Life During the War: Rita Lurie

How did you feel about your grandfather's plan to split up the family?

I don't remember having feelings about that. I just trusted that the adults knew what they were doing. But all I remember feeling is fear and just the unknown, not knowing what was going to happen next and that I was going to have to leave my warm bed and go out there into not knowing what was going to happen.

Do you remember anything about your family's relationship with the Grajolski family?

I was told that they were friends because there was a relationship between-- my grandparents were helpful to Mr. Grajolski and his sister when their parents died. And I knew that he was a friend of my uncle. So I knew that there had been a friendship there.

Do you remember how far away the Grajolski family farm was from your house? Or in your mind, how far away did you feel it was?

I felt it was very far because for little feet to walk, it seemed like it was impossible to get there. But, actually, it was just a few miles.

What did your parents do for a living? What did your father do?

My father had-- he was into textiles. He was a businessman, textiles. And we also farmed. But, basically, I know he was a businessman dealing with textiles.

What do you remember about the first night of your journey to the Grajolski family farm?

Well, we didn't go straight to the Grajolski family because we did hide for six weeks. And by the time we were ready to go, by the time he agreed to take us in, we were all exhausted and starving. So I just remember being very tired and just wanting to put my head down someplace safe and comfortable.

Where were you during those six weeks?

We were in the fields, farms just hiding, as I said, in ditches.

Out in the open?

Out in the open.

What time of year was this?

It was the fall.

Can you describe your experiences wandering through the fields on your way to the Grajolski farm?

Experiences was a fear because we had to hide. We knew there were German soldiers, Nazis around hunting for Jews. So there was a lot of fear. And, also, the Polish farmers, we didn't know who to trust at that point and who was going to give us away. But, luckily, we made our way safely to the farm.

Do you remember that if you ever met someone on your way to the Grajolski farm that they might turn you in?

Oh, yes, I remember being afraid. I remember feeling the fear because it was just there. I knew nothing was normal anymore in my life.

Did your family set up camps? Or did you just take in your surroundings?

Well, we didn't have the facilities to set up a camp. But we just hid wherever we could, wherever we thought we could be not seen.

Were there ever any close calls where you had to be very quiet?

Oh, the whole time, we had to be very quiet.

How did you deal with that as a little girl because it's so hard to keep little kids quiet?

Yeah, I had something put over my mouth. So I learned that I couldn't cry. I couldn't make sounds or noises.

But explain how you would see farmers in the fields.

Yeah, there were farmers working all around us. And as I said, we didn't know who was going to tell on us. Some of them would give us some of their produce, fruit, or whatever. And others didn't want anything to do with us.

Thank you.

You're very welcome. Thank you.

When you first arrived at the Grajolski farm, how did you convince him to let you and your family stay in his house during such a difficult time?

Well, the convincing took place before we actually arrived there. It took a while. He came back to the fields several times before he agreed to take us in because his wife didn't want us there.

So the family bribed him and offered him a lot of our belongings and told him that it probably wouldn't take long, anything for him to take us in. I reminded him how my grandparents treated him. It took some talking to him before he agreed reluctantly for a short time to take us in. And I'm sorry. Did I answer your question?

Yeah.

OK.

How can you describe an average day in the attic?

Every day was about the same. It was being very quiet scrounging for a morsel of food. It wasn't always there. And as far as a child being reminded that we have to be quiet and if I cried, I had a pillow covering my mouth.

And it was whispering because there were German soldiers all around. This was a farmhouse. So they would come in and buy dairy products. So we just knew the word was, just be quiet and just do what you're told.

So when your mother and brother died in the attic, [AUDIO OUT]