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‘Obviously, I’m not advocating that, but we should allow Clara to mix with other children. It would be no different to the boarding school you went to, surely.’
‘For a start, there are no private boarding schools anymore, Max… Hitler has seen to that. So an institution would be the only option. And I won’t condemn her to a life like that. She’s better off at home with me. No one could possibly care for Clara as I do.’
‘But it’s you I’m thinking about,’ Max reasoned. ‘You’ve had to sacrifice so much to care for her – your career for a start, let alone spending time with the boys.’
‘That’s nonsense,’ replied Minki. ‘The boys are absolutely fine – I spend more than enough time with them. As for my career, Clara is far more important than any job, and besides, there’s no point in being a journalist in Germany any more – Goebbels has seen to that.’
Max stared at his wife uncomprehendingly. ‘I don’t understand you sometimes…Joseph is your friend.’
‘Josephwasmy friend, but not now. You know as well as I do, that he is effectively in control of the press, and has become a tyrant. Look, Max, I know you mean well, but it’s pointless discussing this. I won’t allow Clara to go to school and that’s an end to it.’ She stood up from the table. ‘I’m sorry, but I’m rather tired. If you don’t mind, I’m going to bed.’
As she washed her face and brushed her teeth, Minki raged inwardly at the injustice of her daughter’s situation. Of course she would have loved Clara to go to school, but the risks far outweighed the benefits.
She turned off the bathroom light, and climbed into bed. But she couldn’t sleep. In the semi-darkness, she tossed and turned, wrestling with Clara’s situation. She knew she couldn’t really keep her daughter hidden away for the rest of her life, but what else could she do? Her secret hope – one that she kept from Max – was that Hitler’s rash invasion of Russia would end in Germany’s defeat, and bring about a new, more moral government. Then, her beloved girl could take her rightful place as an equal member of society. But for now, she simply had to hang on, educate Clara as best she could, and hope that no one revealed her daughter’s secret.
When Max came up a couple of hours later, he lay down next to her and reached across to stroke her back. ‘I’m sorry if I upset you, Minki. I do love you.’
She shrank from his touch. ‘Please, Max, leave me alone. I’m not in the mood.’
One evening, a few days later, Minki was alone in the sitting room, preparing for Clara’s German history lesson the following day. The children were all in bed, Max’s supper was waiting for him in the kitchen, and she was enjoying a rare moment of peace.
As soon as he arrived home, he bounded into the sitting room, his face wreathed in smiles. ‘Darling – I’ve got some wonderful news. You know I’ve been working on a new film…?’
She put down her book with a slight sigh.
‘…Well, Joseph loves it and he’s arranged for it be premiered next week. I’ve got a huge budget to organise a lavish party. Everyone will be there. Please say you’ll come.’
The prospect of spending an evening in Goebbels’ company was depressing, but it had been months since she and Max had been out together, and she felt compelled to support him. ‘All right, but I might need a new dress…’
‘Of course, darling – buy whatever you like.’
The premiere was held in a small cinema in central Berlin. Max had gone to the party straight from the office, so Minki, dressed in her new turquoise evening gown, arrived alone, and a little late. The champagne reception was already in full swing, with at least a hundred people crowded into the vestibule of the cinema. Searching for Max, she finally spotted him with Goebbels, surrounded by a small group of beautiful young women – aspiring actresses, she presumed. To her surprise, Magda was not with him. Minki had heard rumours that all was not well between the couple. Joseph had apparently developed a passion for a young actress named Lída Baarová, inviting her to his weekend villa on the shores of a lake outside Berlin. Although a holiday home for his family, the gossip was that Goebbels had used it as somewhere to ‘entertain’ young actresses. Magda was apparently furious.
Minki took a glass of champagne from a waiter, and idly watched her ex-lover enjoying being the centre of attention. His young women admirers hung on his every word, laughing and smiling, desperate to impress the head of the German film industry.
Suddenly Minki heard a familiar voice behind her. ‘Minki, how lovely to see you.’
She turned to see Magda Goebbels. ‘Oh, there you are, Magda. I wasn’t sure if you were coming.’
‘Of course, where else would I be but by my husband’s side? I’m glad to see you though. We’ve not seen you out and about for such a long time. Is all well?’
Minki had the feeling that she was being interrogated by Magda. ‘Yes, thank you. I’m just busy with the children – you know how it is.’
‘Oh, I do indeed. Our number six was born before Christmas. Another girl…we’ve called her Heidrun.’
Minki marvelled at Magda’s ability to produce children – five girls and one boy had arrived in the previous eight years. But motherhood had taken its toll on her appearance – her brown hair was streaked with grey, and she had gained a little weight. The dark-haired, slender beauty who had first attracted Joseph Goebbels was no more.
‘Gosh, Magda, I don’t know how you do it. Six children! I can’t cope with three.’
‘But they must all be at school now, surely? And how is Clara – we don’t hear much about her.’
‘Oh…she’s fine. She’s a quiet child and prefers life at home.’
‘You need to break her of that habit,’ said Magda. ‘One of our girls is shy too. Get her involved with the Young Girls League. After all, she needs to learn skills and make friends.’
Minki quickly changed the subject. ‘How’s Joseph?’
Magda’s tight-lipped smile momentarily faltered. ‘Oh, he’s fine,’ she replied tartly. ‘Very busy, of course. Adolf can’t do without him – he leans on him terribly and it’s quite a strain on Joseph.’
