Dear Willy, The True Story of a Life Well Lived

By Claire Ohlsson Geheb

Travel Back in Time
During historically tragic times a young man pursued his quest to save himself and his family.
Experience the lives of a German American immigrant and his family in Germany during the tumultuous years 1914 to 1947. Dear Willy is about contrasts, love, loyalties and how determination can lead to a different life. Willy Geheb was an adventurer; alone he faced the ocean voyage, hard labor and horrible living conditions. Letters to and from Germany became the lifeline for the Geheb family as they shared concerns, triumphs and tragedies.

History can be viewed from many angles, but there is nothing like firsthand accounts to bring it to life. This story is played out in poignant letters, journals, photos and historical notes. Willy and his family speak expressively about their lives as they bring you into their world in a personal way.
Editor, Claire Ohlsson Geheb, has woven a tale that is meaningful to all people with an interest in humanity as it tells of the ingenuity, drive, and courage of our forefathers. This social history about the quest for a better life is a story for everyone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Claire Ohlsson Geheb
• Release date: Dec 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9780999090367

Claire Ohlsson Geheb

Throughout my life I have developed a passion for history, especially social history. As I learned about the important events of the past, I always wanted to know about the ordinary people and wondered what their lives were like. When my husband brought home his father’s old suitcase, filled with letters, we didn’t realize it was really a treasure chest. As the old German letters were translated into English, I was intrigued by the stories that were told. What started as a family project developed into a mission to share these revealing stories with others who have an interest in social history. As I edited and organized the letters, journals and photos, I also added historical comments for clarification. It has been an unexpected journey for me and added another dimension to my life. I believe this book touches people deeply as they feel a connection to their own family's history. Read more at dearwillybook.com

Book preview

Chapter One

Who is Willy Geheb?

In 1980, Willy Geheb had a major stroke following a broken leg. He was moved from his apartment to a nursing home where he needed total care with no hope of recovery. When cleaning out Willy’s apartment, his son, John Geheb, found a well-worn suitcase filled with old letters and journals. Another cache contained photos and documents. These treasures were never known to Willy's three sons, Willy, Ted, and John, but appeared to be important enough for Willy to have saved. John removed the suitcase and box of documents and photos and kept them.

When John and his wife, Claire, started looking through what Willy had saved, they realized that everything was written in German. An attempt to have the letters translated was made, but John, German friends, and family found them too difficult. The journals and letters were written between 1914 and 1947 by people who wrote in the old German script of the 19th century. Everything was set aside and fortunately kept.

An example of the old German script

John and Claire made a final attempt to find a translator in 2013. The internet was rich with resources so perhaps a translator could be located. Irene McDonald, a professional German-American translator living in Houston, Texas, agreed to read and translate the difficult script. As the translations were received, Willy’s world was opened. Irene’s assistance and dedication to the project has made this book possible. The earliest document was Willy’s teen journal from 1914 to 1917, followed by his military journal, then letters to and from Germany from 1918 to 1947. The translated material was edited for clarity, retyped, and put into chronological order by Claire with the help of Ted and Marlene Geheb.

Through letters written from afar, Willy was able to keep in contact with his German family. The letters, enriched by Willy's story telling creativity, take the reader back in time. The Geheb family personalities, beliefs, relationships, daily activities, employment, and life styles described in the letters bring the history and living conditions of the times to life. Editorial comments were added to explain some of the history of the times.

The family was guided by patriarch Karl Geheb, a God-fearing man, who was a Master Blacksmith and a farmer. The family lived in the village of Schmirma, Germany. For centuries, the Geheb family had lived in a complex consisting of a courtyard surrounded by a two story house, a forge, and a barn. Between 1892 and 1912, Karl and his wife, Friedericke, had eight children. Willy, born in 1900, was their fourth.

There was never running water or any plumbing at the Geheb complex. Water needs were supplied by the pump in the courtyard. The water was carried into the house where the family would wash at a basin and fully bathe in a large tub. Due to the work involved heating water and filling the tub, full baths were infrequent. The buildings were heated by coal burning ceramic stoves. Because Karl was a Master Blacksmith, he had the right to train apprentices, who would live at the complex and sleep in the upper barn. Farm animals were kept at the complex. Several acres just outside the village of Schmirma were farmed. The Lutheran church, built in 1640, was across the street from the home complex. All the children would have been christened there, as well as their ancestors.

