Witness by Daniel Peltz

Author:Daniel Peltz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical fiction; World War II; Nazi Death Camp; War Crimes; Prosecution; Support Groups
Publisher: Troubador Publishing
Published: 2022-07-11T00:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

When Benjamin checked in at his hotel in Frankfurt a week later, the receptionist gave him a message. It was from Wilhelm. He was sorry, but they had to meet as soon as possible. There was no time to be wasted and he wanted Benjamin to come straight to the office as soon as he had arrived. Benjamin left his cases in his room without unpacking and left the hotel by taxi and went directly to the office.

‘Hello, I have an appointment with a Herr Wilhelm Schmidt.’

‘That’s all right, Clara, he’s my appointment,’ said Wilhelm, coming into the reception area. He had been waiting nervously for his visitor to arrive. He immediately recognised him from the meeting house: still tall and skinny, with a swarthy appearance, he hadn’t changed that much.

‘Benjamin, it’s been a long time!’

The two shook hands and, after a moment’s awkwardness, hugged each other. They immediately felt an emotional closeness that matched the physical one of their embrace. They had been on such different journeys but, incredibly, had arrived at the same destination. As they let go of each other, Benjamin looked at Wilhelm, whom he only vaguely remembered from the meeting house, having only seen him from the back of the room. His far clearer memory of him was of a little boy on the other side of the Lager fence. ‘Come, come this way.’ Wilhelm ushered Benjamin into one of the boardrooms. ‘How was your trip?’

‘It was quick, actually. The flight took just over seven hours. I didn’t get much sleep.’

‘Well, you don’t look too bad.’ Wilhelm took Benjamin’s coat, then the two men sat down opposite each other at the table.

‘This is the first time I’ve been to Europe since 1948. You know, hearing German voices, the language – it still makes me feel uncomfortable. Even though I know I’m safe and it’s all going to be fine. But it’s like a reflex, I suppose. The cold shiver that you feel running down your spine as you hear announcements on the airport tannoy, or questions at passport control. I can’t really explain it.’

‘I completely understand. But you feel OK now? Do you want some coffee?’

‘I’d love some coffee. Thank you.’

Wilhelm telephoned through to reception and ordered the coffees. Before the refreshments arrived, Wilhelm launched straight into the matter at hand. He wanted to compare their stories and iron out any differences immediately.

‘Right, where do I start? Maybe let’s catch up on the events that took place at the Lager.’

‘OK, then. You go first and tell me what you saw,’ Benjamin said, surprised at Wilhelm’s sense of urgency.

‘Well, I remember seeing Müller taking hold of you first, and suddenly changing his mind. He then walked up to the women’s line-up, and started speaking to a girl. He dragged her across towards the fence and lifted her high above his shoulders. Then he threw her violently against the electrified wire, killing her by electrocution. My mother then shouted at me and dragged me away. That’s what I remember clearly.

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