Life as a Child in Germany while World War Ii

This may be a touchy subject for many to read, but some of the things I'm about to tell you is real and a part of life many of us don't want to hear.

Although there are many articles published about World War Ii in Germany, not too many touch on the personal aspect of what it was like growing up as a child during the war. For those of you that are interested, this article may be for you.

About The Civil War For Kids

My parents were raised in Germany during World War Ii. When the war first started, my mum was only three and my father was eight. My parents left Germany as soon as they could after the war to start a great life in the States.

Life as a Child in Germany while World War Ii

Woman of Valor: Clara Barton and the Civil War Best

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Woman of Valor: Clara Barton and the Civil War Overview

When the Civil War broke out, Clara Barton wanted more than anything to be a Union soldier, an impossible dream for a thirty-nine-year-old woman, who stood a slender five feet tall. Determined to serve, she became a veritable soldier, a nurse, and a one-woman relief agency operating in the heart of the conflict. Now, award-winning author Stephen B. Oates, drawing on archival materials not used by her previous biographers, has written the first complete account of Clara Barton's active engagement in the Civil War.

By the summer of 1862, with no institutional affiliation or official government appointment, but impelled by a sense of duty and a need to heal, she made her way to the front lines and the heat of battle. Oates tells the dramatic story of this woman who gave the world a new definition of courage, supplying medical relief to the wounded at some of the most famous battles of the war -- including Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Battery Wagner, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Petersburg. Under fire with only her will as a shield, she worked while ankle deep in gore, in hellish makeshift battlefield hospitals -- a bullet-riddled farmhouse, a crumbling mansion, a windblown tent. Committed to healing soldiers' spirits as well as their bodies, she served not only as nurse and relief worker, but as surrogate mother, sister, wife, or sweetheart to thousands of sick, wounded, and dying men.

Her contribution to the Union was incalculable and unique. It also became the defining event in Barton's life, giving her the opportunity as a woman to reach out for a new role and to define a new profession. Nursing, regarded as a menial service before the war, became a trained, paid occupation after the conflict. Although Barton went on to become the founder and first president of the Red Cross, the accomplishment for which she is best known, A Woman of Valor convinces us that her experience on the killing fields of the Civil War was her most extraordinary achievement.

Customer Reviews

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My mother, who is now 70 years old doesn't talk much about the war as it brings tears to her eyes. It's a part of her life I think she would like to forget all together.

My mum was one of five children and initially lived on the Western edge of Poland. When Germany and Russia invaded Poland they were forced to move taking only the few possessions they could carry on their backs. Her father who was at that time in the military was unfortunately killed in the war. She never got the chance to know who her father was. Her mum was left alone with five children to feed and no home of their own.

They moved from home to home, protection to shelter, whoever would take them in. There was no money so my grandmother sewed clothing to sell to others in need. This little bit of money she earned was sometimes enough to get food for the family. Other times it was not and they were lucky enough to find other people that were willing to help them out with a meal.

Their food consisted of mostly cabbage and bread. Sometimes my grandmother would stand in line for a whole day for just one loaf of bread only to find out they were all gone when it was her turn to get some.

During this time, many families would take their children out of school at a young age - 12 years old for many so that they could go work and help the house survive. My grandmother despite the temptation would not allow this. Having her children get an schooling was too leading to her, so as her children slept she sewed and sewed to make what little money she could. For the children that did leave school to work, the most favorite places to work at were bakeries and any place that made food. This way at least you could bring some leftover food home to your house at the end of the day.

As they were continually pushed out of areas and constantly on the move, they lived in many shared rooms with other homeless families. It was all the time a constant search to find a house that would take you in. The rooms were usually divided by sheets and about the half the size of a garage. They slept on the floor many times on hay to cushion themselves from the hard floors. If they were fortunate enough, they got potato sacks to use as blankets and often had to share them. Other times they would find shelters which would be one big room filled with other families. It was never a happy place - you were surrounded by sadness from the people that lost loved ones. You heard constant crying and had to keep a close eye on your personal belongings so that they wouldn't be stolen. There were no toys to play with so the children learned to use their imagination to keep themselves occupied.

The children played face very close to home in the streets among the ruins. seeing dead horses and people in the streets was just accepted. They grew used to the sound of the sirens going off and running for protection where they would hide until it was over. Afterwards, it was off to playing again outside.

I remember my mum telling me how on one instance they were forced to evacuate fast because of bombers arrival in. everybody flooded to the streets with their families carrying what they could of their belongings on their backs. Some people had horses and other carriages, but the majority of them just had suitcases and bags of their most prized belongings as you never had enough time to get all things together. Surviving was the only leading thing. As they joined the crowds on the streets to move out suddenly the bombers came and started bombing the streets. The children were screaming and the parents would run for protection dragging their children behind them. I don't want to get too graphic here, but imagine being a small child of 5 to 7 years old watching people hit by bombs right before your very eyes or watching an additional one child you played with that day suddenly die.

The war was a terrible time for everybody together with the German civilians. You were forced to obey Hitler's rules either you liked it or not. Even after it was announced the war was over, on one chance my father watched a woman die before his eyes by the hands of a soldier because she happened to say "Thank god" and made a bad commentary about Hitler. Her throat was slit instantly. She was then strung up by a rope as an example so everybody could see what happens when you say something bad about Hitler.

It's sad, I know. But this is the reality of what it was like for many German civilians during World War Ii. Its no wonder so many of them wanted to come to America.

Life as a Child in Germany while World War IiLabrinth - Last Time Tube. Duration : 4.92 Mins.

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