Victory In Europe, Infamy In Germany

May 9th, 1945
Ruchel Izan Hower

Yesterday was announced victory in Europe Day. My country, that I love, surrendered on the eve of last night. All over Germany, Europe to, was in ruins. The effects of the war have already begun to take their toll on me. The factory that I worked in closed just three weeks ago so am I out of a job to. I took a stroll in their today and found it completely empty with dust and debris filling the air. Garbage was scattered around the entire building. I began to walk around looking for goods that I may be able to sell. I noticed a huge stack of old time cards, so I looked for mine. I finally found it and it read Ruchel Izanhower. I left and went back home for supper.

I wish I could have joined war effort. My older brother enlisted to fight for our great country, unfortanatley he was killed. I was always taught that it is an honor to die for your country. My mother didn’t want me to join because I was her “little baby”. I needed to pass on the family name. My family wouldn’t be able to pay bills without my brother or I working. I stopped getting an education at age 10 and worked in the shoe factory all the way until it closed. Since I’m not working anymore money is tight. We had enough saved that would last us a few more months. We will make it through this, we always do.



May 21st

I hadn’t heard from Julie in a 2 weeks, she was the love of my life. She mysteriously disappeared. I asked around town if anybody had seen her an older man who knew her father said that they were hiding because of the Nuremberg war trials. Julie’s father was the factory owner. He would trick jews into hiring them to work and on their first day he would have Nazi’s waiting for him. I would turn the other way when Mr. Jaigermeister did that. I loved my country, but if I ever questioned him that would ship me out along with the jews.
Later that day…

The mail just came and it was a letter from Julie! She told me that they had fled to India and are staying with one of her father’s contacts he had made through the shoe factory. They had to wait it out and maybe he wouldn’t be on trial. She believed that he would be imprisoned for life. She sent me her love. I couldn’t write back because she couldn’t put a return address on the envelope or it might give away Julie’s fathers whereabouts. I was glad to hear from her though, I had began to grow more worrisome by the hour. I hope I will be able to see her soon and life could go back to the way it was during the early days of the Third Reich. For now all I have is my hope…