1945

The End of the Second World War

in Graal-Mueritz, near Rostock, East Germany

My mother's memories about the first phase of Sowjet occupation and administration

The Russians arrived on May 2nd, 1945. Before they came, endless rows of German troups had passed, among them a truck with young soldiers -- no, children! All these boys called urgently for their sergeant, who was taking care of them. He had just left for a moment and asked us where to get to the "Darss", a lonely rural region, where he had a chance to hide these boys who were about 14 or 15 years old. He cared for them like a father.

The day started quietly, but we were very exited. Next morning around 4 there was a knock on the door. 3 or 4 solders with somber faces came in. We did not know what to do. Should we out ourselves als Baltics? My courageous mother was the first to talk. She spoke Russian. They showed no signs of surprise, but next question was: "How did you get here?" My mother explained that they had left in 1939, when Hitler made the treaty with Stalin. Well, they knew (this is quite interesting, because the Sowjet leaders would never admit that this secret part of the treaty existed; it was not until 1986, when Gorbachev talked about it in public).

My father was sitting silently on his bed, because he was suffering of a heart disease and just had had an attack. "Why doesn't he say a thing? Can't he speak Russian?" My mother explained it all, also who I was. They went away.

No idea of sleeping that night. Now, Mariechen Knoop appeared, very upset, but yet satisfied, because nothing had been taken away from her.

Next day, more front fighters appeared and built up their camp near the schoolhouse. Mrs Knoop was ordered to cook for 20-30 soldiers. We went down to translate and received a bowl of soup. Two officers talked to my mother. They said, the front troups were decent and behaving well, but the second group were different. "You, take good care of your daughter!"

Indeed, those who came later hunted women of any age. Also looting took place more often.

I escaped into the hospital where there were more young women. We laid down on beds between the injured, and so we were more or less safe.

The jewish author Ilja Ehrenburg who lived in Moscow had issued an appeal to the Red Army saying: "Rob, kill, rape as many as you want to!" It was revenge that moved him to do so. After what had been done to the jewish, I can understand that. But now, also the innocent were suffering. The atrocities oft the Russian soldiers had reached such a degree that they could not be stopped anymore. But when the order arrived to end this behaviour, things were getting a little better.