What would it feel like; if you learned that a compulsory labor camp had been set up in the hills of your state? More interesting, your father was one of the thousands captured and held. My mother told me this story and most of the names where what she remembered. This sets the scene.
On November 12, 1939, the morning silence was broken by thousands of marching feet. It was like a giant clap of thunder as the city streets of Katowice, Poland were invaded. The population was basically at rest trying to overcome the news from the days before. Their homeland had been invaded and lost to the hungry German Rich.
Through these blackened shining boots, the sunrise was filtered and reflected the buildings larger then life. No warning, no awareness of what was about to be played out. The thunder ended when single files of blackened boots headed toward the limitless number of structures.
Until this morning event, nobody realized what the real meaning of those blackened boots were. No knocks, no waiting, just forced entry. This event blanketed the city in a simple systematic fashion. Not one street was left unguarded or empty of those blackened shining boots.
Before the sun reached the edge of the city, thousands of man had been gathered back outside in groups. House by house, street by street this scene was repeated until the city had been stripped of the male population, leaving only females with young children or old men. Before the sun reached the noon time position, the streets were again clean of people. Left were the sighs of whimpering woman and children as cries of fright echoed through the hollowed buildings and empty streets.
Not anything but silence, no one dared to enter the region that swallowed up their loved ones. Nothing made sense as the wives, mothers, girlfriends and sweethearts began to realize the impact of that morning raid. Here was a country that had just overcome a brief chapter of freedom and like the feelings of old, nothing made sense.
By sunset small groups of women began to gather in the side ally’s out of sight, discussing what had just happened and wondering what the true meaning of this action was.
“Those German pigs raided our men and for what?”
“Keep your voices down; they might come back for us. It could have been worse; none of us were harmed or taken advantage of.”
“True, but how do we explain what has just happened to our lives?”
No response.
“One thing for sure, we have to keep our heads and more important our security.”
“How does one fight that black boot-headed monster?”
“We have our lives and with that anything can happen.”
“Yes, but what kind of life do we have without our men?”
“Do you think we will ever know where they took them?”
“Good question.”
“I don’t know about you, but I am or will be searching to find my man. My son will not be left without his father.”
“What makes you think that they will allow anyone to leave?”
“Now is not the time, but in a few months we will be able to measure what is happening.”
“I am staying put and wait out this event.”
“Everyone needs to live with their conscious and be satisfied with this situation.”
“We had better break up and return to our living quarters.”
Two of the younger women held back.
“Angle, are you serious about finding your man?”
“Of course I am.”
“How will you find him, when we have no clue where they took them?”
“I am sure in time that my Walter will write or send a message as to his location.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“That is his nature, he will make contact.”
“I might want to tag along.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Okay but we better get out of sight.”
Both of the women disappeared into the shadow of the night. This first day of change was the hardest to accept, because thousands of families throughout the city were still in shock. Within one single day all were affected. As the night covered each section, some cries could be heard and all knew that nothing short of a miracle could bring back their loved ones.
After six months passed, Angle and Sue could be seen in line heading toward the railroad station. Hundreds of black booth monsters patrolled and directed the population. Not one smiled, could be found as the groups were herded into the station.
Angle was holding her two-year-old son, not paying any attention as to his weight. She had her mind set, for only one direction and that was to find her loved one.
Sue was struggling to keep up with her five-year-old son and would yell to Angle.
“Slow down will you, I can’t keep up.”
“You know we have to find two different trains and my location is on the other side of the tracks, so good luck.”
“You too and thanks for all that you have done.”
“Sure, I just hope we are both successful.”
As the line split both women saw each other for the last time. Angle was stopped at one of those routine check points.
“Where are you going Fraulein?”
“To locate my husband in Germany is this train going to Goslar?”
“Yes, but how did you know this was the right line?”
“I was told by the command.”
He looked at her and waved her on. Getting on there was only standing room. Each of the cars where packed, there was no luxury of the past. Being on the train was considered a positive event. No one complained that the crowds were a problem, because all were serious to get to their location.
After a couple hundred miles of travel, the closeness grew, but being tolerant was their only option. Day turned into night and then day until the first stop. What was tight and unbearable was increased until the bodies were forced when no one could see their feet. Children were held onto like glue.
With the dusk of dawn, a new beginning could be seen as the wheels of steel skidded to a stop. The masses moved out like an explosion. A sigh could be heard that overcame the shrieking whistle of the locomotive. Nothing short of a miracle that all could walk out into the yard and smell the freshness of the countryside.
Angle with her stern look headed toward that grand building where the official government agencies set up their home. It was early and cool, but that never fazed her. She was here to find her man and nothing would deter her from this mission.
She walked in the massive structure and was amazed as she headed right for the desk.
In fluent German she asked, “I am Frau Angle Winter and looking for my husband Walter.”
The official looked up and smiled, “I see you have little Walter with you?”
“I guess you have been expecting me?” she said and was surprised.
“Yes and Walter made sure to explain that his wife Angle would not be far behind.”
“That is good.”
“Come over here, we need to fill out some paperwork with fingerprints and take photographs for our records.”
Following him she knew it was a requirement of the system. After about an hour she was ready to leave, but before she could ask her last question, the official handed her a ribbon of P’s that had a purple box around it. “You must sew one patch on each outer garment and at all time display this when you are out in the streets.”
“I understand.”
“Your husband is at number 19 Smith Street. It is not too far from here. As you leave the building take a right until the first cross road. Take a right, that is Smith Street and about a half dozen homes you will find number 19.”
