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Authors: Christoph Fischer
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locals had become friendlier towards them, probably thanks to Father Bernhard Haslinger’s encouraging word of mouth. This was still a new and fragile development and in Johanna's view, it had to be consolidated at any cost. The last thing they needed now was questions being asked about the young pregnant mother's Jewish visitors from town.
After the Great War , a lot of Jews from Galicia had been expelled by the Russian army and after unsuccessfully trying to establish themselves in Vienna many had opted for the Jew-friendly haven of Bratislava as their new residence. The local Slovak culture was already too ‘unruly’ for Johanna’s Germanic taste, there was no need for any more of that kind and certainly not on her farm.
As for the brother Egon, on the few occasions when he did open his mouth, his whining, negative and always complaining attitude was another thing that she disliked of `the type`, as she loved to call the Jews. He was working with the father in the weaver's workshop in town and like the father was always busy. If any of them had to stay behind to supervise the workers, he would usually volunteer, probably too lazy to come all the way out to the farm.
Greta' s father Jonah however, was a man to Johanna's liking. Completely untraditional and very aware of his low position as Jew in the Czechoslovakian society, he was mostly kind and humble and therefore very agreeable. He himself had suggested limiting the contact between Greta and her family as she was a Winkelmeier now, a 'Catholic' and a German. The less she was associated with her Jewish family the easier it would be to protect her. With the announcement of Greta’s second pregnancy however he seemed, at least temporarily, to have forgotten his previous conviction but at least he knew that it was necessary to be careful in case the politics in Slovakia should develop in a similar way as in Germany. Especially now that there were less people living on the farm, any visitors would be more noticeable. A sensible man this Weissensteiner - if not somewhat pessimistic. Quite handsome for the type she had to admit. His wife Barbara had died of the Spanish flu after the Great War and he had never remarried, which was difficult to understand. If she would recommend any Jew, it would be him. Almost as respectable and proper as a German, if you could say such a thing but maybe that was why the women amongst his own people were not after him in the first place.
One Saturday when the Weissensteiners had come again and seemed to be set on staying the whole afternoon , Johanna had had enough and took Jonah aside.
“Jonah, you lot have got to stop coming here all the time,” she said. “You know it is dangerous.”
Jonah was a little surprised at her directness but immediately agreed with her.
“You are right. I should not have got carried away with the whole pregnancy spiel.”
“I understand how you feel Jonah and I hate to take that away from you but if you had not mentioned yourself that the visits were too frequent, I wouldn't have known what to say to you but you know how it is these days. We can't risk any gossip about the family,” she explained.
“Of course,” he agreed. “Thank you Johanna. Say no more. We will be leaving shortly and I will make sure that we stay away for a while. After all , there is not much we can do for her while she is pregnant. Only fussing and that won't help you get the farm work done. I am sorry we were so thoughtless and thank you for reminding me of my fatherly duties.”
As much as he realised that Johanna ’s concern was mainly for herself, he knew all the same that she was right. It would be hard for him not to see his daughter but she was a married woman now.
Johanna was relieved how easy it had been to see them out of the door. None of the arguing and pleading she had expected and feared of his type, no haggling and no discussion.
Greta was not aware of Johanna ’s resentments. Now that things between
After the Great War , a lot of Jews from Galicia had been expelled by the Russian army and after unsuccessfully trying to establish themselves in Vienna many had opted for the Jew-friendly haven of Bratislava as their new residence. The local Slovak culture was already too ‘unruly’ for Johanna’s Germanic taste, there was no need for any more of that kind and certainly not on her farm.
As for the brother Egon, on the few occasions when he did open his mouth, his whining, negative and always complaining attitude was another thing that she disliked of `the type`, as she loved to call the Jews. He was working with the father in the weaver's workshop in town and like the father was always busy. If any of them had to stay behind to supervise the workers, he would usually volunteer, probably too lazy to come all the way out to the farm.
Greta' s father Jonah however, was a man to Johanna's liking. Completely untraditional and very aware of his low position as Jew in the Czechoslovakian society, he was mostly kind and humble and therefore very agreeable. He himself had suggested limiting the contact between Greta and her family as she was a Winkelmeier now, a 'Catholic' and a German. The less she was associated with her Jewish family the easier it would be to protect her. With the announcement of Greta’s second pregnancy however he seemed, at least temporarily, to have forgotten his previous conviction but at least he knew that it was necessary to be careful in case the politics in Slovakia should develop in a similar way as in Germany. Especially now that there were less people living on the farm, any visitors would be more noticeable. A sensible man this Weissensteiner - if not somewhat pessimistic. Quite handsome for the type she had to admit. His wife Barbara had died of the Spanish flu after the Great War and he had never remarried, which was difficult to understand. If she would recommend any Jew, it would be him. Almost as respectable and proper as a German, if you could say such a thing but maybe that was why the women amongst his own people were not after him in the first place.
One Saturday when the Weissensteiners had come again and seemed to be set on staying the whole afternoon , Johanna had had enough and took Jonah aside.
“Jonah, you lot have got to stop coming here all the time,” she said. “You know it is dangerous.”
Jonah was a little surprised at her directness but immediately agreed with her.
“You are right. I should not have got carried away with the whole pregnancy spiel.”
“I understand how you feel Jonah and I hate to take that away from you but if you had not mentioned yourself that the visits were too frequent, I wouldn't have known what to say to you but you know how it is these days. We can't risk any gossip about the family,” she explained.
“Of course,” he agreed. “Thank you Johanna. Say no more. We will be leaving shortly and I will make sure that we stay away for a while. After all , there is not much we can do for her while she is pregnant. Only fussing and that won't help you get the farm work done. I am sorry we were so thoughtless and thank you for reminding me of my fatherly duties.”
As much as he realised that Johanna ’s concern was mainly for herself, he knew all the same that she was right. It would be hard for him not to see his daughter but she was a married woman now.
Johanna was relieved how easy it had been to see them out of the door. None of the arguing and pleading she had expected and feared of his type, no haggling and no discussion.
Greta was not aware of Johanna ’s resentments. Now that things between
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