It was an average day in Germany. Well, an average day after the Nazis attacked, and the occupation of Germany took place. My name is Samuel, and as usual, I was walking home from school with my best friend David and my little sister Anna. Our walks are always peaceful, but today was unfortunately different. “Hey, dirty Jews!” I hear a group of boys shout behind us. David and I keep walking with our heads down and mouths shut. Anna foolishly turns around and sticks her tongue out in a mocking way. I wished I could’ve disappeared. My face is burning with embarrassment as was David’s… You might think we would be used to the name-calling by now, but it still hurts like salt in an open wound.

“Get over here!” the group leader, a tall, blonde, blue-eyed boy, said. I clutch Anna’s hand tighter. There were about 6 boys a little older than me. All three of us turn around, and I notice that the boys are carrying baseball bats. My heart is racing, and I was afraid that I may not return home in time for curfew. The boys look terribly angry. They swing up their bat and are about to strike Anna. As foolish as it was, I had very little time to think, and the powerful blow would injure little Anna terribly, and I couldn’t bear to take that risk. So I quickly tackled the young man. That was enough to distract the group of Hitler Youth members. I tell David to take Anna back to the house.The boys corner me and are yelling and beating me terribly, but as I see David and Anna run far enough out of sight, I feel slightly calmer.

I don’t remember how many times those boys spat on me, hit me, or called me horrible names, but the physical and mental wounds were a forever reminder that humanity can either be a beautiful thing or it can be awful. As my vision begins to get foggy and blood and bruises cover my body, the boys walk away saying slurs. To this day I will never understand how they felt no remorse for their actions, but I guess it will remain unknown. I could barely get up, but I noticed it was getting dark, and I knew that if I didn’t return home by curfew, I could be killed. So with all my remaining strength.I manage to stand up, and with a limp, I run to my house faster than I have ever run in my life. When I get home, my parents immediately pull me in a tight embrace.