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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
SWINGJUGEND
In 1969 my mother packed me off to my aunt and uncle’s dairy farm in Wisconsin.
“But Mom, Uncle Otto’s weird. That eyepatch and those scars—ick.”
***
One night he took my Jefferson Airplane record from the stereo and replaced it with his own 45.
“You tink das ist protest music?”
“‘It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing,’” He sang. “The SS ransacked our nightclub, but I danced all the way to Buchenwald.”
Uncle Otto taught me more than the jitterbug that summer.
***
At his funeral last year I saluted my favorite uncle with, “Swing Heil!”
.
.
.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Laughing here!
I saw the photo, thought to myself, that looks like BC Place in Vancouver.
Then I saw the name underneath.
Thanks for the warning, m’lady!
Now I need to go write a story before I read yours.
Cheers
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Dear CE,
Send me photos and you never know when they’re going to turn up. Capricious Facilitator.
Thank you for a grand one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A good reminder that people from the same nationality at the same point in history are not identical.
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Dear Miss KZebra,
True story. There were many who resisted. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You so easily present impersonal, mass tragedy in an easy-to-feel and understand, personal way. You get another ‘Well Done’ even as we wish it hadn’t been so. 🙂
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Dear Archon,
Thank you for such a wonderful comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Looking at the documentaries from Nazi Germany, I always felt like I was watching something from a parallel universe. Sadly, it wasn’t so. A beautiful story of youth being youth, no matter what surrounds them.
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Dear Loré,
The Nazis were so “good” about documenting, weren’t they? Horrifying. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There will always be those that will “buck” the system…good for them! They had their own way of thinking how life should be. It pains me to think of all the lives that were so degraded and destroyed.
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Dear Jessie,
It must’ve been a frightening time and place to live. Many followed out of fear. Thank you for your comments. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This was sharp, uncomfortable, and funny
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Dear Neil,
I was aiming for all of the above. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Terrific story, subtly told.
You know i don’t watch videos, but I watched this one.
And I am reminded once again of the words of Robert Burns – Man’s inhumanity to man
Makes countless thousands mourn
Powerful message as ever, R, expert research and your own delicate touch.
Superb.
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Dear CE,
Your words constitute a verbal hug. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a great story! It’s so true that people from different times and places are not all stereotypes of their periods. I’m sure many a German was against Hitler and the SS.
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Dear Melony,
There were heroes even within the Nazi party. Oskar Schindler is one of the more famous of those. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love this story. Besides the inhumanity that happened there is another lesson here. You can always learn something from “The Old Folks” if you are willing to listen. Well done Purple Girl.
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Such a fluid piece of writing, with history to boot.
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Thank you, Mike. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Yet again I learn something new! I look forward to your posts for this exact reason! Not only is it beautifully told, but you impart what it was like to be in those times.
Thank you!
Hugs,
Heidi 🙂
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Dear Heidi,
This is the nicest kind of compliment you could give me. Thank you
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure Rochelle 🙂
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CEAYR, awesome photo! Love the lights. Rochelle, your story has set me back on my rocker. My mind is swirling with memories of the many interviews I’ve done and the many many stories survivors on both sides have shared with me. Still, all these decades later, I am completely and utterly flabergasted, shocked, amazed, etc. Profoundly, most profoundly, changed for the experiences.
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Dear Jelli,
Every time I do a story such as this one I’m amazed at the stories I read or find on You Tube etc. May we never stop being flabbergasted. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Have not read your story yet – need to write mine first – but must share this with you. Was reading Small Plates: Short Fiction (great title eh?) by Katherine Hall Page – a fun mystery writer who does not usually publish short stories. Her introduction included this quotation from Henry David Thoreau and you immediately came to mind!
“Not that the story need to be long, but it will take a long while to make it short.” 😊
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Dear Lillian,
I hope by now you’ve read my story. I like that quote. I think I need to read more Thoreau. He sounds like he was a man after my own heart.
Thank you. Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle: Took last week off from FF as I was celebrating my 69th 🙂 Last year in that particular decade so we did it up good for a fun week instead of a day. Sadly did not read FF then — but will be back today! Did I tell you, 4 of my poems were accepted by PoetryBreakfast.com One appeared on May 13; 2 today; and 1 on the 31st. Quite thrilled as this site puts up some very qualified folks. Glad you enjoyed that quote — I really did think of you when I saw it! So — on to dVerse and FF today 🙂
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I need to see those clips still.
Five out of five babba-doo, shadoobees.
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Doo wop doo wop, thank you.
Shalom,
Cuzzin shelly
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😀
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Brilliant, once again! Like CE says, you are the undisputed master (mistress)…
Protest is protest…
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Dear Dale,
Very sweet of you to say. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yesterday was Sophie Scholl’s birthday. I think she was a Swing Kid for a while, before she got too busy with her other sedition. It’s interesting to see the US possibly sliding into another such dark age. Interesting and frightening. Hitler never actually had a majority. He was just very good at manipulating the process and taking power when he could.
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Dear J Hardy,
I share your fears. Could it really be 1939? Or later.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yet another brilliant prompt and story from you, Rochelle! Thank you for this! 🙂
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Thank you, Rashmi, 😀
Shalom,
Rocghelle
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We often conclude by appearances. Reality is often the opposite!
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Dear Sabina,
We do judge by appearances, don’t we? And we’re often wrong. Thank you for reading and commenting. Much appreciated.
