Alicia's Mother example essay topic

Alicia: My Story, by Alicia Apple man-Jur man, is about a young girl who lives through the horrors of World War II. Through her journeys, her and the many people she meets teach you to help others when they are in need. Even if this means putting your life on the line. One man, Wujcia, let Alicia and her mother live and hide in his house so the Germans won't find them. Alicia met Wujcia while she was looking for work.

She saw a house and went there to ask if help was needed. What she found was a nice old man who lived by himself. She figured that she could trust him, and a few days later, took her mother to him and asked if they could stay in his house. Wujcia was reluctant because he already had three Jews hiding in his house, but he let them stay. (p 157) He endangered his life by doing this because if the Germans found out that he was hiding Jews in his house, he and all the people living in his house would be killed. Later on, Alicia's mother not only endangered her life to help her daughter, she gave it up. Alicia's mother jumped in front of Alicia, and took a bullet that was meant for her daughter.

The part of Europe that Alicia and her mother were in was liberated on March 24, 1944 because the Russians beating Germany. Alicia and her mother then found an apartment in Buczacz, their hometown. A short while later, the tides turned, and the Germans came to recapture the freed Jews. When they came for Alicia and her mother, "one of the SS men stepped back, drew his pistol and aimed it right at me. What happened next added to our nightmare. The gun went off, and my mother lay dead at my feet. ' (p 220).

Alicia's mother had thrown herself between Alicia and the bullet few days later, Alicia freed 7 Russian Partisans who had been caught by the German police. They were wounded and kept in the basement of a building. Alicia got their attention by knocking on the window. "They opened the window, and I reached my arm inside as far as I could A hand grasped mine. I pulled with all my strength and was able to help the fellow pull himself far enough so he was half free Wordlessly he turned and reached back through the window, and soon we were pulling out a second man.

Then a third and fourth. Altogether we managed to free about seven men, all within a very short time. ' (p 240) Alicia put herself in great danger by doing this, for if she was seen by Germans, she would surely have been killed. There should be more people like Alicia, Wujcia, and her mother in this world. People who are willing to help others even if they could suffer consequences. Then the world would be a much safer place.