Axel and Gitta Drache

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The Journal of Righteous Gentile Twins
Axel and Gitta Drache
Lissa Jorgensen Mike Doughty Due 2-17-05
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Introduction

Axel and Brigitta Gitta Drache were born on
May 4, 1923 in Berlin, Germany. The twins lived
with their parents in Nazi Germany throughout the
war. The members of the family were Christians
who risked their lives hiding two Jewish
teenagers in their attic. This is the story of
the oldest kids in the family and the fears and
struggles they had while growing up during a time
of massive genocide.
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December 25, 1932 Dear Journal, I love
Christmas more than ever! Mom and dad gave
Brigitta and me a journal, and Brigitta let me
write in it first! My parents wrapped this
journal in sliver paper labeled To Axel and
Brigitta From Your loving parents Well I have
to go eat lunch. Brigitta will write next -Axel
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December 25, 1932 Dear Journal, Mutti and Vati
gave my twin brother, Axel, and me a journal.
They say we should record our thoughts and
feelings. Well, if that is how this journal
things work, then I will start by saying that I
like being called Gitta, not Brigitta. Großmutter
is Brigitta. I am Gitta. I am nine-years-old
and I have blonde hair and blue eyes. My mom says
that I can name the new baby thats coming soon.
I hope its a girl. I want to have a sister real
bad. Axel said I let him write first. Thats
only because I feel sorry for him. I got the best
grade in writing in school. Mutti says not to
tease him, but why have a brother if you
cant? Love, Gitta
This is me and my favorite doll. Her name is
Anneliese Annelie
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February 5, 1933 Dear Journal, Germany has
a new chancellor, Adolf Hitler. I hope there
wont be a lot of changes. Anyway, a new student
is at our school. He is Jewish. Daniel is a good
writer, and he says he will help me, even though
I am a good writer. Tomorrow, he is coming
over to study our spelling, while Gitta, the best
speller, quizzes us. I cant wait! -Axel
February 10,1933 Dear Journal, Apparently,
Axels reading ability is less than his writing.
I never said he was a bad writer, I just said
that Im better. I havent written lately
because I have been helping getting ready for the
new baby. Mutti might be having her any day now.
Mutti says that I have to wait until Axel writes
his entries. He is so slow. I mean he is my twin
brother and all, but he is so annoying. Mutti
says to be patient, but when it comes to
Axel Daniels mom works with my best friend,
Hannelores dad in a shop down the street. They
all are Jewish. Her dad gives us candy. Once, we
saved it up the candy and ate it until we got
sick. Hitler looks scary. I think he will help
us though. I want my own journal, but Mutti says
we dont have enough money. This was all we got
for Christmas.. Life is still going well. Im
going to be a big sister and I have a brother who
is almost as smart as me. Almost, but not quite.
Well, I have to go study. I didnt do too well
on my last math test, and Axel has been giving me
a hard time about it. Oh well, Its not like
Axels spelling grade was any better. Love,
Gitta
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February 26, 1933 Dear Journal, Daniel says
Im improving a lot. Also, some kid at class says
that this camp-like thing is being built near
Dachau. I wonder what the camp is for. Katja is
very loud. Even when she sleeps, she makes a lot
of noise. Well, at least she is a well behaved
baby. Gitta is probably going to kill me if I
dont go downstairs to watch Katja. Bye.
-Axel
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February 27, 1933 Dear Journal, No, Im going
to kill Axel if he doesnt start writing in the
journal more often. I was going to be the first
to talk about Katja. I named her, and she has
blue eyes. The hair that she does have is
blonde. That Hitler guy is EVERYWHERE. Hes the
only thing on the radio nowadays. With his
shouting, I cant understand what he says. It
doesnt matter though. I just hope he
helps. Well, I have to go check on Katja because
Mutti is sleeping and Axel is out with
Daniel. Love, Gitta
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April 1, 1933 Dear Journal, A lot has happened
all within 2 weeks. Firstly, the camp in Dachau
was finished a few days ago. Secondly, people
have started to boycott Jewish companies. I would
have written sooner, but the journal somehow
vanished two days after the last entry. I hope
Hannelore and Daniel are safe. Daniels mom and
Hannelores dad work at the same place. Luckily,
if there is trouble at the shop, Gitta and I can
run around the block to help. Mutti says that
Daniel and Hannelore and Daniel can come over if
their parents are busy trying to keep the store
running. Those two have really brave parents.
Well, Gitta is calling me, so I have to go. -Axel
April 1, 1933 Dear Journal, Mutti says we need
to stay inside today. The man on the radio says
we are supposed to boycott Jewish stores. Mutti
says it means we cant shop at any Jewish store.
