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Wozniak Blog Entry |
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May 9, 2025, 12:00:11 AM 5/9/25: r/SketchDaily theme, "Free Draw Friday." This week's characters from my anthro WWII storyline are Herr and Frau Wozniak (first names never given). They're the parents of Paul Wozniak; the entire family is from Poland yet they pass themselves off as German. They're rather snobby toward the lower classes and pushy about their son succeeding in life, which leads to some conflict. There'll be more about them later in my art Tumblr and Toyhou.se. Regarding their design, they're gray poodles. TUMBLR EDIT: The Wozniaks stepped forward to tell a bit of their story, so here we go. The Wozniak family hails from Poland, though I'm assuming Herr Wozniak has some sort of business connections or some such to Germany, as, when their son Paul is young, they decide to move there. They leave behind extended family who are disgruntled by them turning their backs on them, as the Wozniaks promptly set to taking up German as their language and teach it to their son, forbidding the speaking of Polish even at home. As well, times have been better to Paul's branch of the family than to others, and they enjoy a respectable upper-class existence in their new homeland, even as many others are struggling. The Wozniaks simply decide to cut ties and move on. When the Nazi regime takes over, the Wozniaks don't pay it much mind either way, though they do hope they'll manage to whip the country back into shape. But then things get complicated. Turns out the new regime doesn't like Poles. The Wozniaks don't really like them either...just that, they ARE Poles. It's been easy before now to just turn their backs on where they came from, but the Nazis don't simply take most people's word for things. The Wozniaks contact some connections they have, grease some palms, have some fake genealogical records secured. They're still the Wozniaks, yet now this is just the Polish version of their true family name, Woschnagg, which they took during their time living in Poland (they weren't born there, oh no!); and they lived there due only to Herr Wozniak's business, yet they're 100% good German blood and they love their Fatherland, nothing more to be said. Young Paul is perplexed by all the insistence on playing a fake role. He doesn't understand why all the shame over who they are (it's not only the Nazi regime, his parents--especially his mother--have always been squicked out by their own background). He and his mother get into a back-and-forth over why they have to distance themselves from their own flesh and blood. Frau Wozniak's insistence that this is for their own safety, the Nazis frown on the Poles, doesn't quite cut it for him--doesn't that just mean they too are included among the "despised" peoples? Frau Wozniak loses her temper a bit and inadvertently reveals the truth, at least, as she personally sees it: It's nothing to do with their Slavic blood! It's everything to do with the lowly social class they originally hail from. The common folk! The poor! Paul is dumbfounded to learn so abruptly just how much his mother scowls down her nose at the more unfortunate, even parroting terms such as those the Nazis use--drains on society, vermin, degenerates. Can't carry their own weight! A waste! But isn't this the very thing, he finds himself arguing, that the Nazi Party claims to have ended?--the pointless class system? The nobility fell after the war, aren't all good Germans, at least, supposed to be equals? The Party even constantly hails the virtues of the working class, the farmers at least. Frau Wozniak doesn't want to argue about it further, and cuts him off. They're good decent Germans, they have no ties to those filthy poor Poles, enough said, debate over. Basically, Paul learns that his mother despises her own people simply because of the circumstances in which they were born, through no choice of their own. Considering that they themselves come from this background, it's a pretty jarring realization. Herr Wozniak isn't as rabidly anti-poor as his wife, though he does quietly urge Paul to just let the matter drop, because no matter what anyone's personal opinion of their ancestry or social class, the fact remains that the party in power is starting to target such things, and they simply can't continue to live under their real identities. "It isn't safe anymore for people like us," he says, and the way he stresses his words catches Paul's attention so much that he blinks and gives his father an intense stare, wanting him to clarify. Herr Wozniak hesitates briefly before adding, "For the Poles," and the moment is broken. He reiterates that they just have to go along with it for their own good, so please listen to his mother, and stop causing a fuss. They have to look out for themselves first off. Paul obeys, though it chafes him. He'd caught the stress placed on his father's words. People like us. He felt, just briefly, that Herr Wozniak wasn't talking about Poles, wasn't talking about the poor. For the briefest second it was like his father was seeing right through him, and not only that, that he was empathizing, speaking to him from a place of shared understanding. Like he knew exactly the issues Paul has been privately grappling with. It has nothing to do with race or class, he has another identity he's been forced to hide. Despite his slight efforts to push back against his parents, Paul doesn't rock the boat, doesn't cause trouble. He's a model student, a model citizen, a model son. He's careful to cover up everything that needs covering up. Still, he wavers just a little. A fellow student makes eye contact with him one day and he feels his heart skip a bit. It's not the first time he's had such a reaction--he's always felt this way, as far back as he can remember--but it's the first time the feeling has really meant something to him. He and the other