Carla’s Story
The following was sent to Kathy Hunter in August, 2007
“ 8-11-07
Dear Kathy,
When I cleaned out my mom’s apartment I found these few pages of our escape from East Germany, she wrote this 15 years ago, and it’s ok but she had forgotten a lot.
I knew a lot of classmates have been after me to write about it, but I never felt like it, so I ran off 3 copies for whoever and if you find someone that wants to read it the night of our reunion go ahead if it fits into the program.
Don’t ask me to read it, because I relive it and start to cry and I don’t want to be embarrassed but someone else can do the reading.
See you soon,
Love,
Carla “
ESCAPE FROM EAST TO WEST GERMANY, 1950
written in 1992 by Ilse Renz
Arno, Ilse, Renate, Carla and Ule Renz
After the War, conditions were not good in Germany. We were having a very hard time. We hardly knew what food was. Renate, 13 years of age, our oldest daughter had to go to the hospital with typhoid fever, even lost all of her hair. Carla, the second daughter, was 10 years old and very thin. The baby, Ule, did not even have milk in her bottle, only seasoned water. For five people, we had 1 egg and 1 loaf of bread a week. Arno, my husband, went to work with 1 slice of bread a day with no butter or cheese – just dry bread in his lunch box.
In 1950, the time came that my husband should be a Communist, a Party we hated so much. My husband had been a policeman on the train. After the Americans left, the Russian soldiers moved in. My husband tried to keep his job, but found out he would have to attend a Communist school. A friend had seen my husband’s name on a desk of a Russian Commander that he would soon be picked up as they knew he would never become a Communist. This meant to us run, run for freedom and a better life. One night in late September of 1950 we left home. The children were told we were going to Grandmother’s house. Each one took a suitcase with clothes and essentials. At midnight we went to the nearest train station. Every thing was left behind, but Russian soldiers and Communists were terrible. You could not trust your best friend – could talk to no one as it might be a spy. To escape was not easy. My husband had been in a Russian prison camp previously where he was to have stayed 25 years, but escaped, and now he was willing to do it again, but this time it would be harder, having a family and a child not quite 3 years old.
After passing the fourth station, we started walking, taking naps in wet ditches, walked again, took the train again, because we were afraid of the police. This went on for 3 or 4 days. My husband roamed around the town to see if he could find any help as to the best way to get to the border. Around 11:-- pm., just before we left, a small radio announced my husband’s name, his description as to height, weight, etc., and that the Russians were looking for him. No one recognized us, but we were really shaking. My husband felt we should leave. It was in October, cold at night, we grabbed our suitcases, passed houses which were warm and on our way we went. A terrible feeling, no home, came over us. My husband had found two men who had bicycles, on which the suitcases would be placed. We had to pay these men to take us to the border. Arno had to keep the youngest child very quiet as we went along the streets and passed through forests. We hid in ditches whenever anyone came in sight. The men and the three of us had to part since someone might get suspicious that we were escaping. The children and I met a Policeman who asked where we were going. We told him to Grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving. (In Germany Thanksgiving is the first Sunday in October.( My heart was beating, as I was afraid he wouldn’t believe this, and he didn’t, but was one of the good Germans and yelled back at us, “I don’t believe it” and went on. On we walked. Soon we would have it made. We heard Russian gunfire in the background. Finally we could see the border. One of the men who was taking two of our suitcases on his bicycle was missing, so Arno had to find him, knock him down and get our suitcases back, as some of our valuables were in these. Arno, the baby and Carla were the first to reach the border, but Renate and I could hardly go any more. Arno came back to help us, and thanks to God we were saved, and free.
Our nerves could hardly take it any more. Wish I could describe the picture as we crossed this border. The sun was just beginning to come over the horizon that morning and there were were sitting next to our suitcases crying. We were free !! Now where would we go??? We knew no one in the Western Zone except my husband’s brother, but we didn’t want to bother him, so we were on our own. As we walked along the highway, we came to a truck stop. All of the trucks that we saw had taken food to Berlin and were being checked by American Police. We then went to a restaurant which was filled with people like us who had also escaped, and they too were free. Here we ate.
Soon we had to go through a camp to be checked for health, etc… in order to get a job. They also wanted to know where we were from. We were told to go to another camp. We looked for a truck to take us, but after looking for two hours for a ride we came back. No one would take us. We had money to pay for a ride, too. We had 800 East mark left which was 200 in West mark. This was really not much money for five people to live on. Renate and I had no shoes. Renate got the first pair which cost 40 West mark. I went out to look for work too, and learned of another camp at Hamburg where we could stay. After a whole day of traveling we reached this camp at night. Bunk beds were lined up on both sides, probably 200 of them. The next morning we stood in line for breakfast. We were given food which we ate out of tin cans, but it was good food. The camp had almost 2000 East German people We were checked there for 1 ½ weeks as to further information. They found out Arno had been an officer in the Army, so one day they called his name over the microphone to come to headquarters. They took him away for one whole afternoon. When he returned he told us they had a job for him—he was to be a spy in East Berlin, which was very dangerous. We would have a job and a good life, but we decided against it. After 1 ½ weeks we were released from this camp and went to another at Black Forest, Germany. We had one room, 4 beds, a table and chairs, but still no work. We learned my husband had relatives near, so went to find them. Renate was the first to get work in a dairy. Carla went back to school. Ule aged 3, attended Kindergarten. I had work as a waitress and my husband worked in a factory. We soon felt we were not wanted at our relatives any longer, so we tried to find another home, but no one would take us with 3 children.
It was now September 1953 and we decided to come to America. We were given farewell gifts and told we would always be welcome if we should decide to return. We left many friends. We came directly to Clarinda, Iowa and stayed with relatives for a short while. We then moved into their tenant house in the country. Our family picture was in the Clarinda paper and soon the Manager of the Telephone Company there called on us and asked if we were interested in working, as they were converting to dial in December of 1954 and needed extra help. We were so glad to find work, although we did not understand the language here at all, but soon learned.
After living in America five years, it was our desire to become citizens of the United States, so we went to the Library for information. We were given a booklet where we could learn all about the United States, the Constitution, etc. In April, 1961 we were invited to Council Bluffs, and were asked to bring two witnesses with us. We chose our sponsors. After the questioning in the courthouse, there was a ceremony for us and we were proud to become citizens of these United States. We were given little flags of the United States which we are proud to display in our living room. We have accomplished many things during and since we have been here, learned to understand and speak the English language quite well, and have furnished and will soon own our home and sent our children to school.
For the first time, in July of this year, my two daughters, granddaughter, and myself returned to Germany to visit. The trip was a non-stop flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany. The trip to Chicago by train took longer than the flight from Chicago to Germany. I was not excited about the trip until we reached the O’Hare Airport. 184 people were aboard the plane, mostly German Americans. The flight was quite a thrill. The temperature in Chicago was 94 degrees, but the plane was air conditioned and very comfortable. When we arrived in Germany, we found the weather very cool. A cousin and her husband picked us up at the Airport. I had not seen this cousin in 30 years. My mother was not able to meet us as she had contracted a heart condition and they felt it would be too much for her. My mother had been to America to visit us 5 years ago. She had also escaped the Eastern Zone near Berlin. We had a wonderful visit, meeting dear friends we had left almost 13 years ago.
Conditions were much better in Germany than when we left it. Buildings had been remodeled, and of course the countryside is very beautiful. There was very little unemployment now. We are already making plans to return to Germany in 3 years.