Paragraph 175 (2000)

Gad Beck: Self

Quotes 

• Gad Beck : We have to see this romantically, because in such drastic times one tends to be romantic. When bombs fall and explode nearby, one looks to others for closeness and one forgets the bombs, the war, and the stalled train. One is just close to others. One does what everyone does when they are close. That's what one does.

  Self - Historian : You're not going to tell me that while the bombs were falling you made love on the train?

  Gad Beck : But of course I did! But of course! You didn't get that? You are slow, darling. You are slow.

• Gad Beck : At that time, the transports began. Every day we said goodbye to someone. That's when I encountered the Jewish Zionist underground, that existed in this great capital, Berlin. Those who remained joined together, they understood, soon it would be their turn. I found them shelter. I even let them stay in my attic. I met this beautiful blond Jew. He invited me to spend the night. He said, "Let's play chess." We sat on his bed and we played chess. We did the other thing too, of course. We had to. Then we slept for a few hours. In the morning, the Gestapo came. They checked, he an his mother were on the list. I showed my ID - not on the list. They could have taken me. They took him and his mother to the train station and sent them to Auschwitz. It had a different value then, a night of love.

• Gad Beck : During that time I found my first big love, Manfred. It was like a dramatic love. Then one time, I went to spend the night at his house. His brother was there. "Where's Manfred?" He said, "Our whole family was arrested today." So I went to Manfred's boss. I say, "They've picked up Manfred. His whole family is being held in my old school building!" "Do you have courage?" he says, this great big German guy. "Yes, I have courage." He says, "My son is your size, he has a Hitler Youth uniform. Put it on and get Manfred out." I went in and said, "Heil Hitler! I must see the officer in charge." So this Gestapo guy says, "You'll bring him back, right?" I say, "What else? He's a Jew!" And I walk with Manfred out of my school building. After 20 or 30 meters, I still remember the exact spot, I gave him 20 marks. "Go to my uncle's place. I'll call him and meet you there later." He stops and he says, very calmly, "I can't come with you, Gad. If I leave my sick family now, I'll never be free again. I have to go with them. I'm the only strong one." Without saying goodbye, he turns around, and walks back, into my school building. I walked in the other direction. I wasn't able to think, but I knew that something was forever broken.