War Is Just a Word

By I.J. Gysen

“War is just a word.” To young Anna that’s all it is, just a word, it’s where Pappa goes to work, until one day, the War comes home. WW II, the world’s most horrific War was on its way and they had no idea of its coming. No one could have foreseen that so much madness would erupt from such a small country, a land of the Fairytales and Legends, nor could they have imagined that their “Fuehrer” Adolf Hitler, whom they had raised to glorious heights, would take them to the depth of hell.
Through the horror, amidst the chaos, emerges the story of a family, of Ludwig, his wife Marta and their high spirited young daughter Anna, who wake up one morning, to find their lives threatened by the outbreak of WWII.
It takes Ludwig to distant lands, to fight for his Fatherland, while Marta and Anna learn to live with the pangs of hunger. They survive the hell of the air-raids with their falling bombs, only to find survival after the War, as difficult as the War itself. There however were also extraordinary times, who could ever forget the American Soldiers? Though coming as conquerors, their kindness and compassion, soon made them friends, especially to the children, who followed them around like the “Pied Piper.”
This is a story of historical reality, whose purpose it is to share part of an era that destroyed so many millions of people, along with an entire Continent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 2, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465336347

I.J. Gysen

Born and raised in Europe, Johannes and Ingeborg Gysen, together, brought this story to life, and although it is she who lived it, without his encouragement, his guidance and help, it would never have been told. Together they worked on it, compassionately and endlessly, until it was completed. However, shortly before the printing of their book, Johannes, her beloved husband was killed in a tragic automobile accident, and although, no longer by her side to share in the joy of the completion of their work, his spirit lives on forever within Ingeborg, who is dedicating this story to him and their great, undying love, all the way to Heaven, where he is waiting for her and where love never dies.

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 by I.J. Gysen.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2011912076

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-4653-3633-0

      Softcover      978-1-4653-3632-3

      eBook      978-1-4653-3634-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 02/05/2015

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Contents

Synopsis

Introduction

Chapter I     Anna

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Chapter XX

Chapter XXI

Chapter XXII

Chapter XXIII

Chapter XXIV

Chapter XXV

Chapter XXVI

Chapter XXVII

Chapter XXVIII

Chapter XXIX

Chapter XXX

Note

Acknowledgements

To my husband Johannes

Whose great and beautiful love

I will carry within my heart forever.

It was his encouragement and belief in me that inspired me to write this story, with him at my side, throughout the years that it took to finish it.

Often the tears are rolling down my face as I think of this beautiful man who, out of his love and dedication for me, typed this entire story with one finger; thus, my very special name for him, Goldfinger.

I am reliving every single moment, every hour, every minute; and it is with a broken heart that I am now publishing it, with him no longer by my side since he was called to be with God.

Ingeborg

In a different time,

In a different place.

Through the horror of World War II

emerges this dramatic story of

a family,

of love and survival.

SYNOPSIS

War is just a word. To young Anna, that’s all it is, just a word, it’s where Pappa goes to work until one day, the war comes home. World War II, the world’s most horrific war, was on its way, and they had no idea of its coming. No one could have foreseen that so much madness would erupt from such a small country, a land of the Fairy Tales and Legends, nor could they have imagined that their Führer, Adolf Hitler, whom they had raised to glorious heights, would take them to the depth of hell.

Through the horror, amidst the chaos, emerges the story of a family, of Ludwig, his wife Marta, and their high-spirited, young daughter Anna, who wake up one morning to find their lives threatened by the outbreak of WWII.

It takes Ludwig to distant lands to fight for his Fatherland, while Marta and Anna learn to live with the pangs of hunger. They survive the hell of the air-raids with their falling bombs, only to find survival after the war as difficult as the war itself. There however, were also extraordinary times; who could ever forget the American soldiers? Though coming as conquerors, their kindness and compassion soon made them friends, especially to the children who followed them around like the Pied Piper.

This is a story of historical reality, whose purpose it is to share part of an era that destroyed so many millions of people, along with an entire Continent.

INTRODUCTION

World War II, the world’s most horrific, cruel, and devastating war, was on its way, and they had no idea of its coming.

