Visit from the Gestapo
The next morning my wife was already up to take care of our son. I heard the bell ring. It was 9:00 a.m. My wife opened the door. I heard voices speaking German, which my wife did not speak or understand. She said: "Un moment. Mon mari 'sprechen deutsch'"—Just a minute, my husband speaks German. She came to the bedroom to tell me that two German soldiers were here. I got up, put on my house robe, and came into the living room. I saw two Feldpolizei and told myself they are from the Gestapo. I made a silent prayer to Heavenly Father to help me.

"Heil Hitler!" and I stood to attention looking at the two uniformed soldiers. "How can I be of help? I am Otto Neu, a worker from I.G. Farben in Wolfen on leave. Please excuse me. But I must sit down as I came home yesterday from the hospital after an operation." One was standing at attention with his weapon in his hand. The other was also standing, but with weapon on the shoulder and papers in his hand. The one in charge replied "Heil Hitler!" and told his companion "Ruhe"—At ease. He put down his weapon and also gave the "Heil Hitler!"

I breathed a little easier and felt that the danger was over. I looked at my wife, so that she would understand that it would be best if she left the room with the child. I looked at the radio, which was still tuned to London that we had listened to the previous night before going to sleep, and, going casually to it, moved the dial.

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Robert Neu's Opas Life is the story of the author's father, Otto Paul Neu (known as Opa), before, during, and after World War II in Europe. It covers most of the 20th century with particular emphasis on the 1930's to 1950's in France and Germany. Early in the War, Opa, living in Paris, was interned at Vernet-les-Bains in the Pyrénées Orientales, France. To get out, he "volunteered" to be a guest worker in Germany. He spoke fluent German and was sent to the I.G. Farben factory near Leipzig. At the end of his "extended" contract, he was allowed to return to Paris, where he lived in constant fear of discovery.

A suprise visit by the Gestapo (see above), black-market dealings with a German officer, and sudden arrests by the French National Police keep the Reader in suspense, as does his second deteriorating marriage. With heavy doses of both luck and guile Opa gets through the war and unemployment, and eventually reaches America.

Robert Neu transcribed and edited his father's diaries, added material and illustrations, and made his testimonial into a highly readable story of survival.