War Torn Love (46 page)

             
My attention was pulled away, not by choice because a soldier ordered me to move on. I turned and headed over to the line that was being formed - all the Jews unloading from the train.
had I
to
pure
aside the fact that I was concerned about my husband - I was so proud of him, for not using of violence, in this particular matter.  I knew just how tough this was on him. Also for standing up, and helping the others down. I glanced down at the other railroad cars being unloaded with even more Jewish people from around the country as confused as us I was sure. I imagined the soldiers had pushed others down face first into the mud - it had been a sickening spectacle to witness the destruction of a common respect of our fellow man firsthand, and to my people. I could see three individuals lying dead in the mud.

             
A couple of minutes afterward, Abram came over and joined us. I smiled as he drew near, letting him know just how proud I was of him.

             
No sooner had he joined me - the boxcars unloaded now – we moved under the duress of machine guns. There were Jews picked out of the line, to climb back up into the
cars. They were made to throw the dead left behind in the cars, those that did not make it on the journey. The poor lifeless bodies were flung out, after they were swung a couple of times before releasing. The bodies made a hollow sickening sound as they landed on the ground below. Then two others came along with a cart, and began loading the bodies up -piling them on top of one another. I tried shutting my eyes but it was too late the image was seared in my mind as a permanent memory.

             
We both glanced around, looking for clues, then I spotted a sign that read, "Tuliszkov, Tuliszkow!!!. Isn’t that kind of strange Abram don’t you think, why in the world would they had brought us so far to the north in the country? At least were still in our beloved Poland! Wouldn’t you have thought they would have brought us maybe to Warsaw? What was their magnificent plan with us anyways? Why here of all places?”

             
The ground beneath my feet was quite muddy  a sticky, clay sort of mud, mixed in with all the melting snow left over from the harsh winter. It caked onto the bottom of my shoes. Sloshing our way over to a nearby wooden fence, we were once again being lined up, and then we began subsequently following the soldiers into city. It was apparent clear there was a whole lot of Jews here. As my family and I walked in through the heart of city, in one massive line, we could all smell the scent of freshly baked bread; my mouth watered just thinking about it. The smell
lingered low thanks to the cold weather. I think this was by no accident. Yet, there was not a single person at the bread stand. We were ordered to walk no more than two feet from the bread - being caught stealing meant a death sentence. As we marched through town, transporting what little of our personal belonging we had left in this world, our heads held low, ashamed at what had happened to us.

             
The Christian Poles that were lining the sidewalks just watched us. Acting as though they did not suddenly mind knowing we had previously lost everything we had, except family, my faith, and the affection of loved ones. Watching as we passed by, they said absolutely nothing too us, it puzzled me. There was a thick smattering of soldiers all you had to do is look around to spot them. The Poles were our fellow citizens, but they had abandoned us, out of fear of reprisal. I know how that they feared they could all be next. Up ahead there was labor going on. Wooden scaffolds weighed down with working men, set up next to a huge brick wall being built in the heart of this city, dividing the city it was abnormal. The brick wall from the look of it looked over 14 feet in height.
Jews were constructing the walls
. Several men were working hard on constructing some kind of barricade - it was soon clear that the Jewish residents of the Ghetto were constructing their own cage.
German soldiers were guarding them
.

             
We were lead to the gap in the immense wall where we walked in - two wooden gates, and armed guards sat at
the entrance, watching us pass. We headed on through the
gates;
I quickly looked back, fearing that I would no longer glimpse normal life.

             
Once on the opposite side of the wall, things looked night and day different. We were ordered to halt once about a hundred yards in. The soldiers that had been escorting all of us from the train station where I guess left us, not caring what happened to us next.

             
We noticed that all the Jews that had not just arrived were wearing a “star of David” armband -men, women, and children all wearing them.

             
The soldiers halted, and turned, one that had spoke to us earlier. “You Jews will be assigned on where to go next by these Jews.” He had said this in a very derogatory manner, he then spit in dear Poppa’s face, who had done nothing to deserve such harsh treatment. Poppa just stood there, holding his ground. Abram - unable to contain himself - stepped forward.
             
That same soldier came forward, then walking over to Abram; I grew extremely worried at this point, what Abram would do, if he would let his temper get the best of him or not.

