The Silver SwordThe Silver SwordIan SerraillierIan Serraillier

Grade 7 English Language Grade 7 English Language ArtsArts

During World War 2

The Balicki Family

Joseph (Father, Headmaster)

Margrit (Mother)

Ruth (Daughter, almost 13)

Edek (Son, 11 years)

Bronia (Daughter, 3 years)

Chapter 1. The Escape.Chapter 1. The Escape.

►The Balicki family are spilt up The Balicki family are spilt up during the invasion of Warsaw during the invasion of Warsaw in World War 2.in World War 2.

►Joseph escapes from a Nazi Joseph escapes from a Nazi prison camp in southern prison camp in southern Poland.Poland.

Chapter 2. Journey through Chapter 2. Journey through the air.the air.

►Joseph escapes across the valley in a cable car..

Chapter 3. The Hiding PlaceChapter 3. The Hiding Place

► Joseph meets and is cared for by an Joseph meets and is cared for by an elderly Polish couple.elderly Polish couple.

►The Nazis came searching but Joseph The Nazis came searching but Joseph hid up a chimney to avoid being shot hid up a chimney to avoid being shot or captured.or captured.

Chapter 4. The Silver SwordChapter 4. The Silver Sword..

► Joseph returns to Warsaw to find it Joseph returns to Warsaw to find it destroyed.destroyed.

►He meets Mrs Krause.He meets Mrs Krause.

► Joseph finds the silver sword and gives Joseph finds the silver sword and gives it to a young boy.it to a young boy.

Chapter 5 The Goods Train.Chapter 5 The Goods Train.

► Joseph meets the boy again.Joseph meets the boy again.►The boy whose name is Jan introduces The boy whose name is Jan introduces

himself to Joseph.himself to Joseph.► Joseph gives the silver sword to Jan.Joseph gives the silver sword to Jan.►With Jan’s help Joseph gets on to a With Jan’s help Joseph gets on to a

goods train.goods train.►New characterNew character Jan Jan

Chapter 6.The Night of the Chapter 6.The Night of the Storm Troopers.Storm Troopers.

►Margrit is taken away by the Nazis. Margrit is taken away by the Nazis. ►Edek shoots at them and the tire of Edek shoots at them and the tire of

their van.their van.►The Nazis return to blow up the The Nazis return to blow up the

house.house.►The children escape by running The children escape by running

along the rooftopsalong the rooftops..

Chapter 7. Winter and Chapter 7. Winter and Summer HomesSummer Homes

►Ruth, Bronia and Edek make a summer home in the woods and a winter home in a bombed cellar in Warsaw.

►Edek goes missing.

Chapter 8. The NewcomerChapter 8. The Newcomer

►The Nazis are under attack from all sides The Nazis are under attack from all sides by the Allies (England, America and the by the Allies (England, America and the Russians).Russians).

►Bronia finds a sick boy lying on the street. Bronia finds a sick boy lying on the street. They care for him.They care for him.

►A girl finds a wooden box that belongs to A girl finds a wooden box that belongs to the boy.the boy.

►He told them his name . It was JanHe told them his name . It was Jan..

Other People in Chapter 8Other People in Chapter 8

►Marshal Rokossovsky (Russian Army)Marshal Rokossovsky (Russian Army)►General Bor (Polish Army)General Bor (Polish Army)►P.M. Churchill (England)P.M. Churchill (England)►Stalin (Russia)Stalin (Russia)►Yankel (a boy in the street)Yankel (a boy in the street)►Eva (one of the school children)Eva (one of the school children)

Chapter 9. The Russian Chapter 9. The Russian SentrySentry

►Ruth visits the Russian control post.Ruth visits the Russian control post.►She meets Ivan at his sentry post.She meets Ivan at his sentry post.►She passes him and requests school She passes him and requests school

supplies from the lieutenant.supplies from the lieutenant.►She makes friends with Ivan who She makes friends with Ivan who

visits them. visits them.