Why? Mutti doesnt want me to get hurt, but she
knows I dont want to betray Hannelore. I dont
understand why we cant shop at Jewish stores.
Its not like the Jews did anything
wrong. Hannelore and Daniel are here. I have to
go. Love, Gitta
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May 4, 1933 Dear Journal, Its my
birthday today! Mutti is going to take Daniel,
Hannalore, Gitta, Katja, and me to the park for a
picnic. I really hope that Gitta gets her own
diary so I can write without being
rushed. Hitler has really made things worse
than when we were at war. I dont remember it
much, but I have learned about it from my
parents. Also I wish he would stop picking on the
Jewish people. The few Jews that I met have been
really nice and smart. Mutti is calling me to go
get ready for the picnic. Bye. -Axel
AXEL
May 4, 1933 Dear Journal, Today is my birthday.
Hannelore, Daniel, Axel, and I are going out
later on a picnic. Im 10 now. Finally! Double
digits! Vati says that people who dont look
right cant work in the government. They call
people with blonde hair and blue eyes, like me
and Axel, Aryan. Hannelore and Daniel dont look
that way. They have dark hair and eyes. We have
a new teacher in school. Our old teacher was
Jewish and he was fired. Why does everyone hate
Jews? What did they do? Love,
Gitta
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November 11, 1938 Dear Journal, Its been 5
years and things have gone from bad to worse. The
Nazis have gone crazy. The past two days a thing
called Kristallnacht has been going on. During
those nights, people say that a lot of Jews
have disappeared to those concentration camps,
like the one in Dachau. Daniel and Hannalore
have been pretty nervous. The store was destroyed
late last night after closing. They have been in
school, but have been excluded from everything. I
think people are starting to talk about Gitta and
me because we are friends with Daniel and
Hannalore. -Axel
AXEL
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November 11, 1938 Dear Journal, It has been
five years since I last wrote. Mutti put the
journal in the attic when she was cleaning while
we were having our birthday picnic. A whole lot
has changed since I last wrote. Im 15 now.
Hitlers people, the Nazis, are taking over
Germany. More and more people hate Jews. Not I,
though. Hannelore and I are still best friends,
but how long will we be together? Last night,
people went around the city destroying Jewish
stores. The store that Daniel and Hannelores
parents worked at was completely demolished. The
window was shattered and glass was everywhere.
Hannelore told me she didnt care. Nobody shopped
there anyway. She was lying, though. Ive known
her for 15 years. I can almost read her mind. She
told me that they burned down her synagogue. Why?
What have they done? Many Jews have disappeared.
Vati says that they are being sent to camps. I
dont think its a good thing though. Vati says
that the Jews are going be killed. I hope it
stops soon. I pray that Hitler and the rest of
the Nazis change soon. I also pray that Hannelore
and Daniel are safe. I want this to be
over. Mutti and Vati are saying that we may hide
Hannelore and Daniel and their parents in our
attic if things get too bad for them. We only
talk about it at night. Katja is almost 6 and we
are afraid that she wont be able to keep it a
secret. Love, Gitta
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This is the store Daniel and Hannelores parents
used to work at.
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November 15, 1938 Dear Journal, I just got home
from school, and I am so angry at the Nazis. A
little after lunch started a Nazi officer came in
and forced every Jewish child out of the schools
property. Daniel tripped on the way out, so I
went to help him, but the officer just picked Dan
up and tossed him outside. Hannelore and Gitta
were in another class, so I dont know what
happened. Mutti says that this punishment is
going to end up being a good thing. I dont
believe her, but I cant say anything without
being hit. I hope Gitta is ok Hannalore and
Gitta were really close friends. Daniel is now
living across the street and he seems fine. Great
now that I just got in to my writing Mutti calls
me. Bye. -Axel
November 15, 1938 Dear Journal, I hate those
Nazis. Hannelore and I were in school when a
bunch of them just barged right in. They said
that all Jews were expelled from school. I helped
Hannelore gather her books. She looked so scared
and confused. It was the same look that she had 8
years ago when her mom died. It almost felt like
we were saying good-bye for the last time. We
werent though. We are still going to hang out.
Well try, at least. What if we cant? People are
saying things about killing Jews. I know Im
repeating myself, but I need to know. What did
the Jews do to deserve the torture?