While the world slept, it was slowly coming closer and closer as the ruthless dictator of Germany, Adolf Hitler, began his mad, merciless campaign for power.

The rest of the world watched, just let it happen until it was too late. Too late for the millions and millions who would die in the Battlefields far from home; too late for the many more millions who would die in the Concentration Camps; and too late for the millions of innocent victims, of women and children, who lived in this country and all throughout Europe. To many Nations, World War II meant horror; no one could escape it. The dark clouds of war would be hiding the blue of the sky everywhere for many, many years. It was a time of devastation, which destroyed most of their Continent.

No one could have foreseen that so much madness would erupt from such a small country.

It was such a beautiful country: a land of the Fairy Tales and Legends, a land of deep, green forests, where Snow White had lived with the Seven Dwarfs and where Sleeping Beauty was kissed by a Prince. It was a land where majestic castles sitting high on mountaintops and historic villages shared the landscape, a land of blue rivers, and of people who lived and cherished their old traditions; their ancestry of the Nibelungen, of Wagner, of Goethe, of Bach, of Beethoven, and of Brahms. Can one imagine the Concert Halls or Opera Houses deprived of the works of these Masters, whose names connect eternally with all that is German?

Yet through the horror, amidst this chaos, emerges the story of a family, of Ludwig, his wife Marta, their young daughter Anna, and of her mighty struggle for love.

They had wonderful years together until the day when the war broke out, and like millions of Germans, Ludwig had to go to protect his Fatherland. He was sent to the coast of France, on the English Channel. To Marta and Anna, however, war was just a word, a place where Pappa worked, just a word.

Marta and Anna would spend wonderful years together, just the two of them, and all the while growing inseparable.

Although the war had been going on a few years, they did not know the meaning of it other than Pappa was away all the time, except for some visits now and then, until one day when the war came home. They now had to live through this hell of the air-raids and the whistling of the falling bombs. They held on to each other, and together they would live through this war, through the aftermath, and the occupation of foreign soldiers in their country and beyond.

CHAPTER I

Anna

A long, long time ago, there once was a girl, a tenderhearted, high-spirited, beautiful, little girl named Anna.

She was small in stature with long, blonde hair. Her eyes were of the deepest blue, as blue as that of the cornflowers, which grew in the summer field; they were the very same eyes as those of her father, eyes that reflected a zest for life. There was something very delicate about her, like that of fine china, one would be afraid to touch for fear it would break. Everyone who was around her was absolutely startled at the mannerism of such a young girl, her presence was never to be overlooked.

Her life would become one incredible journey, filled with much happiness but also more than its share of pain and sorrow. The coming years would take her on a path which no human being should ever have to go and one day she would give up all that she loved, for the sake of love itself.

Anna lived with her mother in a big city in the South of Germany. There was talk of a war; it was to be a war so horrific, the world would never forget. No one could imagine what was to come.

The horror was just waiting to happen.

To the people in the land, however, the war was far, far away, somewhere in Poland, somewhere in France, and that is where her father, whom she called Pappa had to go, somewhere along the coast in the Northwestern part of France. He had his orders to do his military duty in Dunkirk and Calais, at the Strait of Dover, on the English Channel.

It was now calm on that Front after the German Army had pushed the English troops into retreat, back across the Channel to England. At home, no one was aware of the happenings in these far-away places, and no one knew in which direction the winds would blow this war, or how it would forever change their lives, change the entire world forever.

For now, it did not affect them in their idyllic, daily life; as a matter of fact, it was so good in Germany since they had their Führer, Adolf Hitler, who restored to the German people their pride and honor after the humiliating defeat of World War I.

Yes, the New Germany under Hitler was blossoming; these where historic times, as once again Germany was becoming a proud and powerful Nation. There was an excitement within their Fatherland, which was unequalled anywhere, as Adolf Hitler promised his Nation a Thousand-Year Reich.

Life was good for Anna and her mother, whom she called Mutti. This is a word, an endearment, in their native language.

Even with all the rumors of a war, it had no meaning to a little girl. War was just a word.

War was where her Pappa went to work, and whenever he came home on furlough, he always brought wonderful presents and exciting stories with him.

