Fifteen years in a childhood paradise

that my cousin, Tante Ruth Goebel, will come to us with her four children to seek refuge from the daily bombing attacks on Essen."

"Do we know her?" Günter wanted to know. "No, you have never met her. She is the daughter of Onkel Richard Forstmann, Oma Beyme's brother. He and Onkel Karl, Tante Ruth's husband, will bring the whole family to live with us."

"Where are they going to stay?" "They will live in the manor house on the upper floor of the western wing."

"Just the two rooms upstairs?" "Yes, but we will have to divide the room facing north into two, as they are bringing their nanny."

"So they'll have three rooms plus the bathroom and toilet in the one wing?"

"Yes, that's right. But they'll have their meals always with us here." "That'll make a big family. And who are their children?"

"Barbara is the eldest, she is eight, Karl is six, Richard is four and Hedwig is the youngest, she is not quite two."

"Wonderful," said Gerda, "then I'll have plenty of children to play with."

"And it will be nice for me too," said Mutter, "I'll have my cousin to talk to all day, and Nanny can look after all of you then."

"Oh, what fun!" Gerda couldn't wait for them to arrive. When they came, our small house seemed full. We felt that home was no longer the same, but it was also good to have someone else to talk to. They brought with them a bigger world, a different perspective. We found them very stimulating and we got on well together, a big family living in harmony and peace.

Horst in army uniform with his family, 1943.


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