student make smalltalk, take their lunches together, study together when they can. To anyone else, they look like decent friends, nothing amiss about that. Never anything untoward or inappropriate. Only if you were to watch them over an extended period of time, you might see how their hands accidentally brush against each other, how their stares linger on each other's face just a little too long sometimes. Like I said, the two never do anything inappropriate. They don't go off anywhere alone together and never do anything that could get them written up; they never get in any trouble. And yet, it seems as if Herr Wozniak, at least, managed to pick up on something. And not only that, but the odd inflection of his words makes Paul suspect that he understands such feelings much more than he knows. His father never confirms his suspicions, though Paul now sees his parents' marriage in a much different, rather saddening light. Frau Wozniak, too, thinks something is just slightly "off" about their son; he's a bit too sensitive, a bit too uninterested in the proper masculine pursuits, a bit not interested enough in finding a nice young lady to court. This doesn't bother her so much as the trouble it could cause the family if it's not promptly nipped in the bud. She discusses options with her husband, who tries to argue that no intervention is needed, yet she believes Paul could toughen up and straighten out with the proper discipline. Germany goes to war and military service is mandated; although unwilling to fight, Paul is a good German citizen, and makes plans to sign up for the Wehrmacht. Before he can, however, his mother excitedly tells him she's pulled a few strings, and managed to secure him an even more prestigious assignment: His faked genealogical records (along with some Reichsmarks in the right hands) have earned him a spot in the Waffen-SS. Frau Wozniak is brimming with barely contained glee. Paul just blinks, stupefied. An awkward tense silence...then, the eruption. Paul explodes in a rage--all the anger and frustration he's pushed down for years--demanding to know what is this, what is she doing, what right does she have to take such action without asking him first? Frau Wozniak actually flinches and cowers back, caught off guard by the reaction, she honestly had no idea just how much her own son had hidden from her before now; Herr Wozniak puts his hand on her arm and lets her creep behind him a bit. Still, she has her own temper, same as always; she quickly recovers her senses and starts fighting back, mother and son in a furious shouting match, father haplessly caught in the middle. Herr Wozniak at last yells, "ENOUGH! Both of you!" To Paul: "You'll stop raising your voice at your own mother! Show some respect!" To Frau Wozniak: "And you! He's right, what right do you have making such a decision without asking him first? He's a grown man! He can decide things for himself!" Paul seethes a little at being yelled at while Frau Wozniak is caught off guard by the same; Herr Wozniak's never raised his voice before. She continues to protest--albeit in a more level voice--that she's only looking out for Paul's best interests. Paul bristles--"That's not your choice to make! I decide my best interests!"--before relenting slightly at a glare from his father. Still, Herr Wozniak mostly takes his side, rebuking his wife for treating their son like a child who can't make up his own mind; when she insists that he doesn't know what's best for himself, Herr Wozniak replies that that's for Paul to find out on his own. Yet then, he turns back to Paul: "Still...the deed's done, perhaps this is an opportunity you should make the most of now that it's here." He advises Paul to follow through with what his mother started. Paul steams silently. "Bitte, I'm only looking out for you," Frau Wozniak insists, at which Paul snaps, "Looking out for yourself, more like! Just like always!"--and turns and storms off before he can lose his temper again. Herr Wozniak tells his protesting wife to let him be, give him some space and time to think things over; it's a pretty big step to take, after all. Paul simmers to himself for a bit. He chafes at always doing what his mother chooses--it makes him feel bitter and resentful, like a spoiled but bratty child--yet aside from that, he can't think of a rational reason to refuse. He knows other men who'd leap at the chance that's fallen into his lap. He wants almost more than anything to turn the offer down, just out of spite...yet Paul's never had a spiteful bone in his body...and after all, he's a good model son. He pretty much gives his parents the cold shoulder for a few days, passive-aggressively keeping them in suspense, before grudgingly applying to join the Waffen-SS. He almost hopes--almost--that the truth about his forged family genealogy will come to light, yet a few more palms have been greased, and the process is almost too easy. He meets all the requirements, fulfills basic training (along with the odd ceremonies required to be allowed in), gets his blood group tattoo, reluctantly wishes his parents farewell, and is promptly sent off to the Eastern Front, where troops are barely keeping their erstwhile ally and newest enemy, the savage Red Army, at bay. Frau Wozniak weeps yet tells herself it's for the best, this will surely make a good strong man out of their son. Paul Wozniak and the unit he's temporarily been placed with have a relatively easy time along the way, engaging in a few brief skirmishes with disorganized partisans. He's even promoted several times and is a sergeant first class, or Oberscharführer, by the time he arrives back in the familiar territory near the border with annexed Poland. Still...the general in charge of the unit currently holding the line, Oberst-Gruppenführer Immerwahr, questions him a bit skeptically, then sighs--"Mein Gott, you're green"--and turns away, scanning the troops before choosing one. "You! Kamerad!" he shouts, "Kamerad Hesse!"