Life_under_Siege_The_Jews_of_Magdeburg_under_Nazi_Rule.pdf

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Marianne, and son, Gerhard (Gerry) that all was well, but that the Gestapo was
arresting Jewish males between the ages of twenty-one and sixty-five years. They
were relieved that at least both grandfathers had been spared. Marianne Levy’s
elderly father lived with them at that time.
When two men arrived from the Gestapo at the Levys’ apartment, they sought
‘Ernst Georg Levy.’ 23 Marianne Levy replied that only an Ernst Levy lived there.
The men left, somewhat confused. When they returned later they simply requested
‘Ernst Levy.’ Levy’s wife replied that she did not know where her husband was.
The two men inquired as to who the old man was and Marianne Levy’s father
proudly introduced himself and informed them that he was a war veteran, awarded
the Iron Cross and that he had served three German emperors. They ignored the
old man and made a number of derisive remarks, when the Levys’ non-Jewish
maid appeared. When the Gestapo officers asked her who she was, she declared:
‘Ich bin Frau Lackomie und ich bin Arierin! [My name is Mrs Lackomie and I am
an ‘Aryan’!]’ Stupified as to why she was working there they told her to get out
immediately, which she did. Gerry Levy recalled how shocked both he and his
mother were at this woman’s behaviour as she had been with the family for over
twenty years, had always been very warm to them, even bringing them gifts and
produce from her vegetable garden. 24
By this stage the officers were becoming impatient and ordered that if Levy
did not report to their offices by the next morning, then they would take Marianne
Levy’s father. Understandably, the old man became very upset. Fearing the
telephone was under surveillance, Gerry Levy was then sent by his mother on his
bicycle to his grandparents to inform his father. Gerry Levy then returned home.
23 Levy, op. cit., 7 November 1996.
24 Ibid.