Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger asked Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger:

The Reschen Valley Series – In Chapter 14, when Katharina and Florian get married, a new threat rears its head. What is beginning to happen within the community? Why?

Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger I aimed to write about a tight-knit community that depends on one another for its survival in the harsh environment of the alpine valley.

After the Great War, the Reschen Valley is reeling from its losses and the economic hardships they face with inflation and loss of workers. Anyone familiar with the Treaty of St Germaine is familiar with how the conditions of that treaty affected the losing sides and eventually led to WW2. That’s where we have Katharina. Then comes the annexation by Italy.

And the Italian authorities are beginning a program of systematic oppression on the German-speaking population. The threat of taking away their land is one of the most frightening of all.

This is naturally going to cause resentment, bitterness, and even talk about revolt. Our first peek at this is how Florian—who is also an outsider—gets treated by the locals. It’s really subtle at first, beginning with Toni Ritsch, the Thalers and Steinhauser’s neighbor. He makes fun of Florian, calling him something of a “softie” for not drinking with the boys during Florian and Katharina’s wedding.

Then it becomes less subtle when Dr Hanny comes in drunk, obviously upset about something. Namely, Jutta’s husband, Fritz, has somehow reappeared. Just before she can win the inn for herself, and thus some security.

And then there is Dr Hanny’s knowledge of what is going to happen with the bank and the mortgages, namely that the Italians would put such demands on the locals in debt, that taking their land would be like taking candy from a baby. These are the first fissures and cracks we see in this otherwise supportive community. Slowly, but surely, we also see that some of the neighbors are collaborating with the Italians, are taking advantage of what they have to offer if they submit to Italian rule and law. Whilst, on the other side, we know that people like Jutta Hanny and Toni Ritsch are nursing their resentment, fear and hate of the Italians, and will criticize anyone who shows any sympathies to the “other” side.

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