Chapter 10. More help from Chapter 10. More help from IvanIvan► Ivan provides boots for the children on Ivan provides boots for the children on

their long journey to Switzerlandtheir long journey to Switzerland

►War does strange things to young War does strange things to young peoplepeople

Chapter 11. The Road to Posen.Chapter 11. The Road to Posen. ►The children travel to Posen on the way to The children travel to Posen on the way to

Switzerland.Switzerland.

►They are hopingThey are hoping► 1. To find Edek,1. To find Edek,► 2. To get some food,2. To get some food,► 3. To get a lift.3. To get a lift.

► Edek who has T.B. has ran away from Warthe Edek who has T.B. has ran away from Warthe Camp.Camp.

Chapter 12. The HandChapter 12. The Hand

► The children get food.

► They are reunited with Edek.

► Jimpy the cock dies in a stampede.

Chapter 13.Frozen Journey Chapter 13.Frozen Journey

► The children travel by train towards Berlin.

► Edek tells everybody about his adventure.

► Some did not believe him.

Chapter 14. City of the LostChapter 14. City of the Lost

►They reach Berlin at the end of May.They reach Berlin at the end of May.

► They go to a camp They go to a camp wherewhere they are cared they are cared for.for.

► Jan runs away to go find an escaped Jan runs away to go find an escaped chimpanzee. chimpanzee.

Chapter 15. Jan finds a new pal.Chapter 15. Jan finds a new pal.

►Officer Mark writes a letter to his wife Officer Mark writes a letter to his wife Jane and daughter Jenny.Jane and daughter Jenny.

►He tells her about the state of Berlin.He tells her about the state of Berlin.

► Jan and the Balicki children.Jan and the Balicki children.

►The escaped chimpanzee and it’s The escaped chimpanzee and it’s antics.antics.

Chapter 16 Through the Russian Chapter 16 Through the Russian ZoneZone

As they pass through the Russian Zone Edek tells them many tales of his adventures

Chapter 17 The SignalChapter 17 The Signal

►The children rest to take care of Edek.The children rest to take care of Edek.

►Ruth and Jan get jobs.Ruth and Jan get jobs.

►Edek is arrested at the train signal Edek is arrested at the train signal while following Jan who was stealing while following Jan who was stealing food from the trains.food from the trains.

Chapter 18 Captain Chapter 18 Captain GreenwoodGreenwood

► Ruth defends Edek in court.Ruth defends Edek in court.

► She tells the judge, Captain Greenwood that She tells the judge, Captain Greenwood that Jan was guilty of the crime.Jan was guilty of the crime.

► Jan prompted and scolded by Ruth tells the Jan prompted and scolded by Ruth tells the judge about stopping trains and stealing food.judge about stopping trains and stealing food.

► Jan is sentenced to detention for a week.Jan is sentenced to detention for a week.

Chapter 19. The Bavarian Chapter 19. The Bavarian FarmerFarmer

► The children rest in a barn.The children rest in a barn.

► While searching Kurt is struck by turnips While searching Kurt is struck by turnips thrown by Jan.thrown by Jan.

► The children eat breakfast and tells of their The children eat breakfast and tells of their journey.journey.

► Kurt tells them of the Burgomasters work to Kurt tells them of the Burgomasters work to send all refugees Kurt puts them all except send all refugees Kurt puts them all except Edek working on the farm back to their own Edek working on the farm back to their own countriescountries

Chapter 20. The BurgomasterChapter 20. The Burgomaster

► The Burgomaster crashes while coming to The Burgomaster crashes while coming to visit Kurt.visit Kurt.

► Edek, who pretends to be German helps to Edek, who pretends to be German helps to replace the burst tyre.replace the burst tyre.

► Bronia interrupts and speaks in Polish. Bronia interrupts and speaks in Polish.

Chapter 21. OrdersChapter 21. Orders

► The Burgomaster returns to tell Kurt that the The Burgomaster returns to tell Kurt that the children are to be collected and sent back to children are to be collected and sent back to Poland. Poland.

► Kurt appeals on behalf of the children and Kurt appeals on behalf of the children and shows him the Silver Sword.shows him the Silver Sword.

