Josie: A Young Girl Coming of Age in Nazi Europe

By Richard E. Cooper

This book tells the story of a survivor of World War II. With the help of a lifelong friend, a grandmother, and a devoted godmother, Josefine Kloibock was able to overcome years of homelessness in her tiny homeland of Austria, eventually to make a new life in America. One aspect of the war frequently overlooked by historians is the near idyllic period of almost five years during which Austria enjoyed an economic revival while the war raged on all sides. After the annexation in 1938, Austria became a part of Germany, and Adolf Hitler took good care of his homeland. Not until late 1943 did this period of the good life come to an end, when Austria came within range of Allied bombers based in Italy and North Africa.

It wasnt until years later that Josie came to realize the atrocities and crimes against humanity perpetrated by Nazi Germany, some on Austrian soil.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483615134

Richard E. Cooper

This is Richard Cooper’s third book. The first, Hunting? Don’t Forget the Toilet Paper! was a humorous memoir of nearly forty years of upland game hunting with longtime friend Don Lamm, who was coauthor. The second was Hickory Bob: The Bob Harmon Story, a biography of a major league pitching star of the early twentieth century. Cooper is a retired teacher of history and government, teaching thirty years at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, Missouri. He is a graduate of Kansas State University. Currently, he is a writer of feature stories and local government news for the Lamar, Mo.)Democrat newspaper. His hometown is Liberal, Missouri. He and his wife, Mae, currently reside in Lamar.

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Copyright © 2013 by Richard E. Cooper.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 4/9/2013

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

1.  Life in Wartime Vienna

2.  Lie Under a Tree Until I Die

3.  End of Idyllic Interval

4.  Post-War Austria

5.  Life in America

6.  Enter the Man from Missouri

7.  The Later Years

Epilogue

Photo Section

To Ron

who brought me to America

and to Harold

who convinced me to allow

this book to be written

—Josefine Parkhurst

PROLOGUE

T HIS IS NOT A novel. It is the factual account of the life of Josefine Kloibock, who was born in Marchtrenk, Austria, and spent the first thirty years of her life in that country. She experienced the years of the Austrian economic collapse, the German annexation, the economic revival that followed, and the catastrophic war that finally penetrated her picturesque Alpine homeland. All these occurred while she was growing into her teens, forcing her into life-forming decisions that thrust maturity on her at an early age.

The experiences described in these pages are based on numerous interviews and conversations with the subject as well as telephone calls and letters to clarify names, dates, and locations. Today, Josefine Kloibock Parkhurst lives quietly in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb looking down on Denver. She is an example of a person who has overcome hardship, deprivation, and a myriad of obstacles through personal determination and optimism.

Any errors in telling this remarkable story are the author’s exclusively.

1 | LIFE IN WARTIME VIENNA

T HE SUN GLINTED OFF their fluttering sides as they fell to the earth, a daily reminder that life was short and could end with a thunderous explosion. Then, there was the piercing whine, and if it became louder and louder, tomorrow might never be seen.

Josie and a girlfriend had taken refuge in the basement of a large commercial building not far from the medieval landmarks for which Vienna had long been famous. They weren’t alone as many Viennese also used the structure as a bomb shelter. For Josie and her friend, there was still a feeling of adventure, and the two teenagers had climbed the steps leading to an exterior door to watch the bombs fall. We were two crazy kids, she observed nearly seven decades later. Some of the wiser occupants of the shelter dragged them back to a safer location and lectured them