War Girls Complete Collection Chapter 150

Chapter 5

J

une brought wonderful summer days to Warsaw, and every day Lotte felt more at ease with her work as a radio operator. Like clockwork she visited Ewa every week, and to further her cover she’d secured permission to use the piano at the German House to practice. Much to her surprise she started to like playing the instrument. The Nazi-approved classical music had a soothing effect on her, and when she sat at the piano, she didn’t think about the war. It was her small escape from reality.

She soon gathered a few admirers among the soldiers who would linger in the hall when she played, but she turned down all their advances. Regardless, her time was filled with social activities. Apart from the weekly folkloric evenings that Oberführerin Kaiser organized, the

Blitzmäde

l were encouraged to take part in sports and cultural activities.

Life in Warsaw didn’t change much, even after the landing of the Allies in France. It was almost surreal, and sometimes Lotte forgot a war was being waged outside. The bombers didn’t shell the city in their nightly raids. Food was never an issue, and the Wehrmacht employees often dined out in restaurants, eating delicacies that hadn’t been seen in Germany for years.

One day, Gerlinde rushed into their room, asking, “Will you come with us to the Vistula River?”

“Always,” Lotte smiled. Strolling along the river shore was one of her favorite pastimes. The wide river ran the length of the city, surrounded on both sides by sandy banks and greenery that encouraged strolling about.

“Alexandra, some of us are going to the opera tomorrow night. The Dragon already approved and gave us a pass to return home after curfew. Will you come with us?” Gerlinde said as they sat down on the beach, looking across the water.

“That sounds exciting. I would love to,” Lotte answered.

“We’re going to have dinner out at a restaurant that everyone has been talking about before we go to the opera. It should be a fun evening.”

Lotte nodded, but as always when food was involved, she was puzzled at how there could be so much good food available in Warsaw when people in Berlin and other places inside Germany had to make do on meager rations. She could only wonder where all this food came from. The ration cards were generous, and there was always more than enough in the mess to feed everyone.

But for now, she didn’t want to think about food shortages or the lack thereof. They were on the cusp of a weekend, and she wanted to relax and enjoy herself. The war would still be there come Monday when she returned to her radio station.

“So, who else is going to the opera?” she asked as they made their way back towards their living quarters.

“Several new units arrived a few days ago.” Gerlinde brushed an imaginary grain of dust from her impeccable uniform.

“And I imagine you’ve already made their acquaintance?”

Gerlinde gave her a cocky grin and nodded. “Some of them. They were transferred in from Lodz.”

“Lodz?” Lotte said and both women paused. Even in their sheltered position, they’d heard horror stories about the recent closing of the ghetto and rampaging SS brigades.

“I don’t think it’s true. They’re probably just bragging,” Gerlinde said, seemingly having read Lotte’s mind.

Lotte couldn’t fathom why anyone would brag about these horrible atrocities committed in plain daylight – especially if they weren’t true. Who would make up those kinds of things? And why? No, from her own experience she believed every single rumor uttered. “You’re probably right,” Lotte said.

After a lengthy pause, Gerlinde continued speaking, “I met two men, Helmut and his friend, Johann. They are both going with us tomorrow.”

“You don’t waste any time, do you?” Lotte teased her roommate.

“There is no time to waste. They are here now but could be moved at any time.”

Lotte didn’t have a response to that because her friend’s words rang true. They could all be dead the next day. She was quiet for a moment and then asked, “So, if there are two men joining us tomorrow, I assume you already have your eye on one?”

“Helmut looks so dashing,” Gerlinde said with a dreamy voice.

“So, the man I’m supposed to sweet talk is…?” Lotte wrinkled her nose. The whole opera ploy stank. It was nothing more than a double date.

“Johann.”

“I’m doing this only so you can walk out with Helmut. But you owe me one,” Lotte said.

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Gerlinde fell around Lotte’s neck, just as they arrived in front of the dormitory.

Lotte was waiting

with Gerlinde outside the German House at the appointed time when two men clad in Wehrmacht uniform strolled up to them. One of them was blond, and slim; the other one had brown hair and was a few inches taller, with broad shoulders.

“The blond is Helmut, the dark one Johann,” Gerlinde whispered to her. After the introductions were made, Gerlinde slipped her arm through Helmut’s elbow, leaving Lotte to walk beside Johann to the restaurant. The kind yet serious expression on his face made Lotte’s mouth go dry.

She attempted to make small talk. “Gerlinde told me you’ve been transferred in from Lodz? I’ve heard the city is nice.”

“Well, yes. It used to be the heart of the textile industry in Poland. Most of the factories have been repurposed to produce war material, though,” Johann said.