Horses were used for field work and transportation. The Gehebs never had a car. The children started school at first grade when six years old and finished with eighth grade at the age of fourteen. The boys were then apprenticed into a trade for three years after which they began work in the trade. The girls would either stay at home to help with the work or go to work helping another household. Although only acquiring an elementary school education, the children were fully prepared to continue with their lives. They would have had math, history, reading, and writing skills that equaled that of an average United States high school graduate today.

As the children married and left Schmirma, they settled near their family home. They lived from two to eighteen miles away. The only child to go farther than eighteen miles was Willy, their fourth child, who traveled to Brazil and Mexico before settling permanently in Chicago, Illinois. He remained in close contact with his German family until the end of his life. He also continued to assist his family by sending money and packages.

Editorial comments are added to the journals and letters for clarification. All editorial information is in italics. The journals and letters are the original words written by Willy and his family, although they have been condensed and punctuated for clarity. They offer introspection into the man. Enjoy getting to know Willy Oswald Geheb. We hope that you will gain some insight, understanding, and appreciation of this German immigrant who was, perhaps, your father, grandfather, great-grandfather, or great-great grandfather. If not, then you may find similarities to your own family’s immigration experiences or just enjoy visiting a different place and time. We recognize the influence he and other immigrants have had on us and most importantly the models they were for all Americans.

The Geheb family in the courtyard 1910 Mother, Albert, Willy, Paul, Otto, Father, Marie, and Linda Not present: Ottilie, 18 years old and Helene, born in 1912

The Geheb complex 1994

House, courtyard, and barn

The Family Tree of Karl Heinrich Geheb

Karl Heinrich Geheb (1867-1945)

married Friedericke Schietsch (1868-1953) 1891

Children and grandchildren

Ottilie (1892-1971) married Fritz Krebs 1918

Linda (1894-1977) married Otto Schreinert 1923

Paul (1895-1946) married (1) Ida 192?

Paul married (2) Elise 1943

Willy Oswald (1900-1988) married Irma Klepitsch (1902-1977) 1929

Otto (1904-1974) married Gerda 1932

Marie (1907-1982) married Oskar Ronnenberg 1932

Albert (1908-1977) married Olga 1932

Helene (1912-2001) married Kurt Schmiedehausen 1936

German history

The German Empire, 1871-1918, operated as an industrial, technological, and scientific giant. Kaiser Wilhelm II was the German Kaiser and King of Prussia who ruled Germany and Prussia from 1888 until 1918. In 1900, when Willy Geheb was born, the German people were thriving under the Kaiser’s rule. Germany benefited from a 99% literacy rate that provided the nation with all levels of educated people. There were engineers, chemists, opticians, skilled factory workers, skilled managers, knowledgeable farmers, and skilled military personnel. Germany received more Nobel prizes in science than any other country during that time.

By 1914, Germany was seen as a major European power. It had the world’s strongest army and a huge industrial base. When Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne, was assassinated, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Although most countries didn’t want war, a series of alliances drew them in, resulting in World War I. German military and the Kaiser welcomed the war since they were well prepared to support Austria-Hungary and they felt that Russia, Serbia’s largest ally, was not ready for war. The complexity of the war is best understood through independent study.

Original School Leaving Certificate 1914

Translation of the certificate

Chapter Two

WWI: It was an exciting time.

September 1914 to April 1917

My Resume

My name is Willy Oswald Geheb. I was born on July 9, 1900 in Schmirma, Germany, and on July 29th I was christened in the Lutheran church in Schmirma. I started school at the age of 6. At the age of 14, I left school and started an apprenticeship with my father, against my will, to learn the blacksmith trade. I had wanted to join the Imperial Navy as a cabin boy but was not allowed to do so. We had just finished harvesting the wheat when Emil Hartmann told us that Austria-Hungary had declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914. (ed. Archduke Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian-Hungarian kingdom, was assassinated in Serbia in July, which triggered WWI. Since Austria-Hungary was an ally of Germany, the Germans joined the war.) When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia (ed. an ally of Serbia) declared war on Austria-Hungary, and then Germany declared war on Russia and France. Germany invaded Belgium, and then England declared war on Germany. I would have liked nothing better than to quit work, take up arms, and join the fight. I was happy as a clam that the war was happening. It was an exciting time. All the young men ran to the barracks and volunteered for duty. Everyone rallied to the colors. There was an enthusiasm as had not been seen even 100 years ago when everyone also rushed to join up. (ed. for the Napoleonic Wars, Germany vs. France, which ended with the Treaty of Paris and France’s defeat.)