Love, Gitta
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February 21, 1939 Dear Journal, I feel really
bad for Daniel. Today a Nazi officer came by and
took his grandfathers gold watch. If a Nazi did
that to me I would probably fight him just o get
it back. Gitta says that Hannelore had to give
away her only silver bracelet. Her mom gave her
that bracelet before she died. Luckily, Gitta
said that Hannelore gave her a star of David
necklace for safe keeping. My parents are
forcing us to go to these Hitler Youth programs,
so our time is going to be limited. I think they
are stupid, so I don't pay attention. Neither
does Gitta. -Axel
February 21, 1939 Dear Journal, I cant tell
anyone this. If I do, we, meaning Hannelores
family and mine, will be punished. I have
Hannelores gold Star of David necklace. Its one
of her most prized possessions. Next to her
silver bracelet that used to belong to her mom.
The Nazis took that away. The Nazis force us to
join the Hitler Youth. I hate those meetings. I
feel like I am betraying Hannelore by learning
how to be loyal to the Nazis and Hitler, Mutti
doesnt want us to go, but she doesnt have much
of a choice. We are hoping Katja doesnt buy into
the lies that they tell about Jews. Well, I
have to take Katja to her first Girls for Hitler
meeting. Ill try to make sure that they dont
ruin everything we have taught her. Love, Git
ta

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April 30, 1939 Dear JournaL, Those Hitler Youth
meetings are getting even more boring. And
because of the Nazis Daniel and Hannalore had to
move almost a mile a way. I think it has
something to do with the fact that the Nazis
think that Jews cant be citizens. What really
confuses me is why do they have to move though?
Gitta and I are going to sneak out and try to
find our friends to say hi. Shouldn't be to hard.
Well its lunch time now. Bye, -Axel
April 30, 1939 Dear Journal, Hannelore moved.
She didnt have a choice. She and Daniel had to
go to Jewish homes. Its those Nazis. Everyday,
they take more away from them. I dont know how
long it will last. I cant spend as much time
with Hannelore. I never used to think of her as a
Jew. She was just my friend. Now, she is being
punished for who she is. Sometimes, I wish I
could trade places with her. That way, I could
suffer with her. Neither of us did anything
wrong. Why is she the only one to suffer? Katja
hates the HJ meeting almost as much as Axel. The
sad thing is, she doesnt understand why they are
bad. I think she is just trying to be like Axel
and me. I hate that. I want her to understand
what is really going on here. I dont know if she
ever will. Love, Gitta
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September 18, 1941 Dear Journal, Daniel and
Hannalore are living with us now. They say their
parents were taken away, so they ran from the
house they were staying in. Katja has to sleep
with Gitta because her room is window-less and is
very hard to spot if you dont know the house.
Daniel doesnt mind, but Hannalore does want to
kill me for putting her in the darkest room that
some people would call our attic. Anyway the
Nazis have been making Jewish people wear yellow
star of David strips on their clothing. I think
it is degrading, but the Nazis probably dont
care. Also I think the Hitler Youth people are
going to start teaching us things that will make
us full Nazis, but I would rather live without
it. -Axel
September 18, 1941 Dear Journal, The Nazis have
gone too far. Yesterday, Hannelore and Daniel
came by. They said that the SS had taken their
parents away. Now, they live with us. I have to
share a room with Katja. My room used to be in
the attic, but it is the only room that we can
hide. Hannelore says that the best thing about
hiding is that she doesnt have to wear the Star
of David on her dress. She told me its
embarrassing. She put it in my jewelry box. I
have a few of her belongings. She says that if we
are caught, theyll search the room and take some
of her stuff. She wants me to keep it until it is
safe for them to come out. I hope their parents
are safe. I am scared. What if the Nazis sense
something is wrong and they wrestle it out of me?
I could end up telling. I hope I dont. If I
tell, its almost like me killing my best friend.
I hope everything turns out alright. I long for
the day where Hannelore, Axel, Daniel, Katja, and
I can go out. I cant wait for the Nazis to leave
forever. Love Gitta
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December 11, 1941 Dear Journal, America has
declared war on Germany. I am kind of happy and
kind of scared. Im happy because this trouble
with the Nazis might end. I scared because my
friends and family or myself might get hurt or
worse. Hitler started the war and I hope he is
not alive to end it. Besides America wouldnt be
declaring war on us if Hitler was not alive. I
mean he told the Japan army to bomb a place in
America. I hope Daniel and the others dont get
hurt. -Axel
December 11, 1941 Dear Journal, We are at war
still. Now with the United States. I hope they
win. If they can stop the Nazis, everything will
go back to normal. Well, as normal as it ever
was. It seems like Ive gone my whole life under
Nazi control. I dont remember what it is like to
live without fear. Hannelore told me she is
sorry for being a Jew and putting us in danger. I
told her that it is not her fault. I wish there
was something I could do. All I can do is
pray. Love, Gitta
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May 19, 1943 Dear Journal, The Nazis are going
way over board. There are going make Berlin Jew
free. All those innocent Jewish people are going
to get killed and not even see it coming. Germany
is going to lose even more of its Jewish
population. The Nazis are getting closer to
finding out that we are hiding Daniel and
Hannalore. If they find those two while Gitta and
I are out with Katja, or something they would be
taken to a concentration camp. I get scared just
thinking about it. -Axel
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May 19, 1943 Dear Journal, The Nazis just came
by. We saluted, but they ignored us. It didnt
take long for them to find Hannelore and Daniel.