Shalom and GB,
Rochelle
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Oppression is so hard to understand. Thank goodness for music and youths who rebel. Thanks for the stories!
Lily
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Dear Lily,
I don’t believe that anyone was intended to be a robot or property of the state. Thank you for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Reminds me of my own family stories. Thanks for the smile Rochelle.
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I’m always happy when my stories bring smiles. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, I love this story – and how you weave the story of Nazis clamping down on jazz and swing is utterly moving. It’s a sad story, so full of degrees of sadness, all the way from being denied the right to listen to “unofficial” music to being defiant all the way to Buchenwald. And you made me smile with that sweet line at the end.
That video was deeply touching, as well. Thank you for sharing that, Rochelle!
Oh, and you used a line from one of my all-time FAVORITE jazz songs to sing, and listen to! I adore this version by Louis and Duke, undisputed masters:
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Dear Vijaya,
Have you seen the move Swing Kids? It was made in 1993 and was quite an eye opener. They did use this song. I’m enjoying the recording as I write. Thank you for sharing it. What’s not to like? Wundebar!
Thank you for the words and the music. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Powerful story – Uncle Otto was a strong man, I’m glad he made it through Buchenwald. The eye patch and scars made sense as I read through your story.
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Dear Ali,
I kind of enjoy writing these generation to generation stories. I think Uncle Otto was very strong. Nothing could dampen his spirit.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love his attitude, and I love yours! A great story told
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Thank you, Laurie, 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Now I want to know, did you really have an Uncle Otto?
It’s a wonderful story, another puzzle piece of mportant history that’s not so often in the center of attention. I would have loved your (fictional) Unlce, too.
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Dear Gabriele,
This story is a complete work of fiction as us Uncle Otto. I’m glad you loved both. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Some people will always resist. After a while doing the opposite becomes popular. Good story, Rochelle. You often find little-known things in history that are interesting. Well written as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I do love finding the arcane historical nuggets. There are so many of them. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Interesting intersection of music and politics that I wasn’t aware of! Thanks, Rochelle! I like the reminder to the protagonist that everyone has a story to tell.
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Dear Emily,
I like to tell the generation to generation type stories. There’s so much one can learn from the other if they take the time to listen. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Always appreciated. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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poignant. this reminds of the story of the white rose movement during the hitler years.
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Dear Plaridel,
There are so many stories from that time. I’m sure many we’ve never heard. I’m not familiar with the White Rose Movement. I’ll have to look it up.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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here’s some info:
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007188
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beautifully told
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Thank you, Arora. 😀
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Wonderful moving story on more than one level. It would have been a very difficult period of time to live in. Loved that last line “Swing Heil”
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Dear Irene,
I’m glad to see you back and, of course, happy to get such a nice comment. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Unfortunately being new to blogging I haven’t figured out linking yet and couldn’t formally participate. But I wrote a story and want to share it: seekeroftruthweb.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/at-the-concert/
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Dear Seeker,
Unfortunately this link didn’t work. I’m sorry to have taken so long to get back to you. I’ve been away from my desk this past week.
I can try to help you put in on the linkz list but when I followed this link it didn’t lead to a blog.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Maybe this will work: http://www.seekeroftruthweb.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/at-the-concert/
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The world is balanced by “rebels” like Uncle Otto. Great story that combines a child’s changing/maturing perspective with a sliver of history.
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Dear Ansumani,
How fortunate is the child who has an Uncle Otto or the like who will pass history along to the next generation. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An uplifting story Rochelle, despite the history, that there’s something worth learning from everyone.
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Dear Claire,
Everyone has a story, don’ t they?
Thank you and Shalom,
Rochelle
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And I thought I had it rough as a kid. At least he survived to tell the tale. Or, maybe for YOU to tell it. 🙂
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Thank you for such a nice comment, Alice. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful story on so many levels. A young girl learning her cultural and family history, learning not to judge someone on their external looks or standard of “beauty,” and even learning some really great jazz!!
As always, the additional media you provided for historical context was excellent. Both uplifting and heartbreaking.
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Dear Jan,
I do enjoy finding the media when it can add to a story. Many thanks for a wonderful comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful story, Rochelle.I love the voice and what a great tribute at the end. That video of Hitler youth is eerie. But I loved the dancing and watching them let loose. Man, could they dance.
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Dear Amy,
Not every German was a Hitler supporting Nazi. I loved learning about these courageous youngsters who only wanted to be themselves. Have you seen the movie made in 1993 called Swing Kids. It’s worth the watch. Many thanks for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I did see that movie! Now, I want to watch it all over again. Music is powerful, isn’t it? Jazz, too, is so great because it’s open to interpretation.
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Great story of the connection between generations, and the importance of passing on a knowledge of the past and the stories of survival and overcoming oppression. I love Uncle Otto – what spirit.
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Dear Margaret,
There are more than a few times I wish my grandparents had passed on more to me than they did…particularly my grandfather who came over from Poland to escape the pogroms. Ah well…hindsight is always 20/20 isn’t it? I love Uncle Otto, too. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There is so much to learn from your stories. This time it was a bit difficult to follow but your replies in comment section enlightened me. Thanks. I really wonder how you do this so beautifully in only 100 words.
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Dear Indira,
I’m happy that you came here and learned something. Some pieces of history are difficult to cover in 100 words. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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