Czechmate

And the bottom drawer of life

---- Michael Condé-Jahnel ----

The Book / The Story

English

This story is sourced from authentic family papers chronicling life altering events.

It starts with an unfinished manuscript by my father, describing the upheaval in his life from the early 1930's until the end of WWII.

It reports the rising tensions between family members, some with libertarian views like my father and others already connected to the 'inner circle' of Hitler's disciples in Berlin. It includes accounts of my uncle's work for Albert Speer at the Reich's chancellery and his military service under Rommel.

There are the journal notes of my mother of the Russian invasion, the Czech reprisal, our perilous escape and the eventual resettlement.

The papers and my parent's exchanges of letters speak of the triumph of unconditional love between two people during the most difficult time of their lives.

German

Ein unvollendetes Manuskript meines Vaters (1946) und bislang unveroeffentliche Ereignisse zwischen Anfang der 30iger Jahre bis zur Nachkriegsperiode.

Er berichtet ueber Kontakt einiger Familienmitglieder mit dem inneren Kreis in Berlin (Speer/Rommel) und familiaere Spannungen zwischen den liberalen Ansichten meines Vaters und Anderen bereits dem wachsenden Gespenst des Nationalismus verschrieben.

Die Tagesbuch Notizen meiner Mutter ueber den Einmarsch der Russen, Vergeltung der Tschechen, unsere Flucht, die Wiederherstellung nach dem Krieg in Hamburg.

Diese Unterlagen fuehrten zu 'Czechmate and the bottom drawer of life'.

Publisher: Tablo Pty Ltd. (May 2020)
Language: English
Hardcover: 392 pages

Available on Amazon and major booksellers internationally.

About the Author

He had no idea about the existence of the family papers until his mother's death. His father's manuscript and mother's notes were discovered in a well-worn leather valise. They had never talked about any of it. The family tensions during their early lives, the ravages of war, the loss of nearly everything they ever owned.

Freelance consultant by day, novice novelist at night, he wanted to connect the dots. Michael has finished writing their story late in his own life. 'Czechmate, and the bottom drawer of life' is a tribute to them.

Michael is world travelled and multilingual. He resides in Nova Scotia with his wife Catherine and loyal dog Baron.

Author's Note

This story is a microcosm of millions of others. A love story of two people seeking to be reunited after years of separation. It begins during the Great Depression of 1931 and the outbreak of WW II.

A rough outline of the story was conceived during the Great Recession of 2008. It was then followed by many years of research, both on-site in Europe and at libraries in Germany and the Czech Republic to confirm the authenticity of the family papers.

This book was finally published some ten years later during the world's worst health and financial crisis in modern history.

Ueber den Autor

Er wusste nichts von der Existenz der Familienpapiere. Das Manuskript des Vaters und Notizen seiner Mutter. Sie sprachen nie darueber. Die familiaeren Spannungen am Anfang ihres Lebens, die Verwuestungen des Krieges, der Verlust von allem was ihnen jemals gehoerte.

Geschaeftsberater bei Tag, Anfaenger Roman Autor am Abend, Michael vollendete die Erzaehlung ihrer Geschichte spaet im eigenen Leben. 'Czechmate, and the bottom drawer of life' ist ihre Hommage. Michael ist Weltreisender und mehrsprachig. Er lebt in Nova Scotia mit seiner Frau Catherine and treuem Hund Baron.

Anmerkung des Verfassers

Eine Liebesgeschichte von zwei Menschen durch schwierige Jahre der Trennung.

Die in 'Czechmate' erfassten Ereignisse fanden waehrend der Weltwirtschaftskrise der 30iger Jahre und im zweiten Weltkrieg statt.

Der erste Entwurf dieses Buches entstand waehrend der grossen Finanzkrise in 2008. Endlich verlegt nach mehr als zehn Jahren am Anfang der schlimmsten Gesundheits und Finanzkrise des letzten Jahrhunderts.

Our Town

This painting is the central square of our town, Reichenberg/Liberec. It was created by my uncle Hugo Jahnel, renowned architect and artist in 1931, as a wedding present to my parents. The building on the upper left shows a partial view of the city hall.

The building on the right was my grandfather's business; it also included the town's public library. When I returned in 1998, the lower portion of the building stood empty, but the library was still there on the upper floor.

The town theater and opera house are on the lower left, where Hitler and Rommel hosted 'An evening with the Fuehrer' in March of 1939.

Unsere Stadt

Zentraler Platz unserer Stadt, Reichenberg/Liberec, gemalt von meinem Onkel Hugo Jahnel in 1931 zur Hochzeit meiner Eltern.

Rechts das elterliche Geschaeft und Verwaltungsgebaeude und die Biobliothek der Stadt in den oberen Etagen. Diese Bestand noch nach meiner ersten Rueckkehr 1998. Links oben, auf der anderen Strassenseite, eine Teilansicht vom Rathaus. Das Theater und Opernhaus ist links unten. Es war dort wo Hitler und Rommel 'Einen Abend mit dem Fuehrer' im Maerz 1939 veranstalteten.