All But My Life Entry 1

The event that impacted me the most in the book All But My Life was when Gerda was torn away from her mother, then was forced to hear her scream, and beg for mercy from the German soldiers. I can't imagine having to watch my mother kick and scream for her freedom, knowing that she was just being drug away to her brutal death. Unfortunately, this was the story for many young people during the Holocaust. In the book when Gerda was begging to go with her mother, the guard known as "the king of the Jews" simply said "You are too young to die"(Merin, 91). She then knew her mothers fate horrible fate. For hours on end, she had to wonder how her mother would be killed, slow or fast, or if she had been killed at all; if she'd ever see her again, and many more taunting questions. Also, having to watch her father, her ultimate hero, ride away from her for the last time. The emotional pain would have been too much for me to bear. I commend Gerda for being so strong and such a horrible time. I wish i could meet her, just to tell her how much courage that gives me, and many of my peers. In the book, she had always seemed to look up to them so much, and seeing the parent that you thought was untouchable, and invincible, have fear and sense of defeat in there eyes, would be the hardest part for me.