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#1: Through My Eyes (Repost/Complete) Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead

Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 2:27 pm
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Originally posted on Holocaust Memorial Day & then eaten by Le Hacker, reposting today cos Daily History tells me that today was the day that Klaus Barbie, he who haunted parts of my dissertation, went on trial. Reactions to events in Exile.

Only a Jew, I tell myself. They were only Jews and had no right to live. That was what the Fuhrer said, and the Fuhrer is always right. He would be proud of what we did, helping to cleanse Germany for the future of the Reich. So why don’t I feel that what we did was right? Isn’t it what the Fuhrer wants, the Reich free of Jews? I know what everyone says about them but now I begin to doubt the truth in it. Just suppose that the Fuhrer is wrong, then what? Yet I dare not think it.

**
How could they? The brutes, how could they do that to an innocent man and woman? Joey tried to stop me but I couldn’t help myself I just saw red. They had no right to attack the Goldmanns as they did, and for what? Because they are Jews. And now we must leave immediately and all because we defended two innocent people. What right does Hitler have to dictate who can and can’t be accepted in society? I hate it. I hate that we have been forced out because we dared to stand up for what we believe in.

**
I had a funny feeling that morning in Spartz that things were about to come to a head. But I never imagined that it would happen like that. I had seen the way that Germany was going and I didn’t like it but I never dared dream that it would happen to Austria, our Austria. I hoped that we would avoid trouble that day in Spartz; the school had already attracted too much unwanted attention on the part of the Nazis. But we didn’t and I am proud that the girls had the courage to stand up for their beliefs.

**
Be brave, I told them at the beginning of term. I couldn’t tell them exactly why; I didn’t want to trouble them too much. We still clung to the frail hope that it would all blow over and soon be a bad dream. I watched everything I had built up so carefully gradually disappear before my eyes as the result of one madman’s vision and it hurt. So many of my pupils were forced to leave as we were an undesirable influence on them and yet I knew they would carry with them what the Chalet School had taught them.

**
I’m so tired, we’ve been walking for so long now and I’m beginning to wonder if we will ever make it to safety. I knew we would have to leave the Tyrol but not like this; it wasn’t supposed to be like this. Be brave, Madame told us at the start of term. I never thought I would have to be brave like this though. I hope the school makes it to safety. I should be with them, I am Head Girl after all but we couldn’t leave the Goldmanns defenceless. Now I understand why she told us, be brave.

**
I often wondered what my last moments on this earth would be like. I never imagined them to be like this and certainly not to be at the hands of those boys. Especially not Hans, not after everything we had done for him. How could he turn against me like that simply because I am a Jew? I always thought my end would come peacefully not in a mass of violence. And then, as I was certain I would die there in the street I heard a voice. She wanted to save me. The world needs ones like her now.

**
There were more pictures of Auschwitz in the newspaper today. Every time I see the pictures I think of the Goldmanns. I think of our flight from Austria. Each day a little more news reaches us of what the Nazis did in the camps. It sickens me to think that anyone could do such a thing to another person; it defies all belief. I think of my children; I can only pray that they will never know anything like this, that they will not be forced to suffer for their beliefs. I pray that we will learn from the past.

Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire ~ The Talmud (quoted in Scindler’s List)

#2: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 3:17 pm
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Thank you for reposting this Pim, it's so moving and very thought provoking.

Thank you.

Kathryn

#3: Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia

Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 3:59 pm
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Thank you Pim.

It is very thought provoking and well-written.

#4: Author: RuthY, Location: Anyone's guess

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 8:49 am
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Thank you PIm.

I hadnt seen thi s before. It is well written but very sad.

#5: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 12:59 am
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That is such a powerful incident - and a very moving treatment of it.

Thank you, Pim.

#6: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:20 am
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Thank you Pim, this was so very moving.

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