CHAPTER 12

WESTERHAUSEN The End of the War

Vater and I were walking slowly along the road from Quedlinburg to Westerhausen, leaving behind us one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Germany. It is situated on the river Bode, which has its source in the Harz mountains. Its Tudor style of architecture, dating back to the 14th century, with its palace of Heinrich I, who was elected the first German King in 919, makes Quedlinburg one of the best preserved historic towns in Germany. Our sealed road was winding past some low mountain ranges, with sharp cliffs pointing up. In the distance I could see another range emerging.

Vater pointed in that direction and said that they called it the 'camel', which could be seen from their house. By then I was gald that we didn't have far to go, as my legs began to feel weak. After a brief stop we continued. The faint glimmer of the horizon in the west had disappeared, and we were walking in total darkness.

We entered the village of Westerhausen and reached the farm house, where our family had been billetted. Nobody had seen me and I wouldn't show myself to the farmer's widow either until the following morning. She needn't know that I was a FLAK helper either. Our plan had worked out all right. I was prepared to do anything not to report back to Berlin. It seemed so futile. Vater thought by then the American troops will have 'liberated' us.

Our new home was an old farm house, right at the end of a cul-de-sac. As we entered the old farm house, my heart began to beat. I had seen neither Gerda nor Oma since before we had left home. I could hardly wait to seem them all again. I opened the door, and there they were, sitting around a table and having dinner. With tears in my eyes, I gave everyone a big hug, including Fräulein Lina.

"My word, you have grown since I saw you last, Gerda. And Oma, you haven't changed a bit, in spite of all the hardship you've been through."

"Oh, everybody has been so good to me. I never lacked anything. I even had a bed for the night throughout our trek." It was good to be with the family again.

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