Newborn Nazi

by Rhoda D'Ettore

  Hedwig sat slowly, analyzing the situation. “A week? You did not tell me that. Where are you to go?”

  “I must report to the in-processing center, then will get my orders there.” Edmund reached for his sister's hand. “Please stop worrying. I will have a year or more of combat and weapons training. It will be quite a long time before I see combat.”

  Hedwig said nothing.

  Edmund tried to comfort her. “You knew this was a possibility three years ago. What did you think I was doing in the camp?”

  Still silent.

  “Hedwig, I am now a man. I must stand up and be such. I accept my responsibilities.”

  With disgust she replied, “What about me? What about your responsibilities to me? You intend to just leave me here alone? Could you not get some office job or guard duty somewhere? We have patrols on every corner. Could you not just stay here with me and patrol?”

  Edmund replied, “Hedwig, our goals have not been the same for some time. I fear my duty to the Fatherland would cause me to report your infractions. And perhaps those of Lieutenant Gottlieb. I know he overlooks things because of his feelings for you. That makes him weak. It is the weak who must be weeded out so the strong can carry The Third Reich for a thousand years. Do you truly believe your Gustav can do that?”

  Hedwig rose and headed for the stairs without saying a word.

  Edmund interrupted her thoughts, “Sister. You should start making dinner now. Afterward, you and I can go downstairs into your room and throw away all those unnecessary papers you store in there.”

  Hedwig's mind raced, Oh, my God. What have I done? Why did I not take him to America years ago?

  She climbed the stairs, admiring the pictures on the wall. Memories from so long ago, she often felt they happened in a another lifetime.

  Edmund yelled up the stairs, “Perhaps it is a good idea for you to rest before dinner. I am going to take a walk on this lovely day.”

  Chapter 58

  Edmund strolled along the street feeling pride for belonging to a group that instilled order. He thought about his accomplishments in both the physical and intellectual fields. He appreciated the instructors that demanded excellence at all time.

  I now understand, Lieutenant Reinhard. Edmund thought, I now understand why you were so tough at times. It was to make me better than what I was.

  The streets were filled with people, yet there was no yelling or horn honking. No drunks accosted good standing citizens. No trash littered the ground. Law and order, he thought.

  “Edmund. Is that you?” His head spun around, recognizing the voice at once. “It is you.”

  Heidi, the love of his childhood stood before him. “Hello. How have you been? Are you married yet?” Edmund instantly asked.

  She kissed his cheek, “No. I am not, unfortunately. But I heard you graduated, good for you. What are your plans now?”

  “I join the SS next week. After about a year of training, I will be shipped off to the front-lines to defend our country. I start out as a Trooper, but hopefully I can climb the ranks to Group Leader.”

  Heidi linked arms with him. “Oh how brave. And exciting.”

  Edmund shrugged, “I wish Hedwig would see it that way. She is not happy about it.”

  “I have known your family for a long time. She will get over it. Once she sees that you are safe, she will adjust to the situation. Hedwig needs to control every aspect of her life. When she can't, she feels weak,” Heidi explained.

  “Thanks. I never looked at it that way. That will help me.”

  “I heard about Jacob, I am sorry.” Heidi prodded for information, “Rumors say you visited America. What was it like?”

  “Completely different. Crime was rampant and people had no respect nor courtesy for each other. I was happy to get back here. It amazes me Jacob and Alois lived there for so long.”

  Heidi scrunched her nose, “So there was no excitement? No movie stars?”

  Edmund shook his head, “Only chaos and disorder. It is not the kind of place I want you to see.”

  Releasing her grip on his arm, “I have to get back home. My father is expecting me. I wish you the best, Edmund.”

  He caressed her hand, “It was really nice to see you. I miss seeing you.”

  “Do you remember my address?”

  “Yes.”

  Heidi gave him a peck on the cheek, “Then use it and write to me while you are away.”

  “I will. I definitely will.” Heidi skipped away as Edmund watched. There goes my future wife. I still have a chance, he thought.

