You Are My Sunshine: A Novel Of The Holocaust (All My Love Detrick Companion Novel) (51 page)

Most
of the Nazi’s that were tried, convicted, and sentenced to prison terms at Nuremberg, never served their entire sentences, most were released early.

Chapter
84

Nuremberg

The prosecuting attorney’s opening statement.

MR. JUSTICE JACKSON: May it please Your Honors:

The privilege
of opening the first trial in history for crimes against the peace of the world imposes a grave responsibility. The wrongs, which we seek to condemn and punish, have been so calculated, so malignant, and so devastating, that civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored, because it cannot survive their being repeated. That four great nations, flushed with victory, stung with injury stay the hand of vengeance, and voluntarily submit their captive enemies to the judgment of the law is one of the most significant tributes that Power has ever paid to Reason…

Z
ofia dressed in a simple black shift sat alone in the back of the over crowded courtroom. She held a small handbag on her lap the leather handle of which she could not stop twisting. It was difficult to breathe, here in this courtroom, once again amongst the persecutors of her race. Shlomie was not there, he never came. She knew it was because he would rather not face her and she understood his feelings.

A long table where the representatives of the tribunal were seated stood at the front of the room.  A guard escorted each defendant in to the courtroom to be tried individually.  Zofia watched and listened in horror as the witnesses told their stories and the perpetrators defended their actions.  For three days she heard unnerving testimony, until finally on the fourth day Manfred was brought into the courtroom, his hands cuffed, his face lined with worry. It had been years since she last saw him, but fear shot through her like a hot iron blade as he cast his troubled eyes over the courtroom. Manfred, the Arbeitsführer. Now, she must tell the world the terrible humiliations she suffered at his hand. Nausea bubbled in her stomach as she remembered his hands on her body, his drunken words, and the foul smell of his breath in her face, as he demanded...

Her thoughts were interrupted.

“Zofia Weiss” The prosecuting attorney called her name.  She felt the sweat forming in her armpits and on her forehead. If she could, she would run away, out the door and into the fresh air…away.  But, for the sake of those who died, and could not be here to speak for themselves, she must do this. Zofia stood up and smoothed her dress, and then she took a deep breath and felt all eyes upon her as she walked to the witness chair at the front of the room.

“Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, so help you
God?”

“I do.”

“Is your name Zofia Weiss?”

“Yes.”

“Were you a prisoner at the Treblinka concentration camp?”

“Yes.”

Zofia looked around the room and her eyes caught those of Christa Blau who sat with her little girl Katja beside her. Christa had been good to her, Zofia wanted to leave the witness stand. To stop what she had started, for Christa’s sake. But she could not. She must speak for those who would forever remain in silence. Zofia did not look in Christa’s direction again until she’d finished telling her entire story.

Z
ofia told the court everything she’d seen and everything she’d endured because of Manfred Blau.  There were gasps of horror from the audience, and although she didn’t even realize it, there were tears running down Zofia’s cheeks. But she continued until she’d spoken her piece, told her entire story. Then Manfred’s lawyer cross-examined her trying to make her seem like a liar, but the defense attorney was ineffective. Everyone, the audience, the attorneys, and the tribunal knew that Zofia spoke the truth.

“
Wasn’t Mrs. Blau very kind to you, Miss Weiss?” Manfred’s lawyer tried another tactic.

“Yes, she was always kind to me.”

“And didn’t she try to help you in every way.”

“She did, but Mrs. Blau is not on trial here. I was told t
hat this was to be the trial of the Arbeitsführer Manfred Blau; he is the one that is accused of Crimes against humanity. Isn’t that correct?”

“I will ask the questions, Miss
Weiss…”

But in the end, Z
ofia’s testimony stood strong and very condemning against Manfred.

When she was excused from the witness box, Z
ofia left the courtroom. Outside in the hall, Miss Holand awaited.

“Would you like to come back for the sentencing?”

“No, I’ve done my part; there is nothing more I can do. I want to put all of this behind me.” Zofia said.

“I can understand. I will arrange train fare for you to England.”

“You are going to keep your promise?’

“
Of course, did you doubt me?”

“A little maybe
, but I am very grateful.”

“Give me a couple
of days? I will arrange everything.”

“
Yes of course. Then I should stay at the hotel?”

“At the hotel, yes
, I will pay the bill, you needn’t worry about that.”

“That’s very kind.  T
hank you. I’ll wait to hear from you.”Zofia said.

Chapter
85

Zofia brought a hunk of bread and cheese back to her hotel room that night. Then she took a hot bath and washed her hair. It was over. At last, she would carry the memories forever, but at least she would never see Manfred again.  She sat gazing out the window at the city of Nuremberg. The destruction from the bombings surrounded her. England had suffered a similar fate and she knew that she would face the same bombed out reminders when she got there, but at least she would be far from Germany and Poland.  As she sat wrapped in thought the phone rang. Zofia trembled, who could that be? Brrring, the loud buzzing unnerved her.  It might be one of the Nazi’s coming after her for testifying. A shiver climbed up Zofia’s neck. But what if it is Miss Holland with information on my departure, perhaps she already has secured tickets? Brrrrrrrrrrrring. It rang again.   I must answer.

“Hello.”

“Zofia,” It was a familiar female voice.  “Zofia?”

“Christa?”

