Fighting for Freedom
Chapter 1
I thought upon my last few years of my life, while I starred outside at the landscape of Germany that was slowly slipping away, thinking of the day this all had started on.

"Chanele, they are just children!" Our Papa exclaimed. I was pleased to see that he didn't know we are here.
"No, they are not! They have grown, the Ghetto will me worse for them! They must hide." Mama argued.
' Hide,' I thought, 'why would I need to hide? To get away from that bad man Hitler?' I had no more time to think for at that moment, Papa said sighing "We best we getting to bed, we'll talk in the morning, they might hear something now" I assumed that 'they' was us, kids.
"Come on! Lets go," my little sister, Annakle whispered in my ear, "they might see us!"
I was a fifteen-year-old Jewish girl with the normal brown Jewish hair but with polish eyes, of a light blue. I had two sisters and a brother. My younger, eleven-year-old, sister Annakle, Ann for short, was tall for her age, had usual hair and eyes for a Jew. Liabele, Lia, my seventeen-year-old sister, short with shoulder length brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. And my nineteen-year-old brother, Faigel or Fai, who was very tall and had brown hair and eyes. We were all listening in on our parents arguing. They, as we gathered from what we heard, had been arguing about that man, Hitler, who had started to take over.
"Why are Mama and Papa scared of that man, Hitler?" I asked Liabele with interest and confusion.
"I don't know Tovah, I wish I though, but I have no idea" Liabele answered, although it was almost to herself.
"I heard that he was going around and killing us, Jews!" Faigel, with anger existent in his voice, spat out in disgust.
"Faigel David Krisolvistz! That is not something to say in front of Annakle! You should know better," I scolded, glaring daggers at him.
"I am old enough!" Ann complained, as her hazel-brown eyes grew sad and tearful; "Hardly" I scoffed in return, in a slightly bossy tone. Ann was only eleven! She surely wouldn't understand, or maybe I was being ignorant, or just jealous of her understanding of this concept, that I was having much trouble with.
The next morning, I awoke to the sound of my parents and Faigel's angry whispers, although, they were hardly whispers anymore, as they were starting to grow to a quiet shout. I looked around the room to see who was awake, but nobody was. Ann, Lia and I all shared a room, as my family was not wealthy because of people, namely Hitler and the Nazis, were making it hard for almost everyone, but mainly Jewish people, like us.
I, as quietly as I could, tiptoed into the kitchen, where, the argument was going on. As I tiptoed in I step on an overused, squeaky floorboard and both my parents, and Faigel's head turned sharply to look at me.
"What are you doing here? You should be asleep!" my mother asked quite annoyed with me.
"I heard fighting," I answered quickly, before my parents could jump to any conclusions.
"Could you tell me we were fi- I mean talking about?" I could tell that he wanted to know if I had been listening in. I don't want to tell Papa what I know, because, he would know that I had been listening in on him yesterday, but I couldn't bring myself to lie to my father.
"I.ummm.I think you were talking about hiding, umm.from someone" I managed to stutter out.
"Do you know who is this someone, perhaps?" Father questioned further, trying to get more information from him.
"H-Hitler" I said while shaking lightly. 'If Papa and Mama are scared of him, he must be worse then I expected' I thought, taking a better understanding of the situation in.
Later that day, Ann went out to play, despite her mother's warnings. By eight at night she hadn't returned, and we were getting worried. Around nine there was a knock on the door, it was a heaving pounding as if the person knocking was rushed. Papa jumped from his chair first and was soon followed by the rest of us. As Papa opened the door, we all hoped to see Annakle, but instead we saw the very saddened and displeased face of my cousin Chanele, who was named after my mother and grandmother.

"Chan! Chan!" We chorused, "Have you seen Ann?" Chan looked immediately tearful.
"T-that is why I h-have come," Chan said, taking deep breaths, "The- the Nazi! They have k-k-killed Ann! I s-saw it! It was horrible! First the hung her, but then they- they shot her! Oh, Aunt Chanele! Uncle David! Tovah, Lia, and Fai! You never want to see it! It haunts me.and it will forever." with that she broke-down sobbing, and the rest of us followed hoping it was not true. 'It can't be, it can't be true! She's still alive, she will come home any minute' I thought to myself, although I was sure everyone else was thinking it too.

