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very large Star of David painted across my door. Above the star as well as on the bricks next to my door hung signs stating “Don't Buy From Jews. The Jews are Our Misfortune.” I could not believe my eyes so I quickly ran into my shop, gathered my things as well as some food for lunch and dinner, locked my door, and ran home. How could people boycott me and the other Jewish shop owners for simply being Jewish? I am shocked and appalled by today and just hope this isn't a sign of what's to come from Hitler and his Nazi Regime.
April 15, 1933
Ever since the seventh of this month numerous Jewish civil service people have lost their jobs. This didn't bother me too much, but today I received a letter from my brother Eliot, who has just been told he can no longer practice being a doctor. Yes, Eliot is pretty well off and this may only be temporary, but he is seriously concerned that he may never be able to practice in Germany again, and is considering taking his family elsewhere. I could always ask him to come help me with the bakery, but I know he just would not be happy here.
October 15, 1933
Ben and Rebecca came home today from school, and told me that they are no longer to participate in all their extracurricular activities. Ben is an amazing athlete and probably one of the top performers in every sport for his age group, but now that the school is teaching that “non-Aryans” are inferior, Ben can no longer play the sports he loves. How do you tell your twelve year old son that everything will be ok and that
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someday he’ll be able to play sports again? You can’t with a straight face. It hurts me to see him unhappy like this.
Rebecca is also very upset. She did not mind not being able to participate in school sports and clubs, but she can no longer swim at the local pool or meet her friends down the street at the playground due to the signs and notices which have said “No Jews Allowed.” My children are very unhappy, which in turn makes Sarah and I unhappy. I am at work all day, but Sarah must find something for the kids to do all afternoon because there is no place for them to go anymore. Things around here need to change
September 16, 1935
I am ashamed to be a German today. The Nazis announced yesterday that Jewish people can no longer be citizens of the Reich. My father not only fought in World War I, but generations of Hirschs have served this great country in many different ways. How could we no longer be citizens of a country we live in and love? Are Jews that awful, all of a sudden, that we do not belong in the same country, city, neighborhood, or even building anymore? I think Eliot might have the right idea about getting out, but I have too much to lose here. My family needs me and I don't think I could sell my shop and get up and move. This is where my family and I belong whether we are “Aryans” or not.
October 18, 1935
Life is getting tougher and tougher around here. I never really thought that the Nuremburg Laws could actually stop an Aryan person from marrying a Jew, but they can. We have been planning a wedding within our neighborhood for close to a year now for
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two of my family’s closest friends, Andrew, a Jew, and Kelly, a beautiful Aryan woman. We had it all set and after the laws came into affect we figured because they were already engaged there was no way the government would stop it. The last preparation for marriage ceremony was to go to the public health authorities and get approved to be married, but when they arrived they were denied their right to get married. They sent my two friends in circles talking about some law called the “Law for the Protection of the Hereditary Health of the German People.” Everything seems to be piling up and I don’t think we, the Jewish people, will be able to dig ourselves out.
November 9, 1938
Tonight there is a very large Nazi party rally, where Joseph Goebbels, one of Hitler’s cabinet members, is supposed to speak. There has been a buzz in the air about this all day. Nazis have come in from all around Munich just to hear this man speak. I hope this isn’t going to reinstate new laws or encourage the people to hate us Jews even more, but I have a hunch that we are going to get screwed over one way or another.
It seems like the rally must have ended because I hear lots of people in the streets I’m going to go and see what’s going on… I am outraged, appalled and someone needs to pay. As I walked outside I started to hear screams form down the street so I began to run and what do I see? I see all the Jewish stores and shops being burnt and looted. Then I see the SA starting to invade Jewish peoples’ homes and begin to worry that maybe mine is next. When I returned home I found Sarah curled up in a corner holding Rebecca and Ben. My house was torn apart and everything we have is now ruined. So, fuck the Nazis I cannot deal with their shit anymore. They need to pay for what they’ve done. Thousands
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of Jews have been taken from Munich tonight and I do not how I have survived the raid. I brought Sarah and the kids to our good Aryan neighbor who will look after them, for I fear I am going to be taken at some point tonight. It’s getting worse and worse I feel it’s six in the morning and Germans who support them are all still marching up the street singing anti-Semitic songs. Oh no, someone’s calling my name and banging on my door. I’m leaving you, journal. I’m placing you where they won’t find you but hopefully someone who can help will.
TO WHOEVER FINDS THIS JOURNAL MY WIFE IS IN A SECRET LOCATION WITH MY CHILDREN. PLEASE HELP. I HAVE HID A COUPLE HUNDRED MARKS IN A SAFE IN THE WALL BEHIND THE FRIDGE,WITH THE LOCATION OF MY FAMILY. TAKE HALF THE MONEY FOR YOURSELF BUT PLEASE GIVE THE OTHER HALF TO MY FAMILY. PLEASE HELP.