“Yes, it’s me. I need to speak with you.”

“Christa. I am sorry. I never wanted to hurt you, but I had to testify. It was not against you…”

“I know this, Zofia. I don’t blame you. I heard you on the stand today. I know what Manfred did to you and from the bottom of my heart I am sorry.”

“Please, don’t blame yourself.”

“I must see you, Zofia. Will you let me come to you at the hotel?” Christa asked.

Z
ofia trusted Christa, but this could be a trick. She was afraid, unsure, still she must oblige.

“How did you find me?”

“This was the closest hotel to the courtroom, I called and asked for you, and by the grace of God I’ve found you.”

Z
ofia was silent for a moment.

“Yes, come”
Zofia said

“Now
, is now alright?”

“Now is a good time.” Z
ofia said.

Chapter
86

Zofia dressed in a simple housedress and pinned up her wet hair. For the half-hour until Christa arrived, she agonized as to whether she’d made a mistake. What if a group of former Nazi’s appeared and took her or killed her. Nevertheless, she could not believe that Christa would ever do anything to hurt her. Still, she’d given very damaging testimony against Manfred. Would Christa trick her out of vengeance for her husband? She refused to believe that Christa would act that way, but who knew? Blood was thicker than water, wasn’t that right? That was what her mother had always said. A woman will stand behind her husband no matter what.

There was a knock at the door.

Zofia jumped to her feet and opened it. Christa stood looking down at the ground.

“Can I come
in?”

“
Of course.”

Z
ofia indicated the chair by the window for Christa to sit, and then Zofia sat on the bed.

“You look well.” Christa said.

“I am doing alright.”

“Z
ofia, I’ve not come here to make small talk. I have something important I must discuss with you.”

Z
ofia nodded.

“Do you remember my little girl, my
Katja?”

“Yes
of course, she was in the courtroom today. It was hard for me to say all of those things I had to say with the child listening.”

“I know that was why Manfred insisted that I bring her. He was hoping it would deter the witnesses from making their testimony. And I must admit yours was shocking to me. I never knew what he was doing to you.”

“I knew that you didn’t know. And I am sorry it must have hurt you today.”

“It did. But that’s not why I am here. I am here because I am dying.
As you know, I’ve been sick for a long time. I could linger for another five years or I could die tomorrow. The problem is I keep getting weaker and I can’t care for Katja anymore.”

Z
ofia tilted her head to a side and studied Christa “Yes, I know you are ill and I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. I’ve known that I must take some action, I’ve know it
for a while. I couldn’t trust Manfred with Katja and now that he will probably be convicted, it isn’t even an option.  In a way, this trial was a Godsend for me. I wanted to find you and it because of this trial that I have. Zofia, I want to ask you…” Christa took a deep breath and took Zofia’s hand. “I want to ask you to take Katja. I saw you with her when you lived with us; I believe you care for her. And although she may have forgotten, once you are together again she will remember that she loves you.”
“I never expected this…” Zofia turned away and looked out the window. “I don’t know…”

“Please, Z
ofia. I beg you. I know you will love Katja. And I know you believe in your heart that what happened was no fault of Katja’s she is just a child. You would never blame or punish her for what you went through. I know you too well.”

“N
o I would never do that. It is not her fault.”

“Do you remember what I told you about her birth mother and the Lebensborn?”

“I remember.”

“
Katja is a victim too. She was taken from her rightful family; she will probably never know her birth mother.”

“Yes, I
realize that.”

“Here…” Christa with trembling fingers fished several papers out
of her purse and handed them to Zofia “These are the documents of Katja’s birth they are from the Lebensborn. Katja’s real mother’s name is Helga Haswell. I don’t know anything about her, but someday you might choose to tell Katja everything.  I will leave that decision up to you. That is of course if you will agree to take her.”

“I don’t know…” Z
ofia said suddenly remembering the tender and loving child who she’d sung to sleep. “You’re sure this is what you want, Christa?”

“I am sure. I am begging you, Z
ofia.”

Z
ofia looked into Christa’s eyes. Then she nodded. “I will take her.”

“Can I bring her here tonight?”

“No, I need the night to sort everything out in my mind.  I will meet you in front of the courthouse in the morning. Try to talk to her tonight and explain what you are about to do try to ease the transition for her. Then, I will take her from there.”

“God Bless you
, Zofia.  We will be outside the courthouse in the morning waiting for you.”

Z
ofia nodded.

Christa took her hand and kissed it. “God Bless you Z
ofia.”

“I will take good care
of Katja.”

“I know that. A
nd Zofia, I am sorry for all that, you went through. I wish I could have done more.”

“Christa, you always did r
ight by me. Put your mind at ease. You don’t have to worry, about Katja.”

“I always knew that if I could find you again, I could count on you
.”

Chapter
87

As she turned the corner to the street leading to the courthouse, Zofia saw Katja standing beside Christa. Katja held Christa’s hand she wore a blue velvet dress and her golden curls glistened illuminated by the bright sunlight.

“Z
ofia…over here,” Christa called out.

“Hello,
Katja.”

“Good morning, ma’am
.  My mother says I must go with you.”

“Yes, that is right.” Z
ofia smiled.

“Mama?”
Katja said suddenly a little shaken.

“It’s alright,
Katja, this is Zofia you will be going away with her for a while. Now be a good girl and do as Mama tells you.”