(In the eyes of Stefania Podgoraka) At the early age of 14, I started working in a grocery store owned by Jews. I was born to a Catholic family on a farm in a village near Przemysl. Things changed drastically during my life; in June of 1941, my mother was sent to Germany for forced labor work and I was left to care for my 6-year-old sister. The following year, 1942, the ghetto was being liquidated and I helped 13 Jews escape the final roundups by hiding them in the attic of my house. They stayed there for almost three years while I was able to get them food, water, clothes and anything else that they needed. Over the radio we could hear up-to-date news about the war and could even get information from newspaper that could be days old (Fletcher, Tom). The Nazi patrols were constantly seen outside the window, and I could sense the sheer terror coming from the attic as they realized how close to death we were.In the afternoon on April 30, 1945, Hitler was found dead in his bunker by his own bullet (Heartfield 1940-1949). Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz, who was very loyal to Hitler, took over as chief of state; he later had no choice but to surrender to enemy forces (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99). On May 7, the Germans surrendered unconditionally which ended the bloodiest war in Europe (Devers, General Jacob, pgs. 387-388). Gustav Jodl signed the agreement at the headquarters of General Dwight Eisenhower. After five years, eight months and six days of much bloodshed and destruction, the war came to a final end (New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0507.html). The day of May 8th was officially declared V-E Day, which was short for Victory in Europe Day. At one minute past midnight the full unconditional surrender took place ("World War 2" Encarta Encyclopedia). The Jews in the attic were all very excited about the news.At 9:00 a.m. on May 8, 1945, the United States and Great Britain broadcasted the surren...