We did not go to bed until late that night, for we all stayed up to grieve for Annakle, and even when we did fall into a slumber, nightmare haunted our sleep, while we twisted and turned restlessly all night long.

Chapter 2
The next morning we all got up early despite how late we had gone to bed. Chan's story was still fresh in our minds. I couldn't get the picture of brave, understanding Ann, hanging, frightened from a rough rope, a fearful expression on her dark face, her unusual, dirty-blond, hair falling on it. I can imagine her fighting tears to show that she is strong and was fighting for us, fighting for us all, she was fighting for our freedom, our rights, our lives.
"Tovah?" my Mother called, bringing me out of my daze, "Tovah, come here please, and bring Laibele with you." As I went to get Laibele, I wondered what my mother wanted. Was Chan hurt? Maybe Annakle was alive! Oh I hope so! We all miss her dearly! I feel as if part of me is gone!
"Your Mother and I have come to a agreement," My father started as we sat down, "we have decided that you with have to go into hiding."
"I what to stay here, stay strong for all Jews! I want to stay help lead the Jewish people to happiness and freedom! I want to stay here!" I burst out. My father looked appalled, and said "that is not a child's job, no less a female child."
"we want to help our people stay strong!" Faigel agreed and soon Liabele was arguing, that we should stay, too.
"You will be helping us! You will be alive at the end, and will help keep our people alive and strong. They might get every other Jew but not you! We are you parents and you will go into hiding. That's final." I was just like my mother to try and reason with us, and although she was against our idea it was strangely comforting.
So later that day, Papa went to visit a Polish family, who we are friends with. Papa was going to ask them if we could hiding in there home or if they knew where we could. It was a risky chose but we had to.
It wasn't until much later that night that Papa returned, although he didn't return alone. He brought the parents of the polish family, Mariszka and Dominik Konstanty. The Konstanty's have three children: Emilia, Joanna, and Jozef. 'Them having children is good,' I thought, "We will have someone to talk to, and it's a good way to cover needing extra food." In the family there is someone with a close age to everyone in my family, Emilia is fourteen, a year younger then I, Joanna and Jozef are twins, and are of seventeen years, the year between Lia and Fai.
"Mariszka," my mother started, "are you sure positive that you're okay with taking care of three more children? I bet it is hard enough cooking for your whole family. I-"
"I will be fine Chanele, you need not worry." Mariszka said with a final tone. I could see she was very experienced with children. I saw that my mother had seen this too, for she quieted quickly not wanting to offend Mariszka.
"We will be all right," Dominik assured us, "Our children will make sure that your children still learn their studies. If the get restless, and no neighbors are around, they can help me, or Maris. They can also tidy up and whatnot, that is if they fancy to of course."
So later that week Liabele, Faigel, and I were dressed in so many layers that we couldn't count them if we tried. At three in the morning we were almost ready to leave to go to the Konstanty's house. About half an hour later my father and mother tearfully sent us on our ways tell us that they will be fine and we would to and giving each of us a bit of advice.
At 4:15 in the morning we quietly knocked on the side door to the Konstanty kitchen. Mariszka opened the door and rushed us in side the boiling hot house, it might have been all the clothes I was wearing but I was to tired at the time to think about it.

