by Annie Droege
Monday 8th February.
Today the papers announce they have lost a few shooting graves in France. This is the first time they have announced their losses. They also say that a terrible battle is raging in Poland. A battle the like of which the world has never been seen before. There are so many people in it. I forget how many Germans are there but it is enormous.
We hear there is a great to-do about coal in England for their use. They must mean a strike.
The Socialists have had a meeting and say the war must go on to the bitter end. Here they are confident of victory and we are anxiously awaiting the 18th.
Tuesday 9th February.
There is serious news today from the baker here. You can only get bread from the baker as no one else sells it. We are informed that after the 12th of this month only so much per person is to be allowed. Each person gets a paper from her baker and she has to write how many people she requires bread for and she is told how much per day she can have and no more. It is to make the people eat more potatoes because they fear a famine in corn and they must have what oats there are for the horses. Indian corn or maize we have not had since September.
Two thousand eight hundred men leave here today for Russia. Hindenberg, the General, says that they must take Warsaw at any cost of men and ammunition before the 18th.
Such a lot of Landstorm are called up. Poor fellows, I do feel sorry for them. They look bewildered. It seems that the Landstorm up to forty-five years old that had already done their military duty were called up at the end of November.
The same aged men who for some reason or other had not done military duty were left until later. These are the men we see now. Many of them have scarcely seen a town. They are from far in the country and you can tell that by their clothing. They stop everywhere in the street to ask where is the address they must go to, for they know nothing of the place. Their language is so broad as we say, (‘platt’ here), that many of the people do not understand them. It is much more pitiful in a strapping man of forty-five than in a raw country lad of twenty.
Today is just like spring. I went down by the river for a walk and heard such a lot of crows crowing and they were so busy building their nests. I sat down to watch them. It reminded me so much of the days I used to walk to Northenden to visit Mary Chandler. I used to stop and watch the crows there with little Winnie.
Wednesday 10th February.
Our men have gone to Russia. I heard them passing the hotel this morning at a quarter to five. People are up in this place at four o’clock. The soldiers went down in their twos and threes just like our men (English) going to the mills in the morning. And never a word was spoken. They all lined up outside the station. I got up to see a few hundred pass here. There is never any rejoicing or playing of music here over the war. The Kaiser said no music was to be played or cheering done until they came home victorious.
Today we elected our new Bishop of Hildesheim. The late one was made Prince Bishop of Breslau in November and I went to the Dom for the ceremony. It took two-and-a-half hours but it was worth it. The service was very fine but we are all so weary.
Belle and I talk over what we read in the papers. It seems as if after the 18th there will be a long account of catastrophes around England.
I think of my homeland very, very often.
Still no news from Russia and they have been fighting for three days. But there is something in the papers about England flying the stars and stripes and playing a dirty game.
Thursday 11th February.
It always seems to me that when they have no war news that they fill the papers up with hate of England and what they will do to her.
Today is examinations at the schools and it seems so strange to see soldiers going to school. These are the young men who were studying at the schools for lawyers, solicitors or civil service and have been called up to their army service. They are allowed to return these last three days for their examinations. They return to the military directly the school is over.
Dr. Kahn called on his way home from Hannover and he has been to see a few prospective tenants for the house. I am to go next week for three days and see one or two of them. I shall be glad to settle it all.
The result of the collecting of woollen goods was announced yesterday. After making up hundreds of useful clothing and rugs for the soldiers the woollen rags that they could not use up, parings etc. were sold for five-thousand shillings for the Red Cross Society. That was here in Hildesheim and the same thing was all over Germany in the large towns. I wonder what the metal week will bring them.
Uncle George Steffen is at the front. He is forty-five and after a month of drilling he was sent away. I am so very sorry. It grieved me to hear of him going away. He was so kind to us all.
We have the baker’s report today. Each person cannot have more than three-and-a-half pounds of bread per week. I thought it was a mistake and that they meant per day. But it is per week! The rest must be potatoes. Nice isn’t it? I was very much astonished because we have always been told we had food enough for three years. Now they say it is because they have so many captives to feed. I remarked: ‘But what of the men we have less - dead and captured Germans?’
Apparently these are very few.
Friday 12th February.
I have received today a letter and a postcard from James Walmsley in Blackpool. The pleasure was so great that I cried with joy. It’s the first letter from England since September that I have received. I cannot write of the pleasure it gave me. James writes that things are normal there. I wish they were here. But he says it will be a very long time before we have peace.
Thank God all are well. That’s something to know.
Just received a postcard from Arthur and he is well and has the hope of returning. He says all the landowners (German) in England are now free and he hopes things to be the same in Germany. It’s good news.
Saturday 13th February.
