I Survived the Nazi Invasion 1944 Page 4

  Miraculously, Max was feeling better within a couple of weeks. Soon he and Zena were swept into the bustling life of the camp. His favorite times were sitting around the fire with the partisans, listening to them talk. Mostly they talked of the rumors about the war: that the Russians had finally chased the Nazis out of their country. Now Russian soldiers were in eastern Poland, pushing the Nazis out. Hitler’s troops were on the run.

  The partisans spoke with cautious hope about the end of the war, about returning home. But Max saw the questions in their eyes: Exactly what was left of their homes … and their families?

  They were all hoping that Aunt Hannah, Martin, and Lev would return with news.

  And sure enough, later in the morning, the guard shouted down from his treetop lookout.

  “They’re back!” he called.

  Max and Zena raced to the edge of the swamp and looked out over the sunken bridge.

  There was Aunt Hannah, wading through the water, with Martin and Lev right behind her.

  And there was someone else: a man.

  At first, Max was sure he was dreaming.

  He blinked, expecting that the man would disappear when he opened his eyes again.

  But Zena saw him, too.

  And soon they were both screaming.

  “Papa!” they screamed. “Papa, we’re here!”

  They rushed into the water, not feeling the cold or the grass.

  “We’re here!”

  And then they were in his arms. They held on with every ounce of strength they had.

  It wouldn’t be until later that Papa would tell them his story — how he’d escaped from a train that was taking him and thousands of other Jews to certain doom, how he’d made his way back to Esties.

  The Nazis were gone — and so was everyone in the ghetto. There was not one soul left there.

  Papa learned that they’d all been taken away. Just days after Max and Zena had escaped, everyone in the ghetto was put on a train.

  Papa had searched everywhere for Max and Zena, refusing to believe they were lost.

  And then, someone told him about an old farmer who’d rescued two children from his wheat field.

  Mr. Jablonski.

  There was so much to tell, but now was not the time.

  None of them could speak through their tears of joy.

  Until, finally, Papa leaned back, looking down at them. He opened his mouth, but it was a moment before he could say the words.

  “I knew I would find you.”

  Max stood with Zena at the ship’s railing, shivering in the cold. Papa sat on a chair behind them, his head bent over the book of English words they’d all been studying.

  Suddenly, he looked up and called out to them.

  “See anything yet?”

  “No, Papa,” said Zena.

  “Keep looking,” Papa said with a smile. “Any minute now you’ll see land.”

  This is what Papa had been saying all day. They’d been at sea for an entire week, and they were supposed to be arriving in New York soon. But as Max stared ahead, squinting into the bright sun, all he could see was the endless ocean.

  Would they ever get to America?

  It had been nearly two years since the end of the war, and even longer since they’d left Loda Forest.

  Hitler was dead. Thousands of Nazis were locked up. Much of Europe was in ruins. Germany had been practically destroyed by bombers from America and England.

  Everything was different now, and still changing.

  Hannah and Lev were married and living in Palestine. Martin had gone with them. They were all helping build a new Jewish nation — Israel. Thousands of Jewish people were already there. And Aunt Hannah had almost convinced Papa that he and Max and Zena should go to Palestine with them. But Papa knew how hard life would be for the settlers of that new nation. He’d decided America was the place for him and Max and Zena. Max would never forget the sadness of saying good-bye to Aunt Hannah and Lev and Martin.

  “We will see each other soon!” Aunt Hannah had promised, in her bright and certain voice. But her glittering eyes were overflowing with tears as they hugged good-bye, and they all knew it could be a very long time before they were together again.

  Papa, Max, and Zena stayed with Mr. Jablonski, but there was nothing left for them in Esties. Almost every Jewish person was gone forever, their lives stolen by the Nazis. There seemed to be ghosts everywhere, stains of the terrible things that had happened. Max was sad to say good-bye to Mr. Jablonski. But he was happy to leave Esties. He never wanted to go back.

  They wandered for months, from city to city, crowded train after crowded train. They were part of a sea of Jewish survivors, hundreds of thousands of people with no homes, no money, and nowhere to go.

  Finally they made their way to Rome, Italy. They stayed at small camp with hundreds of other Jews like them. The people working at the camp were volunteers who came from all over the world. A kind woman from America helped Papa write a letter to his cousin Saul, who lived in New York. The only way to get to America was if you had the help of a family member who already lived there. It had taken months for the letter to reach Saul, and several more for his response to get back to Papa.

  “I will do anything and everything to help you, my dear cousin,” he wrote.

  Saul had a wife named Jennie, three grown children, and six grandchildren who were around Max and Zena’s age.

  “We will all be waiting for your ship,” Saul wrote in his last letter. “Your entire family is here for you. We will help you start your new life.”

  New life.

  New life.

  Max had said those words over and over to himself, not sure what they meant.