“Thank you very much,” as she flew out of the building. All you saw was a trail of anxiety. She did not realize that her Walter might still be working. She sat there on the front steps with Walter in her arms. A familiar shadow approached through the darkness.
The voice broke the silence, “Angle is that you?”
“Yes.”
As she ran to her husband with little Walter still in her arms. “How did you find me?” he asked.
“I had help in tracing the letters you were able to send and here we are.”
He grabbed his son and squeezing his family and he could only say, “I sure missed you both, but you should have stayed at home.”
“Not a chance, this is where we belong a family.”
Little Walter never understood what was going on during this time and moving from location to location did not help. Spending most of his time by himself made it hard for Angle and Walter senior, but there were no other options.
Both parents would come home tired and not very talkative. Angle would spend more time with little Walter and that helped. Being displaced by force from his home and country did not make Walter senior was not extremely happy and with that he could not give his son any amount of parent caring time. Only a few times did he show his affection by holding him on his lap.
As in any conflict, life is forever changed or modified and this was a fact. Many families experienced rapid changes within a couple of years. Movement with in the compulsory labor camp was the norm, and each time another new family would be intermixed. Until one day 1943, the men population again disappeared, but this time there was no trace of anyone. It appeared that the controlling government was no longer willing to disclose the reason for their actions.
The elements of life and actual treatment varied like the time and methods of disappearance. Some of the men ended up working as forced labor, killed or recruited as replacements for the military. Germany was weakening and they might need man power, so they became the forces of many nations, and they wanted to neutralize their effects. Once under the government machine, people were displaced and/or captured or killed. So the whereabouts of anyone became a mystery, and could not be predicated as to actual survival.
At that time Angle and little Walter was five years and she wandered through town, never knowing what the day would bring. Angle being aggressive made due with this situation, but needed the support of her kind. Germany was in control of the camp, they would not state that Walter was killed at that time.
Through all this, she befriended another countryman and he would help her with food and championship. In time, Fred as he was known, became valuable for Angle. Fred had resources that made conditions more favorable and improved the lifestyle of Angle and little Walter. Not to say it was normal, but a little extra here and there worked wonders. Walter’s father was never heard of again and presumed deceased. Life had to continue as little Walter struggled with that concept, but had no real control of the situation. Growing up in a hostile environment and not being allowed natural freedom had taken its toll.
The day when the war ended meant very little to Walter, but change occurred with or without reason. Fred became a part of the family and sometimes little Walter resented this intrusion, but gradually he had to accept what the true meaning of life was. There was no longer a path from the past nor was there a clear path to the future. The only salvation was that the men in the blacken boots were dispersed and no longer in control of the population.
Those tanks and men in green, made the difference. Liberation was the accepted feeling even down to the level of children. Some were never allowed the luxury of a childhood, but gradually life changed and with that feelings changed.
During these changes what was once a hectic lifestyle turned into a more peaceful setting. It was accepted as Angle and Fred became a match and with that a new beginning. Little Walter was not always in favor of all events, but again as a child nothing could change what his mother or faith decided.
On the plus side Fred had relatives in the U.S., mainly a sister and brother. Seeing the war was over, another person that knew his sister Mary, Fred wrote a letter to her and his Mary made contact with Fred.
Nothing short of a miracle came over Fred when Mary wrote her first letter. With open arms Mary wanted Fred to come to the U.S. Now Fred had a problem and time made it even harder, but he wanted out of the country, so he could enjoy living without its war side effects.
After a couple of years the paperwork mill in both counties was coming to an end. There were complications, because Fred got married and Angle gave birth to a daughter. None of that information was passed on through the government or his sister. With mixed feelings Fred sent a letter out. stating he got married and had a child in the family.
The reaction was pleasant, but with a word of concern. Mary wrote back you should have told us everything at one time, because the processing of the paperwork takes longer after it has been approved. So if there are any other changes let us know right away. We will not make any changes until you write us that these facts are final and no other surprises are waiting for us.
Fred understood and was glad that he had such a loving and understanding sister and brother. He wrote back that his new wife did have a son, little Walter and with that his family was complete. What started out as a one person request, ended up being a family of four. But Mary and her husband had no problem with that. Mary loved her brother and bringing him to her was that she really wanted and that’s all mattered.
With the war over, moving around Germany was no problem, as they gradually inched there way toward the local sea port. That happy day finally arrived when all the paperwork was acceptable and both governments were clear to sigh off on the migration. One remaining obstacle was left. Each member needed to pass a physical and that on the surface was easy. But as faith would it, little Walter had a problem and could not pass the basic physical.
Reaction was a somber one. No one knew how to handle this turn of events. Regrouping was the plan and trying to get the results became another issue. Time became the only element that played on their minds. After a couple of days and seeing the doctor’s case, a response was forth coming. As it turned out little Walter had a spot on one side of his lungs. The decision was to get some medication and getting an appointment became the next challenge. After a couple days a doctor was able to improve his condition and a clear bill of health was granted after about a week of medication.
The transition into another country was accepted by this family of four. Little Walter could not get over how open the land was and being accepted with open arms created some confusion. The land in the U.S. was green and open similar to the hills in Goslar, Germany. Moving into any locale town was another experience to overcome. With one important difference, being free!!
I can't help thinking that this is your story. It certainly is a story of tragedy that, fortunately, turned out all right. I don't think you meant, German Rich [Reich].
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