My Life Beyond the Ruins

By Renate “Renee” Watts-Mueller

Its a true story. I was born in the middle of the War .and. the horrible years growing up and the after years coming out alive,.thanks to my wonderful mother guiding me through all the bad times.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496911957

Renate “Renee” Watts-Mueller

My name is Renate A Watts-Mueller,I was born in Germany in the middle of Wold War II..Currently residing in USA. the first time I came here was 1969 Moved several times back and fourth to Germany. I learned Banker and in 2000-2002 I worked as Screener in Las Vegas Airport Have a degree in private Investigator. Later I presued Oil Painting.there are some of my paintings in this book

Book preview

CONTENTS

The Family

About The Author

My Hometown: Mannheim

The War Years

Prologue

The Long Hard Road Of Renate

Chapter 1 November 20, 1941

Chapter 2 Age 3, The Fire

Chapter 3 Going Back Home

Chapter 4 The Neighborhood

Chapter 5 The Dreary Bunker

Chapter 6 Renate’s Bad Health Report

Chapter 7 The Attack On Me As A Toddler

Chapter 8 The Big Ships Arrive

Chapter 9 Truemmerfrauen

Chapter 10 Life In The Bunker Continues

Chapter 11 Food In War Time

Chapter 12 Making Life Livable In The Bunker

Chapter 13 Rambo, An American Soldier

Chapter 14 Making The Best Of Life

Chapter 15 My Brother-In-Law Werner

Chapter 16 Community Family

Chapter 17 The Evacuation

Chapter 18 Returning Home

Chapter 19 Neighbors Helping Each Other

Chapter 20 New Shoes

Chapter 21 Mama’s Comforting Ways

Chapter 22 Werner’s Arrest

Chapter 23 Brother Hans

Chapter 24 The Russians

Chapter 25 Our Daily Life Now

Chapter 26 The End Of The War

Chapter 27 Still Dealing With Stress Through Illness

Chapter 28 Playing In The Theater

Chapter 29 The Accident

Chapter 30 My Little Vacation

Chapter 31 December 1945

Chapter 32 Back To The Hospital

Chapter 33 Ernst Comes Home From The War

Chapter 34 Ernst’s Storytelling

Chapter 35 The Playground Attack

Chapter 36 School

Chapter 37 Papa’s Return Home From The War

Chapter 38 Sisters

Chapter 39 Our Neighborhood Life

Chapter 40 Mama Taught Me About Manners

Chapter 41 Still Struggling

Chapter 42 The Flood

Chapter 43 Moving To A New Suburb

Chapter 44 The Pond Accident

Chapter 45 Trying To Be Good

Chapter 46 Moving Back To A Bunker

Chapter 47 Back To Mannheim

Chapter 48 The Bike Accident

Chapter 49 Mama

Chapter 50 The Dance

Chapter 51 Visiting Aunt Gretel

Chapter 52My Baby Boy

Chapter 53 Life With Heinrich

Chapter 54 My Mother’s Accident

Chapter 55 The Death Of My Baby Son

Chapter 56 Christine Is Born

Chapter 57 Getting A Divorce

Chapter 58 Meeting Dennis

Chapter 59 Papa

Epilogue

At this time I want to give special thanks for my wonderful friend, Kathy Harris, she is a retired schoolteacher and she is the editor in chief for my book.

Thank you forever, good job!

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My name is Renate Anna Watts born Mueller

Daughter of Christoph and Anna Maria Mueller

Born in Mannheim, Germany, Grabenstr 5

Born on November 20, 1941

This was the middle of World War II.

THE FAMILY

Papa came from a small farm from the outskirts of Mannheim, a town called Sandhofen. He was the son of Phil and Sonja Mueller. He had three siblings, Else, Lena, and my other aunt who I only knew by her nickname, Sonne. She was named sun because she smiled from sun up to sun down no matter what. They had fields from Sandhofen to Lampertheim, another small town. They owned acres of land where they raised potatoes, asparagus, and fruit trees. They also raised cows, horses, and chickens. My papa worked in the fields until he met my mama, Anna Maria.

Mama was born in 1897 in Kaiserslautern, a town 60 miles away from Mannheim. She was the daughter of Hans and Elizabeth Raster. Her dad was a shoemaker and owned several shoe stores. He made beautiful custom shoes by hand. Her mother was a homemaker.

Family register of births and deaths some pages lost in the war.

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Pictured is the family left after the war. From left to right: My brother Ernst, sisters Else and Inge, Mama and Papa, and the little girl in front is me, Renate, age 7-8.

We were living in a nice apartment in a suburb of Mannheim, a town called Seckenheim.

