Inge slipped into the bedroom and locked the door.
At midday, a Kübelwagen drew up at the apartment block and two Feldjägerkorps men jumped out. They went through the building, banging on apartment doors. There was a lot of shouting. They arrived on the second floor and hammered on Gretchen’s door.
“Schutzstaffel. Open up!”
Gretchen opened the door and a head-hunter pushed past her. Oskar was on the sofa, sitting up, with a glass of water in his hands.
“Name?” demanded the Feldjägerkorps officer.
“His name’s Oskar Schuster,” said Gretchen, as calmly as she could.
“Let him speak for himself,” said the officer.
“He can’t,” Gretchen replied. “He suffered shellshock in combat. He was discharged from the army in 1943 on health grounds.”
“On health grounds, you say? He looks able-bodied. We need everyone to defend the city.” He leant over and slapped Oskar’s face.
Oskar’s eyes remained blank, but he looked confused.
“Please don’t hit him,” said Gretchen. “He was checked by your office in December. They sent him home.”
The head-hunter looked into Oskar’s eyes. “Oskar, speak to me.” He slapped him again. Oskar remained blank.
The officer lost interest in Oskar and cast his gaze around the room. “Who else lives here?”
“No one,” said Gretchen.
He stepped over to the bedroom door.
Gretchen panicked. What do I say when he finds the door locked?
He tried the door handle and the door swung open. He stepped into the bedroom…
“How did you know to unlock the door?” said Gretchen when the officer was gone.
“It seemed sensible,” said Inge. “When I heard them banging on all the doors, I thought, what if they come in here and find the door locked from the inside? So I unlocked it.”
“Clever girl!” Gretchen wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. “I was sure he would find you.”
“I hid under the bed,” said Inge. “I heard him slapping Herr Schuster. Is he hurt?”
“It was nothing. He’s fine,” said Gretchen. “Thank heavens we got through that.”
41
On March 8, Frau Niedermeyer came by with devastating news: The Allies had crossed the Rhine. German forces were fighting to hold them, but the only obstacle standing between the Allies and the city now, was the River Elbe.
Frau Tannhäuser had another of her weeping sessions. Gretchen and Frau Carlson did their best to reassure her before the undertaker’s wife returned to her apartment, mumbling something about the wrath of God.
“I’m surprised she hasn’t left the city,” said Gretchen to Frau Carlson.
“Her husband and son are bravely fighting to defend the city.”
Gretchen said, “What’s keeping you here?”
“I have family members who need me, aunts and cousins,” Frau Carlson replied, vaguely. “You are staying because of your husband, yes?”
“Yes. I couldn’t leave him.”
Frau Carlson said, “Who was that young girl you were with?”
“I don’t know who you mean,” said Gretchen.
“Someone saw you and a young girl crossing the golf course a couple of days ago.”
“Who?”
“I’m not sure.”
“They were mistaken,” said Gretchen. “Whoever they saw, it wasn’t me.”
Gretchen swore under her breath. She hadn’t seen Frau Carlson. The nosy bitch must have been hiding somewhere.
It’s hardly surprising, she thought. Nothing gets past these neighbors.
Gretchen thought about what she’d said to Frau Carlson. She’d said she couldn’t leave Oskar, and yet that was exactly what she was planning to do three days hence. How would he manage without her? How would a one-legged man and a mindless one survive together in the middle of a battle zone? If only she could persuade Martha to leave with Inge. She said a prayer that Martha would change her mind.
By midnight the city was under attack from a bombing raid. The anti-aircraft batteries opened fire with thunderous intent. Gretchen took Oskar to the safety of the U-Bahn station.
Two days later, on the eve of their planned departure, Gretchen’s prayers were answered. Martha Engels turned up at her front door with a suitcase, looking distressed and disheveled. “My house was hit by a bomb,” she said. “I was lucky to get out alive.”
“You poor thing, come in,” said Gretchen.
Martha had been doing her laundry when the bomb struck. The house disintegrated, burying her under a huge pile of rubble. It took two days for the civil defense people to dig her out. The number killed in Grunewald was not known – certainly over 30. A small number, considering the number of houses that were hit; so many had left already.
“And what about you?” said Gretchen. “Will you leave now?”
Martha looked as sad as Gretchen had ever seen her. “I’m going to have to. I’ve lost almost everything, and I have nowhere to live.”
Gretchen hugged her. “You arrived just in time, Martha. You can sleep here and then you can join the group leaving from here tomorrow.”
“How will I find Paul when he’s released?”
“You will find him, I’m sure. You’re luckier than most. You know he’s alive and well and you know where he is.”
Martha wiped away a tear. “You’re sure about that?”
“I’m certain. The best thing you can do for him is to keep yourself safe.”
Gretchen took Martha to the ground floor to meet Hans, and explained to him what had happened. “Martha will take my place on the dray tomorrow,” she said.
“You could go as well,” said Hans, looking alarmed. “I’m sure there will be room for one more on the dray.”
“No, Hans,” she said. “I will stay with my husband.”
“I thought we agreed Oskar would stay with me.”
“Yes, but now we have someone else to accompany Inge, I’m not needed. He can stay with me.”
Hans looked like a cow that had eaten a nettle. “I wish you’d change your mind. You’ll be throwing your life away for nothing.”
“It’s not for nothing. I made a promise when I married him, and I intend to keep it.”
Gretchen introduced Martha to Inge. There