► The Burgomaster is not impressed.The Burgomaster is not impressed.

Chapter 22. The Farmer hits Chapter 22. The Farmer hits on a plan.on a plan.

►Using two canoes repaired by Kurt the Using two canoes repaired by Kurt the children escape.children escape.

► Jan hides Ludwig (the family pet dog) Jan hides Ludwig (the family pet dog) in his canoe.in his canoe.

►They plan to go as far as the Danube.They plan to go as far as the Danube.

Chapter 23. Dangerous Chapter 23. Dangerous WatersWaters

► The children travel in two canoes along the The children travel in two canoes along the Falkenberg River.Falkenberg River.

► They meet dangerous rapids, boulders and rocks.They meet dangerous rapids, boulders and rocks.

► A soldier shoots at and attempts to grab Ruth A soldier shoots at and attempts to grab Ruth and Bronia’s canoe.and Bronia’s canoe.

► The canoes are separated but the children are The canoes are separated but the children are reunited.reunited.

Chapter 24. MissingChapter 24. Missing

►The Silver Sword goes missing.The Silver Sword goes missing.

►Edek is seriously ill.Edek is seriously ill.

► Jan and Ludwig go missing during the Jan and Ludwig go missing during the night.night.

►A lorry driven by Joe Wolski stops and A lorry driven by Joe Wolski stops and offers help.offers help.

Chapter 25. Joe WolskiChapter 25. Joe Wolski

► Joe Wolski, an American G.I. of Polish Joe Wolski, an American G.I. of Polish parentage transports the children to the Red parentage transports the children to the Red Cross camp on the shore of Lake Constance.Cross camp on the shore of Lake Constance.

► He talks happily to the children and tells He talks happily to the children and tells them about the hyena and the bear in the them about the hyena and the bear in the back of the truck.back of the truck.

► They turns out to be Jan and Ludwig.They turns out to be Jan and Ludwig.

Chapter 26. News at lastChapter 26. News at last

► The superintendent tells Ruth that he has The superintendent tells Ruth that he has received messages from their father and from received messages from their father and from Kurt Wolff.Kurt Wolff.

► Father is in Appanzell (on the Swiss side of the Father is in Appanzell (on the Swiss side of the lake).lake).

► He promised to phone Ruth.He promised to phone Ruth.

► Kurt forwards the Silver Sword. Kurt forwards the Silver Sword.

Chapter 27. The StormChapter 27. The Storm

► The children are caught up in a storm.The children are caught up in a storm.

► Edek is seperated from the family.Edek is seperated from the family.

► They find a boat and climb aboard.They find a boat and climb aboard.

► Ludwig runs away.Ludwig runs away.

► Jan makes a big decision - the family or Jan makes a big decision - the family or Ludwig. Ludwig.

Chapter 28. The Meeting Chapter 28. The Meeting

► Ruth wakes up in the cabin of a boat.Ruth wakes up in the cabin of a boat.► She is concerned about the children but meet them She is concerned about the children but meet them

later.later.

► No one understand her except one person who is No one understand her except one person who is her father.her father.

► She is reunited with her father and mother.She is reunited with her father and mother.

► Jan tells about all the treasures that he has lost but Jan tells about all the treasures that he has lost but still has the Silver Sword.still has the Silver Sword.

► Jan asks to be adopted by Margrit.Jan asks to be adopted by Margrit.

Chapter 29. The New Chapter 29. The New BeginningBeginning

► An account of the families new life 1946-7.An account of the families new life 1946-7.► Margrit and Joseph are in charge of the Polish Margrit and Joseph are in charge of the Polish

House in the International Children's Village.House in the International Children's Village.► Bronia drew many pictures of war.Bronia drew many pictures of war.► Edek suffered from TB but studies to become an Edek suffered from TB but studies to become an

engineer.engineer.► Jan mends his ways and is often called to care for Jan mends his ways and is often called to care for

sick animals.sick animals.► Ruth eventually becomes a teacher and marries a Ruth eventually becomes a teacher and marries a

French man.French man.► She is in charge of the French house.She is in charge of the French house.