1NdUE0w6

1>Będzin, German-occupied Poland, January 1943
2>Rutka Laskier starred at the hole in the wall of the Ghetto
3>she had thought countless times of crawling through it
4>but she wasn’t sure she could fit through it, not to mention it was in view of a German checkpoint
5>she looked up and the young man pretending not to stare at her from the apartment on the other side.
6>he had been eyeing her for the past few days
7>Rutka knew it was forbidden to speak with non-Jews, but she had grown so tired of life in this crammed Ghetto
8>the last two years of being cooped up with her parents, baby brother, and grandparent had become unbearable
9>she needed to see a fresh face
10>and besides, it looked the German guard on duty was extremely disinterested in his job
11>Rutka picked up a pebble and tossed it at the man
12>she knew he was watching because he managed to duck just in time
13>she at waved for him to come down
14>much to her surprise, he jumped from balcony and landed on his own two feet
15>it was almost as if he had tried to jump over the wall and meet her in person but realize how foolish of an idea it was at the last moment
16>he instead strolled up to the hole on the other side
17>he was even more handsome up close
18>his name was Karol and he was from Wadowice
19>he had been studying Kraków to join the priesthood, but the Germans stormed the Bishop's Palace and massacred the students and staff in retaliation for the killing of a Sudeten industrialist and the commandant of a new labor camp in Płaszów by unknown assassins, Karol had only escaped because he was out playing at an underground football game at the time
20>with no living family and now a wanted man, Karol had moved to Będzin for a fresh start
21>for the first time in a long while, Rutka felt more sorry for someone besides herself
22
23>Hauptwachtmeister Heiman watched the Polish boy and Jewish girl talking through the wall of the Ghetto
24>regulations required that he report them both for summary execution
25>for the crime having a chat
26>but he wasn’t going to do
27>oh how stupid this all was
28>he could hardly believe himself, but he was actually nostalgic for the days of the Republic
29>the Prussian Secret Police had been a proper law enforcement agency
30>they were trained, disciplined, and above all else, principled
31>they had upheld law and order to the letter, protected the rights and property of others
32>they had fought to keep the twin lunacies of National Socialism and Communism at bay
33>but that was over a decade ago
34>now the Secret Police was no more, Prussian autonomy was no more
35>now his former enemies were his bosses
36>with that Bavarian buffoon Göring running the show, there was little room for him in the new Gestapo
37>rather than give them the pleasure of firing him, he had tendered his resignation himself
38>the only reason he had joined the Ordnungspolizei was to get out of serving in the Wehrmacht
39>he’d rather be doing some honest work rather than getting killed in Hitler’s stupid war, even if that honest work was fighting drunkards and directing traffic
40>but instead of honest work, they had him guarding this open air prison full of women, children, and the elderly
41>Heiman understood the Jewish Question and that every German was obliged to do his duty for the Fatherland but this was absurd
42>these people posed no threat
43>he felt more concern for his own safety around his own “comrades” than he did these Jews
44>”comrades”, he couldn’t think of a more undeserving term
45>nothing more than a band of morons, drunks, opportunists, and overenthusiastic party zealots who lacked the physique and aptitude to cut it in the SS
46>he wouldn’t trust them with caring for his cat, let alone being police officers
47>in fact, most of them probably belonged in this prison far more than any of the Jews he had met
48>and now these “resettlements” being planned
49>all for a bunch of women and children
50>it wasn’t just unnecessary and wasteful, it was dangerous
51>it was making enemies that they could ill afford
52>like that new group that had attacked the camp at Płaszów
53>according to the few German survivors, the attackers numbered no more than 20
54>20 good men
55>that’s all it took to burn down half of the camp buildings, whisk away nearly a hundred prisoners, kill dozens of guards and two of the administrators, set back the planned “resettlement” of the Krakow Ghetto by weeks, if not months
56>the commandant was just another sadistic moron whom even the SS could barely stand, but the factory owner had supposedly been an Abwehr agent
57>no one knew who they were but the General Government had been quick to blame the Polish resistance, probably just using it as an excuse for another crackdown
58>but Heiman had seen the bloody aftermath at Płaszów firsthand, whoever did this, they weren’t local amateurs
59>they were professionals
60>and very good at it
61
62>a few weeks later…
63>these daily conservations had become something to look forward to for Rutka
64>through Karol, she was actually get to get accurate news about the outside world
65>the rumors that the Germans had been repelled in Greece the year before and out of desperation, attacked the Soviet Union were indeed true
66>now the Germans were fighting in a place called Stalingrad, it wasn’t going well for them
67>the Americans had joined the war in full force and were in the process of driving the Germans from Africa
68>more importantly, the group that had attacked Płaszów had come to Będzin
69>the Germans called them “Graue Geister”
70>Gray Ghosts
71>it was said that they came out of nowhere and attacked without warning, screaming like wild animals, and would leave just as quickly, that they were anywhere and everywhere
72>some of the more superstitious even claimed that they were in fact animals in human form
73>they supposedly beheaded German soldiers and wore their skulls as trophies
74>apparently they had begun kidnapping Jews being transported out of the Ghetto for “resettlement” (everyone was starting to suspect it was something else, something much worse) 
75>for once, Rutka was glad she was stuck in here
76>as bad as this Ghetto was, she definitely didn’t want to find herself face-to-face with savages who wore severed heads
77>in addition to world events, she and Karol had been talking about… Other things.