Pappa was like a God to Anna, always looking so dashing and so very handsome in his uniform, which, like all Germans, he wore with great pride.

So if there was a war, it was not a bad thing to Anna.

This was the time and place in which she would spend her early, carefree years, living with her Mutti in a city in the South of Germany, near the French border, and it was the River Rhine that divided their country from France.

The Rhine was a mighty and famous river, a river of Legend and Myth, that had his origin in Switzerland, in the San Bernardino Mountains. On its journey, it flows upward through Germany, silently passing the most picturesque scenery along both sides, from ancient, medieval fortresses high on mountaintops, to majestic castles. It keeps winding and winding through lush, green vineyards, growing on soft, rolling hillsides, passing through some of the oldest and most enchanting villages, on its way to Holland and into the North Sea.

Many songs have been written about it and were sung often to honor the old Father Rhine as it was called by its people.

There were songs telling of maidens with long, golden hair, the most famous being the Lorelei, sitting on the cliffs of St. Goar, luring the fisherman in their boats below to their death.

Yes, there was something very mystical and haunting that surrounded the Rhine with all those Tales and Legends from ancient times.

Living near this great river was indescribably exciting, for it was also an international waterway; there was always something to do, even if only to watch the boats and ships traveling up and down.

At all times, people were strolling by its banks or sitting in the nearby taverns and cafés, watching all the comings and goings of those big ships and barges, loaded with cargo from far-away places.

It was in this setting that Anna was enjoying her childhood. Her days were filled with fun, but most important of all, her Mutti’s love. Yes, she was completely happy, just spending every single day with her Mutti, whom she idolized and adored.

Mutti was a strikingly beautiful, tall, slender, young woman. Her hair, which fell softly to her shoulders, was dark and so were her eyes. She was fine and gentle. There was this warmth and radiance about her that everyone, even a total stranger, meeting her for the first time would feel in an instant.

When she spoke, it was with a soft, pleasant voice, and to her young daughter Anna, this was the most soothing, loving sound on earth.

Mutti meant absolutely everything to Anna; love, care, and safety, she needed her Mutti as much as the air she breathed, in order to live.

Yes, to Anna, her Mutti represented the only things she needed in the entire world: love and protection.

CHAPTER II

Mutti, who grew up as Marta Altergott, lived and went to school in the city; she also belonged to the BDM (Bund Deutscher Maedchen), which stands for the League of German Girls.

It was a part of the Hitler Youth. When Marta had turned fourteen, she joined and belonged happily and proudly, with great enthusiasm. It was also with enormous pride with which Marta and all the girls wore their uniforms, which consisted of crisp, white blouses and blue skirts.

Hitler Youth was for all the young people in the German Reich, regardless whether boy or girl, whether rich or poor; and although it was not supposed to be mandatory to join, it became so. Henceforth, there was a law by which all of Germany’s youth were to become Hitler Youth, who besides being raised by their parents, were now also to be instructed in every way, in the belief of National Socialism. Parents who would not allow their children to become a Hitler Youth were threatened with heavy prison sentences. Therefore, there were no parents who denied their children to become members.

The Nazi propaganda had made Adolf Hitler into an idol against which the German youths were totally defenseless, and all the young people throughout Germany were eager to belong; it meant being part of something great.

Belonging meant everything; it was a matter of honor. Germany’s young people showed great spirit and excitement for the life of a Hitler Youth; they belonged to him because they wanted to belong. To them, Germany was Hitler, just as Hitler was Germany. When looking at these young faces of Germany’s youth, one could feel their total commitment toward the Nazi movement and its Führer; they were entranced by him and followed with blind obedience.

There were programs of every kind, from athletic sports to gymnastics, outings in the countryside, sleeping in tents, sitting around campfires, and all the while learning and singing the old-spirited songs of their country, songs that told of victories, of flags raised high, waving in the wind.

There were rallies and gigantic gatherings, always against a mythical backdrop, as thousands and thousands of young people marched in rigid columns, while shouting out the Hitler songs, their eyes gleaming with great enthusiasm, and yet there seemed to be an eerie solemnity about them, which bordered on fanaticism as they were singing:

It was an overwhelming, stunning sight; there are no words with which to describe these spectacular events, which were on an epic scale.

