This week in my grandfather's story, I continue by moving to his military training. Last week like I mentioned, I talked about how once he and his family moved to Germany from Poland he was conscripted into the German Army and then transferred to the SS. In March of 1944, he was sent to the former Czechoslovakia for his basic …
Lodz
This week in my grandfather's story I return to Europe. Before Christmas I wrote about the family's trek to Poland from Ukraine. It was a long drawn out trip that took almost 3 months. To put it into context a train excursion from Zaporozhe to Lodz takes approx 16 hours of train travel. The biggest reason why it …
Fall
My first blog post of the new year continues my grandfather's story, but is a little different. The reason why I say different is because it leaves Europe during the war and fast forwards to 1990 in the backyard of my grandfather's home. The family yard was and is a very important fixture in mine and my family's …
The First Christmas
My grandfather's story continues this week with their arrival in Poland in December 1943. They spent almost 3 months on the train from Ukraine and their arrival into the city of Lodz, Poland is one of great remembrance for my Opa. This year marks the 70th anniversary of my Opa's arrival. Every time December rolls around I think …
Stanislavov
I mentioned earlier in my grandfather's story that I would also include some stories about his sisters and brothers. Today I want to tell a story about my Tante Lisa. When I talk to other people in my family about her I am told that she was my Opa's second mother. She fed him, changed …
Carts, Geese, Crickets and Golf Balls
So, I left off last time with my grandfather taking Tamara across the river in the Fall of 1942. I am going to pick it back up a year later in fall of 1943, but before continuing the story, I thought it might be necessary to give a bit of a history update to kind …
Tamara
This next chapter is the story of Tamara and my Opa. I keep the scene in Nikopol, but I return to the conversation between myself and Cait... Tamara An old stone bridge is decaying. Long grass weaves itself through the crumbling rock. The river bed below that once was ten feet deep with fast moving …
June 1941
So this week in my Grandfather's story, there is a bit of a shift. First I bring the scene back to Nikopol, Ukraine. But instead of returning the story to conversations between myself and Cait, I bring the story to conversations between my Opa and I. The importance here is that it was from the last time My Opa …
Weekly Supper
This week's chapter continues with my grandfather's time in Nikopol. I have changed the setting a little, bringing the conversation from Ukraine to my mother's supper table. The conversation now changing to one between my grandfather and my significant other. Weekly Supper "Where did you play soccer with your friends?" asks Cait. “So let’s see here …
Nikopol … the house
So, this week I am going to continue the story of my Grandfather with another conversation between myself and my significant other. It takes place as we explore his house. I have also included pictures of the area from prior visits. Nikopol ... The house We awoke early this morning, so a driver we had reserved could …