78>he was fluent in 12 languages (she was having trouble just learning English and German)
79>he was a pacifist
80>he was an avid fan of football
81>they both loved American movies
82>and he REALLY liked Jewish girls
83>their conversations had graduated to handholding through the hole
84>they had even managed a quick kiss when the guards were distracted, spooked by a whistling sound across the street
85>now she wanted more
86>she was planning to ask him if she could “pleasure” him
87>it wouldn’t be that difficult
88>the hole was low enough that he could just stick it through and she could do whatever she wanted with it
89>he was there on his balcony
90>Rutka signaled him to come down
91>Karol was aghast at her suggestion
92>Here? Now? Nevermind the danger, he was still a seminary student…
93>but Rutka didn’t care, she knew deep down that she would very likely die here and she wanted to experience love at least once
94>Rutka was starting to contemplate how awkward this was turning out to be when they heard a mournful noise
95>the sound of wolves howling?
96>but that was impossible, there were no wolves this deep in the city
97>then galloping
98>the howls sounded clearer now, they were definitely human
99>then the shooting started
100>Rutka was no stranger to the sound of gunfire, but she had never been this close to it
101>she could hear the bullets impacting the Ghetto wall in front of her
102>she was about to shout for Karol to run when he suddenly leapt over the wall and land almost on top of her
103>it was just in time too, an explosion reverberated off the wall
104>the shouting and gunfire grew louder and closer
105>Karol yelled that they needed to get inside and fast
106>together they bolted for the nearest house pushed in the door
107>Rutka managed to catch a glimpse of a horse and rider galloping down the street before slamming the door closed
108>he was charging with a gun drawn, his hat almost coming off
109>something that looked like a head of hair was hanging off his saddle
110>Rutka was surprised to see the house was completely empty, not a week ago there had been several families crammed in here
111>after finding a room in the back, she and Karol held each other in their embrace for what seemed hours while the shooting and screaming raged outside
112>then the embrace turned into kissing
113>kissing had turned into undone pants and dresses
114>and that had turned into several hours of unexpected passion, better than anything she could’ve imagined
115>afterward, Karol held in his arms for the longest time
116>once darkness fell, they finally snuck outside
117>for once she didn’t see any German soldiers out enforcing curfew
118>because they were lying dead in the street
119>discarded weapons, shell casings, and blood were everywhere
120>when they finally reached the Ghetto wall, Karol whistled to see if it attracted attention, when no reply came, Karol kissed her goodbye and vaulted over the wall once more
121>he was just about to slip back into his apartment building when an arm grabbed him by the collar and slammed into the wall
122>it was a German soldier
123>rather than immediately shoot him, the soldier instead berated Karol for doing something so incredibly stupid
124>while he didn’t give a damn about their antics, his fellow Orpo would be more than happy to shoot them both on the spot
125>but he would let Karol with a “warning” instead
126>Karol took the opportunity to apologize, promising not to enter the Ghetto again
127>but this was a bold-faced lie
128>he didn’t care about the danger, he would see Rutka again
129
130>the next eight months were… Eventful.