“So why did your unit come here? Weren’t you needed there anymore?” Gerlinde had told her that Johann and Helmut belonged to an anti-partisan unit and it seemed strange, because partisans weren’t that much of a problem in Warsaw unlike in more rural parts of the country. At least that’s what Lotte figured after putting two and two together from the information she’d picked up.

Johann glanced at her with sad eyes. “That’s above my pay grade.”

“Does it have something to do with closing down the Ghetto?” Lotte asked, hoping to gather information for Ewa.

“How do you know?”

“Everyone here knows. The relocation of close to one hundred thousand people isn’t something that can go unnoticed, especially not if you are the one reporting back to OKW every step of it.”

“They’re only Jews, an inferior race, but—” Johann’s eyes lost their shine and his voice became heavy.

Lotte wanted to punch his face. “How many Jews do you know?”

“Not many.” His eyes turned dark and she recognized the shadow of carefully hidden pain.

“And how do you know they’re all bad?” The words tumbled out of her mouth before her inner voice could tell her this was the exact same behavior that had gotten her into trouble before. “I mean…maybe not all of them are bad?”

Johann stopped walking and looked at her for a very long moment, making her squirmy all over. “I don’t think they’re all bad. And I don’t think they deserve to be treated worse than animals. They should have left the country when they could.” He took a step back, before he said, “For your own good, you should never repeat these things, nor should you ask so many questions.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I even said it, since I don’t like the Jews either. It was a stressful week, I guess,” Lotte lied, pondering whether he’d just given her a veiled threat. But his eyes were full of genuine concern for her. She had the strangest feeling that he knew more about the relocations and hated the plight of the Jews. It was only a hunch and she couldn’t very well ask him what exactly happened and whether he supported the Nazis’ treatment of other races. And he couldn’t very well answer her if he indeed did not.

“We all have these doubts once in a while,” Johann said, with the slightest trace of a smile. “I was tricked into this double date, but now I’m glad I’m here.”

Lotte flushed with heat up to the roots of her hair. “L…let’s hurry and catch up with our friends, then.”

At the restaurant they ordered their food and she left it to Gerlinde to entertain and charm their companions. Gerlinde completed the task masterfully with her inconsequential talk about the weather, funny anecdotes from the last sports competitions among the stationed personnel and other mundane topics. Lotte though, kept her gaze on her plate, afraid she’d give her confusing emotions away, should Johann smile at her again.

As they left for the opera house, Johann offered her his arm, and Lotte took it without thinking twice. She shouldn’t have. Now slaphappy butterflies danced in her stomach, despite her best intentions to feign disinterest.

Not only did he look strikingly dapper, but he also was one of the most mature men she’d met in a very long time. His calm and deliberate demeanor was a welcome reprieve from the boisterous, flirtatious fellows in the garrison. That he was at least ten years older than she only added to the allure, since she found most boys her age boring, immature and self-assertive, not to mention fervent and uncritical supporters of Hitler. At least Johann had shown some reflection on the topic of the Jews and despite being a sergeant with the rank of Feldwebel, he apparently didn’t subscribe to committing atrocities in the name of Hitler.

“Good evening, enjoy the performance,” an assistant said as he led them to their places in the theater. Germans-only except for the performers, of course, who were Poles.

“Thank you.” Johann nodded at the young man and offered Lotte his arm again to lead her through the tier. Her knees became wobbly at his thoughtfulness.

She’d forgotten to ask Gerlinde what opera would be performed and was pleasantly surprised when she found the leaflet on her seat, indicating it was

The Marriage of Figaro

by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a piece she loved because of its beautiful music and the hilarious plot. Much too soon it ended, and Johann and Helmut insisted on walking them back to their dormitory, although the soldiers’ quarters were next to the opera house and they would have to walk all the way back again.

“It’s not safe for you two alone after curfew,” Johann said with a tone that didn’t allow protest. Not that either Gerlinde or Lotte would have protested. Lotte didn’t believe it was any more dangerous to walk Warsaw at night than during the day, with German soldiers posted at almost every corner, but it was a nice excuse to spend some more time with Johann.

When they arrived in front of the

Wehrmachtheim

, Johann said, “Alexandra, it was a pleasure meeting you tonight. I wonder…would it be permissible if I were to seek you out in the coming days?”

“For what?” Lotte blushed, hoping the dim twilight of the summer night didn’t give her away.

“I would like to get to know you better.” His voice was soft, velvety even, as he perused her expression.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, since we both have so much work to do,” she answered.

“On the contrary, I think it’s an excellent idea. Hard workers need time to relax, too.” He raised the hand he held and kissed the back of her knuckles. “Will you allow me?”

“Yes.” She couldn’t help but agree.

He cast her a rare smile, one that struck a chord within her, and opened the heavy wooden door for her. “Goodnight, beautiful Alexandra.”