Irene Gut Opdyke

Irene Gut Opdyke age 18

Irene came from a family of five girls (Irene, Janina, Marysia, Bronia, and Wladzia), she lived in Poland right next to the ever enlarging German border. With their last name many people thought that they were German, (this helped her in later years though) but they always said that they were of full Polish blood. She was born in May 2, 1922 just before the Great Depression. When Irene was 16 she decided she wanted to become a nun, but her farther said she should become a Red Cross nurse first, so she went to Saint Mary's hospital in Random which was the best in the country. She barely ever went out to parties and such, but stayed in her apartment and studied.

Then on Sept. 1st 1937 when she was on her way to the hospital she heard a loud buzzing sound, looking up she saw the entire sky was covered with Nazi's bomber planes. Under her feet the entire earth began to shake, she tried to move, but her feet seemed to be rooted to the ground, someone shouted "Get down you idiot, do you want to get yourself killed?" The next thing she knew she was running to the hospital with one of the doctors. When the sky finally cleared the wounded were everywhere and the town was a totally mess of blood, building pieces, wounded, killed, and screams. The hospital was filled with wounded and it stunk of the awful smell of rotting flesh and blood.

Two days later a group of Polish soldiers came and asked if any nurses and doctors wanted to go with them to drive the Germans out of the country. She raised her hand and that was the end of her childhood, and the beginning of her life in WWII. They traveled to the Russian border, but when they arrived the General told them that "....But the Polish army is no more. I have just learned that the Germans and the Soviets have divided Poland between them. Even now, we are standing on Soviet territory. We are not a country any longer. There is no more Poland."

As she stood there among the crying, sobbing, and cursing, she could not believe that the land she was standing on was not HERS, was not POLAND'S. How could this be? She stood there stunned then someone was talking... the general? Yes, yes it was him"...you are free to go --- to fight in the forest, to return to your homes--" his voice broke now. He pointed to the warehouse door "Take what you need. Take it all" Then with a salute he was on his way... to where...no one knew. Then they packed their truck and went fleeing to the forest to do what...no one knew that either. It seemed to her that no one knew anything anymore.

On day when they were were still hiding in the forest at the edge of the Lvov, she was chosen to go on a bartering mission in the village with two nurses and four soldiers. She had to stand watch on a street corner while the rest of the people went into a dark house. She was so cold and full of fear that it was hard to think. Then she heard something - it was the sound of trucks. TRUCKS! She saw the headlights as they came bouncing down the road ...a Russia Patrol? Yes, it was a Russia Patrol! The next thing she knew she was running, running. and they were chasing her, she could hear as they shouted after her and their boots as they crunched the snow. The breath in her throat was burning, and behind her they were yelling and laughing. She was almost fast enough... almost fast enough. They caught her and beat her unconscious, and then they raped her and left her to die. But she did not die. Another patrol found her, and brought her to the hospital. When she woke up she was in a bed covered with blankets. They asked her who she was, why she was in the forest, and how old she was. She answered it all truthfully after all, what did she have to lose? Then the doctor asked her "are you a nurse?" "I am a student nurse." Then Dr. Pavlovskaya said "There is no permanent damage....some time to heal. You're malnourished and run-down, but I think in a few days you will be well enough to perform some light duties in the hospital. I will get you a hospital uniform when are feeling better." She tried to ask where she was but they were gone...gone she felt totally alone, alone.