131>when Rutka discovered she was pregnant, she had the most immense sinking feeling imaginable
132>an unplanned (and unwed) pregnancy was bad, in this Ghetto, it was a potential death sentence
133>she already had to claim that a German soldier forced himself on her to keep her parents’ rage contained
134>she had considered getting rid of it, but backed off when Karol begged her not to and promised help her
135>and help he did
136>she didn’t know how he did but he had managed to procure extra food and fuel, passing it to her through the hole in the wall
137>several times a week, he would jump over the wall (although he always insisted on doing it at the exact same time) and they would find an empty space and have “fun” together
138>the Germans had been steadily emptying the Ghetto and they had their choice of abandoned houses to use
139>so far her family had managed to stay off the transport lists, but it wouldn’t last forever
140>the most horrible rumors were circulating about where the Jews were being sent
141>some said they were being shipped to even more squalid prison camps to be used as slave labor
142>others claimed that they were being sent to camps where everyone was killed by being burned alive or gassed or whatnot
143>Rutka didn’t want to believe the
144>between her parents, her pregnancy, the horrors of everyday life in the Ghetto, and the rumors these sexual liaisons, risky they might be, were the only thing keeping her sane
145>thankfully the Germans seemed more worried about guarding themselves than with guarding the Ghetto
146>they had increased security around the gates of the Ghetto but had cut down on patrols of the walls
147>they were afraid, and with good reason
148>attacks by these “Gray Ghosts” had increased dramatically in the past few months
149>sometimes the Germans would find one of their sentries with his throat slit
150>sometimes they would be shot with guns that didn’t make any noise
151>sometimes they were killed in broad daylight by snipers who always escaped before anyone could trace the shot
152>one time a man on horseback had supposedly rode up to the local German headquarters and thrown several severed heads at the entrance
153>they had even killed several Jews in the Ghetto (all policemen or members of the local council)
154>rumor had it that someone on the inside was providing them with information
155>Rutka wasn’t sure who to be more scared of, the Germans or the Gray Ghosts
156
157>August, 1943
158>Rutka’s life couldn’t get any worse
159>German soldiers had banging on their door, telling everyone they had but a few minutes to pack and assemble outside for “resettlement”
160>she wouldn’t even have a chance to say goodbye to Karol
161>she barely had time to hide her diary in between the floors where Stanisława had showed her
162>if nothing else, there would at least be a record of what had happened
163>as they assembled outside, Rutka held her belly tight hanging out under her dress
164>she was nearly eight and a half months along, so there was no point to hiding anymore
165>although everyone starred and snickered (as could be expected), she had suffered surprisingly little socially for it. Everyone was too busy trying to deal with their imminent deportation and what many suspected to be their deaths.
166>Rutka herself wasn’t dealing with it well
167>she found herself in a bewildered state
168>the war had purged any notion from her mind of the existence of a kind and just God
169>no just God would’ve let such a terrible fate befall his followers, or anyone for that matter
170>and yet she still felt compelled to pray for the safety of her parents, her brother, Karol, and herself
171>she didn’t care if it was some supernatural deity or an Earthly being that listened
172>she just wanted something, someone, to save them from this nightmare
173>Karol on the other hand had remained steadfast in his commitment to Catholicism
174>she wasn’t sure whether to think him a fool or envy him for his unshakable faith
175>all she knew was that she loved that about him
176>it was almost as if his moral strength was infectious
177>none of that mattered now though
178>Rutka was marched into the square with everyone else
179>it seemed as if the entire Ghetto had been rounded up
180>Rutka looked around
181>already the streets were filled with horrors
182>several bodies lay with blood pooling around them, they had been either too sick to be moved or made the mistake of attempting to run
183>an armored car sat in the middle of the square surrounded by soldier, the Germans were taking no chances
184>Rutka began to resign herself to her fate
185>suddenly, she noticed with the corner of her eye movement on one of the nearby rooftops
186>a shadowy figure emerged behind one of the German soldiers on the roof, grabbed him and pulled him down
187>two more figures immediately emerged, one of them was carrying a large tube
188>the other figure shoved something into the tube and pointed it downward
189>the tube seemingly exploded and a whistling trail of smoke flew toward the armored car
190>the armored car instantly burst into flames
191>a split second later, a volley of gunfire tore into the ranks of the German soldiers still in shock from the blast
192>she could hear the sound of howling and galloping horses
