The Berlin Family's Secret: A Historical WW2 Novel by Baruch Cohen

of the ceremony commemorating the arrival of the Führer in Compiègne. Hitler paused for a moment in front of the Glade of the Armistice and read the inscription: "Here, on the eleventh of November 1918 succumbed the criminal pride of the German empire... Vanquished by the free peoples which it tried to enslave." Not a single muscle moved in the Führer's face, but he had a victorious spark in his eyes. He entered the wagon where the French representatives were awaiting. The German citizens rejoiced in the streets, and victory celebrations lasted for several days and nights. But in contrast to his nation's happiness, Franz was incredibly sad, for he carried the heavy burden of his wife's secret. The most difficult thing for him was not telling his children. Should I tell them the secret now, or continue concealing it? He kept wondering to himself. Either option would have the potential of evoking future problems. Those thoughts haunted him constantly. His first concern was the welfare of his children. He was worried that if they found out about their ethnic origin, they would have to cope with unpleasant reactions from their friends and colleagues. Meanwhile, the entire nation was dragged along by the regime, which blamed the Jewish race for all the troubles in the world. Franz was aware of everything. Deep down in his heart he disagreed with the hostile winds blowing against the Jews. Slowly-slowly, he felt how he was growing to resent the Nazi regime—this, while his eldest so