In 1939, the Nazis signed a non-aggression treaty with Russia, allowing, among other things, the Soviet annex of eastern Poland. Notwithstanding the fact that the Jews were among the driving force behind the Communist revolution and that they had helped build the Soviet “utopia”, they were also generally hated. Cries of “Jesus killer!” and “Zhid!” were not uncommon. Jews were victims of pogroms and discrimination then as before the revolution.
After the Soviet take over, youth were invited to study in Leningrad (today’s St. Petersburg) in prestigious colleges and universities. Alicia’s older brother Moshe was one of them. After he had been a while in Leningrad, his letters came regularly, but they were strange and void of life. Although they worried, they wrote it off as him being busy in his studies. Then one day, Moshe showed up on their doorstep half frozen, half starved and determined not to return to Russia. In the university, they were forced into labor and were beaten if their work or schooling was not adequate. Letters sent home were dictated to them. They were fed little food and a lot of propaganda. When the chance came, he ran. Soon after arriving home, the Russian police showed up “concerned” for his welfare. In reality, they wanted to cover up how bad things were in Russia. So that they could “sort it all out” they took him to a nearby prison where he subsequently died. They would not even allow him to be buried at home in accordance to the Jewish tradition.
The Germans reneged on their pact and attacked the Soviet Union. Ukraine was taken, including the city where Alicia lived. As in places all over the world, the atrocities began with the outlawing of Jewish owned businesses, curfews and the yellow stars. One day, the Nazis proclaimed that all men from 18 to 60 had to come to a certain place and time to register. Around 600 men came and were taken away and executed, their bodies dumped in a mass grave close to the nearby river. Only two tried to escape when the shooting started, Alicia’s father and another man. Alicia’s father was shot trying to escape. She found this out 5 years later from the only survivor. After murdering these Jews, the Nazis collected, as ransom, all the money and jewelry they could from their families and wives, who had no idea they were already dead.
Soon after the ghettoization began. The Jews were forced from their homes with the little they could carry and forced to move into a separate part of the city. Curfews were established. Jews could no longer move about freely or go to the market, which they did anyway to survive. Alicia would buy and resell soap hoping to make a few cents or get some bread slices to take home.
One day, Alicia’s brother Bunio was out gathering wood when he was taken by the Germans to a forced labor camp. Twice a week, they were allowed to send him a package. Alicia’s family faithfully sent packages to her brother. Alicia would arrive on time twice a week to deliver her package to the drivers. Then one day they left early, without her being able to send her package. Later, when she questioned them, she was informed that at the camp, a boy had escaped. In retaliation, the Germans and lined the workers up and shot every 10th boy. Her brother Bunio was one of them.
Links:
Last!
Not quite last.
Third!