Chapter 9. Revenge
Having survived the massacre of thousands of his fellow prisoners by German soldiers, Henry was brought to a displaced persons camp in Munich, and after being there for only a few days, a group of American GI’s started handing out handguns and rifles to some of the Jewish survivors in Henry’s group. The U.S. soldiers that liberated Henry were shocked and genuinely appalled at what they witnessed—mass killings, human experimentation, planned starvation, cremation ovens.
“All of the Germans are guilty,” one soldier exclaimed.
“They stood by and did nothing to help you. How could they not know what was going on in those camps?" another interjected.
“You should go while you can and get even,” another soldier encouraged them.
“Kill as many of them as you can and you’ll feel better,” advised another as he handed them a weapon.
Henry's small group of men agreed and followed the soldiers as they headed to vehicles to drive them into town. Henry himself was hesitant. He didn’t share the same sentiment. He didn’t feel that it was right to take revenge on innocent German citizens. He also still didn't know the fate of his family members. As he had no idea who was alive and who wasn't, how could he take revenge for something he wasn't even sure was done? However, not wanting to seem like a coward and being strongly persuaded by his fellow survivors, he started along with the group even though he himself didn’t have a gun.
While walking toward the vehicles that would carry Henry and his small vengeful mob into town to exact revenge, he spotted his older cousin Leon, with whom he had shared so much time throughout his long ordeal. He was standing outside a small building and was noticeably distraught. His face was contorted and he was crying bitterly while speaking. He was holding a pistol in one hand, and when he saw Henry, he called out to him. Henry ran over to Leon and asked what was wrong.
“I have no reason to live now that she’s gone,” he moaned. “Henek, those Nazi bastards killed my wife. Why did I survive? I don’t want to live.” He held the gun up to his head but Henry reached over to stop him. “Wait. Wait, Leon,” he pleaded. “Please don’t. She would not want you to do this. We made it so far together. God only knows why we survived and others did not. You must keep going. Don’t dishonor your wife’s memory by killing yourself, please,” Henry begged.
Leon fell to the ground, dropping the gun, and Henry held him as he wept. Hot blood rushed to Henry's head like an erupting volcano. Anger welled up inside him as he suddenly stood up in a rage.
“Goddam those Nazi bastards!” he screamed. He picked up Leon’s pistol and ran back over to the group of men headed to the vehicles. He got in a truck headed for town.
“Let’s get even, goddammit!” Henry yelled, waving his pistol.
“All of the Germans are guilty,” one soldier exclaimed.
“They stood by and did nothing to help you. How could they not know what was going on in those camps?" another interjected.
“You should go while you can and get even,” another soldier encouraged them.
“Kill as many of them as you can and you’ll feel better,” advised another as he handed them a weapon.
Henry's small group of men agreed and followed the soldiers as they headed to vehicles to drive them into town. Henry himself was hesitant. He didn’t share the same sentiment. He didn’t feel that it was right to take revenge on innocent German citizens. He also still didn't know the fate of his family members. As he had no idea who was alive and who wasn't, how could he take revenge for something he wasn't even sure was done? However, not wanting to seem like a coward and being strongly persuaded by his fellow survivors, he started along with the group even though he himself didn’t have a gun.
While walking toward the vehicles that would carry Henry and his small vengeful mob into town to exact revenge, he spotted his older cousin Leon, with whom he had shared so much time throughout his long ordeal. He was standing outside a small building and was noticeably distraught. His face was contorted and he was crying bitterly while speaking. He was holding a pistol in one hand, and when he saw Henry, he called out to him. Henry ran over to Leon and asked what was wrong.
“I have no reason to live now that she’s gone,” he moaned. “Henek, those Nazi bastards killed my wife. Why did I survive? I don’t want to live.” He held the gun up to his head but Henry reached over to stop him. “Wait. Wait, Leon,” he pleaded. “Please don’t. She would not want you to do this. We made it so far together. God only knows why we survived and others did not. You must keep going. Don’t dishonor your wife’s memory by killing yourself, please,” Henry begged.
Leon fell to the ground, dropping the gun, and Henry held him as he wept. Hot blood rushed to Henry's head like an erupting volcano. Anger welled up inside him as he suddenly stood up in a rage.
“Goddam those Nazi bastards!” he screamed. He picked up Leon’s pistol and ran back over to the group of men headed to the vehicles. He got in a truck headed for town.
“Let’s get even, goddammit!” Henry yelled, waving his pistol.