They have a few minutes to pack a bag of
clothing. I let Hannelore write something here.
Sometimes, writing makes the fear go away. She is
coming down, so Im letting her write
now. Love, Gitta Dear, Gitta, I want you
to know that I am truly sorry for everything. I
hope that we will meet again soon. Please keep my
stuff safe. Pray for me. I love you and I will
never forget you. Please dont forget me. I will
pray for you and Axel. Remember, I will always be
your friend. Nothing, not even Hitler, will
change that. I am sorry I must leave you now, but
although we arent physically together, we are
together in our hearts. Love, Hannelore
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June 6, 1944 Dear Journal, The Alias have landed
in Normandy. The war is going to end soon! I
might be able to see Daniel again. I heard that
he is closer to Russia so his camp has not been
freed yet. I dont want to tell Gitta, but I
heard a Nazi officer say that a girl fitting
Hannalores description was moved to a camp to
the south and is near the top of the list to be
gassed. If Gitta found out she would probably
die. Thank God the journal is divided and we are
not allowed to look at what the other wrote
without permission. Great its time for that
stupid meeting again, bye. -Axel
June 6, 1944 Dear Journal, The Allies have
landed in Normandy. Hopefully, it means that the
war will be over, and I will be able to see
Hannelore again. I havent seen her in over a
year. I think she is fine. I pray that she
is. Axel is hiding something from me. I know he
has a secret. A bad one. I cant look at what he
wrote, though. I have to respect his privacy. I
pray everyday That the Lord will find a way To
protect my friend Until we meet
again. Love, Gitta
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January 6, 1946 Dear Journal, The war is over
and I just got news that Daniel died. I still
dont know what camp he was in, but one of the
people that knew him at the camp said he died of
illness. Gitta and I are honoring Daniel and
Hannelore with this journal. Katja is spending
most of her time to cheer up Gitta. She got word
that Hannelore died a few days ago and still
hasnt stopped crying. I dont mean to sound
heartless, I still have issues accepting that our
best friends are gone. I am going to try to get
Gitta to come to the park. If she doesnt go
outside I think she might die from sadness. I am
going to bring her to the park because we can go
thank the soldiers who are in the park. Katja
actually got Gitta to the kitchen, but its going
to be a lot harder to get her to go to a park 1 ½
miles away. If she doesnt break down at the park
I was going to bring her to see Hannelores house
that she was forced to move to. -Axel
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April 20, 1946 Dear Journal, The war is over,
but it didnt end with the excitement I
anticipated. A few months ago I found that
Hannelore is dead. She was gassed when she
arrived at the camp. That was the secret Axel
had. I put off writing it down because I didnt
want to believe it. Hannelore was my best friend.
I knew her almost longer than I knew Axel. I
guess the only positive thing happening recently
other than Katja turning 13 is Hitler dying. It
was a more joyous occasion before I knew. If I
did, it wouldnt have mattered. It would have
been too late. Today would have been
Hannelores 23rd birthday. It makes me miss her
even more. Part of me wants to just die. I want
to forget the past thirteen years. I cant
though. I have to go on. For Hannelore. She told
me in her letter that she would never forget me.
I cant go on forgetting her. I have to live. Not
for me, but in honor of her. The last thing
Hannelore said to me before she left was If we
never meet again, keep living for me. Remember
the fear, and our friendship. I will miss
her. We dedicate this Diary to them. This is
the last page, but I will find a new journal to
continue my story, and tell more about Hannelore.
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Epilogue
After the war, Axel and Gitta went their
separate ways. Axel moved to the United States,
and wasnt heard of much before he died due to
unknown causes. Gitta stayed in Berlin, got
married and had 4 children Kurt, Ericka,
Friedrich, and Stefanie. Gitta became an
elementary school teacher. She still lives in
Berlin today with this journal, along with many
others. She wrote an unpublished novel about her
war life in memory of Hannelore. She wants
everyone to remember. She wants the story to live
on for generations to come.
Gittas children. Clockwise from top left Kurt
age 12, Friedrich age 8, Stefanie age 6, and
Ericka age 10.
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