  He wanted to forget all of the bad things that had happened, the fear and the sadness that he’d worn like a second skin, the evil of the Nazis, the suffering of those all around him, people who had lived through far worse than what he had experienced.

  But could he really forget?

  Was it right to forget?

  Could Max really start a new and happy life after all that had happened?

  For months before this voyage, he’d wrestled with these questions.

  But then, just a few days before they boarded the ship, Max had been getting dressed. His eyes lingered on his scar. He’d almost forgotten about it. Sometimes the wound ached a little, but it had healed. Max ran his fingers across the puckered skin.

  And it came to him — that the Nazis had wounded him in other places, too, places he couldn’t see.

  In his heart. In his mind.

  He had scars there, too. And he would carry those scars with him for his whole life.

  They would remind him of all of the terrible things that had happened, the sadness and the pain, the evil and the suffering he had witnessed.

  But he would also remember the kindness of people like Mr. Jablonski, who risked his life to help them. He’d remember the incredible luck of finding Aunt Hannah — and then being reunited with Papa. He’d remember the bravery of the partisans, and how he and Zena never left each other’s side. And he’d feel the strength inside him — and the hope — that had gotten him through these impossible years.

  The ship seemed to be moving faster now, cutting through the waves. The sun was bright, the breeze salty and fresh, just like in Max’s dreams.

  When he got tired of standing he went to be with Papa, who scooted over to make room on his chaise. Papa put his arm around Max, and they studied the English book together.

  Until Zena called to them.

  “Max! Papa! I see it! I see America!”

  Max and Papa jumped up. Max stood close to Zena, gripping her hand.

  Papa stood behind them, one hand on each of their shoulders.

  They looked out into the distance, and there it was: America.

  All they could see at first was a thin black wisp on the horizon.

  Zena turned to Max and smiled. Papa squeezed his shoulder.

  They st
ood there together, looking ahead.

  With every passing moment, what was up ahead seemed clearer and brighter.

  It was waiting for them.

  Their future.

  The events in this book, part of what is known as the Holocaust, are among the most terrible in all of history. I’m Jewish, and I remember first learning about Hitler and the Nazis when I was about your age. It’s all so frightening to think about. There were times while I was writing this book when I wondered if the subject was just too horrifying to include in the I Survived series.

  But many hundreds of you asked for a story on this topic. And so I decided to do my best to write about the Holocaust in a way that wasn’t simply terrifying. I wanted to create a story that would inspire you. I wanted to help you begin to understand what happened. My hope is that you’ll think about my story after you read it. I want you to talk about it with your parents, your teachers, and your friends.

  Because by learning about the Holocaust — thinking about it, talking about it — you honor the memories of those who died and the millions of others who suffered. You also realize how lucky we are to live in a place where so many different kinds of people can live together peacefully. You already know it’s wrong to be cruel to someone because they’re different. The Holocaust shows what happens when people forget that, when hatred and prejudice explode out of control.

  Like all of the stories in the I Survived series, this is a work of historical fiction. That means that all of the facts are true. I do tons of research to learn everything I can about a topic. And then I spin these facts into a story by adding characters and locations and a plot from my imagination.

  But while my characters in this book are fictional, they are all based on real people, Jewish partisans I read about. These people amaze and inspire me. I hope you read more about them. You will be dazzled by their strength and spirit.

  It was an enormous challenge to try to tell this story in ninety pages. As usual, I wish I could come visit all of you talk more about what I learned, and to hear your questions and thoughts. Maybe someday! Instead, in the next pages I’ve done my best to answer the questions that are most likely on your mind. If you have more, please email me at LaurenTarshisAuthor@gmail.com.

  How many Jewish people became partisans?

  There were about one million partisan fighters in World War II — men and women from many countries who fought against the Nazis. Of those, between 20,000 and 30,000 were Jewish. Most Jewish partisans were from Eastern Europe: Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The majority of Jewish partisans fought alongside partisans from other countries, most often Russia, and also other religions. But some formed all-Jewish partisan groups.

  How did the partisans survive?

  Just imagine trying to live in an enormous forest — without warm clothes, sleeping bags, or any special equipment. Then imagine that you’re also being hunted by cold-blooded killers. This was what it meant to be a Jewish partisan. Most arrived in the forest with little more than the clothes on their backs, already weakened from hunger and the terrible suffering they’d experienced in ghettos. Few had any special training as fighters.

  Those who survived were strong, resourceful, and lucky. They built secret camps deep in the forests, with underground dwellings that were almost invisible even to someone walking nearby. They scrounged for food, often forced to steal from local farmers or from Nazi food warehouses. Above all, they worked together to survive.

  The largest and most famous Jewish partisan camp was organized by three brothers, Tuvia, Zus, and Asael Bielski. In addition to fighting Nazis, the Bielskis rescued more than 1,200 Jewish men, women, and children, and protected them at large partisan camps hidden deep in a forest.

