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‘They’re perfect,’ said Ruth, examining the documents. ‘If they make it as far as Switzerland, Julius will be able to help them. I presume Leila will try to get them entry visas for Britain?’
‘I suspect so.’
‘I’ll get our forger to work on their documents. It will take a few weeks, and I’ll send them to you, all right? They’ll be hidden inside another document or perhaps a magazine – anything to put the authorities off the scent. Then it’s up to you to get them across the border and liaise with Julius. Is that clear?’
‘Very clear. I don’t know how to thank you…you’ve been wonderful.’
Leaving the apartment that day, Minki felt a profound admiration for the work Ruth was doing. Like her, she was an Aryan, and was risking her life every day to stand up to tyranny – something that Minki was now determined to do.
39
LONDON
May 1942
During the cold winter months and into the following spring, reports filtered out from Germany that Jews were being rounded up and murdered. For Leila, waiting for news of her parents, it was an agonising time. She had heard nothing from Minki, nor from her mother, and worried constantly that her efforts to save her parents had come too late.
At work her frustration boiled over. The British authorities refused to accept that the growing slaughter of Jews was in any way state-sponsored, so the BBC were unable to report it.
‘The world needs to know, Hugh. We should be covering this,’ Leila insisted at one of their morning editorial meetings.
‘We can’t…the FO simply forbid it – they say the reports are too unreliable. The evidence is just too flimsy.’
‘But we know it’s going on, Hugh.’
‘I’m sorry, Leila, we can’t go against government policy. I fear we are just going to have to wait for more evidence.’
‘You know as well as I do, Hugh, that “The Final Solution” has always been Hitler’s plan. If any German Jews survive this war it will be a miracle.’
Towards the end of May, the BBC reported that Jews in Nazi-occupied Paris were being ordered to wear the yellow star. Reading the news bulletin, Leila felt a sense of growing despair – for her country and her parents.
As she travelled home that evening, she was overwhelmed by a sense of hopelessness that both surprised and depressed her. She had always managed to maintain some sort of optimism, but now she could feel it ebbing away day by day.
Even the warm spring air, and the sound of birdsong in the apple trees as she opened the garden gate to the cottage, failed to lift her spirits.
The children were lying on the grass, and leapt up when they saw her. ‘We’ve been waiting for you. Oh, Mutti…something wonderful has happened.’ Sofia was brandishing a letter. ‘I opened it…I hope you don’t mind. It was in Grandma’s writing. Here…’
Leila looked into Sofia’s eyes. ‘Is it good news?’ Her voice was tentative and nervous; she could barely dare to hope.
Sofia nodded enthusiastically. ‘The best. I’ll get started on supper while you read it.’
Leila sat down on the grass, and read her mother’s letter.
Dearest Leila,
We are in Geneva! Can you believe it? I still can’t. Your father, of course, is most confused, but quite frankly, I don’t care. He’ll recover. The point is – we are alive and safe.
Julius and Charlotte are so kind and have taken great care of us. But our thanks must really go to your friend Minki, without whom we would simply not be here.
She showed such bravery, Leila, such ingenuity and strength that I am still in awe of her. It took several weeks for our papers to be ready. Then we had heavy snowfall all through March and April. Minki suggested we should wait until the roads were clearer. Finally, in May, she collected us late one night from the apartment, armed with the appropriate papers, in case we were challenged. Her plan was to use small back roads in order to avoid roadblocks. In the back of her father’s Mercedes, we drove through the night. Once, in spite of the devious route, we encountered police. Minki was cool as a cucumber. She told us to pretend to be asleep, and showed our false identity papers. She said we were Frau and Herr Schwab visiting relatives. Minki was magnificent and showed no fear. I think that’s how she got away with it.
Anyway, we finally arrived at the meeting place near Lake Constance. Julius was waiting in a wood on the edge of the lake in his own car. We had to drive down a small track and, when we saw him signalling with his headlights, my heart was in my mouth. What if it was a trick, and it was actually the Gestapo waiting for us? When I saw Julius, I was so relieved that my legs just gave way. I literally fell into his arms, and he had to carry me to his car. Within minutes, your father and I were bundled into the back, and we were off, driving through the Swiss forests. It was all over so fast, I didn’t really have a chance to thank dear Minki.
Julius has spoken with the authorities and we have temporary leave to stay. How long they will allow I don’t know, but he says you might be in a position to help with our onward journey.
Darling, you have helped so much already – I am speechless with admiration for you and your friends.
Write soon sweetheart,
