Coming of Age in the Shadow of War
The World Worth Saving from Oblivion
by
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The guide was waiting for us in the village. Middle height, slender but muscular, an intelligent young man who would guide us to the other side of Bug. My parents started to talk with him, asking about details of a crossing. I saw that they were satisfied with his responses, he talked about details of the road we were going to take and about the river. He explained that Bug is unpredictable, forming many bends and old cut offs and riverbeds that have many branches. Because of this, one could easily get lost. It is important to be very careful, especially in winter when snow covers everything. The valley of the river is not very wide but has mostly high steep banks. -I think we can make it without any problems – said the guide- I’ve made this crossing several times in winter. This last information finally convinced my parents that we can take the risk of crossing the frozen Bug. But on the other hand, what other options did they have? Only then myself and my sister learned that we had to flee and that there is no alternative. -We cannot go back there; the Russians would send us all to Siberia. We will probably never return to our home in Kovel, we must leave behind all our possessions, we must run. We must get to the other side of Bug, where there are Germans. It’s also very dangerous there but there are no other options, we have to take the risk. It’s necessary! The guide is going to help us to escape, he knows the route. If we get caught by Germans or Russians, we’ll be sent to Siberia. So, you kids must be brave. -What is this Siberia, we asked? -Siberia -answered my dad- it’s a place in Russia very far north, where is very cold all year round, where food is scarce, and life is extremely difficult. We cannot go there, that’s why we are fleeing. -but who lives there? -the people who the government didn’t like and who the government forced to go live there. That was their punishment. The government doesn’t like us either and would force us to live there, that’s why we are running away. -but why they don’t like this people, what have they done? -it’s hard to tell, but now don’t ask why. You will understand when you grow up. Our parents put around Halina’s and my necks small bags with hidden money that were going to help us to survive the first difficult days. They were hoping that no one would think of checking kids for possession of money. We were also wearing our warmest clothes, sweater under a warm jacket, tall boots and a hat covering our ears. In addition, we had two small bags and a backpack. Late on New Year’s Eve in 1939, when the skies darkened, we took off with another local villager on his sled, getting closer to the Bug. My dad chose this day for our escape hoping that on the New Years Eve both Germans and Russians were going to party and celebrate the upcoming New Year, therefore guarding the border less diligently. We were going to take advantage of this.
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About the Book
A MOVING HISTORY OF A FAMILY, DEPRIVED BY FATE OF EVERYTHING—EXCEPT LOVE Six-year-old Bogdan cannot understand the word war, but he knows that it doesn’t mean anything good. Difficult times are coming for him and his family living in Kovel—all of them may be soon deported to Siberia. On New Year’s Eve 1939, the four of them decide to make an illegal crossing of the River Bug and start a new life in a faraway, unknown town. Years of uncertain future, poverty, and hard work are awaiting them. But they believe that as long as they are together, they can endure anything that fate could bring. Coming of Age in the Shadow of War is a personal, poignant story about the strength of family ties in the world full of cruelty. And in the background are echoes of great historical events told from the perspective of someone reaching maturity.
About the Author
Władysław Golkiewicz PhD had in his life two major interests: chemistry and literature. Fate dictated that he has become an accomplished scientist, a known researcher, and a popular teacher. He is the author of numerous scientific papers, but he did not forget his love for literature. He has published a book of poetry and now he tells us the story of his tumultuous childhood under Soviet and Nazi occupation in Poland and a youth full of challenges under a communist regime that shaped his character and his outlook on life.