The Storm That Shook the World

by Walter Soellner

  “My daughter is to be married and so a whole new life will begin for her … and for me. Diana will be very pained by her father’s passing, but that too will lighten as time passes.”

  “You’re a wonderful woman, Dorothy, a strong, caring woman. Warner was lucky to have you.” His face was flushed as he paused, “I will always—”

  She cut in, “Yes, I know, and I will always remember you too, in a warm place in my heart.” She emphasized her words with another tight squeeze of his hand. “I believe you will have a wonderful future with the very special lady who is waiting for you at the train station.” She looked at him, smiled, and reached over and kissed his cheek. Then she turned to the window again and said, “Here we are.”

  Helena in her wedding dress, Windhoek, September 24, 1912

  CHAPTER 13

  Happy Days

  Six months later, an announcement in the Windhoek Abundt Post newspaper appeared:

  Sunday, September 24, 1912

  Captain Markus Mathias, electrical unit officer of the First Bavarian Army Corps for Lower Bavaria, headquartered in Munich, on special duty to the Imperial wireless station at Windhoek, and Miss Helena Maria Conrad, daughter of Herr Tomas and Gretel Conrad and sister to Christiana and brothers Arnold, Wolfgang, Humboldt, Michael, and Norbert, of Conrad Ranch, Windhoek, were wed in a solemn ceremony that followed High Mass at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church. A splendid reception was held at the Bismarck Hotel following the service. The couple plans to visit Captain Mathias’s relatives and friends in Munich and honeymoon in Vienna and Paris before returning to Windhoek. This will be the first visit of the bride to the Fatherland.

  By the end of the month, the newlyweds were steaming north to Germany and their honeymoon. Markus had applied for and received a request for a two-month leave. Helena and her husband arrived in Bremerhaven on October 15, 1912, where they caught the express mail train to Munich.

  Markus telephoned ahead, so the Levis, in addition to his family, were all at the train station to greet them. Anji brought a lovely bouquet of flowers, and Katherina prepared the traditional heart-shaped, sugar-glazed pastry on a ribbon to be worn around the neck of the honored couple. Hugs, tears, and laughter filled the little circle as everyone was dazzled by the charm and beauty of Helena.

  “Markus, you are one lucky man!” Levi began, with his arm around the shoulder of his friend. “You have brought a real African princess home with you!” Anji and Katherina burst out laughing at the private joke. Helena smiled broadly but looked perplexed.

  “I will explain later, my darling. You will laugh, too,” assured Markus.

  “We have two automobiles to take everyone to Mama’s apartment!” Anji exclaimed to everyone, but especially to her brother. “I have my own auto, and I know how to drive it!” She was beaming with pride. “And it’s not one of those little electric ones; it’s gasoline driven! Wait till you see it, Markus!”

  “You have an automobile … and drive it yourself? Things have really changed here in Germany in one year!” They all enjoyed his exaggerated surprise.

  “In Africa we still ride horses and camels,” Helena offered. “We have motor cars in Windhoek, but not that many.”

  “Well, I’m a very safe driver,” Anji spoke up. “Unlike our ‘friend’ here. I’ll have you know Levi practically ‘killed’ my brother with his Benz … Fortunately, they were both so drunk, I don’t think either of them felt a thing!” Everybody chose to chuckle that joke off and move on.

  The following week was a whirlwind of introductions, reunions, dinners, and parties in honor of the newlyweds. Finally, Helena and Markus had a chance to accept Katherina and Levi’s invitation to spend three or four days at Kalvarianhof. Otto and Freidl Levi were gracious hosts to Levi’s best friend and his lovely wife. After everyone retired from the evening’s sumptuous dinner, Katherina cuddled close to Levi as they lay in the dark.

  “He’s really found a wonderful woman to share his life with; don’t you think, darling?”

  “Yes, yes, after all his trials and tribulations with women, I do believe he’s finally found his true companion for life.” He settled into the sheet and pulled up the fluffy, feather bedcover.

  “She’s lovely and well spoken, with a nice sense of humor, and she’s refined in a country sort of way. Did you see her tan? Apparently, no parasols for her out there in Africa at her father’s ranch. That wouldn’t do in ‘civilized’ society here.” I don’t have a problem with this.

  Levi looked at Katherina with a smile and countered, “All you women must be bleached white or they’ll think you’re a farmer’s daughter—which she is!”

  “Oh, you!”

  “Am I right?”

  “Yes, of course you are … It really is a silly custom or value or tradition or whatever … that women are supposed to be ‘protected’ from everything, including the sun. I think her tan is attractive. It makes her look exotic.”

  “You’ll have no argument with me on that. I think she’s gorgeous! Of course, only a distant second to you, my love.” They rolled together, smiling and kissing.

  Down the hall and at the same time, another couple was cuddling and talking softly. “Everything is so green here, even in your autumn. So much water, the Isar River and all the little rivers and the canals everywhere. So much water. If we had water like this at the ranch, we could have five times the cattle and grow just about anything.”

  “Yes, my dear, I’ll see to that. I’ll have the Kaiser order lots of water shipped to the Conrad Ranch—but later. We’re on our honeymoon, and so I thought we—”

  Helena cut him off. “Oh, really? I thought our honeymoon didn’t start until we reached Vienna!” They both burst out laughing and rolled around together in the dark.

  “Shh, shh, everyone in the house will hear us!” she cautioned, but their laughter continued.

  CHAPTER 14

  Eiffel’s Tower and Baghdad

  The grandeur of it all. These Imperial cities: Vienna, Paris, and I’m sure Berlin! We have nothing, nothing like this at home. I guess we really are a pioneer family, the Conrads of Windhoek.”

  “Yes, these cities are splendid, like Rome probably, a long time ago.”

  They were sitting inside a café on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. It was November first, and even in the rain, the city Napoleon rebuilt seemed larger than life. The days drifted by as they toured through art galleries, museums, and the opera. Between the rain drops, they walked the monuments.

  “I like it. I know some French don’t, but I like it. It reminds me of the inside of our great barn at home.” They were peering up at the monstrous structure before them.

  “Count Eiffel built it several years ago, for the Exposition,” Markus began. “You know, dear, the Parisians wanted to tear it down after the great fair. They were afraid it was going to fall on them. They said it was ugly. What do you think?” The two newlyweds were huddled together against the damp wind.

  “As I said, it’s like the inside of our barn.”

  “What? How could this iron ‘thing’ remind you of your father’s barn?” He turned to her with a quizzical look.

  “Well, our barn has these massive beams that crisscross and go up and down. They hold the entire barn together.” She was pointing up. It’s like Papa’s barn, except bigger and made of steel, and it doesn’t have its coat on its skin.” Markus found the analogy funny but accurate.

  “Ja, you’re right about that! It’s not covered up … It’s naked! A naked building!”

  This caused belly laughs from both of them, between shivers from the cold. As they hurried along in the direction of their hotel, Markus added, “You want to know why they didn’t tear it down?” He glanced her way. She had a scarf wound around her head, covering her mouth. She simply nodded affirmatively.

  “Look up there on the very top. What do you see?”

  “I don’t see anything; it’s in the mist!” she garbled through cold lips.

  “Well,
if you could see up there, you would see a radio transmission mast at the very top. That’s why Eiffel’s tower wasn’t torn down; it’s being used as a transmission tower!”

  “Only you would know that!” Helena mumbled through her scarf, a twinkle in her eye.

  Both their honeymoon and the last few weeks in Germany were full of passion and companionship, allowing them truly to realize how well they were suited for each other.

  The Levi family organized a going away dinner for everyone, with Markus’s sister Anji driving her mother out to Kalvarianhof for the feast. The cold, windblown drive from Munich and out through the woods to the estate was soon forgotten in the warmth of the parlor fire and the wonderful smells from the kitchen.

  Everyone gathered in the dining room, festooned with Frau Levi’s Meissen china—hand painted wild flowers of Germany on each piece. The enormous goose, roasted to a golden brown, sat on a platter surrounded by springs of rosemary. Eight candles down the center of the table glowed in the subdued light as merry conversations passed one to another.

  With after dinner drinks in the parlor, the two families discussed the coming new year and what it might bring. Markus got up and returned moments later, carrying a flat, square package in Christmas wrapping paper.

  “I know you don’t celebrate Christmas, but we do, so here is a Christmas present from Helena and I to you and Katherina. We found it in Paris and as soon as I—we—saw it, we knew it was meant for you.” Helena smiled broadly as Markus handed the present to both Levi and Kathi, sitting next to each other.

  “You must open it!” Helena encouraged, smiling.

  “What is this? How kind of you,”

  “You open it, dearest.”

  Albrecht Durer engraving, Knight, Death, and the Devil, 1513

  The blue bow fell to the floor as the crinkly paper tore away from a carved, golden frame. As she turned it over, Kathi said, “What do we have here?”

  “My God, it’s an Albrecht Durer, and one of his best—Knight, Death, and the Devil. You found it in Paris? Splendid gift! Thank you, thank you both.” Levi was beaming. He handed the foot-high, framed etching around for all to see.

  “We thought since you have the other Durer, The Rhinoceros, you would like this one too,” Helena offered. “You can add it to your lovely art collection.”

  “Yes, Levi has a growing assembly of artifacts from … how many countries?” Otto asked. “You brought back several crates from China and those little gold images from South America.”

  “I do love art; we all do,” Levi responded, smiling to his mother. “Our house has always had paintings and other nice things. I learned to appreciate it all from my parents … thank you, Mama and Papa.” He toasted them with his glass. It was such a beautiful moment for everyone in the room.

  The families lingered by the crackling fire, sipping the last of their drinks. Anji and her mother stayed over that evening, leaving midmorning the next day for Munich.

  Markus and Helena spent the next few days at Kalvarianhof, sleeping in, chatting in the warm kitchen alcove, and walking in the brisk air of the farm.

  Levi had a chance to talk to Markus about a job offer he had recently received. Eight candles down the center of the table glowed in the subdued light as merry conversations passed one to another.

  “It’s a very lucrative deal,” Levi began. “I would work on the Berlin to Baghdad Railway. It’s a huge building project. What do you think?”

  “You’re asking me for advice?” Markus was grinning broadly. “It’s what you do, right? What you love … building things, plus some adventure, off to exotic lands, and all that. So, why not take it, my friend?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t need the exotic part, and it would mean being gone for months at a time … away from Katherina and little Rebecca. I haven’t told her about the offer yet.”

  “What are you waiting for? It sounds like a great job for a year or so, and you could probably take Katherina and your daughter along.”

  “There’s another thing,” Levi was reluctant to say. “It’s with the army. They would make me a captain, like you, attached to the King’s Bavarian Railroad Battalion stationed in Munich. I would be assigned duties along the Berlin to Baghdad Railway in the Ottoman Empire.”

  Just before Helena and Markus were to leave for Africa, Levi did make the decision, after discussing it with Katherina. He would accept the army’s offer.

  Another important revelation was made, this time with Katherina receiving the news from Helena. “I think I’m going to have a baby!” Helena said quietly The two women were in the kitchen alcove, having coffee while the two men were walking in the woods.

  “What? Congratulations! That’s wonderful!” She hugged Helena. “Are you sure? When did you notice? Do you want to see my doctor? I could arrange—”

  “No, no, I’m almost positive … Well, I’m very sure. Do you think I should see a doctor before going home?” Helena had an expectant look on her face.

  “Yes, I think you should see a doctor before such a long ocean voyage. I can give him a call right now,” Katherina offered. “It’s early yet; maybe he can see you this afternoon.” She hesitated, “Did you tell Markus?”

  “I was going to, but then I wasn’t sure because I wasn’t positive. I thought I’d tell you first, so here we are.”

  “Let me call Dr. Rungi.”

  “If you think it’s best.”

  Katherina was back in a few minutes. “Dr. Rungi said, by all means, come in this afternoon. So it’s half past eleven now; the men will be back shortly for our luncheon. The doctor said to come after two o’clock. Levi can drive us into the village, or we can have Willie bring the carriage round.”

  Helena looked up from her coffee, “I think I want to be sure before I tell Markus.”

  “Then let’s have Willie drive us in. Our husbands don’t need to know everything right away.” They smiled at each other and got up to prepare the noonday meal.

  “I never thought I’d see you in uniform again, Levi. Like old times!” The two friends were heading toward the house from the woods.

  “Well, I hope it’s not like old times,” Levi began. “Remember we both almost got ourselves killed in China. No more shooting for me, thank you. I’m going to build bridges and railroad stations from here to Baghdad!” They both laughed.

  “That’s a long way. How many bridges and depots will that be? Fifty, a hundred? You’ll have to stay in the army till you’re a general and as old as your father!”

  “No, no, no! I will agree to two years maximum or no deal.”

  Three weeks later, the shouts of “Good Luck! Safe Trip!” from the Levis and Markus’s mother and sister were already distant memories. The returning honeymooners descended the gangplank in Swakopmund Harbor after a rough sail from Germany. Everyone was at the dock to welcome the couple home. Tomas Conrad had arranged for the entire family to stay in the fast-growing coastal town for two evenings before the train trip home to Windhoek.

  With Christmas just a week away, the Conrads wanted to shop in stores they rarely got to explore while living at the ranch.

  CHAPTER 15

  Bliss and a Warning

  On the long voyage south, Markus pampered his wife, a mother to be. He felt he was in a wonderfully balanced place in his life. Now, back in Africa, with his in-laws thrilled to watch over Helena, he focused on housing for his bride.

  Tomas Conrad and his new son-in-law sat in the shade of thorn trees near the ranch house. “Now, Markus, why spend your money on housing in Windhoek, when we have more than enough room here at the ranch?”

  Markus sat up and looked over at his father-in-law. “You’ve always been most kind and generous to me, Tomas, sir, and I appreciate it, but the army is prepared to furnish its married officers with housing, and with my pay, I’m sure we will be able to—” He was cut off by Conrad.

  “It may not be safe,” he said, in a clear, heavy voice, staring Markus in the eye. “There’s goin
g to be a war.”

  In silence, both men looked at each other for a moment. Markus finally spoke, “What?”

  “It’s going to happen … maybe not this year, but soon,” Conrad stated emphatically. “And when it happens, and I think it will happen, Germany is going to be on one side of it and … Who will be on the other?” Markus was about to interrupt, but Conrad continued, “Look at this colony, thousands of miles from the Fatherland. To the north, we have the British; to the south, the Portuguese, and who do they side with in European disputes? The British! And to the west, the Belgians and French. Potential enemies surround us … and the British control the seas.”

  “But what makes you think there is going to be a real war? This war talk has been going on for years.” Markus became agitated, with his eyes darting back and forth as he continued, “What I’ve read back home about a possible war just didn’t make sense. The threat of war in the papers in Germany, Austria, and France is just speculation. Surely Germany doesn’t want a war … and besides, with whom?”

  He leaned in toward Tomas and continued, “Ja, France is still bitter because we took Alsace Lorraine from them after they attacked us in 1870, but they lost that war. Surely, they won’t attack us again and try to take it back. There’re just as many German speakers as French speakers in Alsace Lorraine, and our army is so much stronger now.”

  Tomas let the young soldier speak, so Markus continued, “We don’t have much of a quarrel with the English—except that business about the Kaiser building a bigger navy and his silly belligerent speeches, which everyone is embarrassed about. We need a bigger navy! We’ve got colonies now.” Markus stopped momentarily and then asked, “You don’t think the British would start a war over that, do you, sir?”

  “No, Markus, I don’t think the English would start a war over our bigger navy.” He adjusted himself in his chair before explaining further. “It’s not about the British or the French … Well, the French are somewhat of a threat, but they won’t start a war.”