The rainbow never sets

The war seemed far away for us, had it not been for Horst. After he served his six months in the Arbeits Dienst, Horst was called up into the army. He had just turned 18. I think he was quite glad that school was over for him, as he had never liked it very much. Would he be happier in the army? I had my doubts. I quite liked school, and I hoped that our turn to join up would never come.

From then on we anxiously followed the movements of the German troops on a map. The German army, once forging ahead, became stationary, lost a town here and gained another there. The euphoria over the first victories in east and west had changed to caution. In trams and stations and advertising columns in the streets, we would read warnings to all Germans:

ACHTUNG, FEIND HÖRT MIT (Attention, the enemy is listening in)

Food was beginning to become scarce, especially in towns. Our province had received a lot of refugees from west Germany. But quite a number also came from the east; ethnic Germans from the Baltic States and from southern Russia. They all had to be integrated into the community. They helped to make the province of Posen more of a 'German' area, according to official plans, if one conveniently overlooked all the Poles, who lived in the country side, and who worked for the German war effort.

We celebrated Christmas 1942 together with the Goebel family. It was wonderful, with so many of us there. Günter and I had received a new bicycle each.

"Wherever did you get two new bicycles?" I wondered, as I was stroking the shiny frame with the leather saddle. "You can't get one for love or money anywhere these days!"

"Never mind," laughed Vater, "I still have my connections." "Would we be able to take it with us to Posen to ride to school?" inquired Günter.

"That's why we bought it for you. You are old enough now to know the traffic rules, and it's about time you learn to ride in city traffic. But remember, a car is always stronger than a bike, so don't do anything foolish."

"When the weather fines up, perhaps later in spring, we will be able to ride to Posen and back."

"I would wait and see first. For the time being, you can take it on the train, and come here from the station under your own steam."

"That is really great. Thanks Vater, thanks Mutter." "Gee, Günter, this is really the best present we've had in years!" "Not just the bikes," he said, "but the fact that we are allowed to use them in Posen. Just imagine, it won't take us half an hour to school, as it would by tram."

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