  Edmund scurried to the house and flung open the door. “Hedwig, I apologize. I'm sorry. I do not want to fight.”

  His sister descending the stairs, “Me neither. I am finished. You win. We can go through the room downstairs and burn the papers if you want. You and Alois are all I have left in this world.”

  Edmund embraced her, “I'm sorry. I am who I am.”

  “You grew up so fast. The world is not always a nice place and I just want to protect you from it.”

  “Hedwig, I want to change the world, make it better. Once we rid the deviants and undesirables from the world, it will be a much better place.”

  Hedwig thought, So misguided. Why didn't I do more to try to stop it? I was more concerned with saving strangers than my own brother.

  “What's for dinner? I'm starving. Do you know how much I am going to miss your cooking?” They both laughed. Edmund followed his sister to the kitchen. “I saw Heidi in town. She asked about you.”

  “Oh?”

  “Why don't you two speak anymore? She didn't say,” Edmund questioned.

  Hedwig remained silent as she prepared dinner.

  “You used to be best friends.”

  The woman ignored her brother's comment. “Why don't you go listen to the radio for a bit, then wash up for dinner?”

  Edmund sat at the table in front of Hedwig. “Tell me. What happened between you and Heidi? Was it because of Lieutenant Gottlieb? You two don't speak anymore because of him?”

  Heidi grimaced, “What? No. It has nothing to do with him. She and I just have different values these days.”

  “Such as?”

  Feeling defeated, Hedwig placed the utensils on the table and said, “She is an opportunist. She wanted to marry Gustav, so she betrayed you and I by reporting us to the colonel. That is why we were interrogated and held for a week. Remember how terrified we were?”

  “I do not understand. How would reporting us get her a husband?”

  Hedwig huffed, “It would give her higher standing in the Nazi community. She feared my association with her would ruin her chances to marry Gustav. If she was the one who turned me in and I was found guilty, people would perceive her to be a dutiful Nazi. If someone else turned me in and I was guilty, they would suspect her by guilt through association.”

  “But you weren't found guilty. So then what?”

  Hedwig continued, “Then her status was still elevated when I was exonerated. She did her duty, and it was proven her best friend was also a good Nazi Party supporter. Either way, it increased her status.”

  Edmund still did not understand the ramifications. In some ways he was still a child. “So after almost two years, you are still mad at her for meeting her obligations to The Third Reich?”

  “Has it escaped your attention that you and I could have both been executed at the time? We'd be dead. And your precious Heidi, who you follow around like a love sick puppy, would be married to Gustav. You were only 15 years old, and she turned you over for her own benefit.”

  Edmund's mind raced, “I think you are twisting things. That can't be what happened. Heidi would never want to hurt us.”

  Hedwig reached for his hand, “She never contemplated that we might get hurt. She did not understand what the possible outcome would be. Like so many others, she does not see the severity of the consequences of such things.”

  “Do you hate her?” Edmund asked.

  W
ith a half smile, Hedwig replied, “No. I love her. And I pity her, but I can never trust her again. I do not want to be fearful amongst my family and home. Jacob and I kept so much from you, both in trying to protect you, and out of fear you would report us.” Hedwig sighed, “I do not want to live like that.”

  Edmund then asked, “What things did you keep from me?”

  The entire story was told to him. From Fritz to Jacob assassinating the Prime Minister. Alois' kidnapping and the death camps. All of it came pouring out from Hedwig's mouth.

  Edmund stood, “You were correct to keep such information from me.” He then marched upstairs.

  Chapter 59

  November 1938 – Night of Glass

  Hedwig awoke to the sounds of shouts and sirens. She rushed to her bedroom window to see flames engulf the city and riots of men carrying axes and hammers. The sounds of glass shattering seemed to come from all directions.

  “Oh dear God, what is happening.” Hedwig exclaimed as she quickly got dressed and ran downstairs to the radio.

