Konrad and Alexandra (PDF) - Rolf Gross

ways. Corruption became the way of life, and despite food shortages—largely created by the disappearance of the landowningfamilies and the general incompetence of the new regime—one could still obtain vegetables and an occasionalchicken on the black market. The bakers worked under the threat of gun-toting soldiers using flour often provided byshipments from the American Hoover Foundation.Apparently a letter from Otto reached Alexandra in 1923. She writes of her surprise that it had reached her at the hospitalby regular mail.…I am happy that you and Annika are still together. You should know that you and she, should you want to marry her,have all my blessings and good wishes.In veiled terms she warns him of the censors and the dangers he could put her and others into. Personal messages wereall right, and he should continue to send his mail to the hospital address.But then she continues with her sad news:Irakli died peacefully last year. We were given permission to bury him quietly, using one of my hospital vans as a hearse.There was even a priest. They have become few and are old, hungry, and dirty. It was a rare occasion where we wereallowed to get together as a group of more than three people: Deda—who was less depressed than I had feared, Asmatkeeps her young—Dato, Christine, Bertha, and Sagdulla—whom we have become close to—Olga and Leist—who arevery old too, the surprise was Henri, and finally Konrad and myself. We have not heard from Asmat’s mother. Irakli’scolleagues did not attend but sent flowers anonymously. We had a small dinner at a restaurant which has recentlyopened in the former Bazaar.This was the end of my dear, most beloved father. An extraordinary man in spirit and wisdom and my closest friend, evenbefore and above Konrad.Alexandra sent this letter with a Russian Socialist attending a meeting in France in the spring of 1924. It came too late,Annika was dead by the time the message reached Otto.Lenin’s death in 1924 unleashed a fierce power struggle in Moscow in which Stalin usurped the party leadership. At firstthere was rejoicing in Georgia, the "Georgian Tiger" on the throne of the Russian empire would finally "make good" andelevate Georgia to supremacy and independence.This national fantasy quickly turned into a cruel hoax. Lenin had so far curtailed Stalin’s final reckoning with Georgia.Within a few months Ordzhonikidze and the Georgian troops in Tbilisi were replaced by Russians under a Russian RedArmy general. The easy, corrupt life of Tbilisi came to an abrupt end.Georgia boiled over: An altercation between Russian soldiers and a few Georgian hotheads on Mariamoba, Mary’sAscension on August 28, 1924, ignited the long smoldering dissatisfaction into an uprising against the Russianoccupation. An astonishing arsenal of hidden weapons surfaced in the hands of the insurgents.When the head of the Russian forces was killed by his Georgian pilot running the plane kamikaze-style into the ground,Stalin put down the revolt unconditionally and mercilessly. Thousands were liquidated or deported, among them Tamara.She did return a year later, devastated and half dead. Alexandra, risking her life, hid her in the hospital, and slowlyrevived her.Everyone ducked and either paid lip service to the new order or kept his mouth shut, but sometimes this was not enough.Alexandra kept her position at the hospital, they needed her badly, and surprisingly Konrad survived at the Universityafter a few days of detention. Javakhashvili was removed form the rectorship of the university and put under house arrestwhere he would live for years, expecting to be picked up any night.Alexandra could not mention any of these events. Instead, her letter of 1928 is overshadowed by her anguish that shehad lost connection with Otto. She had not heard from him for a long time, and her flying excursions had not brought anynews which she could decipher.I saw you on one of my flights in great distress in an unknown place. Mouse was missing. What has happened? At least Iknow you are still alive. Please, let me know where you are and what misfortunes have befallen you. Such knowledgewould be better than this uncertainty.We are all right. Konrad spends much time renovating the Botanical Gardens and teaching classes on how to improveagriculture on small plots. He is looking forward to his retirement from the university. I had to give up my private studies. Iattend to my patients and try to keep the hospital going. There are sick people who need me more than ever. Fortunatelybabies are still being born. Delivering them is my preferred occupation.Aunt Sophia died two years ago. She lived out her last days with relatives in town. Their manor house in Kaspi has beenconverted into a mental hospital. Our friends have shrunk. We don’t see each other often. Christine remains very close tome, and I work with Dato every day. Bertha and Sagdulla, whom Konrad taught to dance, work at the hospital, as doesyour sister. Asmat is our great worry. Deda is getting old and is not always up to the demands of her growing adopteddaughter.The highlight of the past year was Bertha’s wedding in Elisabethtal, it was like in the old days. She married WachtangEberle, a Swabian from Tbilisi. Bertha’s mother prepared chicken tsatsivi for us and we drank wine from Kakheti. Weeven danced afterwards. Konrad was almost delirious with happiness.From this letter my father knew of Bertha Wagenbauer’s married name, Eberle. Susanne Eberle must be her daughter.213