--and when a first lieutenant looks up from what he's doing, Immerwahr waves at him to approach. Immerwahr introduces Obersturmführer Gunter Hesse, and tells Wozniak (Wozniak sees the brief perplexed look flit across Hesse's face at his name) that he'll be shadowing Hesse until he learns the ropes. Immerwahr then heads off to see to the others, and Wozniak and Hesse are officially partnered. Wozniak is a bit disgruntled to be stuck with a babysitter of sorts, and he expects Hesse to feel the same, yet Hesse appears simply resigned to the situation. He's older than the rest of the unit members (aside from Immerwahr), and quite obviously more experienced, though he too had to acclimate himself to Waffen-SS life and re-learn how to do everything, as he'd last fought in the Great War, and combat techniques and technology have changed. So in an odd way, he's in a better position than most to show Wozniak what to do. Once he learns that Wozniak hasn't engaged in active combat with the Soviets yet, he attempts to temper Wozniak's expectations that he'll be able to handle it--"Training is useful but it's much different from the real thing, Kamerad"--without talking down to him. Every time Wozniak feels like he's being ordered to do something, or condescended to, he bristles stubbornly and digs in--yet Hesse never demands anything, never threatens to report him for insubordination. Every time Wozniak pushes back, he backs off and relents--and Wozniak ends up learning his lesson, and that Hesse is right, the hard way. It takes a while, and quite a few unpleasant experiences (including a couple of days vomiting and messing himself after Hesse warns him not to drink the water in a certain area), but Wozniak catches on. He learns how to strike a balance between mindless obedience and irrational rebellion, and once he reaches that point, it's almost a relief, to be allowed to chart his own course, while still maintaining a sense of discipline; it's especially a relief not to feel the need to always fight back against and resist everything just to prove himself. It feels good to both be an individual, yet also part of a greater whole, of men who all consider themselves equals. As they patrol the border and fend off Soviet troops, Wozniak gets to know Hesse as well--the difference in their ranks doesn't matter--and they become good friends. He learns that, despite their similar difficulties fitting in with and earning the respect of the troops, the reason for this shared challenge is how dramatically different they are. Wozniak has led what was basically a safe (if falsified), spoiled existence, with plenty of money and loving (if stifling) parents, never wanting for anything but his own independence, always the overachiever and good respectable citizen. Hesse's life followed a much different path: Born to lower-class (yet actually good German) parents, he was orphaned as a baby, grew up a ward of the state, joined the army as he had no other prospects, loyally fought for the Fatherland, and then was unceremoniously dumped--badly injured and near destitute--when the war was lost and the military was downsized. He doesn't go into detail about what happened then (Wozniak learns later on that he fought a morphine addiction), though when war again loomed, even though he could have easily sought an exemption, he promptly applied to join the budding Waffen-SS rather than attempt to return to the army. He's normally quite levelheaded and mild tempered, though Wozniak can sense his bitterness over the army turning its back on him. He managed to find a sense of belonging in the SS, of being both an individual and a part of the whole; he and Wozniak may be from completely different worlds, but their emotions are much the same. Well...except on one particular issue. Hesse appears quite agitated one day after privately speaking with Immerwahr, and Wozniak is surprised to learn he plans to file a complaint against him with the Allgemeine-SS. It takes some convincing to get him to calm down and explain what's going on: Hesse claims Immerwahr inappropriately touched and propositioned him when they were alone. After a bit of surprised questioning from Wozniak, he clarifies that the general merely placed his hand on his back, yet the comment he made was pretty clear in its intent, and he's humiliated and furious. Wozniak goes out of his way begging, pleading, urging, and warning him against filing a complaint--not out of any loyalty to Immerwahr, but knowing the most likely outcome: What makes him think the SS will side with him, a lieutenant, over Immerwahr, a general?--and even worse, what if they decide to investigate or kick him out instead? Hesse refuses to abandon his plan, so Wozniak asks for him to at least sleep on it for a night, to calm himself down before he acts--"Just...take your own advice! One time!" Hesse at last relents...a little. "ONE night!" he snaps, adding, "I'm not going to change my mind!" The next day, he's indeed calmed down, yet stubbornly sticks to his plan, penning a letter for the weekly visiting Deutsche Reichspost officer to carry back to the city. Wozniak offers a final half-hearted warning, yet "My mind is made up," Hesse says, handing over the letter, and that's that. Privately, Wozniak worries about Hesse being relieved of his duties and possibly even facing a revenge smear campaign; Immerwahr doesn't seem like a petty sort, indeed he never even shows any signs of being offended by whatever happened between him and Hesse (Wozniak has no reason to believe Hesse is lying, but wonders if his reaction is exaggerated, especially given Immerwahr's lack of reaction), but the allegation is serious enough that Wozniak knows how badly things can go sideways. Even more privately, however, he has other conflicted feelings. Seeing the rage and disgust in Hesse's eyes, and hearing the words he uses to describe Immerwahr's actions--"Vile! Degenerate! How dare he?"