Book Blog on Adversity

So as you know I am reading All But My Life by Gerda Weissmann Klein. She, her parents and her brother live in a nice house in a town called Bielitz. In the book they are currently facing a lot of adversity. First, the Germans invaded Poland. Then Gerdas’ brother Arthur is required by the Germans to report to the train station. Everyone has heard rumors about what happens to the people that are shipped away, and they are not good. As he prepares to leave everyone is crying. They know that they might not see him again, but his mother acts as if she will (p. 21). Gerdas’ dad owns a factory with another man. They are not allowed to go near it because they are Jews. The sign on the fence says, “Dogs and Jews not Allowed to Enter” (Klein 26). In late 1939 the Klein’s received a note saying that they had to report to an armory in December. They were only allowed to bring twenty pounds of clothing. Once everyone found out about this, all non-Jews were coming to the house to buy up all their possessions. They sold for a few measly Marks. Everything they treasured was gone so fast, and they had nothing to show for it (30). Then, their rations got cut and they were forced to move into the basement of their home where their hired help lived (33). The Jews were not given things such as sugar and eggs, and their coal rations were cut. They lived in a dark damp basement with only candles and an oil lamp to light it because the Germans intentionally cut their electric lines. They eventually receive good news from Arthur who they were told may have been killed in a massacre (40). This news is a relief for them, and one less adversity that they must face. They no longer have to worry about the life of their child. Eventually they are banned from going outside into their garden. This really hurts Gerdas’ father because she says that he needs to get outside on nice summer days to clear his mind.  I feel that if I were a member of the Klein family I would have forced my parents to move. I feel angry because the property that is rightfully theirs has been taken away. They have gotten no restitution for it, and are being slowly starved. I can’t imagine what is would have been like to live every day of your life in fear knowing that the Gestapo could come and take you anytime.