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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
BLUMEN
I trembled with nine-year-old excitement as I presented the flowers. Their sweet fragrance filled my nostrils as I curtsied.
The new chancellor smiled and said, “Danke schön meine Liebchen.”
When I made my way back through the crowd to my classmates, my friend Ilsa hugged me, her blue eyes sparkling. “How lucky you are to be chosen.”
Soon after that day, my family and I packed all the belongings we could carry and moved away from Germany.
Lucky? Jah. Never will I forget his cold eyes. What would the Führer have said had he known this flower girl was Jewish?
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Lucky escape, which millions were denied.
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Dear Sadje,
So true. Many did escape before it became impossible for millions of others. 😦 Thank you for the read and the comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure Rochelle.
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Lucky perhaps that she got an early warning
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Dear Neil,
Many did see the signs and fled. Too many others did not.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah! The sad reality for many. Some, who fled, were safe.
How many were exterminated…
Today’s newspaper has the news- “101-yr-old ex-Nazi guard jailed for aiding 3k murders”.
I was just thinking of so many innocent Jews & Prisoners Of War were just killed in cold-blood & died because of torturous conditions including Anne Frank 😦
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Dear Anita,
There’s a lot that can be said and has been said. May we never forget. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Always the depth, Rochelle. Nice one.
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Many thanks, Trish.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It is better for the girl that he did not realise she was Jewish. Hatred of minorities is hatred of innocent children all grown up. Who could hate a child, any child?
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Dear Amanda,
The Nazis certainly had no compassion for children, did they? So many shot or gassed. Unthinkable. It was definitely better for her he didn’t realize she was Jewish. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The Nazi mantra was ruthless – there was no room for compassion only behaviour that, they considered, constituted strength. That Nazi rigidity was actually a sign of weakness and fear. They failed. Compassion won.
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What a hard fought battle it was. How humans can treat other humans that way I’ll never understand. Never again!
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Indeed
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It is good they got out in time. I like how you contrasted presenting the flowers with the need to leave.
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Dear Frank,
There were astute people who saw the handwriting on the wall and got out in time. Sadly not enough. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Those ironies happened since people are people until those cold eyes full of hate see otherwise…Glad she could escape with her family. Great story, as usual.
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Dear Trent,
There were people with foresight…sadly not enough of them. Mind boggling, isn’t it? Thank you re my story. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I was born just a couple of years after it was all over, but my childhood was full of stories from WWII and the plight of the Jews. Always fascinated by history, I’ve read zillions of words, fiction and non-fiction, about those events. Always I’m horrified by the evil; but gratified by those who actively resisted, hid Jews, risked their own lives to protect the innocent. This little story is a gem to add to my collection.
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Dear Linda,
I too was born a few years after WWII…Baby Boomers we. 😉 The Holocaust loomed large in our house as we had relatives who perished. My mother never ceased to remind me what “they” did to “us.” In retrospect I’m glad she instilled that in me. The history is fascinating and horrifying at the same time.
Thank you so much for kind words re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A traumatic memory to look back on. I wonder if she felt defiance in staring him in the face and walking away to escape. Powerful image.
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Dear Iain,
I’m not sure the girl realized the significance of the event until years later. Thank you so much for your encouraging comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a history we have, Rochelle. Again, you’ve humanised a tiny moment in a terrible period.
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Many thanks for a sweet comment, Jen.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very well written and how chilling. I often wonder how those who left just in time felt as opposed to the ones who realized too late they should have listened to the ones who did leave. We will never forget. שמע ישראל
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Dear Andrea,
Sadly, there are fewer and fewer left to tell the stories. May their voices remain with us forever. Thank you for your comment that encourages me to keep telling these stories whenever the muse noodges.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very powerful.
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Thank you, Genia.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely but also sad story.
It shows how a scene can mean several different things all involved.
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Dear Chioma,
We all see things differently, don’t we? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A different reaction I’m sure.
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Definitely a different reaction, Danny. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Powerful! And as always, spot on! Thank you for this.
Also, it is good to ‘be back’ in FF. It’s been a few weeks but felt like more. xx
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Na’ama Y’karah,
As one prompt ends and another begins, I’m finally getting around to replying. As long as there’s breath in my body I’ll share these stories whenever I can. So good to have you back. Hope your time away was productive and fulfilling, if not restful and enjoyable. ❤
Shalom and baruch haba'ah,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle! The time away was productive, fulfilling, and enjoyable. Restful? Not so much … 😉 But not in a bad way. Just the way things are! xx
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they left just in time. many didn’t have that opportunity and perished as a result.