A Russian downfall is reported today. Twenty-six thousand captured by the Germans. The news is especially welcome for there has been none for some time. All the flags are out. They say that in a few days we shall be in Warsaw.
There is a great deal in the papers today of the strong measures England is to take with the foreigner. I always feel alarmed when I read it. It always falls on us, the foreigners, here.
I went to see Grebe today and he will arrange to help me with the removing. Dr. Kahn says he has let the place. I go on Monday for a few days.
Monday 15th February.
I heard an officer say today that if half the powder used by the English and French had been good then all the Germans would be dead. He says of every ten hand bombs thrown in their shooting graves (trenches) only two are good and eight never explode. It’s been the same all through the war.
We hear today that in England the Suffragettes have got two regiments ready. They make great fun of it here for they have always ridiculed the Suffragettes.
Annie (Drummond) Dröege
1874 - 1940
Arthur Joseph Dröege
1871 - 1950
28th & 29 January 1915
Annie details German hatred for the enemy.
Annie and Winnie 1913
John Drummond with his eight children 1912
l - r back Jim … Kitty … Gertrude's husband … Will's wife
l - r middle Esther … Jack … Will … George … Gertrude
l - r front Arthur Droege … John Drummond … Annie
Annie and ‘Uncle’ George at the Roder-hof
4.8.1913
Annie, Arthur and Winnie in the Kioister Wald
6.8.1913
Annie, Arthur & ‘Moor’
Tuesday 16th February.
We hear of a great German victory in Russia by Königsberg and now there are no more Russians in Germany. She is free of the enemy and all have been driven to their own land again.
Wednesday 17th February.
Great rejoicing over yesterday’s battle and bands
are playing. The results are published. Fifty thousand prisoners alive, many thousands have been killed, one hundred and ten large guns and large stores of clothes and food stuffs.
We have received a paper from London today and it is of the 30th of January. We are very much surprised to read that the Germans are not in Soissons. Here they say they are and have been since January 15th. One scarcely knows what to believe.
Thursday 18th February.
We are almost afraid to read the telegrams today for the papers are sure of a great sea battle. They say that yesterday they sunk three ships, one coal boat, and two food and goods ships and also that a large English man-of-war is injured. We scarcely know what to think, or whether to believe it.
The bread is awful. I heard at school today that the teachers have to go to all houses and see how much foodstuffs the parents have in hand.
We read today that in Russia the government has taken from the Germans all their food and land. Severe steps are to be taken here. I wonder if it will affect us in any way. One never knows.
The shoemaker told me today that all the hides of animals had to be sent directly to the government for leather and that he could not get any. He said it was not half tanned before it was used and could not last long. They are so short of pairs of men’s boots that cost twenty-two shillings before the war that they are now thirty-five shillings.
Friday 19th February.
We hear today that in Belgium the French have suffered severe losses. We also hear that the Germans have lost two Zeppelins through the machines going wrong in a storm. All the men were saved but two.
The school where I go to give out the milk has to send half their scholars home at half time for they have no teachers. Out of a staff of twelve only three remain. I mean men of course.
Saturday 20th February.
We hear a lot today of the Russian losses. They have a lot of spoil here in Germany and say that the Russians left behind a box of gold with half-a-million gold pieces in it.
I hope to go to Woltershausen tomorrow. I have had such a deal of worry that I have given all to the lawyer and Herr Grebe to do.
As I came from the police today I saw about thirty Poles (Russian) being taken to the police office with an escort of six policemen. I made enquiries and heard that they are Russian Poles and had left one farm and gone to another to work. They had not asked the police. It will mean either a few days imprisonment or a pretty stiff fine. It’s an awful place to live in. If I went out of here for a few hours I should be the same.
I heard yesterday that if I go to the lawyer for advice then he is bound to report my visit and any business to the police under a severe penalty. Nice isn’t it?
Sunday 21st February.
We got two telegrams saying that China and Japan are going to war and that the Germans have sunk an English troopship with two-thousand men on board. They also report they have sunk a second ship but no details are to hand.
There is a special Thanksgiving Day by order of the Kaiser in all churches, Protestant and Catholic. In Germany they declare ‘God is with us’ after each day of devotion in the churches when they have had a victory. We had our last on February 7th and on the 14th a great fight took place. It was the same after the three days of devotion in December.
Monday - Wednesday 22nd - 24th February.
I was in Woltershausen. On my return I heard of the loss of two thousand men in England (cannot be true). I read in a weekly paper that the French are in Soissons, not the Germans, though we have had a rejoicing here for that victory.
The reported German gains in the last victory in Russia is over one hundred thousand men captive, many dead, seven Generals, one hundred and fifty cannons, one hundred and fifty ammunition wagons, three Red Cross wagons and a deal of clothing and food, also gold. The last I do not believe as people do not take gold on the battlefield. I also doubt the numbers. The people here believe every number.