193>as if signaled, a number of Jews produced concealed knives and began rushed the Germans
194>the crowd panicked and began to scatter in every direction, the Germans were too busy trying to shoot back at the attackers to shoot them all
195>Rutka watched as her own parents and brother took cover behind the steps of a building
196>but she would not do that
197>she had come too damn far to be killed by a stray bullet
198>when the fire slackened, Rutka took off and wobbled down the street as fast her legs could carry her, not even listening to her family’s cries
199>she hid in an alleyway as a squad of German soldiers rushed past her without noticing, firing on anything that moved
200>at last Rutka reached the wall
201>she picked up a piece of masonry and hurled it through Karol’s window, crying his name desperately
202>Karol appeared out the of window, Rutka begged for him to get her out
203>jumping down, Karol desperately began pulling at the bricks of the wall, hoping to pull them loose and widen the hole so maybe he could pull her through, but to no avail
204>suddenly a large pickaxe appeared behind Karol and slammed into the wall with a crunch, knocking several bricks loose
205>“Amateurs” called a voice in a German accent
206>Karol backed away and soon the pickaxe began whittling away at the wall, apparently weakened by months of neglect and battle damage
207>within a matter of minutes, enough of the wall had been torn away for Rutka with her swollen belly to squeeze through
208>on the other side, caught a glimpse at her apparent savior
209>it was a German soldier, taller and older than the rest
210>so shocked was she that Rutka fainted in surprise, the last thing she felt before slipping into unconsciousness was a pair of arms picking her up
211
212>Heiman sped the truck through the streets of Będzin as calmly as he could
213>he had probably just made the most stupid decision of his life, and he did not regret it one bit
214>he had the boy, Karol, and the girl, named Rut or something stuffed in the back
215>luckily with all the shooting going on, all he had to do was say he was going to fetch more men and the checkpoints would wave him through quickly
216>years of building resentment at the Gestapo, the Nazis, the war, all of it, had led to this moment
217>he had stood by for months and watched countless people be put on trains to certain death
218>no longer
219>he knew he couldn’t save everyone
220>but a girl and her child? That was doable.
221>the only question was where to put them…
222>then he remembered, the farm he had stopped by on patrol
223>the lady who lived there was very kind, she was a good Catholic
224>but more importantly, she was Prussian
225>he could trust her
226>the girl would be safe there
227
228>two weeks later…
229>Rutka wished it would be over
230>she had been carrying this baby for over nine months
231>her belly had grown to that of an oversized melon, her navel potruding under even the thickest of clothes
232>she didn’t care about the pain anymore, she just wanted to get it over with
233>and now was probably the best time to do it anyway
234>she had been surprised at her unexpected good fortune
235>not only had a German police officer named Heiman, had helped her escape, but he had been so kind as to shelter her for a day and drop her off with someone he trusted
236>she was under the care of, Mrs. Mueller, an old German widow, had taken the both of them in without so much as a question
237>Mrs. Mueller was glad to receive the two guests, she needed all the help she could get with upkeep
238>while Karol did the hard work with plowing and gardening, Rutka helped with simple tasks such as cleaning dishes
239>it wasn’t much, but Mueller was surprisingly understanding, she was the mother of five herself
240>Rutka hoped that she was about to do would free herself up to be more helpful
241>as Karol entered their makeshift bedroom she pinned him to the wall with her swollen belly, kissing him
242>she noticed that he instantly became aroused
243>she undid his belt and playfully threw him onto the bed
244>stripping off her one shirt that still fit, she climbed into the bed and mounted Karol
245>she guided his already throbbing hard cock into her pussy
246>for what seemed hours, she stared at Karol in pure lust as she rode him
247>suddenly she felt his hot goo fill her insides and she threw her head back
248>at that moment she suddenly felt a painful contraction, not like the ones she had experienced days before, this one was more far intense
249>Karol helped Rutka pull herself off of him as she moaned in a mixture of orgasmic pleasure and excruciating pain
250>as Rutka began to panic, Karol told her softly to lie down and stay calm as went to go fetch Mrs. Mueller… 
251
252>some days later…
253>somewhere on a dreary road in the Polish countryside
254>Rutka barely clings to the world of consciousness
255>every part of her body aches, it still feels as if she’s been split in two
256>oh she wished she could simply sleep for the next week until she had fully healed
257>the baby, her baby is not four days old
258>the birth had been the most agonizing 12 hours of her life, and at the same time the most pleasuring
259>she had expected the pain, but not the pleasure