Most everyone in the land thought of the Hitler Youth as a great and healthy program that brought together the young people of all social classes: those from poverty, the youngsters of the workers, right up to even the highest aristocratic families.

There no longer was any difference, there no longer existed any social barriers, there was togetherness, and they were equal in Hitler’s Third Reich.

Their slogan was Strong of Body-Sound of Mind, and so it was; they truly were growing up to have strong, healthy, beautiful bodies, and their minds filled with excitement and honor for their Fatherland. There was romanticism, a magical spell of singing, marching, and torchlight parades, their glow illuminating the night sky; it was spellbinding. Marta, just as all young people, was caught up in the fever and the excitement of all this pageantry, which of course had much to do with Hitler’s popularity.

Throughout the land, the young people shared a comradeship; they did this with the greatest pride, and they never questioned when asked to swear unconditional obedience and loyalty to their Führer, Adolf Hitler. They worshiped him and would willingly give their lives for him; it was an honor to dedicate one’s youth to him and to the Fatherland, Loyalty to the Grave.

In turn, Adolf Hitler promised his people a Thousand-Year Reich.

This was the environment, the surroundings, in which Marta Altergott was growing up, and as far as she was concerned, these were the best of times.

Germany blossomed under Adolf Hitler, who was seen as a Savior, one who could save Germany from Communism.

The people wanted a strong leader, one who had the answers to their problems after so many years of a depression, of inflation, of hunger, and of unemployment, which had reached up into the millions. With the economic crisis going out of bounds and with no relief or hope in sight, yes, the people were more than ready for Adolf Hitler.

He, who with the help of his great propaganda, drew millions into his spell, was able to win them over, pledging to put an end to their misery and hunger with the promise of Bread, Work, and Honor.

He vowed to bring Germany out of its suffering and back to greatness. So when in 1933 he became Chancellor, it was celebrated with great circumstance as his Storm Troopers were marching through the Brandenburg Gate with massed flags and torches, shouting out their Heil Hitler.

Yes, life had become much better for everyone in the land; there existed a hero worship for the Führer who had done so much for the people.

He revived the German economy; and as the new Reichs Chancellor, under the motto, Streets for the Führer, Adolf Hitler set into motion the building of the Reichs Autobahn System, being there in Frankfurt for the groundbreaking of the first stage of the Autobahn, which within just a few years would reach the completion of its first three thousand kilometers. He knew that this project would provide endless jobs, thereby proving to the people that he, Adolf Hitler, was keeping his promise about reducing unemployment, which would fall from six million to less than one million within just a few years.

Yes, he had done much for Germany, when in 1936, another of his great ideas emerged, the Volkswagen, (people’s car). Adolf Hitler envisioned an affordable automobile for every German working man, knowing that this in turn would enhance his popularity even more so. Thus the program Strength for Joy was born, giving the people of the land a goal to work and to save for. The entire program was inspired by Adolf Hitler and designed and developed by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche for whom this was a challenge, but one he accepted gladly.

Best of all, however, was the great pride which he restored to the Germans after the humiliating defeat of World War I, after the surrender of Germany to the Allied powers of America, France, and Great Britain, at the Treaty of Versailles in 1918, which was now almost twenty years ago.

The crowning for Adolf Hitler came when in the summer of 1936, Berlin had become the scene of the most magnificent Olympic Games ever, with a Stadium that seated 100,000 spectators. This was the perfect stage for Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, the greatest opportunity to impress the world. No games before had ever seen such a spectacular show and display of organization, all in obedience to one man, their Führer.

Visitors from around the world were impressed by what they saw: a country which showed its strength and beauty, whose people were happy, friendly, and united under one Führer, Adolf Hitler.

These were historic times. Life in Germany was good for Marta, who came from an ordinary family, living a simple life, uneventful until the magic of Adolf Hitler took over the land.

With his many wonderful youth movements, he brought much excitement into the otherwise dreary lives of ordinary people, and they loved him for it. It was a time filled with fanfare and hope for a bright future for every German, young and old.

