Dutch Defense: A true story of struggle and survival during World War II (WWII Historical Fiction) by Kinney Johanna

Author:Kinney, Johanna
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amsterdam Publishers
Published: 2023-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

32

Riena stood before a desk between two soldiers. Behind the desk sat a uniformed man, looking her over with a cold stare behind his glasses. On the desk, cut open, was a brown suitcase with a gray uniform in it. She ignored the questions of the man behind the desk. Nobody would know she understood German.

The man stood up, leaning forward, and started shouting. Being screamed at touched a source of fury in her. She tossed her hair back and shouted back in Dutch, “I don’t know what you’re saying!”

He hit her so hard in the face that she staggered. With an effort she stood erect again, her face stinging. He drew his hand back again, but in an instinctive movement of protection, she hit his arm with the back of her forearm, hard. In the clash, his glasses went flying.

Her arms were grabbed and twisted back by the two soldiers beside her. The man behind the desk was shouting obscenities at his subordinates, demanding they help him look for the glasses. They responded in unison, “Jawohl, Herr Kommandant.”

She was tied to a chair now, as more uniformed men had appeared. At one point, a blindfold was tied around her head. The incessant shouting continued. She felt a great need to use the toilet.

Then they left her for what seemed like hours. Finally, she heard a door open. Her blindfold was removed, and a tall man in civilian clothing stood before her. He started talking to her in a gentle tone, in Dutch. “How did you get yourself in this mess?”

They must have believed it, then, that she didn’t understand German. She felt grateful when he untied her. She rubbed her wrists. “I have to use the toilet, badly,” is all she said.

“Of course they’ll let you use the toilet. And they’ll send you home right away, you and your father.”

A shock ran through her body. She saw its reflection in his eyes. Don’t give yourself away so much, she told herself.

“Yes, you and your father,” he continued. “It’s up to you. First, you have to answer a few straightforward questions. You’re not surprised that they wonder what you’re doing with an SS uniform, are you?”

She remained silent, thinking to herself, Don’t let him trap you. He’s a traitor, a contemptible, despicable collaborator.

“Look, I want to help you. I have a daughter your age. I’ll tell them that you didn’t know what was in the suitcase. Give me a chance.” He seemed nervous, his kindness an act. “All I want you to answer is, who sent you on this mission? You’re not working for the Wehrmacht; nobody knew you in that office. We know that your Ausweis is false.”

He seemed to realize that the “we” had given him away. His tone changed. “You are a stupid, foolish girl to get involved with those Underground criminals. They used you, and you let them. You can save your own skin and your father’s by answering one simple question. Where did you get

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