--jars him severely, and forces him to see his mentor in a different light. He's known all along that nothing could ever come of such things...yet against his own best intentions, he's found himself developing feelings for the lieutenant. He's spent more than a few nights staring at Hesse as he sleeps, musing over what it would be like, just once, to act on his feelings, and for them to be reciprocated. After Wozniak's lifetime of being sheltered, stifled, and spoken down to by others, Hesse is the first one to treat him with respect, as an equal. Of course Wozniak has never expected for him to return any of his feelings; yet to find out just how deeply Hesse despises people like him feels like a stab in his heart. It takes everything he has to swallow down the hurt and hide it away so he never suspects, but Wozniak's had years of practice to hide who he is, so he manages. He focuses instead on trying to keep Hesse from making what he sees as a huge mistake, and agonizes over the potential outcome once the letter goes out. Judging by Hesse's silence as they march out, he's concerned as well, though just as resolute as always. Time, bureaucracy, and the mail all move painfully slowly in wartime, so it's months before a return letter arrives for Hesse, from Allgemeine-SS headquarters. (Wozniak notices rather uneasily that Immerwahr receives a similar envelope.) Hesse retreats to sit apart from the others and opens it and reads; Wozniak approaches and watches his face. Hesse's wariness slowly shifts to confusion, and Wozniak feels his insides twist a bit; "What does it say?" he asks, and after a brief pause Hesse replies, "They're done investigating." Wozniak asks what now; "Nothing," Hesse says in disbelief, "they're not going to do anything. That's it." Wozniak takes the letter to see for himself. The response from the office of Standartenführer Heidenreich is polite and formal yet brief and to the point: After questioning of the parties involved (which apparently means just Immerwahr, as Hesse was never questioned by anyone), the Sicherheitsdienst, which conducts internal investigations of the SS, determined that there wasn't sufficient evidence to warrant a more thorough investigation; Hesse's complaint has been officially dismissed. Hesse seems far too bewildered to be angry; although feeling rather sorry for him being so unceremoniously brushed off, Wozniak is relieved over one detail: "Well, Kamerad, try to see the silver lining," he says, and when Hesse numbly asks what that is, he says, "At least they aren't kicking you out." Hesse's disbelief slowly wears off as the day goes on and by late afternoon he's steaming again. This is his first real rebuke from the SS, and it stings. "What sort of investigation doesn't even question the complaining party?" he grumbles as he and Wozniak trudge along, "A half-assed one! Reprehensible and lazy!" He bristles at Wozniak's continued attempts to calm him down: "What would you do if you were the one treated so?" he demands, to which Wozniak replies, "I'd take the same advice you keep giving me! Recall all the times I didn't listen and regretted it? I told you this was likely to happen. He's a general, you're just a lieutenant. Which one of you is expendable?" "We're all equal here," Hesse insists; Wozniak tries not to give him too pointed of a look, saying, "That's a nice story we tell ourselves, Kamerad." Hesse spends the rest of the time avoiding directly interacting with Immerwahr as much as he can, since there are few other options. Immerwahr doesn't seek any sort of retribution that Wozniak can tell, which he finds a relief, as he doesn't want Hesse to end up dismissed or worse. He himself receives regular mail from his parents, his mother expressing effusive love and worry in each letter; Wozniak rolls his eyes skyward and mutters, "I can practically see the tears staining the pages." Hesse, who has no family yet receives mail addressed from the Dobermann estate (he mentions the incessant ribbing he got at first about the earnest letters from Adelina--"She's a child!" he had to tell his comrades repeatedly), says he shouldn't be so harsh on his parents, they obviously care about him very much, even if they're rather pushy about it. Although he feels a little guilty to complain when some people like Hesse have no parents to write to them, Wozniak still feels a twinge of resentment that even way out here, he can't quite escape their obsessive concern. The day comes at last when, during an especially intense battle, Wozniak is badly injured. He's suffered milder wounds before, yet nothing as serious as this; so he doesn't handle it very well, yelling loudly as he's roughly picked up and half-carried, half-dragged to safety. Hesse keeps watch over him until a military truck arrives and medics lift him onto a stretcher for transport to hospital. Half out of his mind with pain--and also alarm at the sudden realization that this is likely the last time he'll ever see his friend--all Wozniak can think of to do is yell, "Kamerad--? Kamerad!"--and reach his arm out toward Hesse. Hesse stands aside to let the medics do their job, yet the look on his face makes his concern plain; he at last responds to Wozniak's repeated cries with a "Kamerad!" of his own, and reaches out; Wozniak's fingers clasp his briefly before he's bustled into the back of the truck and Hesse disappears from view. Wozniak keeps exclaiming, "Kamerad!" as the medics work and an SS-Helferin tries to calm him down, until he finally passes out. Wozniak slowly drags his eyes back open--it may as well be a moment later, or a lifetime later, he has no idea--and blinks groggily. His vision is blurry; he hears a gasp, sees something moving, and then a voice--"Ah mein Gott! He's awake! Paul!" Wozniak furrows his brow--"Mutter...?" he murmurs, confused. A few more blinks and he sees her teary-eyed face hovering over him; "My poor Paul!" she cries, cupping his own face in her hands and kissing