We Were the Lucky Ones

Genek and his friend Otto, along with the rest of General Anders’s Polish recruits, are stationed near Monte Cassino, a German stronghold. They have been waiting for a month to join with Allied forces to attack the German troops. The Allied forces have attempted several attacks on Monte Cassino but failed.

Genek’s group learns that the orders have come in. Their task is to capture Monastery Hill, at the heart of the German position: “The words hit Genek like a punch to the esophagus, leaving him breathless” (286). The room explodes into cheers as the commanding officer tells them that they will make Poland proud, but Genek feels weak and ill.

As he packs his belongings, Genek fears the unknown. He is also unsettled by the fact that of the many Allied divisions, the Poles, who came from labor camps rather than training camps and needed to recuperate before being able to fight, are chosen for the most difficult component of this mission. Genek wants to believe that they are chosen for their fortitude rather than their expendability.

Genek writes a letter to Herta, wanting to tell her about the monumental task, but he does not want her to be terrified for his safety. Instead, he writes of mundane things. He looks at a photograph of himself and Herta in Tel Aviv and feels how much he misses her and Józef.

The engagement between Addy and Eliska has ended. Although he is sad, Addy feels a great sense of relief. Madame Lowbeer is also relieved and invites him over regularly and even offers to give him a reference to a contact she knows at General Electric in America. Addy closely follows news of the war and is somewhat heartened to learn of the US’s War Refugee Board: “At least someone somewhere was helping, Addy thought, wondering what the chances were of his parents, brothers, and sisters being among the rescued” (290).

A friend, Jonathan, insists that Addy attend a party he is throwing. Addy is distracted at the party, thinking about how it is almost the birthday that he and Halina share, and how it has been six years since they celebrated together. At the party, Addy notices a young woman across the room, among the group of American embassy workers. He decides to approach her and learns that her name is Caroline. She is pleasant and easy to talk to, even with Addy’s broken English. Caroline is from Clinton, South Carolina, and she came to Brazil looking for an adventure. Her friend soon pulls her away, saying they are going to another party.

Addy cannot stop thinking of Caroline, so the following week, he finds her address and leaves a note under her door. He asks her to meet him for a drink and is thrilled when she shows up at the appointed time. The two talk about themselves and their families: “Laughing, Addy realizes how good it feels to talk of his family, how hearing their names helps, in a way, to confirm their existence” (294). They discover that Caroline’s father’s name was Abram, like Addy’s Hebrew name Abraham. Caroline confides that her mother passed away three years before and that she greatly regrets not having been there.

Caroline’s openness strikes Addy, and he thinks of how Eliska never spoke to him of her past regrets. To comfort her, Addy tells her that he understands and misses his own mother as well. He explains that he does not know where his family is and that they are Jews. For the first time in so long, Addy is able to tell someone his family’s story.

With Caroline’s help, Addy writes letters to the Red Cross to try and locate his family. Caroline encourages him to send letters to stations all over Europe and the Middle East. Addy tries to convey his gratitude to Caroline and finds that they understand each other perfectly. Addy looks out at the Atlantic, towards Europe, and tries to feel hopeful that he will find his family.

Genek is in the thick of the battle for Monte Cassino. Although the Polish Army surprised the Germans, they are still fighting from a much more exposed position. Genek ponders how he ended up in this situation: “The army was supposed to be the safe choice. The way out of Siberia. The way to keep the family together. And it was, for a while” (299). Now Genek is in the minority of survivors from the Poles’ initial attack. This is the second attempt at capturing the monastery.

As mortar and artillery fire rain down, Genek thinks of Herta and Józef and considers trying to hide. Then he remembers what the Germans have done to his family: “If this mission is successful, he’ll have helped to break the Germans, and to remind the world that Poland, though defeated in Europe, is still a power to be reckoned with” (300). Genek continues to inch his way up the mountain, despite the enemy fire and potential booby traps. A huge explosion thrusts him against the side of the mountain, making Genek wonder if the Germans are using a railway gun. He decides that if that were the case, it would have blown him apart, so he scrambles forward again.