260>her muffled cries had just as much been of joy as they were pain
261>luckily, her Karol had been more than understanding
262>while they waited for a midwife to arrive, he had eased Rutka’s pain by pleasuring her, she had returned the favor
263>oh how they had loved it
264>all the pain went numb when she felt him, her little boy, placed on her breast for the first time
265>for the first time in years, she was ecstatic, all thoughts of the Nazis, the Soviets, death camps, ghettos, everything that had left her in a state of inconsolable misery, had vanished from her mind
266>all she could think about was beautiful the baby was
267>but that was three days ago
268>she didn’t know how, but the Germans had found them
269>maybe Heiman had ratted them out, maybe his “comrades” had beaten it out of him, she didn’t know
270>she had been shook awake by Karol who her told the Germans were coming and they needed to leave
271>she hadn’t even had time to grab her shoes Karol had grabbed and dragged her outside
272>he handed her the baby and told her to run
273>Rutka had managed to barely make it to the tree line when the first German truck pulled up the to the house
274>she watched in horror as the Germans had dragged Karol outside, shouted in his face (she could only guess they were demanding to know where she was), and after he remained silent, savagely beat him
275>it was then that Rutka realized she had no other choice but to run
276>she had made a mad dash through the forest, she hadn’t run faster in her life
277>and she was barefoot
278>her heart raced as she dodged tree branches, waded through streams, and stumbled through the darkness
279>she must’ve run for hours
280>now Rutka had no idea where she was
281>she had spent the last two days wandering the countryside, looking for someone, anyone to help her
282>she was afraid of entering any towns because she knew the Germans were looking for her
283>she hoped to find the Home Army, she had heard they had a base somewhere in these woods
284>maybe they would be willing to her in… at a price
285>but Rutka didn’t care
286>she was willing to offer them her own body if it meant saving the baby
287>oh how cold it was
288>she could barely feel her feet it was so painful 
289>but all Rutka could think about was the cold and keeping the baby warm
290>as she swaddled the baby in what little cloth she had and knelt against the tree, began to feel drowsiness overcome her
291>she fought it
292>she knew she could allow herself to fall asleep or else they’d both freeze to death
293>but it was a losing fight
294>as Rutka’s eyelids began to close, she heard a clopping sound, and then it grew louder
295> instinctively becoming alert again, she came to just in time to see a pair of horses gallop right past her
296>luckily the riders hadn’t notice her
297>Rutka could hear more clopping in the distance
298>reminded of the first days of this terrible war that began four years ago when SS Cavalry had rode through Gdansk, terrorizing Poles, Jew and Catholic alike, Rutka began to quietly move deeper into the forest, but the pain returned to her legs and she didn’t get far
299>propping herself up behind a tree, Rutka watched the main body of horses turn around the corner of the road some distance away
300>there were dozens, no hundreds of them, more horses than she had ever seen
301>they came closer
302>she saw the outlines of the riders, some carried lanterns and she could make out the orange colored faces of some of them
303>they wore what seemed to be grey but it was too dark to tell
304>were they Germans?
305>It didn’t make sense, the Home Army owned these woods, and yet here these riders seemed not the least bit concerned, it was as if they were out on a casual stroll
306>they weren’t wearing German helmets, but hats, some wore regular caps, others had what looked like to be cowboy hats from those silly American movies her Karol was so fond of
307>whoever they were, Rutka did want to get their attention, so she remained still
308>she prayed the baby would not begin to cry
309>suddenly one of the lead riders, one with what looked like a feather sticking out of his hat, raised his hand and the entire column came to a halt
310>he turned and pointed behind him and two others, one with a lantern, quickly rode up to his side
311>he began speaking to them and pointed in her direction
312>Rutka felt her heart begin to pound again as the fear pulsed through her
313>the two riders abruptly started galloping toward her
314>they stopped just short of the treeline and dismounted in a quick, yet graceful fashion
315>Rutka could see them better now
316>one had a short rifle and the other a shotgun with a lantern hanging off the barrel, she could see his beard and grizzled face
317>they both began staring at the rows of darkened trees, trying to spot her
318>they whispered to each other back and forth
319>she guessed that one of them said it was nothing as they turned to leave
320>Rutka breathed a sigh of relief
321>suddenly she lost her balance and began to fall, although the she managed to catch herself on the tree, one of her feet landed on a branch and broke it with a crack
322>both figures suddenly turned around and pointed their guns directly at her
323>she heard one of them say in what sounded like English “What the hell was that?”