his forehead. His father appears at his side, much more restrained, but his eyes are also wet. "Vater...?" Wozniak says, "What are you doing here?" Frau Wozniak explains that he's in hospital and has been heavily sedated for a few days after being severely injured. He's expected to make a full recovery, yet the SS has informed them he's no longer fit for combat, and will be relieved of duty. "My poor boy," she weeps, kissing him repeatedly and clasping his hand, "I'm so glad you're back with us! I'm so glad you'll be all right. My heart broke every single day you were gone! Your father's, too! You don't have to worry about anything anymore. We'll take care of you and everything. My poor poor Paul!" Wozniak responds by suppressing a sigh, putting his head back and shutting his eyes, feeling the stifling grasp of family surrounding him yet again. So much for combat making a man of him. Frau and Herr Wozniak keep by their son's bedside as he recuperates. Numerous times, still hazy and high on the morphine, Wozniak asks for news of "Kamerad Hesse"--where is he, is he doing well, is there any news of him? His parents are perplexed by his persistence; as the morphine starts to wear off, he explains that Hesse is a close friend who taught him the ropes, and he wants to know how he's doing. Frau Wozniak asks the nurses and other patients if they know anything but they're all from different units; Herr Wozniak questions an officer or two, but nobody is familiar with the name, and of course it's near impossible to come across news of a random soldier deployed to the front. Wozniak even considers trying to contact the Dobermann family, with whom Hesse seemed so close, yet he has no idea how to go about doing so, plus it seems dreadfully intrusive. He has to resign himself to likely never knowing what's become of him and just going on with his life. As for that...he gloomily ponders his options now that returning to the front is out of the question. He's never made any important decisions for himself, so he never had any concrete plans for what to do if his position in the Waffen-SS fell through. He asks a visiting Helferin if there are desk jobs available for men. She says his best option is to apply to the Allgemeine-SS. When he warily floats the idea by his parents, Frau Wozniak offers to help; he bites his tongue and says he can do it on his own, so she meekly backs off. Wozniak obtains a recommendation, pens a letter and a resume of his experience, honors, skills, and qualifications, includes a copy of his forged genealogical records (swallowing his distaste as he does so), and Frau Wozniak mails it off for him. There's nothing to do then but wait. Once he's recovered enough from his injuries, Wozniak returns home, and wearily tolerates his mother fussing over him as he keeps an eye on the mail. Eventually a return letter arrives from Allgemeine-SS headquarters, requesting him to appear for an interview. Frau Wozniak cleans and puts out his best Waffen-SS uniform and Herr Wozniak wishes him luck. He arrives at the sprawling headquarters building and spends a brief time sitting before a desk in a tiny office while a stuffy, bespectacled man drones off questions from a clipboard, barely even looking up at him. When they reach his genealogy records, along comes the expected question everyone asks: "Wozniak. How did you end up with a name like Wozniak?" "Long story," Wozniak says, same as every time he's asked, yet, "I have time, answer the question, bitte," says the official. Even though he's sure it's explained in his papers, Wozniak complies. Upon learning that he knows Polish--can speak it, as well as read and write--the official's interest finally seems piqued; he pulls out a letter and pushes it at him, ordering him to translate. Wozniak starts to do so, but falters after a few sentences; "What is it? What's wrong?" the official asks. Wozniak hesitantly explains that the grammar in a particular sentence is incorrect; he can tell that the letter wasn't penned by a native Polish speaker, even though it's presented as such. He offers a correction, then adds, "Of course--perhaps they're writing informally. It could be so." The official insists that he continue, and again, he finds some errors; he sees the disgruntled look the other man gets, and tries to brush them off, yet the official requests the corrections, mulls them over, and takes back the letter. He asks Wozniak to say something in Polish; having no idea what else to do, Wozniak recites a nursery rhyme. Upon learning what Wozniak said, the official stares at him, then just as Wozniak is about to squirm, he starts laughing. Wozniak sits there, confused. The official explains that fluent Polish speakers are hard to find and, so near to the border, are in high demand; the language is sometimes used to stump mail inspectors and other investigators, as well as occasionally used by the SS itself in undercover operations. He asks Wozniak how he'd feel working for internal investigations, in effect, policing the SS itself--they could use somebody with his skills. "So, basically, a rat...?" Wozniak asks; "Basically," the official says; "Now you see why it's such a highly qualified job, yet so little in demand." It isn't quite what he had in mind, but he figures a job is a job--and he's sick of being stuck at home all day with his parents--so, Wozniak agrees. He's surprised to find himself directed to the offices of the Sicherheitsdienst--the exact same division that rejected Hesse's case--though in retrospect, it makes sense. He answers another interview, completes more forms, is given a physical, has his background checked (this part makes him extremely nervous); then, following a letter that he's been accepted, goes through the relevant ceremonies, receives a new uniform, sword, dagger, and promotion--Untersturmführer--and is appointed to a small office in headquarters, where he mulls over the irony that now he's making more use of his