One fine day, Mother, Paul, and I were in the barn. The local judge came and asked Paul to help guard the road, because cars were carrying money across Germany to Russia. Chains were stretched across roads, and every major road was guarded by three men with loaded rifles. Later, the village water wells were locked with wooden covers, because there were many Russian spies in Germany who poisoned the wells. The newspaper reported every day that Russians, Englishmen, Frenchmen, or Belgians had been arrested for trying to unscrew railroad tracks, destroy railroad bridges, or destroy important buildings. That was the beginning of the Great War. Anxious people looked to the future with concern; the courageous ones trusted in God and in our invincible army.

Now it is later, and the war has been drawn out. I could write books about everything that happened. But this book is not supposed to be a war diary but an attempt to describe my life and what I did. In this war, which the English have called the hunger war, everything became scarce and more so in the cities than in the country. Since we had relatives in Halle, I organized the food transport and took my first trip to Halle. I knew the way, because I had been on a march to Halle with the Mucheln Youth Brigade. Late in April, I left home at 8 a.m. carrying butter and eggs on my bike. As I left, I noticed that the inner tube was showing through the tire. I quickly wound some thread around it, but to be on the safe side, I also took a bicycle pump with me and rode off. Everything went well until I got lost but soon found my way again. I had gone too far north, but that wouldn’t have mattered if everything had gone well. I was riding along when suddenly my rear tire was flat. The inner tube had burst at the spot where the tire had the hole. I tried to glue it, but it didn’t work. Angrily, I threw the 7 empty adhesive tubes into the water. I didn’t know what to do now. Mosquitoes and thirst tormented me. One of my mosquito bites was there for a whole week. I continued my trip on the rims of my bike for awhile, and then I walked again.

A boy stopped me and asked, Why don’t you take the train? I went off to the station. I got my ticket, and by then the train was there. I cleared a 1.5 meter railing in one leap and got on the train. I greeted the passengers in the car and stepped to the window. A soldier said, That was quite a jump. I asked the ticket collector if my bike was coming too. No, he said, You left it on the platform. I thought that he would take care of getting it on the train. I replied, Then I will stay too! The train was already moving when I opened the door and jumped out. If you wanted to take the bike, you could have taken it with you on the train, said the ticket master. I took my bike and started on my way.

The countryside was beautiful, but the April sun was beating down. I crossed a railroad bridge that was manned by two guards. I kept marching on. Twice I arrived at a river, which must have been the Saale. A little glum, I continued on my way, and suddenly the steeples of Merseburg appeared. To the right, a paved road lined with plum trees turned off. I followed it. The sun was unusually hot. The road was not used much, and I didn’t meet a soul. In short, I felt lost and lonely. Except for a little candy, I had nothing to eat with me. Just think, all around me nothing but open fields: not a soul to be seen, the burning sun, close to fainting, and a wrecked bicycle. In this state, I would have given a lot to have the bike fixed.

Then a wild sense of adventure and a devilish joy overcame me. I started to sing and that’s how I wandered along. If you have been in a similar situation, you will know what I mean. If you haven’t, you might read this, but you wouldn’t understand. I continued westward. I kept asking for directions, and finally I arrived in Halle. I stayed in Halle until evening enjoying myself. At 8 o’clock, I took the train home where they had started to worry about me. That was my first trip to Halle. Regardless of the mishaps, I thought I will do better next time.

In May, the Youth Regiment of Mucheln left for the Unstrut Valley. I made everything ready. That morning, I got up at 5 o’clock. I packed everything I would need in the knapsack: bread, a piece of sausage, a bottle of coffee, bacon, eggs, salt, wood, spoon, fork, and the cooking pot. The weather was bad. After a long drought, it had rained. This may have motivated some to stay home, so we were only 15 plus our leader. But we walked along singing merrily. At our destination, there is a spring that always runs with clear water. We split into two groups. The first group had to get water; the second group had to dig cooking pits. When I got back from getting water, I had to help build up the cooking pits exactly as the drawing showed it, all in a straight line next to each other. We peeled potatoes, and then we put the pot full of potatoes on a pit. I put my prepared chopped bacon in the saucepan and browned it. Since I did not want my fried eggs to become scrambled, I took the saucepan by the handle and shook it just a little back and forth, so it wouldn’t burn. They turned out very well and tasted great. After we were done eating, we cleaned the dishes. Then we started on our way back. In Gleina, we stopped for coffee and we sang. We stayed there for a full hour, because it was so cozy. I have not often spent such a merry hour. Then we continued on our way home.