I have a map but cannot follow the war for the reports are so confusing.
I had a very busy time at the house in Woltershausen and I sold a great deal of furniture and am glad all is away now. I could fill pages of this book with my experiences but that is not war items.
The bread here is awful and so many people are ill. It’s a treat to get a bit of bread you can eat. Yet they tell us we have enough for three years. I fail to see that. The bakers dare not sell you any yeast and prevent the people baking at home and so having more than three-and-a-half pounds of bread per week. If you have a visitor then you must go to the police and give their name and address and you get a card to purchase another three-and-a-half pounds of bread for your guest. All common tea and coffee is sold out and now there is only the best at the price of four shillings for a pound of tea and two shillings and sixpence for coffee. The people are roasting rye and grinding it for coffee.
So many things are scarce that one fears a famine. They say, ‘No, we can last three years’.
Arthur writes me that he will not get free. I never expected it.
Thursday 25th February.
Two thousand men left here for Russia. I think that Germany has had many losses. It’s very sad to see the men going away in crowds and one can scarcely realise the numbers that go from here.
We have read that a regiment of Suffragettes has landed in Le Havre, the French coast, and are to take duties as chauffeurs, telegraphers etc. in the field. I was glad to read it for it shows that the English women are not all talk.
Friday & Saturday 26th & 27th February.
We hear of a few thousand more Russians being prisoners. But we get that news everyday. They also tell us that seven English ships have been sunk and that the Americans are making a deal of fuss over a ship of theirs, the Evelyn, which sank either on a mine or by torpedo boat. The Germans say it was a mine.
There is a long article in the papers about a great discovery a chemist has made. He can grind straw so fine that we can use it as flour and it has great nutriment. So we are likely to have straw bread now.
Sunday 28th February.
We read for the first time that the English are bombarding the Dardanelles and it seems like old news. They say that they have taken the first forts and have cleared the sea for four miles of bombs and mines.
For the past few weeks here the wounded officers have been very busy in the schools. Every boy from sixteen years of age must present himself (or pay a large fine) at a certain school twice a week for drill. It lasts for three hours each time and they are drilled just like soldiers. One day they were taken into the drilling field and taught shooting lying on the ground. They came home such dirty sights. It goes on each week and they must go to the practice.
Monday 1st March 1915.
I got a notice from the police today that I must go and take three photographs and any means of identification I have such as papers. They are giving us our passports. One photo goes to Berlin, one to Hannover and one here. I have one which I took to the police on January 7th on my pass. They seem rather uneasy over the Americans here but still have no fear of losing.
Tuesday 2nd March.
We have announced today a collection for gold from house to house. Anyone found keeping a store in the house will be severely punished. I have not seen any gold since August.
I hear also that the Red Cross Society is in a low condition. It will be dreadful if that has no funds as so many people rely on it for food.
Today I got a letter from dad posted on the 8th February and all is well at home, thank God. He writes me that Kittie is engaged to be married. I do hope that all is well with her. But she has Joyce close by. It does seem strange to think of her married. James and Kittie were the two babies and it makes me feel so old. Ettie also sent me a note. She says that baby Joan is just like a beautiful doll. I do long to see them all and to read of the Canadian news. I have not heard of our Kittie since she wrote off the boat and I often feel uneasy. I think of her scores of times a day. We were together for a week. It was the first wee
k in March last year. All on our own and I stayed with her in Stockport. It is a pleasant memory now. One does not value those days until one has a time like this.
It is now eighteen weeks since Arthur left me here alone and it is like eighteen months. What must it be like for him? I sent him a parcel today and he tells me they are not allowed to write so often now. I shall only get a postcard or one letter a week.
I had a long chat with the agent today, Grebe, and he told me that Germany had lost one million men. He said the war would last certainly another twelve months. If it was over next August, he said, that would be the soonest. It makes me feel ill to think of it. I do not think, myself, it can hold out so long for so many things are failing.
There is a notice in the papers today saying that no fat of any description must be used in the making of soap as it all must be used for foodstuffs. The notice also asked the people to limit their food for the new potatoes will not be ready before July. I think they fear a famine and the begging of gold this last two months has been each day. Banks and shops give you an extra six pence if you give them gold, i.e. sixpence on one pound sterling.
I heard today of an artist, English and lived in Goslar, who is now in Ruhleben. His wife and child are reduced to want. I wish I knew them. A lady here told me of them and said that a few German ladies sent her a few shillings a week to live on and that she went out cooking and sewing. She will not be able to send her husband any luxuries. I mentioned him to Arthur and I hope he finds him. But there are so many in Ruhleben.