Dancing Under the Red Star (14 page)

Those fine men kept their promise. A month or so after their departure, Leslie and Mac sent us a telegram from England. It said, in effect, “Dear Margaret: We went to the American Consulate in London and told them about your case. They said they would look into it, but they were not sure what they could do to help. I have other ideas. I will be in touch soon. Best regards, Mac.”

They had tried all possible avenues to help but couldn’t find any practical solution to our plight. Although my friends could not have known it, this telegram would forever alter the course of my life. I know they meant well and only tried to help us, but their good intentions were miscalculated. The Russians, of course, censored all foreign mail.

I have only myself to blame for this serious lack of foresight. This incident would become the primary reason for my misfortunes, which began in 1945. However, there were no immediate repercussions. For the time being, life went on as usual. And despite the outcome, I was always grateful to my British friends for their support and genuine kindness to Mama and me.

1932, the ocean liner Hamburg carrying the Ford employees and their families toward Russia. Margaret (second row, fourth from right in scarf) with Elisabeth behind her (to right of woman waving) and Carl Werner (identified with arrow)

Margaret (age 4), Detroit, 1925

Carl, Elisabeth, and Margaret on board the Hamburg, April 1932

Margaret (seated in front), Carl (third from right), Elisabeth (fourth from right), Gorky’s American Village, 1934

Carl, Gorky, between 1933 and 1938

Margaret, in the photo she tried to give her father on the day of his arrest, “For Papa Darling from your loving daughter, June 29, 1938”

Carl (first row, second from right), Ford’s Autostroy tool and die design shop, Gorky, 1933

Margaret (on chair, bottom right), Sanya Dubcek (front row, far left), high school graduation class, Gorky, 1939

Margaret (age 19), Gorky, November 1940

Margaret (age 21), working in Gorky, 1942

Margaret (top right), Tamara (center, with book), “Flower Waltz,” the Inta ballet group, 1955

Margaret, “Snake Dance,” the Inta ballet group, 1955