Chapter 3
"Shhh." Mariszka told us, "Someone might hear you. You will be stay in the cellar. It isn't very big but you can manage."
"Thank you" Faigel whispered laying out a blanket, when we got down stairs to the cellar, for himself and indicating for Lia and I to do the same.
The cellar wasn't very tall, it was about five foot tall, but it was pretty wide. In the far right corner there was a pile of boxes, behind these we decided to hide our blankets, and other objects. If the Nazis come there is just enough space to hide also.
By a month later nothing eventful had happened, and we had fallen into a simplistic pattern, and we found ourselves very comfortable with it:
Every morning, after a small breakfast at around 7:30, we would practice our Mathematic skills, then we would do a little bit of reading.
After lunch Maris, as she told us to call her, would have one of her various friends over for tea, we usually had to spend this time behind the cardboard boxes, although we did push them out a bit extra then we normally would have.
Around an hour later, when Maris friend finished her tea and left, we would on Writing and German. I don't understand why we need to learn German, I already know Yiddish and Polish, but Maris insisted that we know how just encase we have to understand something a German is saying, I think there is a hidden meaning.
And last, after dinner we would either help clean up or help the other children with there homework. Although sometimes we would sit down and have a little bit of a religious talk, we would compare special days, occasions, meanings of parables, and what each person believes.
Over the next week we heard of horrible raids on polish family's that had rumours about them of that they were hiding Jewish people in there homes.
One afternoon we were sitting still and silently waiting for Maris' friend to leave, although we weren't sitting behind the boxes because this friend was half deaf. Her friend was say her goodbyes, when there was a heaving pounding on the door, he all held our breaths as we heard the Nazis heavy boots crashing down on the floor above us. We heard the too women upstairs politely insisting to the Nazis that there were no 'filthy' Jews here, and that there never would. Although they invited them to look around if they insisted. After ten or fifteen minutes the Nazis were satisfied for now and left and then Maris' friend, Róza, soon followed, for sure to spread a rumour or to go tell everyone to start new gossip.
Maris waited about twenty minutes, just to be sure, before she came to check on us. She removed the red and bronze rug from above the trap door and flew the door open, and then quickly climbed down.
"Are you okay?" she asked with true concern, "do you feel alright?"
"We're just a little shaken up, that's all" Liabele answered for I still couldn't speak.
The next day we had fully recovered and it was time for Róza to come over, and we were extra quiet. But before she came we heard a heavy pounding on the door. We knew right away who it was, and our breathing almost stopped.
Boom, boom, boom! The door flew open, as we heard from the cellar. "Where are they? " a voice said strongly. I could picture a tall, wide man dressed in one of those Nazi uniforms, with an angry expression on his face.
"Where are who?" I guessed that it was Maris saying that because the voice was starting to stutter. "Those filthy Jews!" One of the Nazis answered and Faigel started to turn red with anger.
"Nobody but I am here, although you may check if you wish" and that is what they did. After what seemed like forever, the heavy pounding of boots left the house. A little while later Maris still hadn't checked on us and we were starting to worry. As we began to whisper about where she could be the door to the house banged open.
We all were quiet as the sound of feet echoed through the house, although it didn't sound like the Nazis, we were still as silent as could be.
Just then the trap door was uncovered and flung open. Standing there, was Jozef with a bag.
"Jozef!" we whispered with relief, "Where's your mother?" " They found your jackets with the Jewish star," Jozef said fight tears, while putting the hand with the empty bag out, "They have taken her. You must leave, we're sorry. Here take this bag and fill it with food, and necessary objects. I must go. Be careful and hurry!
With that he gave me a hug and left. His exit awakened us from our trance, and we scrambled around grabbing food and blankets and a gas lamp. Soon we were outside, running off to the nearest forest, and were left to our own thoughts. As the sun was rising we settled down, collapsing from our exhaustion. We hid behind a patch of bushes and had some bread and a drink of water.
The next day we set off to a country home, hoping to find shelter and maybe something to eat. When we got to the nearest farm we crept silently around the tree line looking for a small outbuilding or shed for shelter. On our way to the broken down building we had decided on, we came face to face with a growling German shepherd followed by a curious farmer. We were caught!