A week or so later she was well enough to go live in her own room, shared with two nice Russian girls who were also nurses. As she works and grows better she learns Russia well enough to speak it fluently. She befriends on of the doctor who is Dr. David a Pole also, and he later helps her escape. When her dear friend Dr. Olga is transferred to another hospital, she filled with grief. The new doctor, Dr. Ksydzof, that replaces her is cruel and hated Poles. Every time he looked at her he seemed to have special haltered in his eyes that made her shiver. Then, one night he came and tried to kill her, he stuck a gun in her back and clamped a hand over her mouth. "Shut up you Polish bitch." he snarled. Desperately she grabbed a big glass bottle of tea which she kept by her bed, and with one swift swing she broke it over his head, as she did she felt his body go limp. Her hands were wet with tea... or was it blood. "Lord Jesus, I've killed him!" she moaned. Quickly she ran from the room in search for Dr. David. She found him looking over a chart, "Help me! I've killed him! What will happen to me?" she wailed. He jumped up griping her arms "Irushka, what is it? Who have you killed?" she was panting and sobbing "I'll be arrested, they'll execute me! He attacked me in the night when I was sleeping and I killed him!" He turned away ''Stay here," he said as he lend her down to a bed nearby and sat her down "Try to calm down. We'll figure out what happened." When Dr. David came back he sat down next to her "Whoever it was is gone- you certainly didn't kill him." she stared at him, "It was Dr. Ksydzof," she whispered. He let out a long slow breath," You have an enemy now, for sure. But I don't think he'll bring charges. How would it look for him? He attacked you in your bed." "Let me think about what to do with you," he said gently, "I'd like to get you away from here..." She perked up "Yes! I could go home!" He sighed "No, Irushka. I don't think that's possible to go west yet. But I have some friends..." She started to cry again 'I want to go home," she said miserably "I want my mother,'' "I am sorry," he replied as he stood up and eased out his back," Stay here tonight. Tomorrow we'll try to come up with something. I think you are safe from Dr. Ksydzof for a while." She hoped he was right, though there was little chances she thought. He was right though, no mention was ever made of the incident; it was as though it had not even happened, but whenever she saw Dr. Ksydzof the look he gave her "squeezed my heart like a fist". He was looking for a way to punish her, she was sure of it. At last a chance for her to get away came. Dr. David took her aside into his office, "I have a friend, a woman... She lives in Svetlana, near Kiev ... runs a local infirmary; I'll told her you are a good nurse...she'll take you in. But getting you out will be a problem. I can't forge a permit for you." "I'll find a way," she promised, "I have to get away from here." From then on she started to study the Hospital grounds for ways out. Finally she found a way out, a lose board in the fence. She told Dr. David she had found a way 'Don't tell me the details. It's better I don't know," he said quietly, "I'll get you a train ticket and my friends address in Svetlana. We have a shift together tomorrow; I'll give it to you then." ''Thank you, Doctor," she breathed. ''Good luck, Irushka. Be careful." She left Ternopol in the middle of March. As she made her way to the train station the sun was just raising, she had left right after her shift so she knew that she would not be missed for many hours. She slipped though the group of the mighty Red Army soldier's, who were too busy eating to take any notice of her. She found an empty compartment and slipped inside, in no time she was on her way out of Ternopol and east out of the grasp of the Russians and they hadn't even noticed her, ha she thought, and it was too late now. She was going east to be free or in way. When the train pulled into the tiny station, she fumbled out and of the train almost falling in her hast. "Rachael! It's me, Miriam!" strong arms from behind her whirled her around, she stared at the young woman with curly dark hair ''It's good to have you hear, Cousin," the woman said firmly, ''Little Rachael Myers, how you have grown since I last saw you!" ''Oh, yes," Irene stammered. ."Now," Miriam she tucked her arm in hers, "I know you're tired, so no talk...we'll get home and get you settled. Good night, Comrade. The man behind the ticket booth nodded sleepily, 'Night.'' Miriam house was a cozy little cottage filled with med. books and smelled of violet perfume. That night they stayed up late going over Rachael's (Irene) history, she practiced spelling her name, and speaking without an accent. Then about one year since her escape, she received a letter from Dr. David. He had written that the Russians and Germans had agreed to allow the Poles that had been separated from their families to cross the battle lines in the spring, and that if anyone knows someone like this to tell them to be in Ternopol in the spring. "He means me, Miriam," She whispered, "He means me. I can go home." "Yes, but it will be very dangerous for you in Ternopol, Irene," Miriam said, folding the letter, "You may still be wanted by the Red Army. You could be arrested." Irene went and knelt down by Miriam's side, "Miriam, you must know that I would never, ever betray you. But you must let me go. I have to find my family. Please!" Miriam put her hand on her Irene's head, "I know, dear. But we must be cautious. We must be very cautious." It very hard for Irene to contain her excitement, she and Miriam started reading the newspaper for announcements about it. Then in late February the newspaper read; "the compassionate Soviet Union was allowing Polish families to be reunited." Together they planned a story for her to tell the officers, that her mother was dying and she had to go back to keep-house for her farther. At last it was time for her to go; Miriam went with her to the train station. "Be careful where you stay," Miriam warned as the train chugged into the station' "...Keep your wits about you at the border. Anything can happen." 