CHAPTER 9

The beginning of the end

In September 1941 I had started third year at the Schiller High School in Posen. The Siebenbürger boarding house, situated on the ground floor in a block of very large flats in the Helmholzstrasse, was full of boarders. Tante Else had to rent a couple of more rooms two floors up. We were sixteen boarders altogether, boys and girls.

One day, Günter and I were summoned to the Hitler Youth office in the block of flats next door. Before we plucked up enough courage to go, I asked Günter: "What do you think they want from us?"

"I don't know. Maybe they want to ask us, why we are not attending the meetings more regularly."

"I don't know how we can attend? Their meetings are always during weekends, and I'm not going to stay here just because of the Hitler Youth."

"We have to be careful what we say," was his wise comment. "I don't know what's happened with the Hitler Youth. Do you remember the first rally we went to way back in January 1940? I was so enthusiastic about it then."

"So was I. It was in the big square in front of the Schloss. There were so many of us there."

"We had to wear white shirts and black shorts with white socks and black shoes. Gee, I was cold then."

"And some big shot of the Hitler Youth came, making a long speech and then he inaugurated the Hitler Youth movement here in Posen."

"And the fanfares, drums, and flags Ñ it all made a big impression on me."

"And then, with all the rest, we all joined up." "I loved it when they taught us to play the fanfare at the camps." "I preferred the drums," said Günter. "But that doesn't help us now when they ask us."

"Why can't we just tell them the truth? We are not here over the weekends, but at home."

"Let's hope they'll accept that." With that we walked up the four flights next door to the office of the Hitler Youth. As we walked through the door, our hearts were pounding, and not only because we were puffed.

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