When you commit to a history project like this, you get the eerie feeling that you’re a custodian of other people’s memories. Such is the case on my journey.
I would be remiss if I neglected to mention one clear-eyed guide who witnessed the rise and fall of Nazi Germany in her own homeland, and courageously told the truth as she saw it: Herta “Hedy” Arata (née Semff).
The only child of Erich and Rosa Semff, Herta was born in Eschwege, Germany on December 23, 1924. She grew up in a country staggering from the aftermath of WWI and the ravages of the Great Depression. A fan of Hedy Lamarr, she chose to honor the actress by using her name as a nickname. A budding gymnast at age 12, young Hedy performed in the opening ceremony of the 1936 Olympics as Hitler looked on. The winds of war blasted all personal ambitions to the wind and swept her loved ones into the German army—including two beloved cousins who lost their lives on the Russian front.
Hedy’s story took a dramatic turn in 1943, when the Technical University of Berlin hired her as a secretary and then sent her to the Bavarian countryside to serve with a band of scientists from the Electron and Ion Research Institute. Fr. Viktor’s monastery, the Miesbergkloster, was chosen as the unwilling host for their clandestine work. The remote location was ideal, for it lay far beyond the chaos and nightly bombing raids that plagued Germany’s capital. The nature of their work was a mystery to the Schwarzenfelders—and to Hedy as well. Her tasks were confined to answering the phone, collecting the mail, and typing reports. As she often said, “I was the youngest and the dumbest” on the team.
Eighty years ago at this time, young Hedy was painfully aware that her mother lived alone in Berlin—and the Russian army was barreling toward Germany like a merciless juggernaut. A solider on the front lines, Hedy’s father sent a telegram and implored his daughter to bring Rosa to Schwarzenfeld.
To my great fortune, after the war, Hedy met her future husband—a suave American soldier named Frank Arata. After immigrating to Frank’s hometown of Milford, Massachusetts, she married and learned to speak English. Thus, she became the only eyewitness who could vividly describe 1940s Schwarzenfeld to me—including a turn-by-turn description of the monastery halls—without the laborious need for trans-Atlantic mail and German translation. My family and I were fortunate enough to meet her in person in 2015. She passed away on October 11, 2023, just months before celebrating her 99th birthday. Her stories, sharp wit, and sage advice are dearly missed.
The traumatic memories of her youth haunted Hedy throughout her life. She processed them creatively, channeling them into poetry. A number of her poems capture dramatic events that we’ll revisit this month. I will share reflections and select pieces that she shared with me when we reach the anniversary of those dates.
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 »
The Sower of Black Field is available in paperback, eBook / Kindle, and audiobook on Amazon. Get your copy »
For all who would like to read Hedy’s poetry, check out her book To Whom It May Concern, also available on Amazon »
