Newspaper Page Text
LUCKY ONES (at left)—These kids,
tagged, are ready for a trip to the U. S.
under care of the United Service for New
Americans.
A&u&ntune.
in
by HELAINE BRODIE
An attractive auburn-haired girl was
the last to leave the Warsaw train one
chilly November night in '42. Rapidly she
walked through the town apparently a
stranger in the city and no place to go.
As soon as a policeman was seen in the
distance, the girl would conceal herself in
a doorway or an alley until the so-called
man of justice was out of sight.
Suddenly someone whispered, “Eva, Eva
Finkelstein!”
The young woman pivoted around, but
no sign of life was visible except her own
shadow on the dingy pavement. A dim
street light was projecting images on the
street that faintly resembled familiar ob
jects. The gloomy and secluded streets,
the voice out of nowhere, aside from being
cold and hungry, was frightening and
grotesque.
“Eva, wait a minute I w-ant to talk to
you,” the same voice commanded.
Again she turned around, this time she
saw a tall figure approaching her. It was
a young man. a non-Jew she went to school
with in Hrubieszow, her home town.
“What are you doing in Warsaw?” the
girl asked.
“I’m working wdth the underground.
IaJgAAxuul
Now I'll return your question, Eva, how
and why are you here?”
She had heard that this old friend was
being persecuted by the Fascists for polit
ical reasons, but she had no idea he was in
direct contact with the underground. Per
haps he could advise her as to where to go
and what to do in this strange town.
Heaven only knows what would happen to
EVA FINKELSTEIN—Now a student at
Agnes Scott College, Atlanta—far from
the scene of her underground venture.
her if she was found by the Germans.
Yes, shq would confide in him.
"Oh, can’t we go to a place where it’s
warm?” Eva asked. “I need to eat.
Not a bite for hours.”
The young Pole led Eva to a place
that was heated to a pleasant degree,
and in a few minutes she was served
hot food. While she was eating, the
tired girl explained under what condi
tions she came to Warsaw.
She began by telling him a story
that was not unusual during that time
in Europe. Eva told the Pole of the
cruelty and fear the Jews in Hrubies
zow had undergone the past few weeks.
In their minds the Jews tried to delay
the “March of Death,” but they fully
realized that their coming death was
inevitable.
Finally the day was arriving. The
Jews in Hrubieszow, Poland, knew the
day before when the mass slaughter
would be inflicted upon them. The
6,000 Jews were all comparatively
wealthy. They had attended good
schools, took vacations during the sum
mer and in short lead a decent, normal
life. They felt the war coming on, but
they couldn’t believe it would be their
end.
Eva found a hiding place for her parents
that she hoped would be secure. She left
her parents to find some friends, but they
were unobtainable. She realized that she
was walking the streets during the Jewish
curfew, if caught it would mean imprison
ment. Semi-consciously she destroyed her
identification papers and her arm band
that signified her Jewishness. A short
while later she found herself at the train
station.
Hrubieszow is a small town and all the
inhabitants know each other. The first
person she encountered at the depot was
the station agent who immediately recog-
watch and ring. She also had zloti
nized her. Eva was wearing an expen
sive watch and ring. She also had zloty
(money) in her bag. She gave the man
all her valuables, and he, in turn, put her
on the train bound for Warsaw. He
locked Eva in the rest room and gave her
the key. This insured little danger of any
one finding her.
“Fortunately,” Eva told her old school
mate tha t befriended her, “I got here
safely. What I’m going to do now, I don’t
know.”
The young man explained to her how
to contact the underground. Once she
reached them (Please turn to page 34)
The Southern Israelite
(7)