In the beginning, I thought I was writing a faith story. I never realized that oppression would end up being such a prominent part of the narrative.
This time 80 years ago, Joe Koch, Fr. Viktor’s nephew, was an American soldier fighting on the front lines in Germany. Several weeks after VE Day, he requested furlough and found his way to Schwarzenfeld, where he visited his uncle. To our great fortune, Joe wrote a lengthy letter to his mother Fannie, describing insightful conversations with Fr. Viktor. This quote in particular stands out to me:
“I asked him what it was and how the Nazis ever kept so much power. He told me he was going to write a letter or book explaining it, he said it’s hard to realize but only about 10% were actually Nazis but the organization they had was so powerful everyone was afraid to try and do anything. It got to such a point where mothers couldn’t trust their daughters and vice versa; sons couldn’t trust fathers, and vice versa, in fact no one knew who to trust so if one wanted to live, they just kept quiet. This 10% was so scattered among civilians and also the Army they just didn’t know where to turn for help for the least knock against Hitler or the party, no matter who it was would bring death or punishment.”
—Joe Koch to mother Fannie Koch, Koenigstein (June 23, 1945)
In the beginning, I thought I was writing a faith story. I never realized that oppression would end up being such a prominent part of the narrative.
What’s remarkable about this quote is that we’re hearing an American perspective of life in a country ruled by fascism. My high school and college history classes left me with the impression that, by and large, citizens of the Third Reich lived in peace and traded Hitler greetings with nerve-rattling enthusiasm. Fr. Viktor’s account of life under Nazi rule painted an entirely new picture for me—a stark existence where people lived under the shadow of tyranny, and a glimpse of what that life was like.
As I learned from Nikolaus Kainz, a German contact I met during my 2005 trip to Schwarzenfeld, parental distrust of sons and daughters was well justified. “The Nazis indoctrinated children to betray their own parents,” he told me. “And it was easy. Children naturally talk too much. They talk too freely.” Imagine having to mind every word you utter for fear of your child going back to school tomorrow, repeating a careless comment. Eighty years ago, this was a daily reality in the Third Reich.
Sadly, Fr. Viktor never got around to writing that letter or book. Apparently, he left that task for me!
Useful reminders
This post is part of a month-long series celebrating historical events that contributed to my debut historical fiction novel, The Sower of Black Field. Visit the “Latest News” area on my website for a recap »
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