we all should do something for PEACE in the world. Maybe if politicians don't listen to people individually may be the number of people could do and why not we all here in Blogworld. So please lets all together Blog Blast For Peace and read this from Mimi's Blog !
With the upcoming "Blogblast for peace" on June 6th, I thought about some little stories about my childhood just after World War II.
I grew up just after world war II and as it was in Germany, it seemed completely normal to me that most of the city districts where I lived (Bonn) was in ruins. It had been destroyed to 80 %. Why it was that way I didn't know and it didn't bother me either. For me it was fun and places to play and discover new adventures.
We used to play in a ruin, which must have been a beautiful house. The garden was completely overgrown by weeds but some beautiful red flowers still got through and gave it a very special look. Of course the basement was not destroyed so that we had a roof over our heads which was especially nice when the weather was bad.
There we found old, half rotten dolls, plush animals and other toys. It was a real tresure hunting for us kids. We also found porcelan plates, cook wear and cuttlery. That the inhabitants of this house were probably dead came never in our mind, not even the fact that somebody had lived here. This ruin was a real paradise for us ! We could play with everything we found, made little living rooms and kitchens and play hide and seek. So many places to hide ! Nobody cared about what we were playing there our parents included, they all had other worries in mind.
There also was a hill with a big wood and there we played too of course. Once one of us suddenly disappeared and then screemed for help, we took a closer look and noticed that she had fallen in a hole which let to a hiding place which probably had been occupied by soldiers. We found subterranian alleys to explore and also rusty cookwear. We even found an old soldier's cap and books. It was so interesting ! Once we also found a foetus, which we didn't know of course what it was, we thought it was a strange doll. I don't even remember what we did with it.
Today it sounds like a quite careless behavior of our parents, because playing in ruins could be very dangerous. But back then it was part of normal life. These were our attraction parks to go in and play we didn't even have to pay an entrance fee, it was all free. (but at what a price !)
wow--I enjoyed reading this. What a fond memory in your childhood. Happy Monday.
ReplyDeleteGreat stroll down memory lane! :)
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Monday.
i like the story of your childhood days. thanks for sharing. have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine living in a war-torn country like that! We have been so blessed in this nation that I hold my breath! I don't watch war movies because it's my terror that it will happen again...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing - I do understand the freedom because we lived in the country when I was little. I could take off on my bike for a couple of hours and no one worried...Those days are long gone. Shame.
Fabulous memories of childhood but also includes sadness. Thanks for sharing x x
ReplyDeleteExcellent story as usual, Gattina! Thanks a lot for the trip down memory lane. My Dad told me some similar stories. He was born and raised in Dortmund, Germany.
ReplyDeleteMein 3. Peace globe ist auch fertig. Ich habe am 3. November 2006 zum ersten Mal mitgemacht. Es freut mich sehr, dass Du auch dabei bist! ♥
Gattina --> this is a wonderful story that gives context to your feeling against war. Thank you for sharing. peace, Villager
ReplyDeleteWow Gattina, what a memory. It's very powerful. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat was a memorable post, Gattina. Isn't it amazing how children seem to have a great capacity for enjoying life in circumstances that adults would find depressing?
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
I read this story to my husband. He, of course lived in Berlin for 11 years. We both are so happy to see Germany rebuilt now and once again beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHave you been back to Bonn?
Oh, an excellent post again Gattina. How strange that must feel for you today with those memories. Almost unreal!
ReplyDeleteHow different everything was back in time. Even when I grew up, parents let go of their children much more, they had no choice.
Luckily there were not the same dangers that it is today...
So, how is the packing going? Any cats trying to get in the suitcases? *giggles*
Thank you for sharing that Gattina. It's like stepping into history.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, it might be hard to understand nowadays, but today children are given so much less freedom to explore. It's a sad testament in some ways to how far we've "progressed" and how the worlds has changed not necessarily for the better.
Hello Gattina!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice post! I like to hear the old stories of this time: they are testimonies to help us to never forget how wars are inhuman!
There is no clean war!
thank you for sharing your childhood story with us. we got to go to germany in 2004 and i loved the country. just beautiful. i was robbed in nurenburg though, but other than that we had a wonderful trip and would love to go back someday. and then we took a river cruise down the danube to budapest. amazing.
ReplyDeletesmiles, bee
Great post and thanks for stopping by today. Cheers!!
ReplyDeleteChildren take things at face value, don't they... World Peace is a goal to be working towards, though, for the welfare of children everywhere. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Germany for three years since my husband is military and we were stationed there... what a beautiful and descriptive post.
ReplyDeleteWar is terrible... I'm hoping that one day we will get to witness a peaceful planet.
Happy MM!
All I know about this time are pictures I have seen in books or on TV... Children are children regardless of the circumstances, glad to know war didn't disturb your childhood! I know you were born afterwards, but it is nice that you keep such a fond memory of those ruins and that the cruel reality didn't interfere with your games.
ReplyDeletePeace!
This was a great story. Excellent for todays MM word. Happy MM.
ReplyDeleteAaaaah... it was SUCH a different time back then! And you are right! Your parents had much more on their minds than to worry about WHERE you were playing! They were happy you were contentedly caring for yourself! But I can just imagine what treasure trove it WAS! WE would have done the very same thing when I was a child! We had no opportunities such as that - but we did plenty of exploring in our own areas! Kids today just don't KNOW!
ReplyDeletea fetus? human?
ReplyDeletequite the playground... I'm glad you didn't run into any live ammo or unexploded ordinance.
Have a great vacation and take lots of pics!!! we are off to Hamburg to celebrate Opa's 80th bithday!
ReplyDeleteWe wish you a fabulous vacation - and that you come home and have a lot of fun to tell us about :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, I wanna come to ;-)
I can't believe that we haven't travelled for a year now! That's so NOT we. Damn health.
I'm aiming for a trip in the autumn.... *dreaming*
Hi Gattina. I just found out you moved when I saw how upset Pookie was towards Blogger on your other blog. Hope your new home is a start of more beautiful things to come.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your childhood memories with us.
Hi Gattina
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your childhood Memories in war torn Germany. pleased your here to tell the story. Take care