep hazel green eyes held little interest in anything. It was Vera who decided to say something to Papa.

“Bolva your wife and children are frightened. The Germans suspect we are in here. Why else would they return two more times?” Vera questions. Papa shot him a dangerous look and stood up abruptly.

“They will leave eventually like they always do! Don’t jinx us Holvik!” Papa sneered, his face scrunched up into a ball of anger.

“Shhh!! I hear something.” Mama announced. We all fell silent as the faint sound of footsteps could be heard down stairs.

“Everyone stay still. The Germans are here.” Vera whispered.

We all stood silent as the footsteps downstairs moved about. We heard chairs and some dishes being thrown onto the ground. The Germans were talking amongst themselves. I didn’t understand what they were saying but it sounded like they were mad about something. There were a lot of footsteps, maybe three or four Germans.

My heart hammered hard against my chest, my adrenaline at its limit. I was frightened and on the verge of passing out with fear.

As quickly as they came, the German footsteps grew fainter and fainter until we couldn’t hear them anymore. We waited for another ten minutes before letting out exhausted sighs.

“Bolva we need to leave tonight. It’s not safe here anymore.” Vera suggested. Papa was getting angry at their words. I could see it in his eyes he didn’t want to give up our home.

“Bolva-“

“ENOUGH! I’m tired of hearing this nonsense! We will stay here until the war ends! We are safe in here and the Germans haven’t found us yet! So all of you stop pestering me and relax!” Papa shouted as he slammed his fist onto the table.

Big mistake.

We heard shouting from downstairs followed by banging on the walls.

The Germans have found us and now they were coming for us.

“Bolva look what you’ve done!” Mama shouted. Druka was in tears and Vera was up moving about, hiding certain objects in the walls.

I could only watch as everything I lived for was going to be taken away.

CRACK

The door leading out was broken down and in came three fully armed German officers. They all pointed their guns at us and shouted in their language. One officer grabbed Druka while the other grabbed Mama. Papa tried to fight off the officer’s but one of them hit him over the head with the back of his gun.

Vera stood silent as he held his hands up in defeat. He smiled at the German officer and then spit in his shoes.

“Burn in hell.” he sneered.

My eyes widened to his words but they nearly popped out as the German officer raised his gun and shot him point blank in the face. Vera’s body fell hard onto the ground like a sack of potatoes. His blood was everywhere, all over the floor and on the walls. Mama and Druka began crying as the German officer’s dragged them out the door.

I felt a rough hand grab my shoulder and spun me around. I was face to face with a German officer who held a gun to my face. My heart almost stopped beating.

“Bewegen Jude oder ich werde Sie schießen!” he spat. I had no clue what he had said but I figured he wanted me to follow the others out the door.

I quickly did as told and moved quickly out the door. Another German officer was waiting and as I came into view he grabbed my arm and threw me against the hard brick wall. My eyes flashed with white stars, tears threatened to release themselves. The German officer shouted at me and began to pat me down. He was dangerously close to my private area before he stopped and nodded over to another officer.

Papa was dragged out of the house and thrown into the back of a truck. I soon followed him but Druka and Mama were nowhere to be seen. My guess was they were put into a different vehicle.

“Papa…what’s going to happen?” I whispered faintly. Papa had no words for me. His face held pure dread and regret. I’m sure he was silently mourning for Vera’s loss.

Somehow I bet Vera knew what would happen if the Germans took us away. I have never been so frightened in my entire life. I wished for my brother to be there with me, and to hold me as this nightmare progressed.

A German officer walked to the back of the truck and closed the door, thus leaving Papa and I in our own despair.

Nicolai, I promised to be strong for you, but I don’t know how long that promise will last.