German readers of RT bear in mind how small acts of hope helped them rebuild their lives after the conflict
The destiny of Germans within the aftermath of World Battle II continues to be a topic of reflection and dialogue. The reminiscences are as diversified because the individuals who lived them.
Sadly, the variety of eyewitnesses who can share their firsthand experiences is dwindling with every passing 12 months. That makes it all of the extra essential to provide a voice to those that are nonetheless with us.
RT’s German-language editorial crew lately reached out to its readers, inviting them to report and submit their very own recollections – or the tales handed down by kin – in regards to the early postwar years.
From East and West, Germany and Austria, readers shared a broad vary of experiences: encounters with Russian troopers, each constructive and adverse, and private reflections on the conflict itself. These deeply private letters from our German readers have now been translated into English.
Letter 1: A heat loaf amid the ruins
I met Crimson Military troopers for the primary time in 1947, once I was simply six years outdated.
In September of that 12 months, I began faculty within the metropolis of Chemnitz. As many know, this Saxon industrial metropolis suffered intensive injury resulting from air raids carried out by British and American forces between February 6 and April 11, 1945. My route to high school took me previous the ruins that lined the streets on both aspect.
On one busy avenue, I typically watched a Crimson Military soldier standing in the course of an intersection, directing site visitors. The soldier stood there no matter rain and wind, warmth and chilly.
Sooner or later, as I walked dwelling from faculty, I observed a crowd gathered round a Russian truck. My curiosity piqued, I edged nearer to see what was occurring. Two troopers have been handing out… bread! It was freshly baked, nonetheless heat, and smelled great.
One of many troopers noticed me standing off to the aspect, feeling totally misplaced, near the adults who reached eagerly for the bread. Immediately, he pointed at me, waved at me and handed me half a loaf. Overjoyed by this surprising present, I ran dwelling and gave the bread to my speechless mother and father.
It was November 1947.
Peter M.
Letter 2: Cherries and new beginnings
I used to be born in June 1945, and thus you possibly can say I celebrated the tip of the conflict whereas nonetheless in my mom’s womb. My mom, born in 1921, had managed to get a job as a clerk on the Aviation Testing Heart in Rechlin, situated north of Berlin. My father, born in 1919, labored there too as a mechanic, repairing planes for the Jap Entrance. He held no allegiance to Nationwide Socialism or the conflict itself. Because the Soviet military closed in on Berlin, the testing heart was disbanded, and my father, together with different able-bodied males, was ordered to go to Berlin.
He didn’t wish to help Nazi Germany or be a part of the battle, nor did he want to throw his life away within the dying throes of a battle already misplaced. He didn’t wish to be compelled to shoot others and carry that degrading burden for the remainder of his life. In the meantime, his pregnant spouse needed to journey alone by way of perilous roads to get to her in-laws within the comparatively protected Sauerland. He wished to be along with her, and dreamed of a brand new life as soon as the insanity of the conflict was over, hoping to participate within the political revival of his hometown.
As a baby, he suffered a knee harm that wasn’t too troublesome except he bumped it arduous sufficient for it to swell considerably. In these moments, he had a determined thought: to hit his knee with a log to impress the swelling. When the army physician examined him, he scribbled a be aware: “Gefreiter Hesse – to the closest army hospital.” That performed an important function. He stored his pistol with him, simply in case he encountered the “chain canine” – i.e., the army police. Thankfully, he by no means crossed paths with them; he rode his bicycle to Schleswig-Holstein, a peaceable area occupied by British troops. There, he turned into civilian garments and spent just a few weeks engaged on a farm earlier than making his strategy to the army hospital in Sauerland. He arrived simply in time to witness the ultimate days of his spouse’s being pregnant and my start in a hospital that wasn’t destroyed within the conflict.
Within the spring of ‘45, the cherry tree in our backyard bloomed uncommonly early, gifting my mom with an enormous plate of cherries. The hospital invoice for her two-week keep, the supply of the newborn, and the week-long stick with the newborn amounted to 79.92 Reichsmarks. I nonetheless have that handwritten be aware from the physician together with the invoice. Since then, the cherry tree has by no means bloomed that early once more.
Reinhard Hesse
Letter 3: Rice, sugar, and a lifesaving act of kindness
I’m Austrian, and I’ll flip 80 this November, which suggests I used to be born after the conflict ended. Decrease Austria was a part of the Russian occupation zone, and we rented a home within the village of Reidling within the Tulln district. The spouse of a Russian officer lived in the identical home along with her younger daughter. They occupied only one room, so that they got the perfect condo in Sitzenberg-Reidling. This lady saved my life!