On the first day of Pentecost, I and four others rode our bikes to Freiburg. We rode the path through the Wolf Gorge to the highway that runs along the river Unstrut. Although we would have liked to go in the water, none of us could swim, and so we didn’t dare. I said with some certainty that I thought there would be swimming baths somewhere nearby. I had seen boys wearing only bathing costumes playing on the opposite bank and in the water. We decided to find the swimming baths, and I was the first to set off on my bike when Grober called, Willy, stop, your jacket is torn! Annoyed, I took off my jacket, and I saw a good-sized rectangular tear. Then I remembered, while riding along a path earlier, Grober hadn’t paid attention, and the jackass had run into my back and hurt my leg. I was no longer in the mood to go to the swimming baths and suggested we go straight home. But the others wouldn’t hear of it, and so I had no choice but to stay. The tear was pinned together with pins that fortunately we had with us. But I no longer enjoyed myself. The coat was a plain black one, and I had only just worn it for the second time. It cost 12 marks, and now it had a big tear. We went bathing and then rode home.

Sometimes, when I think about these trips, the question comes into my head, What did these trips get you? The answer is: 1. I had a good time and passed a pleasant Sunday, 2. I strengthened body and soul, 3. I’ve had many adventures. Up to now I had not been to blame for anything. But misfortunes await everyone and will bring him back on the right path if he has left it. I, too, met with such a misfortune. (ed. The misfortune was written then blacked out, so unreadable.)

Field service training for four youth companies, including my company, Mucheln, had been set for July 9th, my 16th birthday. It had rained, and at the line-up there were only 23 of us. We hoofed it to nearby woods and there sent out patrols. There were three of us in my patrol, and we were to find out if the hill in front of us was occupied. We had barely left the woods, when we saw the enemy marksmen swarming over the top of the hill in strong numbers. Of course, we reported it immediately. After we made our report, we advanced along the road. Under the unskilled leadership of a Mr. Muller, seven of us were to take a left turn onto a country lane across a field to make a flank attack at 4:15 p.m. That we were far too late was something even a simpleton could have seen but not Herr Muller. Also, we would have been shot 100 times over, because he was leading us so badly. But we were not allowed to say anything. We joined the 7th Company and as soon as that happened, a shot came from the right flank and with a hurrah our men attacked. By then it was 8:30 p.m; although the general attack had been set for 4 o’clock. But Freiburg Company, which worked together with Mucheln Company, had attacked too soon and had wrecked the whole plan. After some back and forth between the companies, all took off for the pub in Grost, where friends and foes sat together in merry company.

We were to spend the night in Ebers. There were not enough tents, so some of us would have to spend the night at the inn. I thought the inn would be a better choice, and I was already looking forward to our quarters for the night. But when I had a closer look at my band of heroes, I was something like the room elder. I saw the small room and my heart sank. With all their moving around, the fellows kicked up more dust from the old straw mattresses than was good for us. I took over and did a little straightening out of the gang, and everyone was assigned a sleeping place. The knapsacks were put down as pillows. As the old man, I had the best bed, although you couldn’t really tell which bed was the best, except that some were only empty frames.

After everyone had a place to sleep, we all went downstairs. Some of the company made an earsplitting racket. Some sang, and others ran after the girls like fools. Still others were shouting and yelling. The whole village was in an uproar with approximately 150 boys without any kind of order. But the crowd soon left, and by 1:50 a.m., everything was quiet. We went to our quarters to sleep; there were three of us, and we were greeted by a horrific odor. A few snored like sawmills, some talked quietly, others rustled around on their straw mattresses. I ordered silence. For a few seconds everything was quiet, then the noise started up again and the smell and no light. My bed must have been made for someone as skinny as a rake, and there was no trace of any of my bedding. It had all disappeared, including the straw mattress. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. The next day, we had to clean up and do a few other chores. There was grenade-throwing practice and distance-estimating practice. That was our last exercise.

In August, came something that made the heart of every young man beat faster. There was to be a district sports competition, where all could show what they had learned. We marched to Freiburg, where the competition was to be held. Youth Company Mucheln was represented by 13 men. Quite a few were taking part in dance lessons and were therefore prevented from competing. It’s well known that Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, the famous Turnvater, (ed. the German father of gymnastics) is buried in Freiburg. In my library, I have a book that describes him.