Polish skills, something his parents wanted him to forget, than he ever thought he would. Herr and Frau Wozniak, well, they're just glad their son is gainfully employed and contributing to society, whatever the job is. Frau Wozniak wheedles now and then that it's getting about time for him to think of settling down and starting a family--something the SS itself stresses--and Herr Wozniak has to shush her every time Wozniak responds by gritting his teeth. One day while sitting at his desk typing, Wozniak glances up at the sound of Colonel Heidenreich's voice, and spots him guiding another officer into a neighboring vacant office. His heart abruptly crowds into his throat in disbelief--the other officer looks a lot like Hesse. Figuring that he's imagining things, he impatiently waits for Heidenreich to finish touring the other officer around, then tentatively opens the door adjoining the two offices and peers in. There's no mistaking it--the lieutenant now poking around his new desk is indeed Hesse. Wozniak forces himself to keep a level voice as he calls out, "Moving up in the world, Kamerad...?" Hesse's head pops up and he blinks. "Paul!" he exclaims--and a smile spreads across his face from ear to ear. They share a quick hug and Hesse looks him over; "I never thought I'd see you again! What are you doing here...?" A brief bit of catching up; Wozniak explains the situation, then asks how Hesse came to be here as well. His basic story is the same as Wozniak's--wounded in combat, relieved of duty, a recommendation that he apply to the Allgemeine-SS--with the added awkwardness of needing a recommendation from Immerwahr, the very person he reported to the Allgemeine-SS. Immerwahr apparently provided this without any fuss. Same as Wozniak, Hesse was surprised to end up in the very same division that rejected his complaint. While greeting him, Colonel Heidenreich belatedly remembered his name, and even expressed glee at someone "having the balls" to dare report a general even if it could never go anywhere; he insisted that men like Hesse are exactly the sort he needs. "And now here I am...for better or for worse," Hesse concludes, obviously still a bit perplexed about ending up in such a situation. His and Wozniak's offices face each other, so they'll pretty much be seeing each other every work day from now on. Herr and Frau Wozniak stop by once in a while to visit their son--their wealth and contributions to the SS help ensure that they're easily allowed in--and they often take lunch together; Wozniak tolerates it, as always, though he suspects others in the division cast him the side eye for it. Of course he introduces them to Hesse. "This is your friend from the front...?" Frau Wozniak asks, seeming a bit puzzled; she'd likely expected someone her son's age. As they chat a bit, she makes an offhand comment that it'd be nice for them all to get together sometime, along with Hesse's family. Hesse apologizes, says that he's an only child and his parents died when he was very young, he never knew them. Oh, Frau Wozniak says, that's a shame and she's sorry; his adoptive parents then, maybe? "Mutter," Wozniak murmurs in a warning voice. Hesse says it's all right, but no, he was raised by the state before joining the army. "Oh," Frau Wozniak says again, and the look on her face shifts; it's as if a chill settles over them. "Well..." She manages to force a smile. "It was...good meeting you, Herr Hesse," and they share a few polite parting words before Hesse excuses himself to return to his office. Frau Wozniak at least has the courtesy to wait until he's out of earshot before hissing under her breath, "That's the man you kept asking after? All those times? You were seriously so worried about that sort--?" "Liebe," Herr Wozniak interjects, but Wozniak bristles and turns to look straight at her. "Nein, let her ask," he says in an icy tone, "what do you mean by 'that sort,' exactly...?" Frau Wozniak blanches a little at the warning look Herr Wozniak gives her, and at her son's tone, and dissembles a bit, referring to Hesse as a "career soldier." "There's something wrong with that, now?" Wozniak says, "I haven't exactly had any other career besides this and soldier, and that was your idea, wasn't it?" "You know what I mean!" Frau Wozniak retorts, and when he needles hard enough--insisting that she come out and say it--she finally snaps, "THAT sort! Not like us! He says he grew up in an orphanage! A ward of the state. You know what comes along with that, what it makes him." "An orphan?" Wozniak says, and when his mother practically bites her lip, he snorts and adds, "Or a poor man? Low class? That's what you mean, isn't it? He's poor and had to work for what he has and that makes him some sort of Untermensch to you, doesn't it--?" Herr Wozniak attempts to cut in but Frau Wozniak loses her temper: "Oh, come! That's NOT what I think! But you have to admit that growing up without family does things to a person, especially if one depends on the state! You don't need that sort of rubbish in your life!" Wozniak clenches his fists: "Rubbish--?" Then--"You love the state just fine when you're licking its boot!" "ENOUGH!" Herr Wozniak finally yells, physically putting himself between them as the blood drains from Frau Wozniak's face; "Look around!" he hisses under his breath, and mother and son do so, noticing faces peering curiously out of offices; the other two blush and lower their heads, standing down. "That's enough of this," Herr Wozniak says quietly, "no more such talk--from either of you," he insists, glaring at Frau Wozniak, who shrinks back a bit sheepishly. "We'll let you get back to work now. I do hope you'll still join us for supper. Bitte, offer Herr Hesse our apologies for the scene, it wasn't intended. And let him know he's more than welcome to join us at supper himself if he wishes. Enough," he says, raising a finger when his wife opens her mouth, and she shuts it again. "I'll think about