by Joseph C. Alkire

Created on: July 08, 2009   Last Updated: July 09, 2009

It was a warm summer morning in the mountains that surrounded our farms. The natural beauty of the landscape was impeccable. It was going to be another hot day so we went to work early. An early start meant an early finish. When work ended we would always go to our favorite swimming hole to cool off. On this day, swimming was not going to happen as we sensed a storm brewing just to our south about twenty miles or so.

We began our daily routine of tending the livestock, picking the ripe vegetables from the farm, weeding, and watering those areas where the vegetables first ripened. The cows were milked, fed, and watered. Some of the chickens were slaughtered and prepared for dinner that evening. The women busied themselves by baking bread and cleaning the farmhouses. Male children were in the fields learning to farm and helping their fathers. Female children old enough to work assisted their mothers in their daily routine of chores. Children too young to work were overseen by their older sisters.

There were a number of families living on the farms. The work, rewards, and sufferings were equally shared among all. Life was simple back then. The benefits of co-existance far outweighed any consequences that have arisen from time to time. Everyone shared in the chores of caring for the elderly and the sick alike.

The storm seemed to get louder and louder as it neared the farmhouses. Judging by the sound of it, this storm would never be too soon forgotten. Wailing and crying could be heard as well as the storm itself. The farmers dropped everything they were doing and quickly gathered their families together, led them to the safety of their farmhouses, and barricaded themselves inside.

The silence in the farmhouses was so dense a pin drop could be heard from far away. This storm was the kind with no rain, sleet, hail, snow, or winds. It was the Nazi storm that searched each farmhouse for stray Jews. Each family could be heard denying the existance of anyone hiding in their houses. There was nowhere to escape the sudden stench of death. Its wreaking gaseous state of existance emitted from everywhere. It came from the mountains, crevasses, and ravines including the infamous Babi-Yar (Babi-Yar is a famous ravine the Nazis used to dump the bodies of newly slain victims. It has been estimated that nearly 75,000 victims were killed and dumped in just that one ravine).

The Einstatsgruppen (German mobile killing units. Specially built vans were used for this purpose.

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