THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL : THE DEFINITIVE EDITION ... - Fidele

Our provisions are holding out fairly well. All the same, we have to feed the
office staff, which means dipping into our stock every week, so it's not as much
as it seems. We have enough coal and firewood, candles too.
"Let's all make little moneybags to hide in our clothes so we can take our money
with us if we need to leave here."
"We can make lists of what to take first in case we have to run for it, and pack
our knapsacks in advance."
"When the time comes, we'll put two people on the lookout, one in the loft at the
front of the house and one in the back."
"Hey, what's the use of so much food if there isn't any water, gas or
electricity?"
"We'll have to cook on the wood stove. Filter the water and boil it. We should
clean some big jugs and fill them with water. We can also store water in the three
kettles we use for canning, and in the washtub."
"Besides, we still have about two hundred and thirty pounds of winter potatoes in
the spice storeroom."
All day long that's all I hear. Invasion, invasion, nothing but invasion.
Arguments about going hungry, dying, bombs, fire extinguishers, sleeping bags,
identity cards, poison gas, etc., etc. Not exactly cheerful.
A good example of the explicit warnings of the male contingent is the following
conversation with Jan:
Annex: "We're afraid that when the Germans retreat, they'll take the entire
population with them."
Jan: "That's impossible. They haven't got enough trains."
Annex: "Trains? Do you really think they'd put civilians on trains? Absolutely
not. Everyone would have to hoof it." (Or, as Dussel always says, per pedes
apostolorum.)
Jan: "I can't believe that. You're always looking on the dark side. What reason
would they have to round up all the civilians and take them along?"
Annex: "Don't you remember Goebbels saying that if the Germans have to go, they'll
slam the doors to all the occupied territories behind them?"
Jan: "They've said a lot of things."
Annex: "Do you think the Germans are too noble or humane to do it? Their reasoning
is: if we go under, we'll drag everyone else down with us."
Jan: "You can say what you like, I just don't believe
Annex: "It's always the same old story. No one wants to see the danger until it's
staring them in the face."
Jan: "But you don't know anything for sure. You're just making an assumption."
Annex: "Because we've already been through it all ourselves, First in Germany and