Stephen Shooster well on his way to becoming an established businessman. He had an American car in Germany, his own personal chauffeur, and it seemed nothing could stop him. Before long, Max found his future wife, a woman who had been hiding right under the noses of the Nazis. She was a quiet Polish girl working at a restaurant in Stuttgart. She served the Nazis throughout the war and, because of the fear that still lingered heavily in the community, even though the war was over, she continued to hide her identity. They met at that restaurant. After a good meal and some kibitzing, Max asked her for her name. “Rose,” she said. Then, with his characteristic boldness, he asked her to dance. She reluctantly agreed, partially not to blow her cover, and partially because she was intrigued. Rose didn’t know what to make of Max. While they were spending time together, she realized he was Jewish and, eventually, felt comfortable enough to open up, telling him her secret. It took great courage for her because the world was still only beginning to become sane again. Rose married Max, and soon she was pregnant with their first child. I went to their 65th wedding anniversary. Surrounded by their kids, grandkids, and all of their friends, the speeches were given that day were moving and profound. By a strange coincidence, Dr. Kohn, who also left Grybow before the war, showed up in Stuttgart, and Max offered him a place to stay. Dr. Kohn had recently returned from Russia. Max was pleased to have his old neighbor to help him with his pregnant wife. However, all was not harmonious in the young lover’s home. Early in her pregnancy, Rose became upset with the good doctor, telling her husband, “Dr. Kohn doesn’t re- spect me. He is leaving newspapers all over the floor of the house, and expecting me to clean up after him.” Max was perturbed by what he heard, so he took the doctor aside, and they had a conversation, “Why don’t you respect my wife?” Dr. Kohn, smiled and said, “You know why? Your wife, she sleeps all the time. She sleeps like a cat. I am throwing the newspapers around so she should do something physical. It is not good for the baby if the mother is sleeping all day.” Max was a practical fellow so, needless to say, the newspapers continued to end up all over the home, and a few months later, their first baby, Sam Blauner, was born, healthy. I personally met with Dr. Kohn at Max and Rose’s home. I wanted to see the baby and my old neighbor. The last time he saw me I was a child, but he still remembered me and my family well, reminding me of how sick I was as a child. Times were good, but it was not without danger. Anti-Semitism was still strong in certain areas. One field that was now promising for Jews, however, was the govern- ment. The Prime Minister of Poland, Cyrankiewicz, was a survivor of Auschwitz. He
232
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator