Experiences from the Life of Johannes Altwein – Part. 3

 

REFUGEE’S IDENTITY CARD IN UELZEN

In 1947 I went from Schwerin to Hannover, which is in the West. I lived there for a while with the Beese family. We knew the Beese family, because after they were bombed mercilessly in Cologne, which was their hometown, they looked for refuge at our home in Schwerin. Other tenants of the house could provide a loft in the attic for the family of five. I had a special connection to the youngest daughter, Karla Beese, and we have been married since 1952.

To stay in Hannover, I needed a Refugee Identity card.  This Refugee Identity card was the basis for an ID card in the Federal Republic of Germany. These cards were issued in the refugee camp in Uelzen. Thousands of refugees were housed in tin sheds for many weeks and even months in this camp. Those sheds were called “Nissen huts”. I wouldn’t speak of comfort concerning those Nissen huts. People were sleeping on concrete floors, lined with straw.

I was just 16 years old when I said goodbye to the Beese family in the morning to go to Uelzen by train. Since this was only about 95 kilometers one way, I thought I would get my Refugee ID instantly, just like that, and be back the same afternoon. I had planned a day’s journey.

When I arrived at the camp, first I was deloused, even though I didn’t have any lice. After that, I had to pass through different offices, which seemed to be the routine to get the Refugee ID card.

As I was not familiar with the procedures there, I asked a young man who stood next to me: “So what’s next?” He named various places to go to, and I told him that I had already passed them. “Then you have to wait,” he answered. “How long?” I asked, “and how long have you been waiting here?” “I have been here six weeks already,” he answered. “Why does it take so long?” I wanted to know. “It is very simple. Everyone has his turn, one after the other. There is a high pile of applications on the Camp Commanding Officer’s desk, next to the window. The new applications are always placed at the bottom. Each sheet corresponds to a person. He only signs a certain number of applications per day. That causes congestion. He will be in his office in about half an hour.” I enquired what the commandant looked like and where his office was. After he had explained the location of his office to me, he described the commanding officer as a tall Englishman in uniform with red hair and freckles. I thanked him and went to the office straightaway.

It did not take long until the commanding officer in question appeared. He noticed me and addressed me in English, which I unfortunately could not understand. Hence, I was dependent on sign language. I pointed to the pile of sheets, trying to explain to him that the sheets on the bottom had to go right to the top. Surprisingly, he accepted, showing me the names of the lowest and latest applicants. Very quickly, I spotted my application and said: “This is it; this is my application.” He pulled my application out of the pile and placed it on top. Then he looked at me, and with a satisfied expression placed his flat hand on top of the pile. I thanked him profusely and went back to the yard.

No more than about 30 minutes later, several names were announced over the loudspeaker. My name was also called out. Those people whose names were announced through the speaker had to go into a certain hall and there they received their Refugee Identity card.

After I had received my Refugee Identity card, I immediately started my way back home. I did not have to wait long for the train. I arrived at the Beese family’s house at dusk. They were worried. I saw them looking out of the window, waiting for me. When I arrived upstairs, they asked me: “Where have you been so long?” I answered jokingly “I am actually not here yet; I will be here in six or eight weeks!” I do not even want to think of how worried the Beese family would have been if I had been stuck in the camp for such a long time, because the possibility to leave a quick message by phone did not exist in those days.

I am very grateful to the Lord that everything turned out so well.

 

IDENTITY CARD TAKEN INTO EAST GERMANY

Only a short time after I got my Refugee Identity card, I was able to pick up my ID card for the Federal Republic of Germany at the district office in Hannover.

From then on I went across the border “illegally”, but I was not successful every time.  For example, when I intended to travel to the conference in Memmingen, I was promptly caught. I handed over my West German ID and was thus considered a West German.  Therefore, I was separated from the East Germans and was transported in a truck to another place.  As we arrived, we were led into a room and everyone had to sit down next to each other in a row. One by one we were called to be examined by way of a body search.  Very unfortunately I also had my East German ID card with me. If I was caught it could have had serious consequences for me. I was very worried, for if they considered me to be a spy, my new home would have become Siberia. Alternatively, I could have ended up in the prison at Bautzen. I prayed without ceasing.

There were around eight people in front of me to be body searched. When it came to be my turn, the policemen were suddenly no longer interested, and the body search ended. They kept us in the house overnight, and the next morning we were safely taken across the border by the East German Border Guards and were handed over to the English. Then I hitchhiked my way to Memmingen and enjoyed my freedom to participate at the conference immensely, thanking God with all my heart that He rescued me from this dangerous situation.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in Him will I trust.” Psalms 91:1–2

Amen. To be continued.