So it was for Marta, who like all young people had become obsessed with all that was Hitler. She enjoyed living her life just as it was, and when she finished with her schooling, she felt blessed to have found a position as a secretary to the owner of the largest bookstore in the city.

She enjoyed her work; she was efficient and very responsible in her job and therefore, well appreciated. Yes, life was good to her; she was living at home with her parents, Liesel and Karl Altergott, who were quite a bit older, which probably was the reason for Marta’s mature, quiet, and yet so refined manner for her young years.

Marta loved life in the city with all its excitement, its hustle, and its bustle, and since she lived on the outskirts of the city, she would take the streetcar each day, to and from work. Often after working hours, she would spend some time strolling through the streets with all those fine shops, the small sidewalk cafés, and the street vendors, each season having something very special about it. Sometimes on weekends, she would spend her evenings going to the Theater or Concerts in the city park or even to the Ballet, which she loved most of all.

For Marta, a dream came true, when she landed this position at the bookstore, which brought so many wonderful opportunities to her daily life. She would spend her midday break hour in the store with all Her Books, as she called them, and through these books, the entire outside world opened up to her, a world she probably would never get to know.

It was in this time, this place, and this setting that Marta’s life began as a young woman, and like all young women, she dreamed of falling in love; and it would only be a matter of time that love would enter into her life. It was to come that very day when Ludwig Bauer entered into the bookstore.

Louis, as he was known to his friends, was planning to travel to some far-away lands that he had never seen before. Therefore, it was important for him to learn about these places, and the best way to be informed was through books.

He was looking through the travel section when suddenly, as he turned around, she was standing there, a creature so beautiful, it took his breath away.

It was only a moment, an instant magical moment, and yet it was to be destiny for them both. There was a feeling that took hold of him, he knew not why or how it was; he felt his heart racing and was not able to control his heartbeat.

He, Ludwig Bauer, who at the age of thirty-six was considered the most sought after bachelor in the city, who could choose any woman of his desire, now caught himself trembling like a schoolboy; and he was surprised that anything like this could happen to him.

He knew he could not let this moment slip away; he also knew that he must know her and love her and have her for his own; this fine, most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The soft, gentle smile with which she looked at him gave him the courage to talk to her and yet at the same time, he was afraid to break the spell, which seemed to have captured them both.

There was not one moment of strangeness between them; it was the most natural thing for Ludwig and Marta to stand there and talk as if they had done this many times before.

They talked about those far-away, beautiful places, with the only difference being, Ludwig had actually traveled to so many of these lands while Marta only visited them through those wonderful books; and even though they seemed to come from two different worlds, they felt they belonged.

Marta felt as if her heart would burst; this very same feeling, which he was experiencing, took hold of her, and she fell in love with him in that moment in time.

How could she not?

He was so dashingly handsome, tall, with dark hair and the deepest blue eyes she had ever looked into; he was exciting and vibrant, so worldly, and yet he seemed to possess tenderness and warmth.

And so, a love story began.

After choosing some books, Ludwig learned that Marta was working in the bookstore. He let her know that he must see her again, and she accepted this as if it was the most natural thing to do. They dated and he courted her every single day, and Marta loved being romanced by him.

Every afternoon when she had finished with her work, he was waiting for her, standing there to whisk her away in his big, black Mercedes, anywhere she wished to go.

Ludwig would spoil her and lavish upon her the most beautiful gifts; he would take her to places she thought existed only in Fairy Tales. On the weekends, there were long drives through the countryside with romantic dinners at some country inn.

There were the season passes to the Theater, the Ballet, and of course, those many Balls in the city.

They were seen together everywhere; they had become the Talk of the Town and Marta, the envy of many young women, who dreamed of being in her place.

There were no bounds to Ludwig’s pride that he felt when walking into a place with Marta on his arm.

Although he was a man who was used to being seen in the company of women of beauty, wealth, and name, never before had he been captivated by anyone as with Marta; it was as if he had searched for her his entire life, and one day, there she was.

It was not only her beauty that had captured him; he loved her entire being, everything about her, from her quiet manner, to her gentle gestures.

Marta possessed a charm and grace that no money could buy and no school could teach; it was as natural as she was herself. Whenever she entered a room, there were no words that could describe the sensation she caused, and best of all, she was not aware of this.