324>they both started toward her
325>one of them suddenly and tersely called out
326>”WHO’S THAT STUMBLING AROUND IN THE DARK?! State yer business or prepare to get winged!”
327>she had been caught
328>she heard the bolt of a rifle
329>”Last chance fancy pants.”
330>Rutka quietly muttered one last prayer for God to protect her and started toward them, they spotted her instantly
331>“THERE!” One of them shouted. “Come out with your hands up!”
332>but Rutka could neither understand them nor could she free her hands
333>she cried out, begging for the soldiers not to hurt her baby
334>“I said hands up!”
335>they couldn’t understand her. She cried out, pleading with the soldiers not to hurt the baby.
336>“What’s all this here?” Shouted one of the riders from behind.
337>“We’ve got someone here” the one with the lantern replied, then Rutka came into full view and he stopped
338>“It-It’s a girl!” Rutka could tell the shock in his voice.
339>Both men lowered their weapons and jumped into the ditch.
340>“Take my hand!”
341>they both reached out to grab when they saw what she was carrying
342>“My God, she’s got a babe with her!”
343>“Well get her out of there” a voice called.
344>the soldiers helped push and pull Rutka out of the ditch and onto the road, her feet stung as she felt the gravel burn into them
345>they took her toward the main body of men and horses
346>as if disturbed by her presence, the horses flail about, only being kept under control by their riders
347>“She needs help, call for the surgeon, quickly!” the one with the lantern shouted
348>“Do you speak English” asked a voice in Polish, his accent was so poor that Rutka could barely understand him
349>she simply replied “Nie”
350>the voice suddenly to one of his subordinates “Where in the Hell is General Owleydousky?”
351>“He’s at the rear of the column, a full hour’s ride.”
352>“Tell him he’s got 5 minutes to get up here.”
353>“Yes sir.”
354>the man retrieved a telephone from a pack slung on the side of his saddle and began talking
355>surely enough, a few minutes later, another figure rode up from the darkness
356>he was older, much older than any of the other men, he wore the tattered remnants of a Polish officer’s coat and hat
357>the voice called out “we’ve found a girl and need you to translate”
358>the man dismounted his horse and walked up to her, he put his hand on her shoulder and calmly said “I’m Hypolite Oladowski, what’s your name.”
359>she replied through her chattering teeth, “Rutka, Rutka Laskier”.
360>“What are you doing in this forest all by yourself?”
361>“Hiding from the Germans.”
362>“Are you from Będzin?”
363>“Y-Yes.”
364>Oladowski said something to the men
365>the man with the voice abruptly dismounted and stood in front of her
366>“Look at me.”
367>he gently pulled Rutka’s face up, at last she could make out his features
368>he looked around 30, had a light beard, brown hair, wore a double breasted grey coat, three stars on the collar, long riding boots, and a plumed cowboy hat
369>he kept telling her that she would be alright, that she was safe
370>soon, another man rode up, he was a doctor
371>he looked at her feet, they were a bloody mess, she was shivering, starving, barely conscious
372>the doctor said something to another soldier and then stood up, “don’t let her fall asleep”
373>one of the soldiers tried to take the baby, she kicked and screamed, they WOULD NOT take her baby
374>Oladowski intervened, “they just want to make sure your child is healthy, they don’t want to hurt it or you”.
375>normally, Rutka would not have trusted him, but she was so exhausted that she relented
376>the soldier took the baby and looked at it, Rutka noticed that he appeared blue and hadn’t cried this entire time
377>was he dead? Oh God, please let him live.
378>she heard a weak cry, the soldier told her “he’s just a bit cold, that’s all”
379>Rutka breathed a sigh of relief
380>the doctor called out “get her something warm”
381>“Here, she can have mine.”
382>one of the soldiers dismounted his horse, unbuttoned and pulled off his jacket, and put it around Rutka, it was wool, grey with yellow cuffs and collar, with the three arrows of a sergeant on them
383>normally Rutka would have found wearing bare wool uncomfortable, but she was so cold that she didn’t care
384>the sergeant on the other hand did not did not seem the least bit bothered by the cold
385>he also handed her black beans
386>“Here, take this. They’re coffee beans, they’ll keep you awake.”
