Extracts from Frau Ronke's Diary
Life in Berlin During the War
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When
the war started it was all new and very exiting to Frau Ronke. She wrote a
diary at the time. It was in English, as this was the first language she
learnt in school. When the air attacks in Berlin began and the first bomb in
her old district fell, she walked after school to see the place curious to
see what had happened and was shocked by the destruction.
During the war, she was not really scared of the bombing. One day, one of
her classmates disappeared, gone to a foreign country without saying
goodbye. She heard that she was Jewish but she never saw her again. During
that time she heard more and more about "brave for Germany" fallen
soldiers, and then she began to realise the tragedy of war. In December
1941, the U.S.A entered the war and she was shocked. She wondered how they
could win against such a big country.
They lost the terrible battle of Stalingrad (in Russia) and the western
enemies landed in Normandy, France. But the Nazis still promised them
victory in the war with new rockets that their scientists had constructed
for them.
In the Summer of 1943, schools were closed in Berlin because of the increasingly dangerous air raids. Her whole class was evacuated to East Germany. Her parents were accommodated in Stolp where her Grandmother Omi, her brother Onkel and her uncle Martin, Tante lotte (her Aunt) were living.
Christa Ronke's diary talks about what happened to her when she returned to Berlin after the liberation.
26th March, 1945:
"What people think. Our fight was in vain, war is lost, all scolded the
government to finish war immediately. Why still the casualties of soldiers
and civilians. Many people, like us, are listening to the radio of the
enemy. Hitler and Goebbels are said to be mad; they are cruel and ill. But
there are still some Nazis talking of victory and new weapons. We hope the
Americans will be sooner in Berlin than the Russians. Goebbels and the
newspaper says the Russians will be murdering and raping. The radio of the
enemy says that's wrong. We don't know what to believe...the general food
situation is bad, we are suffering from hunger and there will be no crops
this year, it is said to become worse. The American radio station in Europe
also reports about the situation."
The family was short of money because all the money and jewellery in the safe deposit in the bank were destroyed and lost.
1st September, 1945:
"Now I am busy as a waitress at an American Officers mess. Working time
is from 6am - 2pm or 2pm - 10pm. No days off. I prefer to work in the
evenings because of the beautiful music. A pianist is playing for dinner,
mostly Gershwin. There are three dining rooms with three waitresses each who
also have to help in the kitchen. We are 62 German employees in the mess.
Mutti is working on the kitchen and I am pouring in coffee, tea or
chocolate. The change of school to being a waitress for the former enemy's is
hard for me - And today an officer complained about my being too earnest. So I
have to learn. "Keep smiling" now. Therefore, I got such good food. So
much meat, vegetables, butter, ice, cake extras. I have not eaten so much
for years. I especially like peanut butter which we never have in Germany.
It's so good not to be hungry any more."
3rd November, 1945
"On the way home today I met the old fat but very kind American
civilian who speaks so well German. He took me home what I didn't like
because of the neighbours. He told me that he is Jewish and came to Germany
not hateful but longing for his homeland. I asked him why he should hate us
so much and he told me about his escape from the Nazis to the U.S.A and the
Nazis have murdered a great number of Jews. I was shocked and could not
believe it. Spoke immediately with Mutti about that; she was shocked, too.
She heard about the Jew camps but had not known what was going on there. She
was never interested in politics and as a housewife- what could she have
done against this? She thinks about it now and in some ways she feels
guilty, but everybody saying something about Nazis was put into prison. I am
ashamed of being a German and want to emigrate when it will be possible?"
24th December, 1945
"Mutti and I have all day off for the first time; therefore we have to
work from 6am -10pm tomorrow. Mutti has bought a pear tree branch from the
forest and baked a cake. We were glad to have 10 degrees in our room. In the
afternoon, I was sitting at the table with a big blanket learning English
and French. Heinz came and gave me a book and a photo from him. He is a good
fellow, but not enough of him. From Mutti, I got a nice black and white
dress for the theatre. I am so happy about it as we are the same figure.
Mutti can put on the dress too when going out. In the evening we visited
Tante Eva and Onkel Ossi. It was very comfortable with the candle light and
some biscuits. The first Christmas eve in peace!"
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Page last updated: 25th February 2014