Chapter 4

To our relief and surprise the farmer did not seem inclined to hand us over to the authorities, the Gestapo. Instead he invited us into his home. Faigel was wary of the farmer, and hesitated to accept his offer. After Liabele's persuasion he finally agreed to accompany the farmer, who told us his name was Seweryn. Seweryn saw that we were hungry, and told us that all he had was bread and eggs, but smiling, he said that he happened to be the best omelette maker in the vicinity. While we ate he told us his story. His polish father was helped by a Jewish woman, who saved his life by giving him food and shelter and a job in her shoe-making shop. No one else would have even given him a place to stay in their dog house. To repay his father's debt to this Jewish woman he was going to help us! Seweryn told us he had two daughters and four sons, who would be willing to give their polish papers to us, so that we could cross the border.
"No" we said, "that is too much. Its too dangerous for your children." Seweryn, however, knew that we had no choice, and insisted. The children arrived home from school several hours later, and volunteered their citizenship papers to us, looked on by a proud and smiling father.
Soon after, we left hugged Seweryn and his children, and took our leave. As the farm faded in the distance, Seweryn called to us "Separate, go alone!"
It was then that we decided to make our way to the train station, and board a train for the nearest German city, hoping to find a foreign worker centre. From there we would be sent to farms or factories to supply much need labour, since the Germans were busy fighting the war.
On the way over to Germany I looked over my papers. I had his youngest daughter's. Her name was Rosa, and she was sixteen. Róza. I remembered that name from somewhere, but where? Maris' friend, I exclaimed to myself! How did she feel now? Was she ashamed she hadn't noticed we were hiding there? Did she hate their family now? Or was she on their side? What was this Polish Róza like? Kind? Nice? Generous? These thoughts swirled around in my head.
We had listened to Seweryn's advice and decided to separate and go to Germany by ourselves. On the way there we had to study our 'barrowed' papers to make sure we knew all the information if we were asked.
A jolt in the train brought me back to the situation at hand, it had been awhile since I had boarded the train. "Fifteen minutes! Fifteen minutes 'til arrival in Germany!" A worker on the train yelled.
I heard a girl yell from the other side of the train, she was yelling "I'm Fighting! Fighting to my death, I'm Fighting for Freedom." Although I could not tell from the voice if it was Laibele, I knew it sadly was, for our mother had said as we were leaving her many months before "Fight my dears, Fight for freedom."

Chapter 5

As I got off the train I looked around and tried to find someone that could help me. I needed to find the Foreign Worker Centre, and hopefully they could find me a job on a farm.
"Excuse me! Excuse me sir! Where can I find the foreign worker centre?"
"MOVE!" he exclaimed and pushed me out of the way, I held back a yell as my head hit a wall of stone.
"Miss? Miss, are you okay? Yes? Good, I heard you need help finding your way, would you like me to show you?" A young man said as he rushed towards me. "Did that Nazi hurt you at all?" I nodded, although I suddenly felt sick, a though just struck me, I would be around the people who killed Annakle, and who told away Liabele, who was soon to be murdered.
"Okay, you first head down main street and." The man told me and I was soon on my way. About an hour later I was standing in front of the large grey building. I took a deep breath and striated myself up, and took a step inside.
"Are you looking for work?" A lady and the front desk said with a bored tone in her voice.
"Umm. yes ma'am" I said very nervously, if Germans were just cruel to people before they know them I might have a mean family to work for.
After she told me how to get to the rest of the new workers I was on my way, turning left and right until I found the door I needed. When I stepped in through the door I say 2 groups, one for women and one for men. I was pushed into my group and then forced to clean ourselves up and we were then given new clothes to change into. They were uncomfortable and rough. The material scratched our arms and legs when we moved and clung to our skin making it extremely worse.
We were then brutally rushed away to stand in order, where we were questioned about our family and name. When they questioned me I held back my nervousness and put on a normal face.
"Name! Age! Now!" He was inquiring with a barked.
"Róza Gosika Tarkowski, age sixteen" I answered promptly.
''Location!"
''Lodz"
''Mother!"
''Gosika"
''Middle name!"
''Gosika"
'' Age!" he barked again very mad he couldn't trick me.
"Sixteen" after many more minutes he finally moves on to the next young lady to my right, I left out a small sigh of relief. 'I made it! I really made it! Did Faigel? What was happening to poor Lia?' the full realization that she was gone hit me like a ton of bricks. 'First Ann then Lia! Who would they take next? Cousin Chan? Was Mama and Papa alright?' Tears threatened to leek from my eyes and I had to put much effort into stopping them. 'I wish I could stay strong. Strong for all Jews, I can do this! Other people have died to save us! Died! They gave up there lives, and I can barely stop myself from crying? I can do this, I will, I'll show them all what 'a weak little girl' can do! Mama said I could, and I can! I'm going to stay alive for all Jews, every single one in the word.'
We were then lead into a large basement area, where we were told to sleep. I fell asleep almost right away, but my slumber was quaked with nightmares.

