| Primary Sources |
| 20th Century | Germany | ... after 1945 | [P|S|M] |
Postwar Germany: Letter from February 10, 1946
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Loe. 10. II. 46.
Dear Mr. Loens
Today, on Sunday, I find time; rain makes it uncomfortable outside, it is
best to stay in the room and to write my letters long overdue.
Many thanks for your long letter ! I am happy to read that you all are
well, as far as this can be said nowadays. I will try to answer to your
letter point by point.
I met your brother here last weekm at Central Station, when he arrived
coming from Brackel, and we were able to exchange a few words. He did not
change much, judging from his looks; this reminded me of you and your letter
added to recalling my memory of you. To act as an interpreter is a highly
interesting occupation. It provides insight into areas which were alien to a
teacher. At the same time one gets to understand minds and characters which
sometimes makes one want to throw up. Believe me, I respect a person which
acts for a purpose in good faith, and who proves that he stands up for his
conviction. But what you can experience here, by far crosses the line.
Overall I don't worry too much, as we, as soon as possible, want to leave
for Ireland, because just as you I see no future here. But this is not the
main reason for my decision; I would like to worke here, if the people would
act differently. But that lamenting by persons who, in the past, excessively
expressed their disrespect, "Gives me the sickener". I could list names
here, which are familiar to you, for instance Fuehrer etc., how they pull
strings in order to correct their reputation, this is despicable because I
miss uprightness, and I say to myself : these people want to educate an
honest youth ? Unfortunately, in the last decades, teachers have proved to
be the shakyiest characters. Thus I fear for the future of the German youth,
and as I see no way how I can improve the future, in the few years left to
me, I let all go, pension and all ... and I leave it all. Over the last
years this one thought has kept me going : it will be possible, after the
war, if you are still alive, to work for the reestablishment of the good old
principles : truth, honesty, uprightness, together with those who are
like-minded. But as I can not sense any change of mind, or as I see the same lowly attitude in the
teachers here, I give up that hope, become egotist and say : it is hopeless.
You see, Mr ....., not a very pleasant attitude. But I can't help it. I do not want
to boast, and if I now can tell people what I think of them, without fearing
to be sent to a concentration camp, this has little effect, as these people,
after being severely criticized, only act all the more friendly, yuck !
Now, after this lamentation of mine, let us turn to more positive
subjects. Thank God, my wife's condition has considerably improved over the
last weeks and months, thanks to communication with her home. We have been
visited by her countrymen from Belfast and the environs of Coleraine, which
are garrisoned not far from here with the brigade or the artillery, on the
Westfalendamm, where I teach German language; she has freshened up. The
British Red Cross, according to instructions from London, has taken care of
her, and things do improve. Three days per week I am given meals in the
barracks, first rate, so that she has to work less and can save money.
Myself, despite the lot of work, I have gained at least 10 pounds and feel
better than ever. My wife can return to her home any time she wants, but she
wants to wait until I may leave, and presently regulations
determine that if you leave you may not return. I try to change her mind as
to leave, but all attempts to persuade her have been in vain. I say it will
do you good, she says, if I am out of the country for a few months, and then
I am told that you have to stay another year, I suffer more than in case I
wait with you. So nothing can be done and we do everything to make a common
journey possible.
This is the situation here. Infuential persons, MPs (Members of Parl.) are
using their influence for us, so there is hope. Transport still is the
greatest obstacle.
Your children are well, so I join in your happiness. If philology has a
future, I can not say presently, our horizon is too narrow. Presently there
is a lack of workers, and young, untarnished persons are in great demand.
Here so-called support courses are scheduled to start. Dortmund is far
behind; there is no real stimulus. There are practically no buildings
available; the courses are to be held in the elementary school in Marten.
Schools of higher education probably will not start operation before the end
of the year, if at all. I do not expect it.
To be honest, I was astonished when I saw you with that sign some time
ago, But I can imagine that it was more difficult, in a small town, to avoid
getting involved, than it was here. Your party membership since 1937, as I
can see here in many examples, will have no impact on your position. Ever
since our days in the army, Mr. ....., I have held you in special esteem,
because of your clear mind, and we, my wife and myself, can not imagine,
that you could not have seen the rotten, moulded, unfree within the system.
Of course we held back, not because we mistrusted you, but because we
already had been denounced and a written explanation was too risky. I could
not understand that you, whose manly action toward the small Gross had had
such an impact on myself, during the years when my character was formed, now
could go with the crowd and approve what you earlier vehemently would have
disapproved. Frankly, this has shaken me, but I believe that you knew little of what really happened, while I also
"listened" to the other side. And your view may have been distorted by
foreign policy successes, which, according to your career and your political
views, had to fill you with justified joy and the hope for a greater
Germany. But one point prevented me from falling for the same error : I knew
of the false, unjust, belied fundament on which all these siccesses were
based, and if I - even before 1939, did not believe in a quick collapse, I
was firmly convinced that it would come, because while I do not attend
church service, I do believe in justice balancing things out. Sooner or
later, one day the price has to be paid for injustice one has committed, and
no ruler was allowed to toy around with the lives of his fellow men and with
justice unpunished. It may be an outdated position, may look too close to
"the church", but my own experience and history have taught me this, and I
believe in it. You are right, it takes years to see clearly. As far as I can
see from English newspapers, the situation will not change much before
1947-1948, as the victorious powers and the entire world find themselves in
an extreme chaos. England even considers to issue ration cards for bread -
which had not been rationed throughout the war. This may help you understand
the situation in the outside world. For us the situation will be
correspondingly worse. If I may give you an advice, do everything possible
to cultivate your garden, perhaps a patch of land. The next winter will be
worse than this one!
Afterwards, however, things will improve quickly, and you, especially in
well-preserved Warendorf, will manage things well. The horribly destroyed
cities such as Dortmund etc. will be sites of horror for at least another 10
years, where many people can not find a decent room, water, a working sewage
system, light etc. How some manage to live here I can not comprehend, and
people in the countryside can not imagine.
When a civil administration will be established, nobody can say. I am
convinced that it will not take too long, however. Perhaps this summer. At
the moment, the two largest groups of the British army, the 26th and 27th,
are demobilized. This will repatriate a large number of soldiers. Inhowfar
they will be replaced by recruits I can not say, and I can not say either if
the houses of Warendorf will be concerned (by quartering) less than before.
But I can imagine - unless out-of-their-mind werewolves create trouble, the
occupation force will be drastically reduced. On the other hand I read that
from July the British occupation soldiers may bring their families, which
may cause additional difficulties on the housing market. Unfortunately I can
not write anything more soothing. I believe the situation will become less
tense from mid of the year and you can calmly await things unfolding. When
sunshine is strong enough to heat your room, the heart will get warmer, too.
We are fortunate to receive surplus deputate coal from a miner every now and
then. I do not envy you for your job as department head. But be happy that
you can still continue doing your job. Do not overwork yourselves !
I do not believe that the military administration objected to your
employment, the party membership since 1937 does not say much unless the
Arnsberg District President raises an objection. He has fired directors who
were party members and who have been approved by the military
administration.
So, it turned out to be a long letter, and I have commented on much which
has piled up over the years. I hope and wish that you will be able to work
your garden and smoke your pipe for many years to come, when the tobacco
necessary for the latter will be available again. At the moment the
situation is trist. Perhaps the opportunity will arise for a conversation.
Cordial Greetings from the two of us for the entire Loens family and
yourselves
AL
Scans:
Dokument in deutscher Sprache
| Source: Archiv Alexander Decker, with permission
Digital Edition GM and AG (Translation) for psm-data
Transkription from Alexandra S. |
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