European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I started school in 1919.
I started school in 1919.
Ich kam 1919 zur Schule. -
The school was not far away from our parents’ flat.
The school was not far away from our parents’ flat.
Die Schule war nicht weit entfernt von unserer elterlichen Wohnung -
Role model functions developed later with progressing age.
Role model functions developed later with progressing age.
und Vorbildwirkungen die entwickelten sich später – nicht - mit zunehmendem Alter. -
But there was no role model between the teachers I had.
But there was no role model between the teachers I had.
Von den Lehrern, die ich da hatte, als Vorbild – war keiner, gab’s nicht. -
Partly, they were teachers who had been demobbed by the imperial army
Partly, they were teachers who had been demobbed by the imperial army
Das waren ja auch teilweise Lehrer, die demobilisiert wurden von der kaiserlichen Armee, -
and who were put into teaching profession; like the sports teacher
and who were put into teaching profession; like the sports teacher
und die im Schuldienst eingesetzt wurden; wie z.B. -
or the teacher of religious education who had no educational skills.
or the teacher of religious education who had no educational skills.
der Turnlehrer oder der Religionslehrer – nicht - die keine pädagogischen Fähigkeiten hatten. -
And characteristic for this time was that we had a teacher who was a real bully.
And characteristic for this time was that we had a teacher who was a real bully.
Und typisch ist in der Zeit, das wir hatten noch einen Lehrer so’n richtiger Prügelheld. -
When the lesson was about to start, first two or three pupils were given a good thrashing, with the cane.
When the lesson was about to start, first two or three pupils were given a good thrashing, with the cane.
Wenn die Stunde begann, haben erst zwei, drei Dresche gekriegt, mit dem Rohrstock. Also das war schon so typisch, wenn der kam. -
Maybe another thing: I was malnourished and was given 'Quaker feeding'.
Maybe another thing: I was malnourished and was given 'Quaker feeding'.
Und so vielleicht noch eine Sache: Ich war ja auch unterernährt und bekam damals "Quäkerspeisung". -
That was from the United States, from the Quaker association
That was from the United States, from the Quaker association
Das war von den Vereinigten Staaten, von der Quäkerorganisation, -
and there I got half a litre of milk soup and a bread roll.
and there I got half a litre of milk soup and a bread roll.
und da bekam ich einen halben Liter Milchsuppe und ein Brötchen. -
You have to see that this was 1920/21, where a lot of problems occurred in this post-war period.
You have to see that this was 1920/21, where a lot of problems occurred in this post-war period.
Wir müssen ja sehen, das war 1920/21 wo noch eigentlich in der Nachkriegszeit sich auch viele Probleme ergaben. -
Post war period – deserting the army
Post war period – deserting the army
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They wanted to keep me in the army when the war ended.
They wanted to keep me in the army when the war ended.
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I had some sort of Partisan rank,
I had some sort of Partisan rank,
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something like second lieutenant, but I had no intention of building a military career.
something like second lieutenant, but I had no intention of building a military career.
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I deserted the army in September 1945.
I deserted the army in September 1945.
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I wanted to study and I believed that I fought for that too, for my own personal freedom, for the right to decide for myself what I would do.
I wanted to study and I believed that I fought for that too, for my own personal freedom, for the right to decide for myself what I would do.
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I didn’t want anybody else deciding for me.
I didn’t want anybody else deciding for me.