  How did a man as evil as Adolf Hitler become the leader of Germany?

  This is a complicated subject; people have written entire books on it. But here’s a simple enough answer: Germany in the 1930s was a sad and scary place. The country had lost World War I (a war they started, by the way). Many Germans felt humiliated by their defeat in that war. Life was very tough. A large number of Germans were poor and desperate. It was during this time that Adolf Hitler rose to power.

  Hitler didn’t seem like a monster at first. He seemed almost ridiculous, with his little mustache and strange way of waving his arm. People laughed at him.

  But Hitler had a way about him — a power to almost hypnotize people. He was an incredible speaker. He stood in front of huge crowds of Germans and made big promises — that he would lead Germany back to strength. And many people, hungry for change, put their faith in him.

  Why didn’t Jewish people just leave Europe when Hitler came to power?

  Some did manage to leave Germany and neighboring countries in the early years of Hitler’s rule. But it wasn’t easy. During the 1930s, as they do today, most nations had very strict rules about immigration. Some Jewish people moved, mostly to America, South America, and Palestine (which became the nation of Israel in 1948). But the majority of Jews had nowhere they could go. And after 1939, when World War II officially began, leaving Europe became even more difficult. By 1941, most Jewish people in Europe were imprisoned in ghettos or Nazi prison camps, and escape was almost impossible.

  Were the Nazis punished for their crimes?

  At the end of World War II, thousands of Nazis were captured and punished. Hitler and many Nazi leaders took their own lives when it became clear that Germany would lose the war. Hundreds of others were put on trial after the war. Most were found guilty and executed for their crimes.

  But thousands of Nazis did manage to escape from Germany, including some responsible for planning the Holocaust. Most fled to South America and the United States. Over the decades, many of these criminals have been captured and brought to justice.

  These are just a small number of important events that happened during this frightening and complex time in history.

  1933

  January 30: Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany.

  September 22: Jews in Germany are banned from many jobs, including teaching in public schools, working on newspapers and in radio, and writing books.

  1935

  September 15: Nazis begin passing rules, known as the “Nuremburg Race Laws,” that take away freedoms and rights from German Jews. For example, Jews in Germany are no longer permitted to attend public schools and colleges, marry people who are not Jewish, or join the military.

  1938

  November 9–10: Mobs of people attack Jewish-owned stores, businesses, and homes in Germany, Austria, and other Nazi-controlled areas. By morning, the streets are filled with glass from broken windows. The event becomes known as Kristallnacht, German for “The Night of Broken Glass.” Violent mobs destroy 267 synagogues and roughly 7,500 shops and businesses in Germany.

  1939

  Nazis begin putting Jewish people in ghettos. By 1945, there will be more than 1,100 Jewish ghettos in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and other Nazi-controlled areas.

  September 1: Germany invades Poland.

  September 3: World War II officially begins when Great Britain and France declare war on Germany.

  1940

  April 9–May 10: Germany invades Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. Every Jewish person living in these areas is now in peril.

  September 27: Japan joins forces with Germany and Italy. Together they become known as the “Axis Powers.”

  November 15: The Nazis create the largest Jewish ghetto, in Warsaw, Poland. Four hundred thousand Jewish people — almost one-third of the city’s population — are crammed into tiny area. On average, 7 people live in every room.

  1941

  June 22: Germany invades Russia and its territories.

  December 7: In a surprise attack, Japanese fighter pilots bomb US military bases at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The next day, the US declares war on Japan.

  December 11: The United States declares war on Germany and Italy. It joins with Great Britain, Russia, and
other countries to form the “Allied Powers.”

  1943

  April 19: Jewish fighters in the Warsaw ghetto attack Nazis and police. Fighting lasts for about a month, until Germans destroy the entire ghetto.

  October 1: Citizens in Denmark rescue more than 7,800 Danish Jews, secretly taking them across the Black Sea to Sweden, where they are safe.

  1944

  June 6: 160,000 Allied troops invade a Nazi-held area in Normandy, France. The day, known as D-day, marks a turning point in World War II as Allied troops begin to chase the Nazis back to Germany.

  1945

  Allied troops free hundreds of thousands of survivors from concentration camps.

  April 30: Hitler takes his own life.

  May 7: Germany surrenders.

  August 6 and 9: U.S. drops atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

  September 2: Japan surrenders.

  World War II officially ends.

  1948

  May 14: The nation of Israel is founded.

  For further information about Jewish partisans, including dozens of video interviews, go to the website of the Jewish Partisans Educational Foundation: www.JewishPartisans.org.

  For more information about the Holocaust, explore the website of the United States Holocaust Museum: www.ushmm.org.

  For recommendations for books to read about the Holocaust and Jewish partisans, go to my website: www.LaurenTarshis.com.