The War Grinds to an End News was being circulated that the Russian soldiers were freezing to death, starving, sick of fighting. They were also revolting and going over to the enemy. But we also noticed that there was a slackening of discipline among the German soldiers. They were restless. They had expected a quicker victory. Then suddenly most of the German soldiers were ordered to leave our village and only a skeleton group remained.
And one morning, when we woke up, there were no Germans anywhere to be seen. They had simply cleared out during the night. Who would give the orders now? People gathered in clusters, whispering among themselves. We waited around for something to happen.
Then someone came and announced that the Germans had capitulated and that an armistice had been signed! Suddenly everyone was jubilant, congratulating each other for being alive, for having lasted until the end! We stayed up late that night, talking, laughing, trying to grasp the meaning of it all.
It was past midnight but no one wanted to break up and go indoors. Then all at once there appeared a motley-looking group of soldiers, armed with sticks and clubs. These were the self-designated patriotic Polish Army. And they began to whack everyone on the shins and kick them in the buttocks while shouting: “Vot tebe frieden!” (Here is your peace!) Everyone ran for home.
The news of the signing of the armistice had been prematurely announced. Some days later, a most disheveled Russian army, carrying red flags and singing joyously, came marching through our village. And the Polish patriots took cover. But the Russians did not remain. They merely announced that the war was over. The hated czar and his regime were finished. The workers and the Red Army were in control of the land. They would be the government. Such tales, such wild stories! Who could believe them?
But the Jewish intelligentsia said it was true and they began propagandizing. The elders and the merchants did not like it. But some of the younger men joined the Red Army and left with them. There was something exciting about it all. Mother said, “If I didn't have children, I would go with them!”
In a span of days our village changed regimes repeatedly. First, the Russians, then the Poles, then the Germans, then the Russians again and finally the Poles for good.