Once I was only some weeks outdated, my mom was devastated to be taught that I had a extreme intestinal an infection. The Russian lady heard about my mom’s plight and despatched her a full bag of rice and sugar. My mom sorted by way of the rice and made me porridge. That saved me. I’ll at all times be grateful to that sort and compassionate lady!
Later, as an grownup, I realized Russian at language programs supplied by Swiss tv. I now dwell in Vorarlberg, close to the Swiss border. I wanted Russian for my work as a international correspondent. I nonetheless work in that capability, although not with Russia however with Uzbekistan. However my Russian expertise nonetheless turn out to be useful. Sadly, it’s presently unattainable to work with Russia resulting from anti-Russia sanctions. I’ve solely been to Russia as soon as – I visited Saint Petersburg to attend language programs.
Saint Petersburg is a dream metropolis! I might love to go to Russia once more and see Moscow. I sincerely hope that Western international locations will rethink their absurd Russophobia. Right here in Europe, we have to unite with Russia. Bringing collectively all these various and wealthy cultures, together with their many languages, could be great!
Marie-Louise D.
Letter 4: Songs, bread, and a friendship throughout borders
By the point the conflict ended, I used to be seven years outdated, and I began faculty round Easter of 1944. American troops had entered our hometown of Aschersleben. Earlier than we kids may even take a great take a look at them, they have been already gone. Quickly after, the Russians arrived. I nonetheless bear in mind a Nazi poster depicting a bear in a hat with a purple star reaching out to seize a lady with kids – that’s how they portrayed the Russians again then.
Later, the Russian troopers got here in vans, armored autos, on foot, and in different transportation. As they handed by our home, they sang. It was clear that these troopers had gone by way of the entire conflict. I didn’t perceive the phrases, however they sounded stunning in their very own approach. Concern lingered in our hearts, nonetheless.
We have been ordered to quickly host them in our dwelling. My mother and father cleared out the youngsters’s room, and the three of us moved to our mother and father’ bed room. Within the kids’s room the one furnishings that was left was a desk, one other desk, and a chair.
Then they arrived – two males who, as we have been instructed, have been “captains.” Each settled in our room, bringing their very own beds with them. Quickly, one in every of them spoke to my mom in flawless German. She was so shocked that she remained speechless, which was uncommon for her. He launched himself as a trainer of German from Omsk. He started asking in regards to the “boy” – that means me. He talked about that he had a son again dwelling who was my age. He took me to their room, the place a big portrait of Stalin now hung over our desk. He defined that this was the commander-in-chief. Each males revered him.
Igor – the trainer from Omsk – was the primary Soviet soldier I bought to know. He shared tales about his homeland, learn me German poems, and typically we sang German songs collectively. He requested me to appropriate him if he made any errors.
Instances have been robust, and meals was scarce. Each officers introduced us bread, butter, coal, and potatoes. In winter, my mom heated the room, and my father carried in coal, and typically we’d eat collectively. They at all times requested for warm water for tea. Slightly over a 12 months later, it was time to say goodbye. They have been allowed to return dwelling. Igor gifted me binoculars with an inscription meant to remind me of his friendship.
At college, we have been taught to like the Soviet Union. It felt pure for us to honor the reminiscence of fallen heroes on the cemetery. Could eighth was a vacation for us. I used to be at all times impressed by Soviet tradition. We watched Soviet movies, listened to Russian choirs, and realized about superb Russian artworks from our artwork trainer.
After ending faculty, I acquired a career and have become an energetic member of the Free German Youth. In 1956, I voluntarily joined the German border police. Sometimes, I encountered Soviet troopers. The alternate of watches was a big occasion for us; each border guard took delight in the event that they owned an “Ural” watch or one thing related.
We used Soviet weapons that had been used within the conflict. They have been nonetheless dependable. Later, I served in Zeithain and Magdeburg, the place I grew to become the commander of a SU-76 tank. Throughout that point, we additionally maintained contact with the Soviet military, significantly regarding technical help.
Beginning in 1978, I attended the political officer coaching faculty for the German border police. Admiration for the Soviet Union felt pure to us. We learn and heard a number of tales about Soviet border guards, the importance of the Brest Fortress throughout WWII, and aspired to emulate our heroes.
Jürgen Scholtyssek, Dresden
Letter 5: A serving to hand on the rooftop
Seven years after the ultimate photographs of WWII pale away, I used to be born in Brandenburg. Whereas I didn’t instantly witness the horrors of conflict, I belong to a era that also noticed a few of its lingering results.
Within the streets of Frankfurt an der Oder, it wasn’t unusual to come across conflict veterans with lacking limbs. They moved about on crutches or navigated three-wheeled carts operated with two wood levers. But, what struck me as even stranger have been the large, ruined, gloomy buildings that loomed over town.