  We interrupt this broadcast with urgent news. A German Embassy official in Paris has been shot and presumed dead by a Polish born Jewish man. The name of the assassin has yet to be released. In the aftermath of the shooting, riots have broken out throughout Europe. All citizens are urged to remain indoors....

  “How can this be happening?” Hedwig raised her eyes to the sky, “You see Jacob? You see? This is what Germany has become. Sieg Heil. Those death camps will be full tonight.”

  Hedwig rushed back up to her bedroom window to see how far away the riots were. “The synagogue, I think it's the top of the synagogue that is burning,” she uttered to herself.

  The phone rang. She raced downstairs to answer.

  “Gustav. Yes, I am fine. I miss you, too.” After a long pause, she replied, “The riots seem to be in town, near the shops. I can hear the commotion and see the fires, but this area is untouched.”

  After a few more comments she hung up the phone and prayed. “Dear Lord, please let this night end soon. Save those poor people.... All of them.”

  Chapter 60

  The next day, Hedwig got dressed and decided to survey any damage to her home. She examined the front yard and the house itself, but did not see any damage. As she moved around to the back door, she saw a bush move.

  She picked up a fallen tree branch and walked toward the bush. “Who's there? Come out. Now.”

  The bush moved more violently.

  “I said, now.” Then Hedwig took a swing at the bush.

  “Ouch. Please don't.” a soft voice begged.

  With hands raised in the air, a young woman with golden hair and green eyes emerged.

  “Heidi.” Hedwig exclaimed, “What are you doing in my bushes?”

  Clutching onto Hedwig's dress Heidi begged, “Please. Please. You must help me. You have to help me. They are looking for me.” Heidi's teeth chattered and her lips were blue from the cold.

  “Where is your coat? Who is looking for you?” Hedwig glanced around. Is this a trick? Is she trying to report me?

  “Please hide me. The Gestapo is rounding up Jews and sending them back to their countries. I need your help.”

  Hedwig's face twisted in confusion, “Oh Heidi, Dear. It is too cold out here for you. You are delirious. Let's get you inside for some tea.”

  Heidi raced to the back door of the house. “Hurry, please.” She shivered and suffered from hyper-vigilance.

  Once inside, Hedwig lit the stove burner and filled a tea kettle. “Sit down and tell me what happened.”

  Stuttering, Heidi said, “They... The.. They came for me. They took my parents. I ran, ran... but I didn't have anywhere to go... to go.”

  Hedwig responded, “Who took your parents? Why? What do you mean?”

  A loud bang came from the front door.

  Heidi cowered in the corner of the kitchen, “Don't let them get me. Please. Don't let them get me.”

  “Go to my basement. You will be safe there. Let me answer the door.” Heidi reached for Hedwig's arm, but Hedwig tried to reassure her, “It is all right. Everything will be fine. I promise.”

  The knock banged again at the door. Heidi flew to the basement.

  Hedwig called to the visitor, “I'm coming.” She opened the door to find two guards.

  “Give us your papers, ma'am.”

  She looked at them with caution. “Would you please tell me what this is about?”

  Her question was ignored. “Papers. Now.”

  She reached for her purse and pulled out her passport and Nazi membership card. After reviewing them, one soldier asked, “Is there anyone else in the house with you?”

  “No. My brother is Trooper Geiger of the SS and is currently stationed elsewhere. My gentleman friend is Lieutenant Gottlieb of the SS, but he was ordered to Munich this week. Therefore I am alone. Lieutenant Gottlieb reports to Colonel Weinhoffer, if that would help you.”

  The soldiers continued their questions, “Have you come into contact with any Jews or other non-Aryans in the last twenty four hours?”

  “No. After last night, I was afraid to venture outside. I am much safer in here. Being that I am all alone.”

  “Step back so we may enter.”

  Hedwig questioned, “Why? What have I done?”

  The soldier demanded, “Step back. I will not repeat myself.”

  This time she did not object.

