Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-2xdlg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-17T02:45:26.690Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 17 - Autoethnography and remembering through the self

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2023

Tanja Sakota
Affiliation:
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Get access

Summary

Helena and Karl are in their apartment. There is a knock at the door. Helena opens it cautiously, wondering who would knock when the gunfire is so close. It's one of the other tenants. ‘Wir mussen sofort gehen!’ (We have to leave immediately!) It is getting too dangerous to stay at number 40 Bergstraße. Helena looks at her husband, he is weak and frail. How is she going to get him across to Posnerstraße? Her daughter-in-law may be there, it may be safer. The Soviets are already in the city and they are emptying the buildings, ordering people to pack their things and leave within 45 minutes. They are a ruthless enemy, there are already rumours of mass rape and carnage. Helena packs a few belongings and supports her frail husband as they slowly descend the staircase.

They hear the sounds of artillery in the background. It is dark, people are moving up and down the stairs, calm, but with fear in their eyes. They are holding suitcases and bags filled with a few belongings, they hold onto anyone who will assist them with the looming exodus. It is too dangerous to stay, everyone young and old must leave. Two women help Helena and Karl down the stairs. They thank them, grateful for their kindness. Slowly Helena helps the weak and fragile Karl down the street. They walk quietly, stopping every few steps to catch their breath, slowly manoeuvring their way towards the outskirts of the city. The sounds of war can be heard in the distance. It takes them the entire day to walk a few blocks. Finally, they make their way across a park. It is a beautiful park with tall trees along the oval pathway. For a moment they forget about the raging war beyond the trees. It is spring and the buds are bursting to open, young, innocent and free, oblivious to the destruction all around. As the two trudge forward Helena sees her son's apartment block just on the other side. Karl is a small man and despite his frail state, Helena can only support him by holding his arm over her shoulder. Karl has always been the soft, gentle and kind one. Helena is a small woman but her appearance is deceptive.

Type
Chapter
Information
Uncovering Memory
Filming in South Africa, Germany, Poland and Bosnia/Herzegovina
, pp. 227 - 238
Publisher: Wits University Press
Print publication year: 2023

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×