UBB.threads Forums General Interest Period History Forum Old German and Estonian couple

Hi all ,
We have a elderly couple living next door they are 96 & 95 still living by themselves , very nice old couple

We have known them for 6 years the gents health is declining fast and she is not too bad , they can still hold a better conversation then most 30yr olds , we help them out when free with different things ,

Anyways we got talking - she was German born still with strong German accent and was recalling WW2 where she said she was in a factory assembling Tank batteries ? While 17yrs old , she also mentioned working in a different factory gathering orders and said her boss would leave her a sandwich in a spot each day and later told her where she could find it ( she said both would get into trouble if caught ? ) , and talked about bombing raids where all workers would run into the nearby forest for shelter , she lived in a displaced children home with other orphans , she did use the word 'camp' a few times where she said she spent approx 2 years later on in the war , I did not push for what she meant by 'camp' ....

both her parents were sent of to Siberia she said early on and never seen them again ,

He is from Estonia and his parents were sent off also to a labor camp during WW2 and never seen them again , he did not mention any other info regarding war time ,

They both imagrated to Australia a few years after the war and have been together ever since and made a good life for themselves .

What an experience , we were just relaxing having a cup of tea , just a casual chat listening to their story , very moving ...

from these snippets of info what else do you think they might of experienced ?

Wow! What an amazing story, thanks for sharing it! Sounds like they were certainly adults during the war, and if they aren't Jewish, (which might explain the "camps") they could have been war workers for a number of different industries... orphan labor was common and orphans were plentiful in Germany then. Many children had lost their parents during and shortly after WW1, if she was born in 1920, she would have many peers without fathers at the very least. Tank battery might refer to parts or munitions for tanks, many factories by 1937 employing pretty much 100% of the available workforce then- recall the tag der arbeit in 1938 had a huge parade in Nuremberg celebrating 0% unemployment. It sounds like she may have spent time in a soviet camp after WW2. I know a lady who does our silvester eve countdown in German lost both her parents in the same manner, but as a young child must have either escaped or been released after a few years. Certainly could be similar for the Estonian fellow, especially if he's quiet about it- could have been communist resistors, or as in Germany, just about 100 different internable crimes against the state. Maybe he fought with the Estonian resistance! However if he's not talking about it, at 96, and seems to be enjoying his life.,, I wouldn't push it with any questions and just enjoy the company and conversations I'd be having with my friends. Very cool!!

Thanks for the reply Mike , we enjoy catching up with them and take each day as it comes , what a life , a lot has changed in their lifetime and they enjoy reminiscing sometimes ,

He was a school teacher and accountant after the war for many years and made a good life for themselves

That's awesome. A buddy of mine lives on the same block in a town about 10 miles from here where the last survivor of the Malmedy massacre lives (us veteran). Says the conversations are pure gold. Shorter now though, and further between visits though, the man is 92.

The gent is getting noticeable slower and not eating much , the wife knows the time is soon , they are taking each day as it comes ,

They don't use any technology and never used the internet so we wanted to introduce them both to the World Wide Web internet , we are trying to arrange a Skype video call with his sister in Estonia before time runs out , they were blown away that such a thing could be possible !

It will be something we will never forget .

That's a noble idea, man.... very very cool. Let us know how that goes!

Great Story , Thanks for caring and helping.:) Don't know what a little caring and Kindness means to them. They have been through a lot. So sad They had never seen their Parents after they were taken away.

Sad news , the Gent passed away in hospital last night after a battle with cancer , wife understandably is devastated .

Rest In Peace .

Very sad to hear that, man... RIP