The rainbow never sets

zone' for any non-residents. That meant for instance, that Gerda could no longer visit her friend, who lived within that ten kilometre zone. Also people from west Berlin were not allowed to travel any longer in the east Zone. Traffic between the different sectors of Berlin, however, remained open.

I continued sending parcels with my dirty socks and washing that needed mending to Emersleben as I had done in the past. My regular laundry was done in Bremen, though, but not ironed, as Frau von Guenther had taught me to do the ironing myself. That way I saved a lot of money and I also became quite competent at ironing my own shirts. In these parcels to Emersleben I included sometimes items that my parents could not get in the east Zone, such as batteries, nails, chocolate, coffee etc. Sometimes they even asked me to send them some medicines, which were unobtainable there.

An interesting item was mentioned by Mutter from a Kirchentag in Quedlinburg in September 1952,- an annual rally of protestant churches in the east zone Ñ which she, Vater and Gerda had attended along with about 5000 others. The final address was given by the well-known dean of the cathedral Rev. Hildebrand who spoke on the theme: 'What has Politics got to do with a Christian?' "We received a clear answer to this question," she wrote.

"As he stands in the midst of life and has such a wide horizon, one can only fully agree with him. In any case he lifts one above the pettiness of daily life, also in politics, and has given us all comfort and strength. We are so thankful for such challenges by the church and that we can hear really good addresses, which is worth more than anything else. It gives us constantly strength. It is so nice that Vater and I completely agree on questions of faith. You need not worry about us. I only wish that you would not estrange yourself from the church, and that God's spirit would remain in your heart. One needs at times a quiet hour and this kind a stimulation. So, once again, don't take on too much, the constant rush of modern life only kills the spiritual values. May God keep you, my boy. In constant love I am praying for you daily." (23.9.52)

Right from the beginning, the church in East Germany played an important role in spiritual leadership and political guidance, which was to become so prominent 37 years later during the peaceful overthrow of the Communist regime.

Early November Vater wrote about his own situation:

"Worries grow like an avalanche, and I am trying, often desperately, to keep my head above water. I hope to manage through winter, but then I might have to look for some other job". (2.11.52)

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