The Truce
It is hard to imagine the atrocities within Nazi concentration and extermination camps such as Auschwitz. To witness the torture, degradation, oppression and murder of your neighbors, friends or even your family is unfathomable. Can you imagine those struggling to survive hangings, being shot, or even gassed? gassed? To think about those “who fight for a piece of bread, who dies at a yes or a no…meditate that this took place” The story of Primo takes place after Russians liberated those held c aptive in Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration camp in Poland. One the doors heavy doors surrounded by barbed wire were broken down “they were unfit for their newfound liberty,” unsure what to do with themselves after being freed. Once the survivors saw Russian troops on the hills, they ran back into the prison camp. Primo waited at the gates and once assured of their liberation the captives slowly left the confines of their enclosure. After leaving the camp, the refugees could remove their prison clothing. As the cloth burned and heavy black smoke filled the sky Primo explained he would keep his clothing “to remember.” Soon S oon after the symbolic burning, Jews, and non-Jews were transported on trains out of Poland. Under the hopes of returning to Italy, those on the train headed home were informed by a man known only as “the Greek” that they would first be headed to Cracow away from the fighting. Unsure of how to deal with this n ew course the Greek raised suspicions about their liberators “Russians don’t know what to to do with people like us, maybe they do like the Germans.”
After the train’s arrival in Cracow Primo and “the Greek” set off in the desolate area to find food and shelter. As the duo are walking towards a seemingly empty empt y city Primo and the Greek share information about their respective professions, and Primo is told to carry the Greeks heavy backpack. Primo admits a dmits he is a chemist as he is struggling to walk in his worn out shoes. The Greek explains that “there are two things you need in war… shoes and food. He who has no shoes is a fool he who has shoes finds food.” A small red-brick city lay ahead which was guarded by a Russian soldier. Italian singing can be heard and Primo is immediately nostalgic. The Russian guard conceded and allows them entry after he is bribed with a can of food. He further explains that the Italians better not learn of the Greeks’ nationality, because of fighting between Greeks and Italians. Once they all sit together and share a meal the Greek tells stories of fighting and how a simple meal could pacify fighting, if only for a while. After eating, Primo has night terrors of his time in the concentration camp being imprisoned in his grey and black striped uniform, cold, hungry and yet still marching. Suddenly he is awakened by the Greek to go to work. On their way through the crowds of the marketplace the Greek explains why slavery is normal unde r Stalin “Exchange “Exchange for quiet lives they accept all, even tyrants… tyrants…why be afraid of Hitler or Stalin? All even Alexander the Great came and gone.” gone.” Once the Greek and Primo reach the th e center of the marketplace he beings selling a white shirt which the Greek removed from his heavy heav y travel backpack. Struggling with the language lan guage barrier Primo asks a man to translate. Primo understands that he did not accurately share what he was saying. He explains that he was in Auschwitz and he needs to eat. Unfortunately people turn
away from him and he is told by the Greek “People don’t want to know, people want want to forget but to live, we have to eat,” eat,” implying he must keep his sorrows to himself. Through the crowd Primo spots a priest and follows him into a church. Primo reads Latin scripture on the wall and speaking in Latin tells the priest he was a prisoner and is in need of something to eat. Fortunately the priest shares with Primo the location of kindly nuns who feed both the Greek and Primo. After their meal, conversations ensue about the metaphysical repoire between body and soul (as equated to a cockroach). After dining, the Greek gives Primo his shoes and the two part ways. On the next stage of Primo’s journey he is taken by the Russians to a refugee camp or more as categorized by Russian officers as “rehabilitation of displaced p ersons captured by the the Nazis.” The camp looks strikingly similar to the concentration camp with refugees toiling toiling away working hard labour. A man can be seen surrounded by mud lamenting over the use of his hands which would never play music again. Another striking similarity is the segregation of men and women with barbed wire between them. While at the rehabilitation camp Primo is employed as a chemist categorizing medications. He avoids the harsh working con ditions, although he is subjected to them for a short amount of time. While working in the office he is accompanied by a beautiful and flirtatious Russian. Although the romance is fruitless this ignites Primo’s passion. Even though he is disappointed he is told by b y one of his friends that “if you want to get your ass back home home you must love.” A train finally comes to take the Jewish survivors closer to home. Although they must go further away from Italy, the men in Primo’s party talk about their families and if they are even
still alive. Primo explains that God cannot exist if Auschwitz ex isted. Daniella, A friend of Primo’s tortures himself by questioning why he was the only survivor ou t of 31 family members. Daniella, and Primo question why they they survived while so many others did not. Primo also explains that he did not know what it was to be a Jew J ew until he was in the mountains mou ntains with partisans fighting fascism. After arriving in a train station the refugees are surprised to see G ermans working under oppressive conditions sweating while welding and working away. The Germans beg the Italian Jews for bread, with Daniella being the only person to respond to their pleas. He waited for them “to come groveling to his feet,” as the Germans had made the Jewish once do. After leaving the train station the men yearn for sh elter and food. They are led to a field with a man with his feet held up by a wooden box and surrounded by women. It is none other than the Greek who exclaimed that he was sure he would see Primo again. The Greek further explains that he now runs a small brothel. The men accompanying Primo are in awe of the Greek and vow to see the ladies again. The Greek tells the men to go to the red brick house, if they require shelter. As the men round the corner the light changes from sunny and pleasant to grey and dark. As Primo explores he is stopped in his tracks b y a woman whom he encountered in the concentration camp. Primo witnessed her being p hysically assaulted by Nazi’s and thrown to the ground. Primo’s and the woman’s eyes e yes met in a mutual moment of being transported back to that painful incident. Primo later comes to her defense, when she was accused of breaking bread with Nazi’s. Primo further explained the true degradation of Nazi influence was the removal of our kindness, unity, and compassion for one another.
As time progressed the survivors were able to rehabilitate somewhat, enjoying pe ace, solitude, friendship, and most importantly freedom. The refugees enjo yed food, animals, playing pla ying ganes, sunshine, lakeside camaraderie, playing pla ying of music, and in the case of o f Primo, much writing. After many months the Russian caravan came through to signify the end of the war. As the armory of tanks and soldiers passed, the Greek and his women were the first to move on to the next town along with the caravan. Perhaps it was the women who offered persuasion or perhaps it was as the Greek proclaimed in his farewell to Primo “Greece was part of the the UN and Italy supported the war.” The friends bid farewell and those left behind a wait the arrival of the train which will take them home. Once arriving home, Primo discovers that his family is still alive and well. He eats soup and drinks in solitude, much as he did while in the rehabilitation and concentration conc entration camps. He seems lost in thought as he touches his old grey and black woolen woo len prison uniform. He sits and unscrews his pen and begins to write, to which he reminds himself, is “an atrocious privilege.” The Truce
is a deep resonating reminder of the kindness we must share with others
despite atrocity. In addition we must always remind ourselves and each other to maintain our humanity, with unity and kindness separating ourselves from those who would see those attributes extinguished. I am inspired to work through pain and strife I have undergone in m y own life and find ways to create positive change, to remind myself that we can overcome anything.