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BEYOND THE RUINS

My Suffering and Survival through the Horrible Ordeal of WWII

By Renate A Mueller-Watts

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My name is Renate A. Mueller –Watts and I was born in Germany in the middle of World War II. I was married to a baker in Germany after the war but we divorced in 1969. He played in a band on the weekends and later chose that as his profession. I met an American soldier in Germany and then left Germany to have a new life in the States with him. I brought two of my kids, but my youngest daughter was awarded to my ex-husband from a German judge. The first time I came to this country was when I was 27 years of age. I moved several times back to Germany but always returned to the United States.

I learned to be a banker and worked as a teller off and on for twenty years. In the years 2000-2002, I worked for the Las Vegas, NV Airport as a screener. That was my favorite job. I also have a degree as a private investigator.

Later in life I have pursued oil painting as a hobby. I had several teachers due to moving around. I’m an artist now and have recently had a showing where I’m currently living in NM.

In memory of my wonderful Mama, without her I would be dead, and in memory of my Papa and my wonderful siblings.

Mama was positive through all that horror; loving and kind despite all the dreadful things we endured. I feel lucky and I am very thankful to have made it through the horror of war. I am alive and well.

I will always miss my family especially my poor mama. My whole family is gone now. There are only nephews and nieces still alive. However, we have lost contact and I am deeply sorry that we have drifted apart. I live in the USA and they are in Germany.

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Sister Inge, Mama, and Else holding baby Marion. Standing in front my son Dieter and nephew Harald.

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Downtown Mannheim

MY HOMETOWN: MANNHEIM

I want to point out a few landmarks of Mannheim. Lots of it was destroyed, but got rebuilt after the war. The Jesuit church is the prettiest baroque church in all of Germany.

Many trains starting in Mannheim drive all over Europe, stopping in every little town. Some trains are called the Schnell Zuege (These fast trains only stop in the big cities.) The OEG is a mix of a train and a streetcar. It starts in Mannheim close to Kurpfalz Bridge, stopping in every little town rather than at the street corners like streetcars. The OEG ends in Heidelberg, an old famous town with cobble stone streets, a castle, and several monuments. The castle is on top of the mountain. Some parts of it were destroyed completely, some parts are still there for all to see though they still show damage from the war. It houses a very famous university and is located right by the Neckar River.

I remember that when I was between six and eight years of age, Mama took me to Heidelberg and we rode the mountain trolley all the way to the top to look for blueberries.

Every year we celebrated Fashing (Mati Gra) in Mannheim. We got to dress like different characters and then wait for the parade. My girlfriends and I used to collect lots of candies from the men in the wagons.

When we lived in Seckenheim a suburb from Mannheim, Mama and I used to ride on the OEG to Mannheim to buy fruit and vegetables from the market. All the farmers came Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from the Odenwald area to sell their goods. On Saturday they brought chickens, eggs, butter, cheese, as well as home baked breads and cakes. I was always amazed to see all this rich bounty.

In Seckenheim, we have streetcars. They drive from Mannheim to Ludwigshaven, a town on the other side of the Rhine River. Before the bridge crossing, is a big castle that was almost destroyed in the war. My papa was one of the men who helped rebuild it after he returned from the war. Now it is used as a courthouse and for other important functions. Also, there is a small university in part of the castle which opened over a decade ago. The American Army had a stockade inside for a while when all the Army Barracks were still open in Mannheim.

Bombing started in Mannheim in 1939 and continued until the end of the war in 1945. There were 150 air raids altogether over Mannheim. 1945 were the worst bombings ever, especially from England. We were lucky because Mama and I got evacuated before that, to Colmar, France. We found mostly ruins and debris on our return.

Close to the Neckar River is the tallest TV tower in Germany. From their rotating restaurant on the top floor of the tower is a view over all Mannheim and on a clear day with binoculars a person can see Heidelberg, an old historic town.

The Kunst (ART Street and Breite Strasse, (wide street), are the main streets for shopping. Their huge stores have everything from all over the world. The displays in their humongous windows are wonderful. For Easter and Christmas there are moving figures displayed, and as a kid I was always there watching these beautiful displays with my mouth open.

Down by the Neckar River are passenger ships waiting to take customers along the river and then north into the Rhine River. The scenery is breathtaking. Food and entertainment are provided on the ships.

Mannheim’s Luisen Park is the prettiest and largest in all Germany. It has all kinds of fantastic trees and flowers. There scent will cloud you’re senses and you feel like you are in another world. The park’s large man-made lakes houses big gold fish. Throughout the park are statues from Germany’s past, Kings and Queens. It shows the visitor things from times past, the way it used to be before that terrible war. It is very peaceful here and the stress from everyday life just vanishes from your body. A person becomes one with nature.