For the first time, Ludwig realized how important it was to him to be a wealthy man. He had always felt lucky to possess wealth, but never before did he feel, it was that important to him as now, now that he had met Marta. He would be able to spoil her in every way possible and show her the world with all its beauty; he would take care of her and protect her forever.

Yes, he felt it would be forever, and he knew that it would not be long before he would propose marriage to her.

Would she say yes?

She must; he needed her in his life, and he hoped with all his being that she would accept and make him the happiest man alive.

Nazi%20ID2.jpg

Identification Card in Hitlers Third Reich.

Mart%20-%20Steps.jpg

Marta 1937.

Ludwick%20-%201939.tif

Ludwig 1938, in pre-war Germany.

Marta%20-%20Portrait%201.jpg

Marta 1938, in pre-war Germany.

Volkswagen.jpg

A promise of a better future.

The Nazi Regime sought to produce

a low-prized automobile, The Volkswagen.

Inspired by Adolf Hitler, designed by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche

as an economical Peoples Car.

The onset of War however interrupted this project.

CHAPTER III

Ludwig came from the countryside; that’s where he was born, where he grew up, where he went to school, and where he spent his childhood and youth. He lived with his family in one of those ancient, enchanting villages. A village well over one thousand years old, nestled in a valley surrounded by hillsides, covered with growing golden wine; in the distance were the dark, green forests, where the trees seemed to touch the blue of the sky, which encircled the village below, as if to protect it from the world outside.

The village with its traditions of old and charm, with its church steeple rising up high into the sky, the houses with their red, tile roofs cluttered around, and the well-groomed fields of the farmers that changed their look with each season.

A small stream, the Saalbach, flowed lazily through the village and out into the countryside. This provided an abundance of water, which was needed to turn the waterwheels of several old mills that were sitting alongside it.

This sleepy, romantic village was a sight to behold, like turning a page in a storybook, and there it was.

This was Ludwig’s heritage.

His family home was a large, grand house, built of stone and meant to last hundreds and hundreds of years. Growing vines of grapes were covering part of the house as was custom on so many houses in the village; all of the windows had shutters, painted black, which was a stark contrast to the white paint of the house.

The shutters were necessary to keep out the harsh winter cold as well as the summer’s heat.

As was with all houses in the village, it was sitting along the roadside. The house had a cellar that was built half-underground, with the upper half above it, to allow for narrow windows. This resulted with the first floor raised high above the street level, with wide steps leading up to the front door, and when once inside, gave a nice feeling, overlooking the road below.

It was a big, old house, and there was a stately look about it.

It was a house with many large rooms, decorated to make a warm, comfortable home for the family. Upon entering, there was a huge hall that led from the front to the back of the house, leading to the sitting room and also to the kitchen that opened up through wide pocket doors into the dining room, which was the main focal area of the house. There was a big table in the middle of the room along with a sideboard, which was adorned with a tray, holding a very ornate silver tea service.

The focal point of this room, however, was the china cabinet with its glass doors that displayed and protected his mother’s treasures: her fine crystal goblets and pitchers along with some beautiful, delicate porcelain figurines.

However, it was the dining room table where family and friends always liked to gather around, not just to take in the different meals, but also to just sit and talk by a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Again, big pocket doors that were always open connected the dining room with the sitting room, which looked so inviting with its beautiful sofas and chairs. There were beaded Tiffany lamps sitting on small tables and cabinets that displayed the many family photos, and yet the dining room table was where everyone wanted to be.

It was a two-story house with three bedrooms and a bathroom for the children upstairs; their parent’s room and a large bath were on the first floor. Like all houses in the village, it had a cellar, which stored their foods and wines to keep them cool.

In the back of the house was a large covered veranda with chairs and sofas, which seemed to invite everyone to sit and enjoy the beauty of the garden below.

It was the garden however, that made this home stand out from all the rest in the entire village.

This spectacular garden was the hobby of Ludwig’s father and was a paradise; it seemed he cared for his garden more than for his family, for he gave it so much of his time and care.