It’s not possible to describe the details. After we, the Freiburgers, and others had assembled, we marched singing to the sports field. Here we started with throwing hand grenades. With 36 meters, I had the best throw. Then came someone who threw 40 meters. He took first prize, and I took second. At the obstacle race, I failed. I could not keep my balance on the narrow tracks, jumped off, and lost. I did the long jump with 3.8 meters, whereas the winner did 4.1. But everyone, including those who got no prizes, had a good time. The district youth leader announced the names of the winners and said the prizes would be sent to us. Later, all winners did receive a beautiful book of songs. Then he gave a speech to the young men and to the athletes and thanked us for coming in such numbers. He praised our performances, and said we should strengthen ourselves, body and soul, so that some day when the Fatherland calls, we could do what our fathers and brothers were doing. Everyone received a book and after Long live the Kaiser! we sang Heil dir im Siegerkranz. (ed. the German emperor’s anthem) We buckled our belts and in a happy mood and light spirits, we went homeward.

Time passed and Christmas came. It was not merry. Everyone’s thoughts were with their loved ones at the front. At the New Year, young men and young girls were already at the bell tower. Upon my entry, they held out full glasses to us. Then we started to ring the bells. The sound of the bells was loud in the silence of New Year’s night. At midnight, everyone shook hands, congratulated each other, yelled into each other’s ears and made so much noise that you couldn’t hear yourself think. Then there was the sweet schnapps or whatever the stuff was. Those, who were not ringing, got up to all sorts of jokes and pranks, and to top it off, Mr. Kirchhof appeared in the frock and cap of the pastor. It gave me a real fright until I realized what was going on. All this was happening downstairs while the others were upstairs ringing. Now the bottle appeared again. I was just taking another swig when someone said something that made me laugh, and the stuff went up my nose and ended up on the floor. And then the bottle was empty. I went upstairs for the bell ringing. At one o’clock, with more good wishes for the New Year, everyone dispersed.

I have now stepped over the threshold of the New Year. Time rushes on relentlessly. Nothing can stop it and only the enjoyment of the moment lets us slow it down a little. What will the New Year bring me? Will this war end or, if not, will I also have to put on the uniform? Will I even live to see the next New Year? What will happen? What awaits me? I suppose at the start of a new year everyone would like to lift the veil of the future. But those are human thoughts. It has to be taken as it comes. It can’t be worse than the last year. But I don’t care. The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken, praise and thanks be to the Lord. And so I enter the New Year hoping for the best. When I am a year older, I will know everything. Happy New Year!

On the third day of 1917, we were shoeing a horse that fought us like a tomcat. He was called Goblin because of his pitch-black color. Everyone wished he would go to the devil; I wished him dead. Otto and Albert tried to catch him in the barn. The horse didn’t think much of that and went for a stroll across the yard into the open forge. I was glad, because if he stayed there, we could catch him later when Father finished the shoeing and would leave to go write. But suddenly, the horse came back. I decided to profit from this opportunity and lifted my shoeing hammer and threw it at the horse, like a wild Indian would throw his tomahawk. But I did not have the infallible aim of the latter. The hammer only grazed the horse’s head and then came to rest against the legs of a hen, which rolled around the ground as if unable to decide if it wanted to live or die. To top it off, the handle of my hammer broke into splinters. The chickens made such a racket that Father came out and scolded me for shredding the hen’s leg. So in the very first days of the New Year, I had already made a mortal enemy, and I swore that I would be the death of that black horse.

Winter had thrown its snowy blanket over the land. There were snowball fights, and the young people rode sleds. The snow-laden trees groaned. For me, a hard time had begun again, and I wished myself far away. (ed. Son John recalls his father telling about the first time Willy saw an airplane flying over Schmirma. He wondered where it came from, and where it was going. Willy always wanted to know what was over the hill; what was the next town like? He was happiest when sent on errands to other towns.) It is possible that my brooding made my life difficult, so I tried to be happy. But my surroundings always suppressed any joy that arose in my breast. I longed for variety in my monotonous everyday life, and I now hated the books that I used to love so much. But time passes. The good days pass and so do the bad ones. Only two more months until April when my three years apprenticeship will be over, and I am to take my journeyman exam. (ed. to become a blacksmith) It is snowing again.

Today is the Emperor’s birthday and only the flags are reminding me of it. The times are really hard. It is especially noticeable on days like these. Everything is so expensive, and nothing is to be had except with rationing cards, coupons, and purchase permits. I celebrated the Emperor’s birthday with my comrades of the youth company. The group was small, but we were in the best of spirits. Our company leader opened the festivity by reading an imperial letter of thanks to the war ministry and to the youth workers. Its meaning was approximately this: "I have listened with satisfaction to the reports of the youth sports competitions in the fall of 1916 and of the military preparations of the