BERLIN’s WOMEN :
THE MOTHER (in 1945, before occupation)
The Family Manager – ON LEAVING
BERLIN
Packing the family’s possessions to flee
on foot:
With Home sewn Rucksacks and one
suitcase each
Warm Clothing, winter shoes, fur
coats, gloves and hats
Medicines, hygiene products,
chemicals to make soap,
Make-up and one evening gown for
each daughter (dress # 10 – black taffeta)
An item of personal importance
(books,records, dolls)
Packing in crates for possible car/truck
transport:
Household essentials: Pots, Pans, Linens,
A radio, a gramophone,
Mattresses ( 2 x 3-part made 3 x 2
extra beds)
BERLIN’s WOMEN :
THE GRANDMOTHER(1945)
The holiday visitor who had to stay
The widow of a Pharmacist came to
Berlin for the 1944 Christmas holidays.
Two of her three suitcases were
stolen on the trip. Her only possession, the content of one suitcase.
She could not return in 1945 –
Russians occupied her house in the East.
She left Berlin with her daughter and
grand-daughters.
She shared a room with her niece at
the Estate’s Farm building
She cooked for the family and cared
for her invalid daughter.
She harvested her niece’s garden
while the 15 year old was sent to stand in line for milk or bread.
She moved to the city with her daughter’s
family.
There, she was happily reunited with
her brother, accidentally meeting in the street. He had moved to the same city.
They had lost touch in in 1945.
THE DAUGHTER: “SHE” LEAVING HOME, BERLIN
COUNTRY LIFE: TWO YEARS FARM WORK IN EXCHANGE FOR LIVING QUARTERS FOR GRANDMOTHER,
MOTHER AND SISTER
CARING FOR INJURED MOTHER ONE YEAR
(1945)
TENDING EXTRA GARDEN PROVIDING FAMILY
FOOD
VISITING MOTHER IN 10-MONTH HOSPITAL
STAY (30 km BY BIKE)
RETURNING TO THE CITY:
BEGINNING HOME-EC SCHOOL TRAINING
RETURNING HOME TO CARE FOR INVALID
MOTHER
BEGINNING SECOND TRAINING AS
PHARMACITICAL TECHNICIAN
MARRIAGE:
STARTING DOLL CLOTHING BUSINESS
ASSISTANT TO FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER
DESIGNING DRESSES – SEWING AND
SELLING TO PATTERN MAG.
GIVING UP BUSINESS TO DEDICATE
HERSELF AS DIPLOMAT-WIFE
BERLIN’s WOMEN :
THE AUNT (LOSS OF HUSBAND AND SON )
War Widow – REMAINING IN EAST GERMANY
-
Left behind with daughter in East
German City
-
Some of her six sisters also remained
in East Germany,
-
As did her unmarried niece
-
Cut off from her brother, and nieces
in the west
-
Worked making wooden toys with her
daughter
-
One of seven daughters of a minister
under socialism she experienced discrimination
-
As did her daughter and niece.
-
Niece moved to West Germany– (allowed
to do so)
when she reached age 65 (seniors were
given exit visa to leave the GDR)
-
She lived her final years in East
Germany, cared for at home by her daughter.
BERLIN’s WOMEN :
THE GRANDDAUGHTER ( GROWING UP ABROAD )
GLOBAL CITIZEN – THIRD CULTURE KID
-
Spent the first two years in
Germany
-
With parents, grandfathers and aunts
in Germany,
-
A year in France
-
Three years in San Francisco
-
Three years in Reykjavik
-
18 years in Germany growing up with global cultures in the West
German Capital Bonn
-
Reunion with her Great aunt when she
settled in the West at age 65 ( visa from East Germany)
-
Chinese Art History – study tour to
China
-
Marriage that would take her abroad
-
After 1990 first visits to Eastern Germany,
Berlin and meeting of her Aunt in the German East
-
Artist recording family history in
paintings, words and writings.
No comments:
Post a Comment