Tishi: Refugee, Immigrant, Mother

I overheard one man say that he had been in the SS and I just turned on him. I had never actually seen anybody that had been in the SS, but I knew they had most likely committed all sorts of atrocities in the name of Germany. I always felt angry for having to share the German guilt without having hurt anyone, just being a child batted around by the war myself. My self-righteous indignation just bubbled over and burst out of me onto this man. I was all worked up and did not consider how Hanka might feel. I angrily began telling him off for committing terrible crimes, to which he answered “I only followed orders, I had to follow orders.”

Hanka jumped up and ran down the stairs into the street. I ran after her but it was obvious she wanted to be left alone. She ran like crazy. I felt bad. I had not thought of her, I had only thought of releasing my own vengeance on that SS man. I went home too.