Persecuted as a Jew by the Nazis and later by the communists in postwar East Germany, Johanna Krause (1907–2001) navigated life with remarkable humor and resilience. Born into poverty in Dresden, she had limited education and worked in various jobs. In 1933, after defending a Jewish man from an attack by brownshirts, she was imprisoned for "insulting the Fuhrer." Following a secret wedding in 1935, she and her husband, Max, were arrested for violating laws against interfaith marriage. Johanna faced numerous atrocities, including a forced abortion while eight months pregnant, sterilization, and imprisonment in several concentration camps, notably Ravensbruck. After the war, the Krauses were initially enthusiastic about building the new socialist republic of East Germany. However, in 1958, Johanna recognized a party official as her wartime assailant. Expecting justice, she was instead met with anti-Semitic attacks, leading to her and her husband’s imprisonment and the confiscation of their business and belongings. After her release, she lived as a persona non grata, expelled from the communist party. It wasn't until the 1990s, following the reunification of Germany, that Johanna finally witnessed justice. Originally published as Zweimal Verfolgt, this narrative is a collaboration between Johanna Krause, Carolyn Gammon, and Christiane Hemker, translated by Carolyn Gammon.