'Oh, I know, I know,' she replied quickly, and then all of a sudden she was crying, "Miriam, I will miss you so much.' "Good-bye, my dear cousin," she replied, "Good-Bye." Irene pressed her face against the widow not wanting to lost sight of her beloved Miriam. As she sat down on the wooden bench she said good-bye to Rachel Meyers forever. She was Irene Gutowna once again and was going home. Home to war. It was 24 hours before she was back in Ternopol. She got off the train and hurried thought the drab war beaten town, "The marketplace?" she asked a woman in gray shawl that was as gray as the town she pointed, and Irene hurried on. Then in front of her there was a line of people that stretched from blocks and blocks, ' Is this the line for going west?" she asked a man, he nodded, "I'll been here since yesterday-those stinking guards they are taking a long time on purpose." Irene started to make her way to the end of the line, but then decided to find a bathroom first. As she rounded the corner she saw a shorter line at the front of the line a sign read- "Registration for German Citizens and Polish Citizens of German Descent." She grew excited; she was blond hair, blue eyed, spoke German, and she also had a German name. It took least than 2 hours for her to get to the registration table. "Guten Tag, Herr Lieutenant,'' she said smiling sweetly to the German officer. He glanced her and smiled, "Guten Tag, Fra ̈ulein. Are you alone?" "Yes,'' she continued in German, ' I was separated from my family...they are in Oberschlesien. I am so anxious to return to them." "Oberschlesien?" the officer said as he scanned the list, "Oberschlesien has been repatriated into the Fatherland. Here we can register you for admittance to the Polish General Gouverement...what's left of Poland. Once you are there you can see about continuing across the border into Germany." Her voice was high and fake, "Oh I see. Will it take very long to register?" "We will make it as quick as we can. Your name?" he replied with one of those big fake German grins. "Irene Gut." They asked her age, parent's address, and the reason she was trapped behind the Russian boarder. "Safe journey, Fra ̈ulein Gut.". She was done, she had gotten through, it was hard for her to believe, at any moment she expected to be called back, but no voice called to halt her. After that she joined the line for transportation processing. She decided to join the Polish line rather than the German line. After all she wanted to go back to Random, and see her Aunt Helen to ask her about her family, and see if they were still in Kozlowa Go ́ra. Next she bought a transposition ticket for Random, the train left at 8:00.It was hours till 8, so she wandered around the town, at about 6 she sat down in a park to wait. Then two Russian soldiers walked by they stared at her as they walked by, she ducked her head and blushed. Even as they passed she felt something familiar about then, where had she seen them before... The Ternopol hospital. She jumped up, why had she been so stupid she should have stayed at the train station. Then she heard the sound of boot, looking behind her she say the Russian officer's at the bench she had just been sitting on. She started to walk quickly to the park gate, then all of a sudden there before her were army boots and she looked up into the faces of another Russian patrol, "This way," one said taking her arm. She was put into a small widow less room; she sat for hours saying her rosary over and over again. At last the door opened and two guards took me to the commissar's office. The two officers she had seen in the park where there," That is the spy Irena, who worked at the hospital," one of them said. The commissar dismissed them, then he turned to her," take off your jacket." She took it off and handed it to the one of the guards; she could hear the seams rip as the officer stuck his big hand into one of the pockets. 'Empty your other pockets," the commissar said. "I don't have any," she replied. "Where's your gun?" She almost laughed out loud, "I don't have a gun. I never had a gun. What would I do with a gun?" The commissar jerked his chin and one of the officers immediately began to frisk her. "Now we will ask you some questions." "But I don't know any..." "Sit down." They asked her question after question, and she: "stumbled thought my answers like a bad liar, but I swore repeatedly that I was telling the truth...I was telling the truth. " More questions and the same answers, "With what organization are you connected?" "I am alone...all alone," she said with her stomach jerking, "I don't know anything." She began to cry, oh how she hated that Dr. Ksydzof who had spread all these lies, "They raped me," she sobbed, "Your soldiers. They raped and beat me." But where still convinced that the raping was part of "the plan" and that she been sent to the hospital on purpose. Finally the commissar stood up" Take her away, "he said, "We try again later.' they took her to a different cell this time, and she fell asleep. They woke her up over and over though the night...the same questions over and over. The next morning she was called to the commissar's office again. This time he was eating eggs and sausages, she could not take her eyes off his plant, it seemed like years since she had last eaten. "Do you wish to repeat your story, or is there anything you want to add?" he asked though mouthfuls. "I ran away from the hospital when Dr. Ksydzof tried to rape me," she said, "I have told you this and I know you don't believe me, but it is the truth." He put his fork down, 'We have a different story from the doctor, who do you want me to believe?" "The doctor. "Take her away." Once again she was lead to the office, but this time he waved her to a chair and gave her a cup of hot tea. The he even smiled, "You know, I have decided to