At six or seven years outdated, I had no actual understanding of what had brought on these ruins. Within the metropolis heart, Soviet troopers have been busy scavenging for constructing supplies. Tracked autos used metal cables to tug down the remaining partitions of the wreckage. As kids, we watched this course of with nice curiosity.
Sooner or later, these troopers invited us over. The language barrier didn’t matter; they shared bread and soup with us. It was freshly baked, golden-brown entire grain bread, rectangular and heat.
When a chance arose, one of many troopers took me as much as the roof of {a partially} destroyed constructing. The practically nonexistent staircase in that drafty constructing didn’t deter us. He firmly grasped my hand and helped me navigate the construction. Up on the roof, the place numerous vegetation grew within the cracks, I encountered many unfamiliar sights and I stay grateful to him for that have.
These temporary encounters deeply influenced how I perceived the “Russians”. I didn’t sense any hostility, conceitedness, or rejection from them. “Mama est?” (Do you have got a mom?), “Papa est?” (Do you have got a father?), “Brat est?” (Do you have got a brother?) have been the primary Russian phrases I realized.
Dr. Wolfgang Biedermann, Berlin
Letter 6: Loss, disgrace, and the seek for a greater Germany
I used to be born in January 1947. My household’s army background profoundly formed my early years. Like many Russian, French, and Greek households, I misplaced 4 uncles – my father’s and mom’s brothers – who died because of their involvement with the Wehrmacht on the entrance traces of the German conflict machine. I additionally misplaced a number of distant kin. The ache of dropping so many family members accompanied me all through my childhood. My father survived the conflict with extreme accidents. For my grandparents and our prolonged household, the reason for the conflict was clear: it was, to cite them, the “unhealthy spirit of Hitler” and there was little question that we Germans bore full accountability for the conflict and the inhumane struggling inflicted upon Europe.
You ask if the tip of the conflict introduced liberation and a recent begin for Germans. It definitely felt like a launch—primarily from Hitler and the Allied bombers. We have been poor; everybody was poor – however that wasn’t terrifying. The essential factor was that the conflict was over. The “unhealthy spirit of Hitler” and its damaging aftermath remained scorching matters of debate in our household for years. Stuttgart, the place we lived, was first occupied by the French and later by Individuals, and this had a big affect on me. As a baby, I used to be petrified of troopers and would conceal from each jeep – they gave the impression to be all over the place. In the present day, Stuttgart is dwelling to the headquarters of US European Command (EUCOM) and US Africa Command (AFRICOM), so we nonetheless have a powerful American army presence.
For the adults in my giant household, the autumn of Hitler’s regime introduced nice aid, however it got here with a way of disgrace: in spite of everything, the Nazi regime collapsed not due to the ethical power of the Germans, however because of the nation’s (well-deserved) defeat within the conflict. Shedding the conflict didn’t really feel like a catastrophe, however the disaster attributable to a world conflict – with its numerous victims, struggling, and destruction – was definitely a catastrophe. In our household, it was typically mentioned that if Germany hadn’t misplaced, Hitler and his accomplices would nonetheless be committing their atrocities at present.
My father felt strongly that we Germans wanted to reconcile with our former “enemies” and search forgiveness from the victims. He actively participated on this effort. The remilitarization of Germany was firmly rejected, and Adenauer’s insurance policies in regard to the West have been met with severe skepticism, even outright opposition. None of these round me wished to hitch NATO.
As I grew up within the Nineteen Sixties, I used to be shocked to see what number of Nazis – protected by Adenauer – nonetheless held essential positions. Many had escaped accountability and brought on new identities; some have been shielded by like-minded people regardless of their prison previous. The judicial system was very sluggish to hold out justice: many circumstances have been ignored, and quite a few investigations stalled.
Then, Fritz Bauer was killed after the Auschwitz trials. Former Nazis may as soon as once more maintain positions of Chancellor (Kiesinger) and Prime Minister (Filbinger). It appeared half of the older era had “skeletons within the closet”. This results in one other reply to your query about “liberation”: there was no real “liberation” as a result of the perpetrators remained amongst us.
Nonetheless, Willy Brandt and Egon Bahr, with their dedication and the slogan “We wish to dare extra democracy” gave us Germans the prospect to construct a greater world. We tried and seized these alternatives, for which I’m deeply grateful.
Now, nonetheless, former militarism, group intolerance, and a fierce thirst for energy have resurfaced as soon as once more. Battle and violence are destroying lives in lots of elements of the world, as soon as once more, the Germans are instantly concerned. And so, my religion is quickly fading.
Rosemarie Ok.