Chapter 6

The next morning I was pulled from my sleep by a loud shout. Sleepily I open my eyes to see hundreds of girls looking around in confusion and then in remembrance.
"Hurry up!" a man yelled in German, many of the girls looked confused so the ones, who knew, including me, told the girls around us.
When we were up we were then put on a small streetcar. I was sure that it was made to take only half of our weight!
It took what seemed was a whole day but really was only two and a half hours to get to the next town. On the trip I had worried and wondered about almost everything: about Liabele and what she was going through, what happened to Faigel, and momma and poppa, and why they let me pass when I had the skin, hair and nose of a jew.
It was the most anxious hour of my life! Some people had started crying, crying for themselves, crying for their families, and for their children. Some people acted happy but if you looked in their eyes you could see the terror and unhappiness they were going through. Occasionally tears would come to their eyes, but they would think of some excuse.
When we arrived, we were brutally shoved around until some of the townspeople chose us. They chose us as if we were worthless scum, just dirt on their shoes. "You, I'm talking to you! Hurry up!" a German farmer called to me. He then shouted to me to get into a small car that was worn and rusty. I obeyed, nodding dumbly, for I had slept very little the night before. As we drove to the farm he went over my jobs and the house rules. My jobs, for a start, were to feed the animals, wash the dishes and clothes, and look after the children.
The Germans had two dogs, a cow, a chicken and a rooster. They lived in a fair sized house and had two children, Karla, age ten, and Karstan, age eight. I was to put the children to bed each night at 8:30 and wake them up at 7. I also had to make their lunches, and help them with any homework they were assigned.
After the children were in bed, and I had read bedtime stories and got them several glasses of water, I was then able to finish my chores or washing the dishes, tidying up and feeding the animals. Putting the children to bed reminded me of when I had to put Ann to bed at home. I hated it so much at the time, but now it would be a blessing, and I cried thinking of her as I fell asleep after the first long day.
The following morning after the children on their school bus, I met Zofia, my fellow prisoner, who was also a Pole. Zofia was seventeen, had five other siblings, and seemed to be a kind person. However she told me she had a strong temper, and hated having to work for the farmer's family. It was great being able to talk to someone in my own language.

Chapter 7

Time passed. A long tedious year of waiting, day by day, turned into 1943. Zofia and I had become best friends. She told me all about her life, and little by little I told her more and more of mine. I changed peoples names and some events to hide the fact that I was Jewish, and I wondered if my features made her suspect. She never hinted that she knew.
One day I made the decision to tell her my most precious secret, although I wasn't sure exactly how to do it. 'Should I tell her straight out?-"hey Zofia did I tell you I am a Jew"-no, that wouldn't work. How do you tell someone so important, and something that you have hidden for so long?'
By the next Friday, I had worked up my courage to say it. "Zofia, I have something to tell you. I don't know how to say this, but umm, well, did you ever notice that my colouring is different from yours, and many Poles. It's because my parents are Jews, and I am too."
I watched Zofia's face carefully, and was horrified to see it turn angry and disgusted. "Its your fault! You started this war, you and your people! I hate you" she yelled at me, and with that she ran inside the house, leaving me standing there more alone than I had ever felt. Was she going to betray me to the farmer? I decided I couldn't risk it. I had to run. Grabbing a bag of corn that I was feeding the pigs with, I ran into the kitchen and stuffed a jug of water and some bread in with the corn, and hastily found a blanket and a candle to add to my supplies. I left without a backwards glance , running for the tree line and prayed.

