The Scooter Anna Obst (Photo from June 1958 on her "Vespa" motor scooter)

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The Story by Peter J. Obst As World War II started in September of 1939 three cars made their way out of Poland toward the safety of Italy. Aboard were members of the Dabrowski and Rey families, and Anna Obst, my father's aunt. After many difficultiess the group finally reached the United States. In the late 1950's, during my young years growing up in Poland, Anna Obst was the mysterious and fascinating "Auntie Andzia from America" whose periodic visits brought a welcome disruption to the normal routine. Through these visits she provided an incredible glimpse into the outside world, filling us with awe and wonder of things that could be. Then in 1963, because of her invitation, our family departed to join her in the United States. Later, I found out how generous and selfless she had been, assisting not only her family but scores of others. In her life she never had a home of her own, never married, and the Vespa scooter she owned for a while in the 1950s was her idea of extravagant luxury. We are fortunate that Anna left us a detailed journal which tells us about her many adventures and also presents a facinating picture of life in Poland during 1920-1939. This was a period when Poland had come to exist again as a recognized nation-state after over a century of non-existence as annexed territory occupied by the neighboring states of Prussia, Russia, and Austria. The interwar period was a time of hope and excitement when Poles from all over the world joined to rebuild their homeland. We hope to publish an English version of these journals and make them available to members of the far-flung Obst family and persons interested in this period in history.

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Rev. 11-29-2010