The German Wife: An absolutely gripping and heartbreaking WW2 historical novel, inspired by true events by Debbie Rix

Author:Debbie Rix [Rix, Debbie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781800195479
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2022-01-13T06:00:00+00:00

It seemed to Annaliese that the end of the war really was in sight. Keen to give Alexander the news, she went down to the kitchen, heated a little milk and made two cups of acorn coffee. Then, dressed in a warm coat and boots, she went outside.

She found Alexander at the bottom of the garden, digging up the spent dahlia corms.

‘I thought you looked as if you needed warming up.’

Automatically, he glanced up at the house, checking they were not being observed.

‘Don’t worry,’ she reassured him, handing him a mug of coffee. ‘The house is empty… everyone has gone out. We have an hour at least.’

He smiled faintly. ‘All right. And thank you for the coffee.’ He warmed his hands on the mug, and blew on the liquid to cool it down.

‘Let’s sit on your bench,’ she suggested.

They sat together, their legs pressed against one another, and she leant her head on his shoulder. ‘I’ve missed you so… do we have time, do you think?’

He put his arm around her and kissed her hair. ‘No, I don’t think so – not for that. Let’s just be together and enjoy the winter sunshine.’

‘I’ve been listening to the news… from London.’

He suddenly pulled away from her and shot her a look. ‘Isn’t that illegal?’

‘Yes, but I don’t care any more. Don’t you want to know what’s going on – what’s really going on? Not the lies and propaganda we get here in Germany.’

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. ‘Yes, I suppose so – tell me.’

‘We are losing the war,’ she said excitedly. ‘It might all be over soon.’

He smiled ruefully. ‘That’s a nice dream.’

‘It’s not a dream,’ she insisted. ‘The Allies are already in Italy, and our troops are being defeated everywhere – Russia, North Africa.’ She reached across and took his hand. ‘Just imagine – when it’s all over, we’ll be able to run away and live in America with our…’ She stopped suddenly, realising her mistake. She must not mention the baby. Instead she sipped her coffee.

‘With our what?’ he asked, puzzled.

‘With our love,’ she murmured, kissing his hand. ‘I was thinking… we could run away, even now. You could easily pass for German – you speak the language so well. We could escape to Austria and live in the mountains, and wait until the war is over.’

‘It would be madness, Anna. I have no papers. They would track us down and execute us.’

‘But my husband is a senior SS officer – a doctor at Dachau. Surely they wouldn’t dare…’

‘That’s exactly why they would come after us. Dear, sweet, innocent Annaliese, do you have no understanding of the depths to which your people will go to punish those who disobey?’

‘But all I want is to be with you,’ she replied, her eyes filling with tears. ‘I would go anywhere with you.’

‘Let me tell you a story,’ he said, putting his cup down on the grass. ‘When I was first brought to Dachau, I was with three men I’d served with in the Russian army.

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