Chapter 8

Heart pounding, I made my way under the cover of brush and branches towards the largest nearby town which was about 25 km away. I was well rested and very determined and in good condition because I had had a year of eating reasonably well. The war seemed closer to ending after my prayer. That's one thing the Nazi's couldn't take away from me, that and my love for my family. I wanted to live, and I would try my best to avoid capture. I walked all day, and in the twilight of the everning, I finally sat down to eat and rest. The rain began, and I took out my blanket to make a small tent. Actually, it wasn't worthy of being called a tent, but it did help keep me drier.
I was restless all night long, and woke to a soggy grey day. It was harder walking, but upon arriving I watched in the shadows looking for a way to blend in. Nothing seemed like a good idea, so I hid under stairs of factories, and scavenged for food outside of diners. I was cold, dirty and usually hungry, but still very determined to find a way to freedom.
Time passed, but I couldn't be certain how much, because I had no calendar One warm evening as twilight was setting in, I overheard two newspaper reporters talking in hushed whispers close to where I was hiding.

"Hitler is dead. Did you hear! The high command is in chaos, and is apparently running for their lives. What will happen to Germany when the people know that the Fuhrer is dead."
"I cannot believe it. He has only just begun his dominion of the world. Mein Kampf is our blueprint, our destiny. What will become of us?"
I almost jumped with joy. Could it be true, was the war really over, and would I see Mama and Papa again. 'Was Faigel alive and back home? I had to go home I had to! I couldn't wait!
'Were any of my cousins alive? Friends? What were the Germans going to do? Would they find a new Fuhrer? Would we get our rights back? Was Lodz really even free of Nazis?' There was only one thing I was sure of. I would go back home as soon as possible.
Then a thought struck me. I survived everything they have thrown at me thus far! I did what nobody thought a little girl could do. The Germans think that us, Jews, are so stupid! They would probably be sick if they heard what I had done. I feel bad for them now, what with they do? Their lives have been going down the drain, but do I pity them after what they did to me? Maybe I know understand more of what they tell us in the Torah, maybe I have learned to love everyone? I might never understand why I feel bad for them, but I do.

Chapter 10
The landscape of Germany was completely gone now and the familiar land of Poland was upon me once again. Strangely, I was not pleased to be home; sure I was happier here then in Germany, but this place brought back bad memories. I need to go someplace new, nowhere I've been before. I need to start over, start clean. Be a new person.
'Where do I find the lists of those who are alive here, in Lodz?' I begin to wonder I step off the train, 'I'll just walk around the town, maybe I'll see something.'
I have been looking around for about an hour, and I just, finally, see it. I rush up to the male at the front desk and ask to see the lists, I grabbed the list or survivors. I have spent to long to count pouring over the list hoping to see a name of a fellow friend or family member. At last I see a name that I recognize. David Krisolvistz, my Father.
I looked for the current location, the Lodz Hospital, I put the list back on the desk and run to the Hospital. When I get there I run to the front desk and asked to be shown to David Krisolvistz. I have to wait an hour until I am aloud in. I just think about what to say, sooner then I thought the time to see my father again arose. As I walk in and see him, I take deep pity on my dear father. He had no life left, sure he was alive in real life but he had no more purpose, his soul had left already.
"Father! How are you? Where is Mama?" I cried rushing to hug him.
"Tovah, my dear, I'm sorry to say but your mother passed on, she could take the horror of open killing."
"She-she's gone?" I am starting to brake down into tears.
"Yes, Tovah my dear child, " he answered as I started to grip his hand never wanting to let go, "Tovah, let go, let go of me" I am very surprised at what he was saying, But still I let go of his hand.
"Let me go, let me fly free" it is now I understand what he really wanted and took back his hand once more. "I will miss you Tovah."
"and I you" but he had pass on before I could finish. I knew he had heard my words though, from wherever his soul is, as he floats my words echo in his mind. And then something echoed in my mind. It is Papa, he said:
"Fight my dear, fight" and I always will.

Epilogue
As I sat on a train again I thought of my family, who were all gone, even Faigel, he may not be actually be dead, but he was to me, I'll never see him again. I miss them all, but I know, wherever I am, they're always there, always there with me. They are my guardian angles, always watching over me.
I am on my way to France to start a new life. I want to go to school to be a Mathematician. But no matter where I go my family and friends will be with me and I will always remember my mother's words:
"Fight my dears, Fight for freedom."

By: Charlotte