it," Wozniak says in a chilly voice; his father pauses, nods in a resigned manner, wishes him farewell and gestures for his wife to follow. Frau Wozniak turns away a bit sulkily, yet also hesitates before hurrying back, giving Wozniak a quick kiss on the cheek--"I'm just looking out for you, Liebe"--and then follows her husband out. Wozniak lets out a heavy sigh. He's certain, knowing how the SS has its nose in literally everything, that word of the spat must have spread all throughout the building by now. Hesse politely pretends to be unaware of any drama but Wozniak doesn't care about saving face, he wants to rant about it. Hesse is surprised and confused to learn that the argument was about him; Wozniak's explanation why just perplexes him even further. "Why are you all fighting over where I come from?" he asks, as if it's the most ridiculous thing; and even though a niggling voice in his head insists he let it drop, Wozniak feels a need to have someone on his side, and lays it all out--the comments about low class and poor and rubbish and "that sort" and all. He's surprised that he WANTS Hesse to get offended and self-righteous, and is even more surprised when he doesn't. "Why are you not angry about this--?" he exclaims, "The awful things they say about people like you?" "Why should I be, what point is there?" Hesse says, "And do you notice what you just said?--people like me." And it hits Wozniak as hard as a slap to the face that he sounds just like his parents. He sucks in a breath through his teeth and cringes; Hesse shoves a chair at him with his boot and he abruptly sits, and puts his head in his hands. "I didn't mean it that way," he says--hears his mother's voice in his head insisting, That's NOT what I think!--and grimaces. "It's not as if I think you're lesser than I am, somehow," he tries to clarify, knowing it still sounds sh*tty, but for some reason every explanation he thinks of sounds even more insulting than the last. He gives up trying and just raises his hands in frustration. Hesse gives him a moment before saying, "It's pointless pretending we don't come from completely different circumstances," and just like Herr Wozniak, he holds up a finger when Wozniak opens his mouth to protest. "You see it. You'd think I'm an idiot if I didn't see it. And there's nothing wrong with it. Nothing wrong with you coming from family money, nothing wrong with me growing up a ward of the state. Why would either of us be ashamed of that? Some of us are less fortunate than others. We don't choose where we come from. We do choose where we go after that, though." Wozniak bites his lip. He's so used to all the comments about who is better or not that he'd never been aware until now that the sentiment was ingrained in him as well; he'd thought he was rebelling against it, even while trying to pull Hesse into the fight, like some sort of pity token to prove his point that he was better than all that, when he was no better at all. It never even occurred to him to consider it a non-issue even while acknowledging its existence. And it especially never occurred to him to not get infuriated and make a fuss. He realizes that it isn't Hesse he was trying so hard to defend, it was himself. He never managed to crawl out from under his family's thumb after all. Still...there are issues Hesse doesn't know about, the identities that Wozniak can't escape. The SS and the state might proclaim themselves egalitarian in regards to class, but that sentiment doesn't extend to the other sides of himself that Wozniak hides. During the time they work together, he suspects that Hesse learns (or himself at least suspects) that his German ancestry is a fabrication, though he never says anything about it. The other issue, however, is one Wozniak keeps perfectly concealed from absolutely everyone, until the perfect circumstance arises for him to not only ensure it never comes into question, but to also help someone else, and finally get his parents off his back. Wozniak meets Karolin Bathelt. After seeking the Bathelts' blessings, Wozniak drives Karolin and her newborn son out to his parents' home. Frau Wozniak peers out the window, perplexed, as her son gets out of the car and goes to open the passenger door; "Liebe! Paul's here," she calls to her husband, "and he's with a woman!" Her eyes go wide as Wozniak helps the woman out of the car--"And a BABY!" she exclaims. Herr Wozniak hurries in, having to see for himself. His brow furrows in confusion as the three come up the walk. Frau Wozniak can't stop herself from opening the door before their son even knocks, startling him and the woman. She does her best to contain herself as she greets him, yet then looks earnestly at the young blond woman with the tiny infant in her arms, saying, "And who is your friend here...?" Wozniak gestures; "Mutter, Vater, this is Karolin," and Karolin shifts the baby and holds out her hand for Frau Wozniak to clasp. "It's very good to meet you," she murmurs, trying to smile, looking quite anxious. "Likewise," Frau Wozniak says, and, "Paul...?"--giving him a very pointed look. Wozniak and Karolin glance at each other; he says, "Karolin and I...ah...came here to ask your blessings." Blank stares from the Wozniaks. Karolin shifts uneasily and Wozniak finally murmurs, "May we come in...?" "Oh!" Frau Wozniak exclaims, and steps aside. "Of course, of course! Bitte! Do come in. This way. Let me fetch you some water. This way." The conversation that follows in the Wozniaks' parlor is awkward indeed--they had no idea their son was seeing someone, plus, a child!--how on earth, why did he never tell them?