“The Jew today is a great agitator for the complete destruction of Germany. Wherever in the world we read of attacks against Germany, Jews are their fabricators.”
Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, 1925
Kristallnacht
On the evening of November 9th, 1938 we heard loud shouting, marching in the streets, screams and the smashing of glass. Vater looked out the front window and quickly closed the drapes. He said in a low, urgent voice, “Rose, take the children to Helga’s room.”
Mutter ran to the window and reached for the drapes. “What’s happening, Friedrich?”
“Don’t open the curtains!” He ran to the front door to check the lock. “Now go. Do as I say for once.”
Mutter pulled Amalie up from the floor with one hand, yanked me from the couch with the other, and ran down the hallway. Before I could speak, she flung us onto my bed. “Stay here with Amalie. Don’t turn on the light. Get under the covers. Don’t come out until we say so.”
“But Mutter...”
“Do as I say!” She closed the door.
I sat in the dark, holding a whimpering Amalie, listening to the crashing and screaming outside. If I weren't responsible for my little sister, I might have started screaming myself. Then I remembered. Crossing to my dresser, I grabbed my wooden good-luck bird. I scrambled back into bed and covered both of us with the blanket, holding tight to my bird. Rocking Amalie in my arms, my breath coming in short gasps, I murmured encouragement I didn’t feel. It seemed like hours before the noise died down and Amalie fell asleep.
Later, I don’t know how long, I was awakened by Vater taking Amalie from my arms and kissing my cheek. “Vater," I asked, "is it over?”
“I think so. Go back to sleep now.”
“What was it? Why was there so much noise?”
“It’s over now. We’ll talk in the morning.” He closed the bedroom door.
The next morning Mutter and Vater looked tired, speaking little. I asked what had happened the night before. Vater told me, “We’re not sure. We’ll find out today. Nothing for you to worry about.”
After a few minutes of silence we heard a knock on our front door. Vater jumped up fast, cautiously opening it. “It’s all right, Rose. It's Arnold. Come in, Arnold.”
Herr Shutt, a friend who played cards with Vater, stepped in. Vater closed the door quickly.
“Come in and have coffee,” Vater said. He and Herr Shut sat down at the kitchen table. Mutter poured him coffee and offered him a roll.
He shook his head. “No thanks.”
“What do you know about last night?” Vater asked.
Herr Shutt removed his spectacles, rubbed his eyes, and then slowly placed them back on his face. “It was the Nazis. Aquilinus was on his way home from a meeting and witnessed men in black uniforms breaking windows and setting fire to a synagogue.”
Mutter put a hand on her mouth to stifle a choking noise, trying not to cry out.
“Yah, and he saw swastikas painted everywhere. He said it was hard to walk because of the glass shards.”
“Was anyone in the synagogue at the time?” Vater asked.
“He didn’t stop to find out. He hurried home. He said he had his own family to worry about. This morning I heard from Kurt Reichmann that they looted Jewish businesses and homes, cemeteries, hospitals and schools.” Herr Shutt slurped his coffee and picked a roll off the platter. “Such a terrible thing.”
“Such a terrible thing,” Vater repeated, shaking his head.
“I’ll tell you one thing, Friedrich, I’m glad I’m not a Jew. Those poor folks. What next?”
“I don’t think it’s safe for anyone, whether you’re a Jew or not,” Vater said.
I kept my head down, pretending great interest in eating my oatmeal. I knew if I asked questions I would be excused from the room. I knew that smashing and burning was wrong. I had also been taught by the Jugend leaders that Jews were terrible. No one should want them around. I needed to discuss the subject with someone I trusted.
That afternoon Agatha and I sat on Emma’s bed with the door to her room closed. I asked them if they heard all the noise the night before.
“It was terrible. I heard a woman screaming,” Emma said. "And there were men shouting all over the place. I wanted to peek out my window, but I was too scared.”
“My parents made me stay in my room,” I said.
“Me, too,” Agatha said, “and this morning I heard them say the SS were destroying places that belonged to Jews.”
“What do you think about that?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Agatha said, “Vater said it’s not right to destroy anyone’s property. But the leaders told us Jews are dirty people who cheat us. So, maybe it's okay.”
“If the Fuhrer ordered it, it’s fine,” Emma said. “Whatever he does, it’s to protect us.”
“To protect all the German people,” I said.
“Heil Hitler,” We chorused.
A few days later Mutter baked extra cookies. I watched her place them on a plate with a napkin cover and walk to the front door.
“Where are you going with the cookies, Mutter?”
“I’m taking them to Frau Rheingold on the second floor,” she said.
“Why? You’ve never done that before.”
“I’ve decided it’s time,” she said, and closed the door behind her.
That evening at dinner I asked Mutter how Frau Rheingold liked the cookies.
“What cookies?” Vater’s voice was sharp.
“I had so many extra today I took some to Frau Rheingold.”
Mutter stood and started for the kitchen. “I’ll get you some more coffee, Friedrich."
While she filled his cup he glared at her, “You used our ration stamps to make cookies?”
“Of course. I know how you like your sweets.”
“You also know we must be careful who we talk to.”
“It’s only a few cookies," she said, patting him on the shoulder. "No one will know.”
Mutter gave cookies to a Jew. She was a kind person, but she was not supposed to do that. So I corrected her. “Mutter, our Fuhrer says the Jews are not good. We shouldn’t be around them.”
“It was just this once,” Mutter assured me.
I could tell she was trying to smile, but Vater gave her a sharp look and said, “See?”
I decided not to tell the leaders about the cookies. I would have to try harder to educate my parents about the Fuhrer.