Short Story: The Nazi Soldier's Journey

Superior Essays
Irena stood in line, projecting the air of disdain and self-importance she assumed each day, before the German guards arrived allowing them entry into Warsaw's ghetto. Carrying a large basket, filled with medical supplies (and other hidden items) she had come to administer to the sick people imprisoned inside. Some mornings found her pushing a pram or hand cart, and possibly an ambulance, depending on what wretched diseases were ravaging the population forced to live in squalor behind the ghetto's walls.

Accompanying her today was another young nurse, and behind them in line, driving a bricklayer's cart was her friend Stanislawa Bossold's stepson. Irena took the luxury of a quick glance at him, reassuring herself he could play his part convincingly,
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"Guten Morgan Frau Sendler, may I have your papers please?" The Nazi soldier at the gate requested, "How you can stomach touching those vermin, I'll never know." His voice dripping with disgust.

"When you see the diseases those vile curs may spread to healthy Aryan and Polish citizens, it becomes easy to do one's duty, Mein Obershutze." Came her humourless reply as he handed her documents back, waving her and her fellow nurse through.

Irena heard him question the boy behind her about his mother, Stasia, one of the few remaining midwives in Warsaw. Before the Nazi's invasion in 1939 and their hatred of the Jews, she helped these Jewish women deliver their children. She now ran the emergency shelter of the Polish underground, helping many of same children hide and getting them to safety.

German officers who having families, brought them to Poland, and Stasia was respected among their wives. The boy tipping his cap, answered with a polite "She is well, danke." and with a snap of the reins, continued making his way to the church. Irena would bring him the babe later, before their leaving for the day. She didn't want the child under the effects of sedation for too

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