Wasserturm (Water tower) is located in the middle of the city. Its roof was damaged in the war, but now it’s new and a beautiful park has been added around the base. The stairs coming down from the top with a waterfall covering the steps are gorgeous especially on Saturday night when the colored water shoots into the air. It’s inviting to sit down on one of the beautiful benches surrounded by flowers and bushes. It is one of the most peaceful places in Mannheim.

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THE WAR YEARS

In September 1939 Germany attacked Poland and it was defeated. Then in April 1940 Germany defeated Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France.

Russians bombed Dresden then the Soviet Union occupied Baltic Sea.

Germany lost an air war over Britain October 1940.

Germany secured Greece and Yugoslavia in 1941.

Hitler invaded the Soviet Union June 1941.

German troops marched into Soviet Union but never made it to Moscow.

One month after I was born Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941

USA declared war on Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Germany and Italy declared war on USA.

In 1942-1943 England attacks Germany until 1945 bombing the country until most of the cities were in ruins.

USA bombed Germany by day and England bombed mostly by night.

1944 the first US troops crossed Germany.

One month later the Russians crossed the borders.

The Russians bombed Dresden (a city in east Germany) in1945, killing 35,000 people.

USA troops cross the Rhine River destroying bridges fighting toward Berlin.

Hitler committed suicide, April 1945.

In May 1945 Germany surrendered

World War II results 55-million dead worldwide

PROLOGUE

This story is a reflection of dooms day life and maintaining a can do mental state during the rebuilding my life and my homeland.

Inside is a little girl’s firsthand recollections and actual happenings in her life as she is introduced to her place of birth, Germany, unfortunately growing up in World War II. Renate is a mere child who as any child, who wants and likes to play, grow naturally, have friends, be cared for and loved without fear for her life. She finds out early on that life could be extremely difficult and at times impossible to endure. What people here in modern day life take for granted was not present back then for Renate.

Renate grew up to overcome way below substandard housing and nourishment. Lost wounded humans or animals go into a survival mode if life is what they want. This is what her mother and herself wanted and fought for throughout the war years to accomplished this feat. A strong will cannot break a mind or a mission. Renate is living proof of this and wants to share these days, months, and years of what one can do when all looks dim and lost in the world.

Why do old people, women, and especially children have to go through the horror of war. These are innocent people, who would rather live in freedom and beautiful memories. Why do they have to see their loved ones buried under rubble and see their pets vanish? Why can’t children grow up happy and able to play without fear of their life’s? The only thing kept Renate sane and sometimes happy was her wonderful mother. She guided Renate through all the horrific ordeals, attacks, rape, and devastating floods. Renate grew up being kind, trusting, and loving thanks to her strong, loving mother. Even though Renate did not have a carefree childhood but she was safe in her mother’s arms.

Hitler was a bad choice to be elected as leader for the German folk. The people trusted him, because Hitler was such a good speaker but Hitler betrayed everybody. Too many losses came to German families but a baby girl lived through many and became a strong woman.

THE LONG HARD ROAD OF RENATE

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A story about a little girl born in World War II,

her suffering and growing up.

CHAPTER 1

NOVEMBER 20, 1941

The year was 1941. My city is almost bombed out. In the distance are loud bangs from the bombs the Americans dropped over our city. All of a sudden it is dead quiet, the attack has stopped for now. Just the smoke is lingering in the air. It’s almost eerie. It’s a cold and rainy November day, the trees are bare and their empty branches are reaching towards this sky, just like they are trying to get help from the heavens. It’s a ghostly sight. No stars are out in that stormy night, just the moon starting to look out from behind a black cloud as if it wanted to show the way to a certain little house.

There was a midwife trying to reach that house to help my mama delivering me. The dim street lights were casting long shadows, and in that moment the storm turned into hail. It was a labor of love that made her keep going. The hail kept slapping into her face and turned it red. But the midwife didn’t even notice the pain. She just kept on going, determined to reach her destination.

By the time the midwife reached the little house, she was soaked and shaking. The little home stood lonely between two tall buildings. They stood majestically like they wanted to protect the little house between them.

There was another boom in the near distance now, but there was no time for my mama to reach the bunker even though it was only three minutes away from our house. Mama’s water broke and she was ready to deliver me. A lonely candle flickered in the window, inviting people to come in. The midwife entered the house just in time to help. With a big loud scream, I was born. I was impatient and wanted to see the world. I was a tiny bundle, weighing only 4 and ½ pounds.

The midwife suggested that Mama should bring me to the hospital. But it was dangerous outside and they could hear the bombs from across the river. Mama wanted to wait for the doctor but was torn