Ewa Chojnacka
Class 3
Stok Lacki, 19 February 1946
My most terrible experience during the German occupation
The death of my father was my most terrible experience during the German occupation. It was a beautiful August day. A ruddy sun was smiling at us playfully from the blue sky. Sheaves of grain were standing in the fields. Yet I wasn’t happy, for I had a bad feeling since morning.
It was in the afternoon. Daddy was lying on a lawn chair, because he was unwell, I was reading a book and mommy was sewing a dress. Suddenly a scream rang out in the yard and caused confusion. “The gendarmes are coming!!” Frightened, I ran out into the yard. I saw six gendarmes heading towards our house. I was scared and hid inside. At that time the occupiers were taking our people to dig trenches.
Meanwhile, the gendarmes entered the house. They told daddy to get dressed, but he refused and didn’t want to go. They began to beat him with rifle butts. I ran after them. Then I noticed blood on daddy’s mouth. A scream pierced the air. It was I who let it out, for I was in despair. I realized that the beating caused pulmonary hemorrhage, because daddy had a lung condition.
At the sight of blood, the gendarmes let daddy be, but it wasn’t for long. Soon daddy passed away. My despair knew no bounds. Oh!! If I caught even one of those animals, I would kill them with my own hands for my lifelong orphanhood. Ah!! Why do people kill their neighbors?