387>Rutka had barely eaten in days and hurriedly wolfed them down
388>the beans were bitter and coarse, but she suddenly had an alertness and energy she hadn’t felt in days
389>while the doctor bandaged her feet, Rutka could overhear the officers arguing
390>“We’re behind schedule.”
391>“She’s just a girl.”
392>“She’s not the mission, we’re not here for her.”
393>“She’s got a baby for Christ’s sake!”
394>Rutka could tell what they were arguing about
395>the leader in the feathered hat abruptly interrupted and ended the conversation 
396>the officer began asking his men if they could “spare a horse”
397>one volunteered, saying he could stretch his legs, and dismounted
398>Rutka was ushered over to the horse and lifted on top of it, one of the soldiers handed her back her baby, now swathed in an Army blanket and sleeping comfortably
399>the column began moving again, with Rutka’s horse being pulled along by the bridle by its former rider
400>the leader and Oladowski rode up and told her that they would take her to their camp, but first they needed to make a “detour”
401>Rutka felt her innate curiosity, who were these men? Where were they from? What were they doing here?
402>she asked the officer his name
403>”Colonel John Singleton Mosby III, Confederate States Army, at your service”
404>Confeder-what?
405>Rutka vaguely recognized the name of the country, then it clicked in her head, it all made sense
406>they were the “Gray Ghosts”
407>they were the mysterious attackers who had been harassing the Germans guarding the Ghetto for months
408>Rutka thought herself a smart girl, but even she didn’t know that much about this “Confederation”
409>she knew it once been part of America, but there had been a great war, and how they were supposedly bitter enemies
410>and yet, they were now on the same side
411>Rutka asked what they were doing her, she thought it strange that a country on the other side of the Atlantic would be fighting in Poland when the French and British did not bother helping them
412>Mosby’s reply was surprising
413>these Confederates were no ordinary men, but “the South’s elite soldiers”, each one of them was one of a hundred to pass the rigorous training course
414>they called themselves “Partisan Rangers”
415>Rutka found the name odd, “partisan” and “ranger” were hardly words she would use to describe superwarriors
416>apparently Mosby’s 300-man unit, the 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, had killed over a thousand German soldiers in the past year
417>they had originally come to Poland to help “advise” the Home Army (the Confederates wanted to throw the Germans out of Poland and keep the Russians out as well) and steal something the Germans called the “Vengence weapon”, it was supposed to be some kind of rocket
418>but the Confederates had discovered something much worse
419>the rumors about the “death camps” were even worse than she thought
420>the Germans were systematically taking Jews, not just from Poland, but from Holland, France, Belgium, even Germany itself to these camps and killing them with gas and starvation
421>now Rutka truly did fear for her family
422>the Confederates had been working with the Home Army and even Jews within Ghettos to prevent the Germans from taking them to death camps, blowing up trains, ambushing patrols guarding work details, assassinating German officers who ran the camps, even attacking the camps themselves and freeing the prisoners
423>some of the other “Partisan Rangers” had managed to break tens of thousands of people out of the big ghetto in Warsaw last May and were even training some of them to join the Home Army
424>they had organized an uprising in Będzin in a bid to prevent its liquidation, but the Germans had been waiting for them and they had been forced to retreat after taking a few hundred with them
425>Rutka felt a twinge of hope, maybe her family were among those saved, she asked Mosby if they had saved her family
426>Mosby looked through a list and said no
427>Rutka felt her heart sink
428>the Nazis took the surviving Jews to a camp called Auschwitz (why the Confederates kept using the German name for the town she didn’t understand and found rather annoying), her family likely among them
429>Rutka became desperate, she broke down in tears. She begged him, they had to go to this “Auschwitz” and save her family.
430>”We’ll be going there soon enough. I’m waiting on additional men from Richmond.”