believe you," he began, "You are young and pretty...so help-less. I would like to help you." You must have some friends nearby who can help you. When you escaped from the hospital you must have stayed with someone... She blew on her tea, "I know a girl," she said slowly, "Her name is Lalka." "Yes?" he asked leaning forward, "Would you like to stay with her tonight?" "Very much." He smiled and learned back," Tell me her last name and address, and we can take you to her home." "I don't remember her last name, Commissar; I don't know her that well. And I don't know the name of her street either, "she hurried on as he began to frown, "You know how it is...you know how to get there, even if you don't know what the streets are called." "Do you think I am an idiot?" he barked. She began to cry again, "I am sorry...I am so mixed up and tired, I don't remember the name of the street. But I can find my way." At last he strode to the door and called the guard, "You will go with Miss Gutowna. She knows the way. And you," He turned suddenly, "you will be back here at eight in the morning." "Oh yes," she promised. They walked a couple blocks, "You're sure you know where you're going?" he asked. "Yes," she replied, "ah here it is." They stopped before a three story house, "Thank you, thank you very much,' she said smiling sweetly at him, "I'll be there at eight tomorrow. Good-night officer." As he walked away she said under her breath," Idiot."The minute he was gone she ran though the dark lawn and down an alley. A door opened and an old man stepped out, 'Train station," she asked. He pointed down the alley and she was off. When she arrived at the train station, she quickly went up to the two German officers at the smoking at the end of the platform, "Sir, Can you help me?" she asked one of them holding out her passport, " I was sick with a cold and I missed my transport on Friday. What can I do? "The guards examined her papers, "You are in luck, Fraulein. The trains where delayed for two days. Yours has not departed yet. It leaves at five this morning." "I can leave on the next train? I can go home?" she asked surprised. "Go home, go to Krakow and dance with the Gypsies in the marketplace, whatever you want, little girl," they laughed carelessly with amusement. "Here you go,' he said as he handed her back the ticket. Once again she was on her way home. As they crossed the border from Russia too German occupied Poland, the train stooped and they were forced off by gunpoint. As they stumbled of the train, she looked around her and say that they were surrounded by barbed wire, the people started to scream an officer sneered, "It's a quarantine, you ignorant fouls!" "We can't have you spreading filthy Russian diseases. Get in there." But it was not quarantine; it was a mild concentration camp. After a couple of weeks she could not take it anymore, she stayed in bed and within minutes the guards where there; "Aufstehen," he shouted as he ripped the blanket off. "Nein! Ich bin krank!" (No, I am sick.) she cried out in German. The guard froze, then he took a closer look at her, "Warten Sie, Fra ̈ulien. Wait here. I did not know you are German. I'll get a doctor." She was suffering from influenza, and it was nearly a month till she could leave her sick bed, the smallest noise made her jump and the gentlest touch made her wince. At last they gave her documents for Random and she boarded the train was finally on her way, home this time for real. When they reached Random she went to her Aunt Helen's house and founded out that her family was living there. She was so happy to see her family again, how they kissed and cried. Soon she decide to get a job and she found one at a small cafe. One day after she had been home about two month, Her parents and three youngest sisters left ,and the Germans forced her farther the work for them in the labs. Then one Sunday when she went to church, the German broke in, "Ruas! Zum Strasse!" and started to put then into groups. Next they were put in trucks and transported to Germany to work in the Reich. Her job was to pack ammunition in boxes, then one day she fainted on the job. When she woke up she was in the Majors offices, he handed her a cup of coffee, 'Wie heisst du?" he asked. "My name is Irene Gut," she replied in German, "Before the war, I lived in Oberschlesien." "You must be of German decedent, with a name like that." "I don't know...I don't think so. I am Polish," she said as she sipped the coffee. "So, you don't claim to be German...You'd be surprised how many do, I admire your honesty," he said kindly. "Your German is very good. Perhaps you are wasted on the assembly line," he looked thoughtfully at her. " I have a job which you might be better suited, the officers' mess. "Yes Herr Major!" she said nearly jumping from the chair. She found Herr Schulz a charming man and they so became very good friends, the Major also came there to eat ever night, whom which she became a very close friend. A year or so later she was put in charge of a group of Jews, who worked in the laundry, she so befriended then and gave them information about when the Germans were planning to "attack" the Jewish homes. She started to help the Jews escape into the forest. Two years later (Still working at the mess hall) To sum up this story I will just put in important facts from now on. One day the Major asked her to be his housekeeper to which she agreed. She even smuggled Jews into his basement, when he found out he promised to keep her secret if she would become his mistress, to this she agreed. Later on as the Russians started to advance, they moved to Kielce. There she became a partisan, and feel in love with the leaders son, Janek Ridel. The day came for then to be married but he was shot. She wandered around in despair, she went to live at a relocation camp for Jews, the she met a man from America. She married Mr. Opdyke five years later. She now travels the country giving lectures.

~ Mary Yanta Information from the Book; In My Hands by Irene Gut Opdyke