The rainbow never sets

audible: "Thirty five."

Proudly I repeated, "Thirty five". "You have certainly done an excellent job here," his colleague praised. "His hearing is better than normal!"

"Yes, that's what I thought too." I was delighted, both that my hearing was so good, and that my specialist was so proud of his success. This would hopefully give me the desired discharge.

And so it was. He told me to see an ENT specialist at Quedlinburg Hospital as soon as I arrived there. He then wrote out a Notice of Leave and an army railway ticket:

By reason of discharge from Military Hospital on 5.4.45 to the FLAK Training Centre No.1, Berlin-Rudow, on convalescence leave to Westerhausen, near Quedlinburg, Luftwaffenoberhelfer Dieter Tieman from FLAK Training Centre 2, Potsdam. Leave from 5 April 1945 to 21 April 1945, 9.00 hours. Destination: Westerhausen near Quedlinburg, Berlin-Rudow. Notes: Pay and provisions received till 30.4.45. Issued 4 April 1945, Military Hospital Beelitz.

The ticket was issued from Beelitz Heilstätten to Quedlinburg, and from Quedlinburg to Berlin-Rudow. It had to be used in conjunction with my certificate of leave and my FLAK I.D. card, giving me two weeks of convalescence leave. On 21 April 1945, at 9 am, I would have to report back to the FLAK Training Centre No.2 at Potsdam, in Berlin-Rudow.

With my discharge papers and ticket in my pocket, we both were very happy, and went straight to the station, to catch the next train for Quedlinburg.

It was a wonderful feeling to sit with Vater in the train, and not having to be constantly aware of orders coming from some superior. But as I was dressed in uniform, I was still subject to the military. Vater and I decided there and then to make sure that no one in Westerhausen, where the family was staying, would see me in uniform. We wanted to make sure, that reporting back on 21 April would never be necessary.

It was dangerous in those days to travel by train during daylight hours, as many trains were attacked by British or American fighter planes. In spite of this, the train was full. When we crossed the river Elbe, near Calbe, a feeling of new-found freedom came over me. For the first time in about nine months I felt out of reach of the Russians. It was like a new lease of life.

The train went through Aschersleben, the largest town since Berlin. Would we be spared an air raid? There were some anxious moments. Soon the train pulled out again and we were greatly relieved. Next stop was Quedlinburg, our destination. We arrived there late in the afternoon.

"The next eight kilometers are going to be hard for you, my boy," said

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