by Heath, Tim
The East German infrastructure of housing, roads, telephone networks and utilities were in a typically appalling state, much of it in need of complete modernization. Over the decade that followed, what was East Germany became the world’s biggest construction site, as the rebuilding of its infrastructure began.
Reunification, however, was not without its problems of a social and political nature, but with time and patience, these were things that could be overcome. The commitment was there amongst the people who were now able to enjoy their lives in a state of freedom, democracy and self-determination. Today, the German administration is back where it belongs in the heart of Germany – Berlin. One wonders what Adolf Hitler would make of Germany as it is today.
Many of the contributors to this work have managed to lead peaceful and rewarding lives after the turmoil of childhood and youth in Hitler’s Nazi Germany. The nightmares of their youth had surfaced frequently over the years, but now well into their twilight years, they have thankfully grown lesser. They still have many questions that will never be answered. Perhaps one of the most intriguing was that asked by Theresa Moelle the last time we spoke:
I heard that during Hitler’s last days in his bunker that he would not sleep at night. He would spend the whole of the night pacing around in his room, only retiring to sleep for a few hours at daybreak. I have wondered all these years, what did the Führer dream about in his sleep during those final hours? I often wonder whether his dreams became consumed within the madness of his reality.
This last meeting with Theresa was memorable, as for the first time since starting the Hitler’s Girls project, we did not talk about the war. We both felt that this would be the last time we would see each other, though we did not know why. Before she left to return to Germany where she was still living, she gave me a memento in the form of a fired 7.62mm Russian cartridge case which she had picked up off the street in Berlin back in April of 1945.
‘It’s not much, but I don’t have anything else left from the war other than this.’ She placed the small brass cartridge in my hand and gave me a hug and we said our goodbyes. Just a few months later, I received the news that she had passed away peacefully at home.
There are still so many stories to be told, but space sadly does not permit this within the context of this single volume. Perhaps the hardest part of this work was to devise a method that would draw it to a suitable close, with so much still remaining to be told.
I very much hope that, by this stage, many of you will have a greater understanding of what forces drove me to research and write this book about the female youth of Nazi Germany. Even as these words are written, there are conflicts and wars claiming innocent victims all around the globe, while governments of the supposedly civilized societies stand by and do nothing. There are also children of all religions and cultures, both boys and girls, fighting and dying in these conflicts under the direction of their so-called governments and educators. Living in the relative safety and comfort of our own homes under our democratically elected governments, with decent jobs and decent standards of living, it is all too easy for us to become ignorant.
It was after conducting the first few interviews with these German women that I felt I had discovered an appropriate title for this work should it ever be completed and become a book as I had intended, or rather hoped, that it might. And now, in lateral reflections when I think of the many German women I had talked with and interviewed, I think of them as the young girls they once were, particularly when Hitler came to power in 1933. They were not politically minded evildoers. A Nazi was not born – he or she had to be made, created and nurtured. I likened the girls in particular to doves being thrown amongst eagles.
About the Author
Tim Heath was born in 1965 in Redruth, Cornwall to a military family. Both grandfathers and great grandfathers had fought in the two World Wars; one was badly wounded, losing both his legs in Belgium. His father Trevor was serving with the Royal Navy at the time of Tim’s birth, and later relocated the family to the Cotswolds when he left the armed forces. From a young age Tim’s passion for military history flourished, leading him to research the air war of the Second World War. Focussing on the German Luftwaffe in particular, Tim has written extensively for The Armourer Magazine as a regular contributor. During the course of his research he has worked closely with the German War Graves Commission at Kassel, Germany, and met with German families and veterans alike. Born out of this work, Hitler’s Girls is his first book. He lives in Evesham, Worcestershire, with his partner Paula, two children and six grandchildren.
Hanna Buttinghaus, who won the ball throwing event at the Tokyo Youth Olympiade.
(©Pressebild-Verlag Schirner/Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin)
Gabrielle Haefker takes the oath as she joins BDM.
(Image courtesy of G. Haefker)
Girls of the BDM at a local rally.
(BDM Archive)
Female Flak auxiliary. Many young women were recruited into the German Flak arm during the Second World War.
(Image courtesy of E. Blandford)
Kirsten Eckermann on the left is pictured here at a Nazi Party rally collecting donations.
(Image courtesy of K. Eckermann)
Maria Faustmann seated on the left in a photograph taken in the 1950–60s.
(Image courtesy of M. Faustmann)
Maria Fausmann. This post-Second World War photograph was taken in the 1950–60s.
(Image courtesy of M. Faustmann)
Ursula Sabel.
(Image courtesy U. Sabel)
Carly Hendryks.
(Image courtesy of C. Hendryks)
BDM girl in sports attire.
(BDM Archive)
Brigitte Schutternkopf.
(Image courtesy of B. Schuttenkopf)
A photograph showing BDM girls on summer camp.
Apprehensive looking girls of the Jungmael Bund – the Hitler Youth for girls aged ten to fourteen.
BDM girls at camp roll call.
BDM girls watch a sporting tournament in progress.
German girls operating communication equipment during the Second World War.
German girls manning a search light during an air raid in the Second World War.
(Image courtesy of E. Blandford)
Girls of the BDM on the Willhelmsplatz.
Girls of the Bund Deutscher Madel – the Hitler Youth for girls aged fourteen to eighteen – collecting funds.
Girls of the Jungmadel Bund.
(Image courtesy of the Bundesarchive)
Hitler with BDM girls.
(BDM archive)
Nuremburg rally in 1936.
(BDM archive)
Jung Madel poster.
(BDM archive)
RADw girls working on the land.
(Image courtesy of the Bundesarchiv)
Theresa Moelle at front.
(Image courtesy of T. Moelle)