I don't know what to do. So I will share some beautiful photos of my mom's beloved #Mariupol, before the fascist from Germany invaded. This is my mom's middle school. She loved to sing. Even won a song contest on the local radio. This is her music club.
A school class photo, a few years later, in #Mariupol.
This is Mom’s brother Misha’s 10th grade history class in #Mariupol. He was a history prof. at Kyiv University when Nazis invaded. He joined the fight; wrote a letter home warning not to be taken prisoner b/c he saw Germans kill Jews. We don’t know where or when he was killed.
This is a better picture. Mom and her older brother Misha, in #Mariupol. He was so handsome. I wish I could have known him.
Mom’s big brother Yasha. He was a doctor & an officer in the Red Army. He flew home to Mariupol to urge the family to leave b/c the Germans were approaching. They so resisted, but he convinced them. Mom & her mom left literally on the eve of Nazi occupation. Dad stayed behind.
They had a good life in Mariupol. Mom has just graduated high school, so proud of finishing 1st in class & the gold medal that came w/it. She was so excited to start Kyiv Univ where Misha taught. But war stole her dreams. She ended up bartering her medal for bread fleeing Nazis.
My mom left Mariupol Oct 7, 1941. They took just a few things. Her mom’s sewing machine so she could earn a living wherever they ended up. And some photos. I realize now why we have so many of these group pictures w/ my grandfather. He stayed behind. They were to remember him.
My mom never saw her father after they separated. A neighbor said he slept at work at AzovStal instead of going home, distraught thinking he had sent them off to die fleeing. She said he was rounded up w/ Mariupol’s Jews days later. Mom’s mom never got over losing him & her sons.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.