A Time of Terror

German was going through a lot of changes in 1935 when Charlotte went to visit her sisters with her husband and young son. They talked about many things, how she was doing in America, how her family was growing, as well as how her sisters were doing.

While in town one afternoon, there was a large crowd forming and her sisters hurried to join, urging Charlotte to come with them. As they stood there, someone began to speak up in front of the crowd on a raised platform. Confused by the way the crowd was behaving around them, Charlotte tried to ask her sister.

"Why is everyone so silent?" Immediately she was shushed, not only by her sisters, but by others. Her younger sister whispered to her.

"You do not speak while HE is speaking."

This frightened Charlotte as she listened to the speech. She was glad she would be returning to America in a few days. She was also glad her husband and son were not in town. Her young son would soon be turning six years old. This trip was to be a gift to him and yet Charlotte began to worry.

Charlotte and her husband began to speak in English when they wanted to talk about things they didn't want overheard. Their son didn't know much German, so they often had him with them when they were talking. Sometimes her sisters would complain when they spoke in English. But Charlotte admitted that William didn't know much German. They tsked and shook their heads, but their secret was safe. Neither of them approved of what they'd been seeing around town. The visit which had started out pleasant was becoming uncomfortable.

The day before they left, she was with her husband and her older sister. People began to clear the road and stand on the sidewalk. They were excited and cheering as a group came down the street. Her older sister whispered to Charlotte.

"If He takes your hand, do not pull away from him." It was then Charlotte saw the dark haired man in uniform with a small mustache walking along the gathered people and shaking their hands. There were others in uniform around him who looked frightful. She couldn't move back due to the people behind her, even her husband couldn't reach for her to pull her back to him. She hoped this man wouldn't notice her as he came closer.

But then she felt him take her hand, gripping it firmly, then he gave it a shake. Charlotte kept her eyes down as he let go and moved on down the line. A few moments later, her husband was there beside her, helping her to move away from the side of the road as people dispersed. They're eyes met and they knew it was time for them to leave Germany again.

Her sisters had been asking if her young son William could stay with them a while. At first, Charlotte had thought it would be nice for him. That she and her husband could visit other family members and then come back to pick him up. But there was a feeling of unrest, the high energy was manic and disturbed her. Both of them agreed to leave with William the next day. But they didn't tell her sisters, only their son.

Charlotte went to lunch with her sisters, chatting with them. They mentioned there was a camp where boys went to once they were six years old. They learned all kinds of things there about Germany. They told her that William was almost six and it would be nice if he could go to the camp. Charlotte was glad William wouldn't be staying. She just had to make sure her husband had enough time to get to the ship.

Her husband had told them he was going to the pub. But he'd lied as he had already gone to get their bags and Will while the sisters went inside for lunch. They'd planned to meet on board the ship. She just had to get away from her sisters and head to the dock.

Since she had told her sisters that they might need a ride back to their house, since her husband was going to the pub. They had asked their Uncle to wait for them at his car.

Charlotte distracted her sisters for a while window shopping. But she also was listening to what people were saying. She also saw some men mistreating some other people, pushing them around and tossing a stone through a shop window.

"Why are they doing that?" She asked her sisters.

"They are Jewish. They were told to leave, but they didn't listen. Now they are being made an example. It will make sure the others listen and get out. They aren't wanted here." The older sister stated. The younger sister took Charlotte's arm.

"Come, lets go see if Uncle is waiting for us."

As the sisters walked back to find their Uncle waited for them, Charlotte realized she had to get away. She stopped as she saw her Uncle waving to them.

"I want to go find my husband. I know he's at the pub, but I need to know when we are supposed to go to the ship." Her sisters knew nothing about ships or traveling.

"Why would that matter?" Her younger sister asked.

Charlotte smiled at her and lied.

"It's a long drive from the house to the dock, I don't want us to chance missing our time to board." She looked back down the road, even knowing her husband really wasn't at the Pub. "I can have him drive back so we can get out bags."

"But we can wait for you, then we can all go together." Her older sister offered. But Charlotte shook her head.

"It will be awhile, besides, we may have to go to the docks to check on things. If you wait, you won't be able to get dinner started till much later." This made the sisters look to see where the sun was and they nodded in agreement.

"I didn't notice it was getting so late. We'll have to get things started as soon as we get home." The older sister said.

Charlotte waved to them as she headed back down the street. Her sisters quickly going over to their Uncle who stood beside his car.

Hiding in the crowd, she looked back to see them drive off. Then hurried to the dock a few blocks away. She'd been down here before and knew where the ship should be. As she got close, her husband shouted to her and waved. Relieved, she hurried to board and reach her husband who was waiting for her.

"Where's William?" Charlotte asked. He gave her a hug and kissed her forehead.

"He was tired, so I let him take a nap in the room. We can go there straight away if you wish." Charlotte leaned in against him, thankful for him being there.

"How long till we leave?"

"In less than an hour. Don't worry, even if they tried to come back after noticing Will wasn't there, we'll be long gone by then." Charlotte walked beside her husband as they headed to their room.

A while later as the ship left port, it's loud horn moaning across the sky. She felt the worry for her family fall away. They were going home to America. They would be okay.

But she felt something bad was happening in her homeland. She knew there was nothing she could do to help them though. Because from what she saw, they had welcomed the man who filled her with a chilling fear. A darkness was building over her country, she hoped for the best, but knew in her heart it was only beginning of something far worse.