--yet the more Frau Wozniak learns, the brighter and brighter she beams. Karolin is from a good family--she's the right kind of people. She's good German blood. And while Frau Wozniak really would have preferred them to be wed first, baby second (they're Catholic, after all), still, it's easily forgiven, they're looking to get married now! Herr Wozniak is mystified about this woman, this relationship just appearing out of nowhere, their son never saying a word in all these months; "I didn't need you both making a fuss," Wozniak grumbles, and when Frau Wozniak's brow furrows and she opens her mouth to ask What does that mean?, Karolin shifts the baby to her other arm and says, "Paul's told me how much you two fuss over him. Typical parents, always wanting the best for their son." And just like that, the simmering little ember is snuffed out. By the time Wozniak, Karolin, and baby depart, they have the Wozniaks' blessings. After the car pulls away Frau Wozniak turns to her husband, hands clasped to her breast, fully won over. "Ah! Mein Herz! Our little Paul! With a little one of his own! Can you believe it? He's grown so fast. And that lovely woman! I must confess, I had doubts...so many doubts...yet he chose so well! She's perfect for him. Ah! Why did I ever doubt our sweet Paul!" "You don't find it just the slightest bit odd how he never gave any word or sign of this relationship for the past nine months...?" Herr Wozniak murmurs with a slight frown. He, too, had many doubts...this development seems like a complete 180 for their son, in more ways than one. Yet Frau Wozniak brushes it off. "Oh, don't overthink it! Don't you always tell me that? Paul is happy, we're happy, and we have a grandson now." Her eyes grow wet. "A grandson! Oh how I wish he hadn't felt the need to hide this from us till now...maybe you're right...maybe if I'd given him more space, he'd have let us in. But, bygones! We can only look forward now." Meanwhile, Wozniak drives while Karolin cradles her baby, both of them silent; they got what they were looking for, all that's left now is to request permission from the SS, yet that seems like it should be the easiest part of all. Despite the pleasant outcome, the entire experience was tense and vaguely off; Wozniak's gotten quite skilled at lying, but Karolin is still new to it, and he can tell it leaves a bad taste in her mouth to deceive their parents so. As if reading his mind, she speaks up. "Your parents..." she says, and trails off; Wozniak bites his tongue, fights down a sigh, awaits the inevitable comments about what wonderful parents they are, they're just looking out for him, he should really be more grateful, etc. etc.; when Karolin finishes, "...are...a bit much." Wozniak lets out his breath in a whoosh. "I know!" he exclaims so loudly that the baby makes a sound. "You see it too--? Mein Gott I thought I was losing my mind! Everyone's always telling me they're so loving, you're so ungrateful, if only everyone had such parents, bla, bla, bla! Yet they're ALWAYS THERE. Hovering! They still act like I'm a five year old! Like I can never make ONE decent decision! I know they mean well, but they're just so...stifling!" He throws up his hands, but just briefly, before gripping the wheel again. "My parents are never there when I need them," Karolin says, "yet they think the same thing, that all my life is is bad decisions. And I guess I proved them right." She hugs the baby closer. "Looks like it's always one extreme or the other...never the right spot in the middle. Too much, or not nearly enough." Wozniak lets out another breath, feeling his anger dissipate into sadness. "It's strange," he murmurs, "yet I think you're the first one who's ever really understood." They both lapse into silence; after a moment Karolin gingerly reaches for his hand, which he let rest on the seat between them, and clasps it; he clasps hers back. Wozniak and Karolin receive the blessing of the SS, and are officially wed; Wozniak adopts the child (the small detail that the boy isn't actually his is tactfully withheld from both families), who Karolin names after him. The Wozniaks can't quite wrap their heads around it, but try not to question too much. "Maybe serving really did straighten him out, clear his head a little...?" Frau Wozniak suggests, "Maybe that was what he needed to put him on the right path?" Herr Wozniak remains skeptical, though for reasons he can't exactly share; he keeps these thoughts to himself, tries to simply accept that his son made this decision for a particular reason which he shouldn't question. As the Reich is on its last legs and it becomes clear that Allied forces are likely to arrive soon, many start making plans to flee. The Wozniaks remain at their country home, Frau Wozniak stubbornly believing their troops will pull through, Herr Wozniak rather fatalistic about the outcome. By this point their communication with their son has become sporadic and strained; when he arrives at his own home, hurriedly gathers some belongings, and bustles Karolin and young Pawel off to the car and away, he doesn't bother trying to contact them, knowing it's too risky. Wozniak, Karolin, and Pawel are long gone when the Allies finally arrive; they make it across the border to retrieve forged identity papers from the same extended family which they turned their backs on so long ago. Wozniak is now a Pole masquerading as a German going into hiding as a Pole. The ruse works...for a little while. I don't know what becomes of Frau and Herr Wozniak after. They effectively disappear from their son's and daughter-in-law's lives, and if they do survive the war (I really don't know--technically they would be considered Nazi collaborators), they never reestablish contact with their relatives in Poland. The severing of these two parts of the family is complete. Karolin and Pawel--both ethnic Germans without a trace of Polish blood--are who remain to reach out to the family again. They do the same--and yet the exact opposite--of Wozniak's parents, and discard their German identities for Polish ones to hide in plain sight, escaping to Poland...in an odd way, the circle completes itself, as Paul Wozniak's family returns home. Please see also Frau Wozniak's entry. [Herr Wozniak 2025 [Friday, May 9, 2025, 12:00:11 AM]] |