There were trees of every kind: from flowering trees, to the tall dark evergreens; trees laden heavy with every fruit imaginable, from peaches to apricots, to the plums and cherry trees; from the white bing, to the juicy, ruby-red; not to forget the many bushes, bringing forth the gooseberries, the blueberries, and even the red currant.

Throughout the garden, flowers would make their appearance at all the different seasons; their colors would put any rainbow to shame. It was a spectacular sight. A small brook was running through the garden into two small ponds filled with goldfish, with small bridges crossing over. This was the great pride of his father.

Ludwig Bauer II made a stately appearance. He was a tall, handsome man with a small mustache, which was always tightly cropped as was his goatee. He seemed aloof to a point of being arrogant. There was a stern look about him, never showing emotions of any kind, but that is how it was in those days. Ludwig was a studied man, a man with higher education who had gone to the University and graduated with a degree in Engineering. He had held a position with the Government all his life, which gave him a certain prestige and respect and made him a figure of prominence in his community, which he enjoyed to the fullest.

This was of utmost importance to him, being the proud man that he was.

One of his great enjoyments in everyday life, besides his garden, was his pipe. He seldom was seen without it; it gave him a look of distinction. Now and then, he would puff on it, yet it seemed as if he was not really smoking it, but rather just had grown accustomed to it over the years and felt not complete without it, and perhaps he thought it lent him status.

The mother Barbara, Babette as most people knew her, came from the family Durst, a name as well-known as that of the Bauer’s and as ancient as the village itself.

Babette had two brothers, both older than herself: the eldest, Wilhelm Durst, now the keeper of the farm of their ancestors, and the younger brother, Jakob Durst, having the village butcher shop, which had been in the family for well over fifty years.

Babette knew not much of the world outside, her life revolved around her family and her village, and she had no dreams or desire to go beyond. She was a devout Christian woman who was deeply devoted to God and to her Church.

She was a nice-looking woman, and although her face was plain, it had a gentle look with soft, brown eyes. Her hair, which was pulled back neat and tidy into a chignon at the nape, made her appear older and much too austere, when in reality she was just the opposite.

Babette was a wonderful mother to Ludwig and his siblings; she was loving and caring to her children, but was totally submissive and obedient to her domineering husband, never daring to speak out or voice an opinion of her own.

This was sad, for it had taken the sparkle out of her eyes, which surely she once possessed as a young girl.

Ludwig was the second of three children: his sister Luise was older by two years and his brother Leopold was twelve years younger.

Ludwig III was who he was, in the lineage of his ancestors. He carried the name of his father and that of his grandfather, as it was customary in those times: the firstborn son carries on this tradition.

They were a proud family, and their name Bauer and Durst (through marriage) belonged to just a handful of families who had settled in the village as far back as to the year 1555. These families are forever tied to the history of their village; they are proud of it, and they show it.

Life at home was very strict for young Ludwig growing up. At the young age of nine, after spending the first four years in the village school, his father decided that his son must go to the Gymnasium, which was in the next town, about ten miles away.

Pupils may, after counseling by their teacher and at the request of the parents, be allowed to apply, to enter the Gymnasium. In order to be accepted, students must be academically qualified to take and of course pass the entrance exam.

The Gymnasium is a preparatory for the University. It’s an academic secondary school with rigorous preparation for the higher education, its curriculum emphasizing on languages with Latin and French, Mathematics, Sciences, Music and Art. The school demands a high degree of diligence throughout its nine grades. So at the young age of nine and after having passed the exam and with a heavy heart, Ludwig now went to the Gymnasium, which was in the next town and which meant that he no longer was with his friends; for there were not many students from his village who attended the Gymnasium. The highlight of his life was playing soccer on the village team; he was an absolutely great soccer player who lived for his sport and for his team; he was well liked and admired for his talent on the soccer field.

These were the growing up years of Ludwig. He somehow survived the coldness and strictness of his father; whatever love and comfort he needed to survive, he received from his mother and his sister Luise. When Ludwig became of age, after having finished his schooling, he moved to the city, which was a two hour drive away, where he would live, work, and learn the business of his father’s sister Lina and her husband Otto.