431>apparently Auschwitz was a big camp, too large for 300 men to attack
432>Rutka felt saddened, at least the Confederates were willing to try it, she just hoped it wasn’t too late
433>as dawn approached, the Confederates suddenly changed into captured SS jackets and helmets, apparently they were posing as SS cavalrymen
434>several German patrols sped past them without much notice
435>at last they reached their “objective”, a German encampment in the nearby valley
436>the Confederates took note of how poorly guarded it was and spread out just below out of sight
437>Rutka heard Mosby talking on the radio about “fireworks”
438>soon she heard the rumble of a plane and looked up to see a four-engined bomber overhead
439>“watch this”
440>instead of dropping bombs however, a cannon shot flew from the plane and into a German machine gun nest, obliterating the sleeping crew
441>as the plane began firing cannon shot after cannon shot into the camp below destroying trucks and tents with ease, the Confederates began taking off their German uniforms and helmets and began to draw swords, pistols, shotguns, hand-held machineguns, and rifles
442>”Jackets off boys. Let ‘em see who we are.”
443>one of the riders pulled the covering off a flag, a gust of wind made its pattern visible to Rutka
444>it was a red square, with a blue X crossing it and a dozen stars adorning it
445>Rutka and Mosby watched as the entire formation began riding toward the camp
446>suddenly they unleashed a mournful howl, like wolves
447>the Germans, still recovering from barrage, fired fast and wildly at the approaching stampede, but to no available
448>the Germans were just starting to turn and run as the first wave Confederate cavalry crashed into their ranks
449>horses tore tents from the ground and flung them into the air
450>Confederate riders shot down Germans by the score with pistols, shotguns, any weapon at their disposal
451>some of the officers drew swords and began hacking and slashing at fleeing Germans, one having his head cut in half by the swift cleave of a saber
452>the surviving Germans, many of them half-dressed abruptly broke and ran for the nearby woods
453>the treeline suddenly exploded in a hail of gunfire, cutting down many
454>dozens of shadowy forms burst from the trees and began attacking the survivors who now stumbled in every direction
455>at first Rutka thought they were Confederates, but saw the Polish flags tied to their arms
456>they were Home Army
457>within ten minutes, it was over
458>the entire German encampment had been slaughtered, a few dozen survivors were rounded up and held at gunpoint
459>Mosby rode down to greet his men, Rutka followed him
460>walking among the German prisoners, Mosby grabbed one by the collar and he screamed in Ukrainian
461>that didn’t make any sense, why would Germans be speaking Ukrainian?
462>”Hiwis, as I suspected.”
463>Helpers? What were these Helpers? Rutka inadvertently voiced her question.
464>Mosby replied that Hiwis were Soviets who fought with the Germans, mostly put to to work killing Jews and Gypsies because the Germans couldn’t handle it themselves. That they were nothing more than “bandbox soldiers” incapable of fighting any opponent other than children and nursing mothers. Butchers and thugs without honor. Worthy of neither pity nor mercy.
465>one of the Confederates asked what would be done with the prisoners
466>“What do you think we’re going to do? Standard procedure: Take the officers for interrogation, dispose of the rest.”
467>a handful of Germans with officer’s ranks on their collars were pulled out of line and had canvas bags thrown over their heads
468>no sooner had they been led away that the Confederates and Poles shot and bayonetted the rest
469>within moments of the last survivor being shot with a pistol at point blank range, the Confederates drew large knives that they all carried on their belts
470>Rutka watched with silent horror as the Confederate grabbed each German’s head and began cutting
471>at first she thought the Confederates were decapitating the dead but they removed a portion of skin and hair from the tops of their heads instead 
472>Rutka nearly fainted, and was stopped by Mosby who led her away
473>”You shouldn’t watch.”
474>she couldn’t help but ask why
475>Mosby replied that it was called scalping, a tradition inherited from the Confederacy’s long wars with the “Yankees” and “Indians” before them a century prior
476>scalps were taken off every German they killed as a reliable means of establishing a “bodycount” and to “let Jerry know who did this.”
477>it made the Germans fear the Confederates more than they did their own officers
478>indeed it was said that every Confederate was not a true “Partisan Ranger” until he had taken 100 scalps
479>Rutka felt sick to her stomach, none of the movies about Indians showed scalping, sure they referenced it, but it was another thing to see it up close
480>with the last scalp taken, the Confederates soon set about stripping anything of value off the German dead, watches, boots, shirts, pants, weapons, food, alcohol, anything, stuffing it into bags and flinging it over their horses
481>with the rising sun, it was at last, time to leave this place, the Confederates doused the remaining tents in gasoline and set them alight
482>Rutka held the baby close at the column rode out into the forest toward their base
483>these strange men were neither angels, nor were they demons, but something in between
484>whatever they were, she was just glad they were on her side
485>the end