Gerda Klein Thesis

Gerda Weissmann Klein is many things. She is a mother. She is a grandmother. She is a wife, although a widow now. She is a Jew. She is a victim of a terrible tragedy. She is a survivor, a warrior, a fighter. Above all else, she is tragically human. She is a person who has suffered enough for a million lifetimes, but she is a person who has never lost hope. She is not somebody who can be classified by a single term. The only thing to be said about her is that she is undeniably herself. She is Gerda. Gerda is a beacon of light fueled by her own hope. She is the flicker in a candle that never burns out. Gerda is strong. Despite all of the hardships she has faced in her life, she retained her sense of hope. Despite howling winds, her light will

There were awful things happening, but Gerda and her family were still together. They were still in their home, and they were still free to be with each other. Arthur was the first to leave. He told Gerda to be strong, and that their parents would need her, but Gerda needed her brother. Arthur’s forced departure took a massive toll on the Weissmanns. Gerda’s mother became delirious because of her overwhelming sorrow. She would call out Arthur’s name, and she began fasting once a week, even though their meals were already meager because of small rations. Gerda’s point of strength, her father, broke too. Gerda saw her father cry for the first time because of the loss of Arthur. The family lived though. They accepted any scrap of information about Arthur, even though deep down they knew it was not all true. Gerda even made a friend that in a way reminded her of her brother. This friend was Abek. Abek was an important chapter in the book of Gerda Weissmann Klein’s life. Abek was the first man to love Gerda. He loved her gently, yet fiercely. He made his love known, even though she had made it clear she did not love him that way. Abek was there in Gerda’s life even when she had lost all of her family. After awhile of uncertainty as to whether Gerda’s real brother was doing well, they began to receive letters from Arthur, and everything seemed okay for a bit. Overall, Arthur’s departure hit hard, but with the help of friends and

She was even hopeful despite everything. She was strong enough to be there for her friend Ilse. She was hopeful enough to make a bet with a new friend, Suse Kunz. Gerda bet that the war would end in six months, and Gerda lost that bet. Though, the payment of strawberries and cream would never be received by Suse. The first place in which Gerda was to survive in was a factory. The person in charge was a kind German woman named Frau Kügler, yet another who had saved Gerda’s life. The life saving had been when the German woman helped a sick Gerda get dressed and seem as though she was efficiently working during an inspection in which she would have been sent to die if she hadn’t passed. Even though the factory was not the worst thing Gerda would endure, it was harsh. Yet, even though there was no reason to have hope and be strong, Gera was. Gerda persisted. SHe even tried to help everyone else feel better by performing for them, proving that she had enough strength to help others even when her circumstances were just as bad. Even though there was no proof of them being alive, Gerda still was certain she would meet again with her family. She had faith that her family was still out there. During her stay in the factory, Gerda got back in touch with Abek through letters, and he sent her pictures he had found of Gerda’s family. Those pictures meant so much that gerda carried them in the soles of her shoes. Gerda and Abeck would see each other again during her