Ludwig’s sister Luise had run away from home in the dark of the night rather than entering into a marriage to a man she had no love for, but had been arranged by her father, as was very much customary in those days.

Luise was well brought up and prepared for marriage. This was the only thing expected of her: to marry well and be a good, obedient wife. This was accepted by all young girls in that time.

To Luise, however, this was not something she could do, marry without love; and since her father had given his word to give her in marriage to Albert Schwedes, there was only one way out, that was to run away from home, and one morning, she was gone.

This caused a great scandal. Nothing of the like had ever happened in the village before; it was devastating for the family, especially to her father, being the proud man that he was, and now such a scandal in his family. The gossip of the people hurt him more than the loss of his daughter Luise.

She left the security and love of her parent’s house forever; she left it all behind: her family, her friends, and the village she loved. In the dark, early hours of a cold winter morning, with the snow covering the land, she found herself on a train that would carry her into a different world, to a strange country, where people spoke a language she did not know. Within her were so many mixed emotions, there was fear and yet an unexplainable excitement with which she began her journey.

It was a friend from her school, years ago, who helped her get away, and through this friend, she now had a destination, a place to go.

A position as a governess was waiting for her in Amsterdam, the capital of Holland. She was to take care of the two young children of Hans and Beb Van Buren. Mr. Van Buren was a prominent man in the banking business and well respected in his community.

They were a great family, and their children Piet and Mia were just five and three years old. They welcomed Luise warmly and she became part of their family.

The different language was no problem since the Van Burens were fluent in German as they were with many other languages. This was not unusual since most of the Dutch people mastered several languages.

Luise adjusted well; the children loved her, and she had a good life with her new family, although there were many times, when in the still of the night, she would cry herself to sleep, when her heart yearned for home and the village she had left behind.

She did learn to love her new country, and she learned to speak its language. She liked this beautiful land with its windmills throughout the countryside and the fields upon fields of flowers, with the tulips the most famous of all.

Tulips, Windmills, and Wooden Shoes, what a beautiful land.

Then one day, everything changed.

The Van Burens had visitors from America: it was the sister of Mr. Van Buren who came with her husband, an American, and their three young children.

They stayed for a month, but before they left for home, they asked Luise if she would like to come to America.

After seeing how she governed and loved the Van Buren’s children, they were so impressed by her that they wanted her to take care of their own children.

It had been talked about: the Van Burens knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Luise; and although they did not want to lose her, they wanted the best for her and not to stand in her way of a new life, which promised a great future.

So it came to be that Luise stayed with the Van Burens until they had found a new governess for Piet and Mia. Now a few months later, Luise found herself standing at the railing of this big ocean liner, saying good-bye to Holland as this big ship was crossing the Atlantic, carrying her to America where a whole new world was waiting for her.

Being in America would one day, in years to come, prove to be of great meaning and would influence the lives of her family and friends, which she had left behind in her village.

At home with his sister gone, Ludwig felt this huge void, which Luise’s leaving had created.

He and Luise had been close ever since they were very young children. Luise always played the role of a Little Mother to him, always standing up for him, protecting him, and defending him in front of his strict father.

This great fear of their father had created a special bond between Luise and Ludwig, not only that of sister and brother, but that of comrades sticking together through thick and thin. Luise had always been his haven, his strength, and his comfort when their father would tyrannize the entire family, but him, Ludwig, most of all. It was always Luise’s room into which Ludwig would flee to, for safety and comfort, and they became close as seldom two siblings would; Luise had made his childhood good.

So now with his sister gone, he truly felt alone within the family. Life became unbearable since Luise left: his father felt humiliated, he felt shame, anger, and fury by the scandal and gossip this had caused, which spread throughout the village.

He almost could not bring himself to leave his house. The shame and humiliation almost killed him.

Ludwig’s mother, Barbara, however, was suffering from a broken heart. She was always crying, never talking, and never smiling; it was awful to see. She never had a happy life next to her husband. Her only happiness were her children, and now having lost her only daughter, it was almost too much for her to bear.

Babette had known of her daughter’s plan to leave; she understood and had even encouraged her. She was happy for her daughter, not having to spend a life in a loveless marriage.

Yes, within her heart, Babette understood completely; did not she herself