European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

Before the Nazis marched in, from 33 activists in the anti-fascist resistance 11 were female comrades.

They achieved the same as the men.

Once I had to kiss unwillingly.

While hanging up posters, we were caught by an SS-patrol, walking a path no patrol ever used.

As I am sticking, I say: “Oh, the SS is coming!”

I instinctively put my back to the poster, and as was a cold season,

I covered the bucket of glue with my coat and she snuggled up to me and said:

“Now we have to kiss – it’s the rule!”

We kissed to cheat the SS-people and they really thought that is a loving couple.

They had the cheek to say: “Kissing is not enough. Remember the ‘Fuehrer’ needs soldiers, the ‘Fuehrer’ needs offsprings!”

We just went through such a thing with throbbing heart, but that had nothing to do with emotions.

Apart from that we had connections to our (female) radio operators that were abroad,

but that was initially limited to radio contact and coded correspondence.

When I was in Eger on holiday or because I needed my glass eye I used to say to the battalion’s doctor:

“Well, in Warsaw they are not able to make decent glass eyes.

In Wiesbaden they make the best glass eyes.

Then I got marching orders from near the front or from Russia or Poland to Wiesbaden

and then I took a detour past Eger. And i told to one or two:

“During this time I will be available in Eger. Can’t you come there, as well?”

We then met female comrades who were in Norway or Copenhagen.