For the Love of Freedom
by
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The Invasion
Looking out of the window we saw them coming across the blanket of snow. The snow fall had been heavy and they sank in it to their knees. When we first saw them at a distance, they appeared as mere spots on the snow, spots that had not been there before and became larger as they moved inexorably toward our house. Their guns ready, the Russian soldiers broke down our front door. Four soldiers marched into our home with their weapons drawn. Clearly, they did not expect to find what they saw. They stood in our living room with their guns pointed at us, saying things we did not understand. Mother told us to kneel and pray. It appeared to be our last moment on earth. While we prayed, Mom faced the Russians and repeated the only three words she knew in the Russian language: "We are brothers."
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About the Book
This is a true story of survival against impossible odds. World War II was over. The harsh winter of 1945 in eastern Europe saw the German troops retreating and the Russians in pursuit. A family is left to face certain death by the hordes of invading Russians. The father is taken to a forced labor camp in Siberia where he endures hard labor, torture, and starvation. He gets out of prison and takes his family to war torn and devastated West Germany, and finally, to the United States of America.
About the Author
Maria Johs left West Germany at the age of fifteen and emigrated to the United States of America. After she married and raised a family, she attended California State University, Fullerton, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She now lives in Colorado.