  The one soldier told his partner, “I'll check upstairs, you check down here.” He climbed the stairs. After a minute he shouted down, “All clear.”

  Trying to distract them, Hedwig asked again, “Can you tell me what you are searching for? I can give you what you want.”

  The soldier reached the basement door, placing his hand on the knob. “Jews. There are Jews running everywhere. Last night one shot a diplomat in the German Embassy in Paris. Then swarms of Jews rioted cities throughout Europe breaking store windows and burning down buildings.” He turned the knob and opened the door to the basement.

  I doubt it was the Jews who burned down their own synagogue. Hedwig's heart pumped quickly. Why is Heidi so frightened. She is not Jewish, she hates Jews, she thought.

  Just as the soldier was about to descend the basement stairs, another soldier burst through the front door. “They found them. A group of Jews were hiding in a yard three houses east of here.” All the soldiers stampeded out of Hedwig's home and down the street.

  Hedwig locked the front door and waited until it was safe. After a minute to compose herself, she went to meet her former friend in the basement. “What is happening? Why are you running? They are searching for Jews, not you.”

  Heidi threw her arms around Hedwig, “Oh thank you. Thank you.” She kissed her cheek, “Thank you.”

  Hedwig grabbed Heidi by both arms and shook her. “Tell me the meaning of this.”

  After three deep breaths, Heidi began, “I met a man I wanted to marry. When I asked my father for my birth certificate, he refused to give it to me. After a month of me asking, he finally gave me the document. Alan and I went to file for a marriage license and they said my birth certificate was a forgery.”

  “This makes no sense, why did they think it was fake?”

  “The Office of Civilian Affairs then reported me to the Gestapo for violating some document law. This morning they started rounding up Jews, and it was the best time for them to get me.”

  “Get you for what? A fake birth certificate?”

  Heidi threw her hands up in the air, “Don't you see? They stomped through my house this morning and ripped apart my father's papers. They found my original birth certificate.”

  Hedwig shook her head, “Honey, you are speaking too fast and not making sense, please calm down so I can understand you.”

  Heidi fell to the ground and wept. “My parents adopted me. I'm a Jew from Poland. Papa said our family had great wealth before the war, and they wanted another child.”

  Shaking her head frantically, H
edwig replied, “No. That is impossible. You dated an SS Lieutenant. You dined with a colonel of Nazi Intelligence. Someone would have known, right?”

  Heidi crawled on her knees to her friend, “Please. I beg you. They added my name to a list of people to round up. They took my parents, and I don't know where they are. Please help me.”

  “Oh dear God. It's started,” Hedwig cried. After a moment, Hedwig asked, “How can I trust you? You betrayed me in the past. This could be a test.”

  “No. Please don't throw me out. I'm sorry for all I did. Please help me.”

  Hedwig inquired, “How do you know they took your parents? Where were you?”

  “Please you have to believe me. Remember years ago? We used to hide in the attic? I stayed there for hours until they left. Someone said they would return to burn the Jewish homes later. I could not stay there.”

  Hedwig paced for a bit. Then said to her friend, “I have a secret room that you will stay in. Do not leave it. I will bring you chamber pots and meals.”

  As Heidi kissed Hedwig's cheek, “Oh thank you.”

  Hedwig then gave a blank stare. “If you are lying to me, I swear on the souls of my family, I will kill you with my bare hands before I am executed.”

  Heidi pulled back in shock at her friend's words.

  Hedwig thought, She is too stupid to invent such a complex story. Either she is telling the truth or this is an elaborate trap created by someone else.

  Chapter 61

  A month passed, and Heidi still lived in Hedwig's basement. Gustav never returned from his assignment, and Edmund wrote occasionally although never revealing his address.

  Edmund's training was finally finished, and after completing some minor missions, his regiment assembled.

  The Group Leader headed the formation of men and addressed them as a group. “The riots that occurred over the last month resulted in the arrests of 30,000 Jews by German authorities. I want to commend you all on a job well done.”