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Dear Plaridel,
Sad truth. So many didn’t escape.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I am visualising the look in her eyes as she must have present the flowers. Beauty and innocence staring into the eyes of the beastly evil. Great story, Rochelle.
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Dear Neel,
Sorry about the late reply. Yes, Beauty and the Beast, if you will. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I wonder if he ever found out and if so how he reacted. A touching tale indeed.
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Dear Keith,
Although based on a true story, those details weren’t given. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, yes, Rochelle.
Fictional genre, perhaps. But an entirely plausible event.
So many other stories too horrible to believe, but factual, making the best part of this one they “moved away from Germany.”
Well done.
Peace,
Bill
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Dear Bill,
Here I am taking late reply to a new level. Sorry about that. Thank you for your kind words. They did move away in time. Many did. Many more, tragically, didn’t.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Anytime, Rochelle.
The lessons of history, when we can lear the truth.
Peace,
Bill
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Racism and fascism have no logic as long as there’s a show for the masses. Chilling and powerful, Rochelle.
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Dear Gabi,
It’s frightening that so many were led down that evil path…willingly. Such brutality is unimaginable and makes no sense. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
What a powerful image of a girl staring in the face of evil and escaping that evil with her family. Tragically, so many didn’t escape but their stories were told.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
There are so many stories of those who did and did not escape. I don’t know that we’ll ever know them all. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What great foresight they had to move out when they did. So unfortunate that so many did not or were unable to move. Good story. May we never forget the atrocities that Dictatorship can bring.
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Dear Jan,
So many stories still coming out of that era. 😦 Thank you for reading and commenting, m’luv.
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Dear Rochelle,
You do have such a knack for bringing these stories to life. One shudders at what he would have done had ne known.
Shalom and lotsa safe love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I’m always happy to hear of at least one person or family who managed to get out before the worst of it. No doubt he would’ve been angry and “taken action”. Shudders indeed.
Thank you for your kind words and patience, my friend.
Shalom and lotsa safe hugs,
Rochelle
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Let’s not go there 🙂
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A fearful image told with delicacy. I felt quite chilled by it Rochelle.
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Dear Francine,
Your chills are high praise. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a moment to capture in 100 words.
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Many thanks, Clare.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved this story, Rochelle. So chilling. For me, it could well be your best yet.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Dear Rowena,
Wow! Thank you for such a wonderful comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a chilling and haunting tale. I’m sure she has played it all over in her mind a million times. How blessed she was to live and how horrified at all those who didn’t 😦
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Dear Lisa,
The woman in the true story passed it down to her children and grandchildren. She was very grateful to her father for moving them to Jerusalem. I had another friend whose father came here in 1927 and saved up to get his family out of Poland. Up in to her 90’s I think Sylvia while grateful to have escaped when she was 13 did suffer survivor’s guilt for her relatives who didn’t make it. Thank you for your kind comments and your patience at my tardiness in replying.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, all the more poignant as it is true and held with reverence by the family. You are welcome and your sharing of these stories is appreciated.
Shalom,
Lisa
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History and life during wartime fascinate me, this is a great wee story. So much said in just a few words.
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Dear Fleur,
History fascinates me as well. Particularly this part of it. I was born a few years after WWII and being Jewish, it was a prominent topic in our house. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A pin in his hand if he had known she was a young jewish girl and not of the herald Aryan race. It was a terrible time.
The Ukraine war confounds me, as to why in Europe we are being drawn into a similar time of madness.
Rochelle, I am not able to participate this week and may not for a wee while. However, I will read as many contribution when I can.
James.
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Dear James,
Ukraine baffles me, too…and frightens me. Hitler was a madman and Putin scares me, too.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS Your contributions will be missed.
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Thank God Führer was unaware of the fact. Beautifully written
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Dear Vartika,
There are quite a few stories of Jews Hitler didn’t recognize as such. Insane times. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh it started so sweetly but the end, terrifying. The things that must be done to hide. No wonder she was shaking.
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Dear Laurie,
The youngest child knows a monster when she sees him. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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