War Diaries (July 1) (nonfiction)
War Diary quotations for July 1
Quotations
Reina Spiegel: July 1, 1941
Renia Spiegel began her diary in January 1939 at the age of 15.
I can’t write. I’m weak with fear. War again, war between Russia and Germany. The Germans were here, then they retreated. Horrible days in the basement. Dear Lord, give me my Mamma, save all of us who have stayed here and those who escaped the city this morning. Save us, save Zygus.
I want to live so badly. I’m humbling myself before you and begging on behalf of us all. Tonight is going to be terrible. I’m scared. I believe that you will hear me, that you won’t leave me in this awful hour. You saved me before, save me now. God, thank you for saving me.
I don’t know what’s going to happen to us. Almost the whole city is in ruins. A piece of shrapnel fell into our house. These have been horrific days. Why even try to describe them? Words are just words. They can’t express what it feels like when your whole soul attaches itself to a whizzing bullet. When your whole will, your whole mind and all your senses hang from the flying missiles and beg: “Not this house!” You’re selfish and you forget that the missile that misses you is going to hit someone else.
Dear diary! How precious you are to me! How horrible were the moments when I hugged you to my heart!
And where is Zygus? I don’t know. I believe, fervently, that no harm has come to him. Protect him, good God, from all evil. All of this started four hours after the moment he blew me the last kiss up to the balcony. First, we heard a shot, then an alarm, and then a howl of destruction and death. I don’t know where Irka and Nora are, either, where anyone is.
That’s it for tonight; it’s getting dark. God, save us all. Make it so Mamma comes and let there be no more misery.
In the News
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Nonfiction cross-reference
External links
- Excerpts from the Diaries of Renia Spiegel @ Smithsonian Magazine