This is why it is so important for me to tell this incredible story. A story of hate, fear, betrayal, gloom and misery. And yet sandwiched between those strong sentiments were desperate feelings of hope, heroism, love, honor, friendship and respect. Every new development brought about a new and startling paradox in emotions and thoughts.
As a writer I initially objected to this form of novel writing. However after speaking with our main characters and thoroughly researching these events, Erik and the other participants convinced me to use this style of a novel. I agreed to their desires and altered the story just enough to protect his family wishes, the memories of a heroic father, his family and the victims of the Nazi holocaust.
I have written this book in the form of a novel based on some true events, liberally sprinkled with some Hollywood drama for effect. It is my hope that younger generations will not be so easily swayed from the path of rightfulness and justice. I do not wish to convey the idea that all events happened exactly as I described them. I am telling it as it was told to me; with some dramatic license to help it along when needed. One thing we must remember, this is not a trial that we are conducting, but the telling of a human tragedy and the rebirth of a courageous man.
Germany is a beautiful and majestic country to the casual tourist or observer, but deep in its subconscious lays a sleeping dragon waiting to once again wake up, and swallow Europe? Maybe not in the same context as WWI or WWII, but perhaps using political and economical might? A prime example of Germany’s love with authority is the former East Germany, aka DDR. Their communistic form of government was even more repressive than their puppet-masters the Russians. The East Germans had more secret police agents and spies than the KGB. When the wall finally came down, over four million secret files were found on many West/East Germans, Americans and other NATO allies.
A warning must go out to all of those who flirt with these unhealthy and undemocratic ideals. The world is watching and we cannot allow a repetition of those past experiences.
Our story takes place in the 20th and 21st centuries, a time in which such horrors cannot and should not occur again, and yet, we see that in fact they come to pass, again, again and again. Some of the most recent example being the genocide committed against the Muslim minorities in the Balkans and the horrors against the people of Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq, Darfur Sudan, Lebanon (by Syria), Rwanda and especially the continuous attacks on Israel by the Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists supported in great part by Syria and especially Iran.
In fact one could say that the fanatic zeal of today’s Islamic terrorists are reminiscent of yesterday’s fascists. Large crowds all chanting in unison, preaching their twisted beliefs and calling for the deaths of Jews and Christian. It seems as if the world has forgotten the pre-WWII historical events leading up to the holocaust. Thank God that Israel is strong enough to defend itself. Hopefully we in America; will continue to support Israel.
This plot started over thirty-three years ago, when a young American, living and working in Germany, purchased an “old” house, Das Haus, in a small city in Germany, near the Belgium/Dutch border. At the time, he had no idea what he was getting himself into.
Das Haus had a way of growing on you, and as circumstances later developed, it became an obsession to find out what really happened to its original occupants. His first impression was not favorable. The once beautiful facade of the house had been severely damaged by hundreds of bullet and shell fragment holes. The sides of Das Haus were even worse; over twelve hundred bricks would have to be replaced during the renovation. Over two decades of research, work, agony and many tears finally led to a form of finality. A totality for some and not for others. No one, but the original Jewish inhabitants of Das Haus will ever know the truth. Das Haus was to become the house of death for all the Jewish inhabitants of that and many nearby villages. It was also the birthplace of freedom, courage and bravery for one heroic man, rabbi Franz Goldmann (Fictitious).
It was not the perfect answer to a very difficult question, but at least the discovery and location of our hero Erik Goldmann, made the effort worthwhile. My investigation led me to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., and after many hours of research, I also found the final resting place of Rabbi Goldmann (fictitious name) in Izbica, Poland. Izbica was a sort of staging area used by the Nazis, until they could decide what to do with you. Some Jews were executed on the spot and never sent on to camps. The Nazis butchered Rabbi Goldmann, and thousands of others in 1942.
It was a very emotional, yet fulfilling moment in my life. To know that I had perhaps helped his son come to term with the loss of his brave father, a real hero.
I was later informed by Erik of his pilgrimage to Izbica, Poland and the feeling of relief he felt when he visited the spot where his father, a brave, honest and good man; was so viciously murdered by the Nazis. Strangely enough, we found no record of his beloved mother. She simply disappeared like so many others, never to be heard from again.
One of the many reasons that it took so long to locate Erik was the fact that he had slightly altered his name. If it had not been for the Internet, and its endless capabilities, I would probably still be looking for him. For obvious reasons, Erik also made very little effort in maintaining contact with anyone in that village.
The only exception was one individual, who has since passed away. That individual received an occasional phone call every five or ten years from Erik. In return he rarely kept in touch with Erik. Although boyhood friends, too much had happened for them to keep up an artificial friendship. However, this individual was instrumental in our final success, because he had a clue that led me to Erik.
This human being happened to be my now deceased father-in-law. Dieter, (fictitious) had been for many years the sole caretaker of the long forgotten Jewish cemetery in our village. He hoped that his small gesture would someday reunite long lost friends, and perhaps rekindle a kindred spirit of his youth. Although Dieter freely admitted to me having been a member of the Nazi party in his youth, he showed me a true and genuine interest in what happened to his Jewish friends. Some of his neighbors and friends chastised him, but he dutifully cared for the graves of the ancient Jewish inhabitants until his death.
Despite his gruff exterior, he had a heart of gold. Dieter at times risked his life by actually helping two French POW’s escape Germany. They were able to make it back to France alive, and after the war became good friends. On another occasion he helped some shot down American flyers find their way to Belgium and freedom. His wealth and prominence protected him from those who did not agree with his views, and hopefully those lost Jewish souls will remember him kindly for his deeds.
It must be remembered that although some of the events are true, or based on events as told to me. I have altered it enough it to make it a novel based on partially true events by those involved in this epic drama. However the courageous Rabbi Goldmann, Erik and his family’s valorous deeds are true, to the best of my knowledge.
The Beginning
Cameron Clark is sitting in his new F-250 Ford Heavy Duty Turbo Diesel pick-up and loving every moment of it. He is driving westbound on an extremely busy Highway 50 towards his home near Sacramento, California. Traffic this time of day is just awful in both directions, and just to make matters worst today, a westbound big-rig truck flipped on its side, spilling twenty-tons of tomatoes. This swamp of future spaghetti sauce has ground the afternoon traffic to a halt. One hundred-five degrees has turned the tomatoes into a