Free Restitution by Kathy Kacer Page B

take long to unload their luggage and settle into the spacious apartment.
    Within hours, just before noon, a gray column of soldiers, tanks, and motorcycles began to roll through the streets. Hitler’s army had arrived and his limousine led the military parade. Generals came next, followed by marching soldiers, their faces set and staring ahead, their boots clomping through the snow in perfect synchronicity.
    In the hundreds and thousands, the citizens of Prague came out to witness the arrival of Hitler’s victorious army. They emerged slowly from their homes, shops, and businesses to line the streets and watch the takeover of their country. But there was little cheering, no chanting of slogans, and few sounds of adulation. They would accept their fate, but would not welcome it. Unlike their neighbors in Austria, the people of Prague were not pleased by Hitler’s appearance. Many wept and openly jeered at him. For others, his invasion was met with stunned and stony silence.
    Karl and his family remained indoors during the army’s arrival. They stayed out of sight and listened to the distant sounds of marching, wondering what would happen next. During this time, Karl’s mother paced frantically in their new living room. She was anxious to find a way to contact her husband.
    â€œI can’t imagine what your father must be thinking,” she said as she approached the window to glance outside. As she turned away, the satin drapes fluttered closed behind her, blocking the view of the city as the snow continued to fall. “I’m sure he’s been trying to call the house all morning. He’ll be beside himself worrying about what’s become of us.”
    Marie was reluctant to use the telephone in the villa to contact her husband. She feared that police or censors might be tapping phones, listening in on conversations. The family’s goal was to be as invisible as possible – no overt contact with the outside world, nothing to draw attention to themselves, particularly as Jews. But by mid-afternoon, Marie could not stand it any longer. She announced to her children that she was going out to find a public telephone.
    â€œI’m terrified that he’s going to make the mistake of returning and I can’t let him do that,” she said. “At least one member of this family is safe outside Czech territory. He’ll be more help to us from France right now than he could ever be here.” She pulled on a heavy wool coat, wrapped a scarf around her head and neck, and headed out into the streets.
    While his mother was gone, Karl wandered through the villa from room to room, inspecting this new, temporary home. It reminded him of his home in Rakovník with its tall ceilings, grand chandeliers, and fine Oriental carpets. There was a spacious garden in the courtyard at the back, now covered with snow and looking rather bleak.
    Karl longed to watch the activity surrounding Hitler’s arrival. He imagined the dictator crossing the Charles Bridge and emerging from his limousine at Hradèany castle, ready to inspect his troops on this historic occasion. Unbeknownst to Karl, Hitler would make a speech that day, declaring the entire western region of Czechoslovakia to be a German territory called the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and under the rule of German-appointed Reich protector Konstantin von Neurath. In reality, this part of the country would be totally subjugated to Germany. Slovakia in the east would be declared an independent state under its president, Jozef Tiso, another of Hitler’s pawns. Karl knew none of these details then, but he envisioned the Czech flag that flew over the Prague castle being lowered, and replaced with the swastika. And as he pictured the takeover of his country, a vile taste rose in his throat. He wanted to spit in Hitler’s face, just as Hana had spat at the photograph of the SS officer in the photography shop window.
    When Marie