             
The soldier gave him the once over. “I knew one of you had some stones to you! Hey Jew you had a problem with me, or you some kind of a tough guy? Because I spit in that Jew over there face? Did you want to say something to me; do you had a problem with me? Do you perhaps want to strike me? I will tell you what, if you want, then please do.”

             
“No Sir!” Abram responded.

             
Then it looked like the soldier bought it. Then out of nowhere, I realized I was completely
wrong he
turned and then slapped Abram extremely hard across this face.

             
Abram did not even flinch he was trained for such a thing. All those years of training had paid off. I prayed to God that he would hold his cool, and not attempt to hit the soldier. He did, he just stared forward at the German soldier that was barking him, trying not to stare into his face. I knew he was holding his temper in for me, I was grateful for that. I just hated seeing him going through all this was breaking my heart, being berated and not able to do anything about it. This only seemed to anger this young soldier more. The fact that he was not getting worked up seemed to fuel his rage more. He wanted satisfaction - he felt he was not going to get a filthy Jew get the best over him. He certainly did not desire want to look weak in front of his comrades. Doing the only thing that he could think
of, the very first thing that crossed his mind, he swung the butte of his gun swiftly, burying it deep into my husband’s gut. Still Abram did not budge in the slightest. He stood rigid and stared forward.  I think the soldier realized my dear sweet husband would not give him the satisfaction he sought, so he finally decided to move on, taking his attention off of Abram. “Thank God!”

             
The combatant walked away, I reached over for Abram and seized his glorious hand - I wanted him to know I do not know exactly what, perhaps that I appreciated him, loved him, of course, and mostly thanks for holding in his anger. He gave my hand a quick little love squeeze. One we always do to one another playfully, I understood. The both of us had a way of communicating without having to say a words.  We understood one another quite well.

             
Left to ourselves in the Ghetto, completely abandoned, they were laughing as they left. We noticed as we walked in through the gates. That there was a sign above the gates that read bold lettering, no mistaking where we were. The sign had summed it all up, "Welcome to Tuliszkow Ghetto - home to the Jewish community"

             
Just seeing that, sign felt as if I was now heading into some kind of penitentiary. The fact was quite clear - I knew exactly what that sign signaled - I had been facing this all my life. This wall was meant to keep the Jews
within a small, confined and easily managed area - away, alienated from the non-Jewish population. Much easier for them to have us in places like this, rather than in the countryside, were they then just may not be able to contain us. What were they expecting - us to live out the rest of our natural lives out in the Ghetto, giving up everything we had all worked so hard for?

             
As t he soldiers lefts, so much was going through my mind. I held firmly onto my husband’s hand. I knew as long as I had my loving husband at my side - I could get through it, and I knew that I was not alone.

             
A small group of
people mainly
consisting of women - walked over to us. Turns out they were I guess you would say our welcoming
committees
, they joined up with us, greeted us. It was nice to finally see a welcoming face, hear a welcoming voice. The first we had had in days. They were Jews that were living here in this Ghetto as well - this as it turns out is their assigned job. It would seem that even here the adult females were expected to work at an assigned job.

             
“Please everyone I know you our all wondering what is going on, but first this is quite important, first for all your safety we had to have you to put on these arm-bands, as they’re handed to you. Please remember to wear them at all times when out in public – they are a condition
of living here. - Caught without it, the Germans will likely severally punish you. “The woman paused, adjusting hers. There was a sorrowful look on her face, though her voice was full of brightness. But it was brittle – you could tell just by watching, that they were saying this to make it easier on us, and protect us.

             
“The next thing we need to get you to your assigned living quarters. Therefore, to achieve this if you would please all
precede
separate up, into families units. Then follow your greeter. Your greeter will be able to answer at least some of your questions.” 

             
Looking around, there were more than a few families, beside my own. Once my family had a greeter, we then followed the young woman as we were going to shown were we were going to be now staying. I knew it could not have been nearly as good as the farm we once had, all now nothing more than a pipe dream. I did not like this – not because I’d never lived in a city, but because though it looked organized and reasonable, I got the feeli
ng that it was just a façade. A
sham. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the veneer wasn’t very thick either, and that if I scratched, or fought, it would all come down, revealing something unthinkable.