The first years after WW II. in Austria
During the last years of the war Irmtraud’s grandmother, Ottilie, was hiding in a mountain village in Tyrol, because in Vienna she would have risked to be deported to a concentration camp. At the end of 1945 she arrived after a very hazardous travel at the home of her daughter in Southern Styria. Ottilie was in a desperate situation. She did not know where her husband was, since he was forced to enter the German army at the age of 56. Their son, Hans, was missing after the battle of Stalingrad in early 1943.
Ottie was not very pleased about the arrival of her mother because they never got along well. Finally, she assigned her the task of housekeeper: cooking, washing, cleaning and taking care of the grandchild. Grandma stayed for four years in the house of her daughter. She took care of me and I even slept in her room. In the evenings she cried a lot and I, as a child, thought that that was normal for grandmothers. To me she was very affectionate and so I saw her as my mother, since Ottie did not care about me at all. Meanwhile she had given birth to a son, a wanted child, to whom she devoted all her love.
Ottie was not very pleased about the arrival of her mother because they never got along well. Finally, she assigned her the task of housekeeper: cooking, washing, cleaning and taking care of the grandchild. Grandma stayed for four years in the house of her daughter. She took care of me and I even slept in her room. In the evenings she cried a lot and I, as a child, thought that that was normal for grandmothers. To me she was very affectionate and so I saw her as my mother, since Ottie did not care about me at all. Meanwhile she had given birth to a son, a wanted child, to whom she devoted all her love.
With my grandmother to Vienna
One day granny got a letter of grandpa. He was released from a Russian detention camp, had found a job as teacher and also a house in the countryside close to Vienna. Grandma´s tears stopped. She asked Ottie to take me with her. Ottie was very relieved to get rid of these two unwanted persons and consented. How she convinced her husband of the decision to give away her daughter, I don´t know.
For me, I was four years old, the travel to Vienna by train was a big adventure. I was very impressed by the steam locomotive. When we arrived close to the Russian checkpoint, the people in the compartment got very nervous, fearing a raid. But, on the other hand, they were glad that also I child was present, who might mitigate the soldiers. And indeed the soldiers were friendly to me and gave me chocolate. When we had passed the checkpoint, a great relief filled the compartment. At my surprise granny grasped the chocolate and throw it out of the window. She put the arm on my shoulder and said: “It might be poisoned, my dear!”, while the other passengers nodded.
One day granny got a letter of grandpa. He was released from a Russian detention camp, had found a job as teacher and also a house in the countryside close to Vienna. Grandma´s tears stopped. She asked Ottie to take me with her. Ottie was very relieved to get rid of these two unwanted persons and consented. How she convinced her husband of the decision to give away her daughter, I don´t know.
For me, I was four years old, the travel to Vienna by train was a big adventure. I was very impressed by the steam locomotive. When we arrived close to the Russian checkpoint, the people in the compartment got very nervous, fearing a raid. But, on the other hand, they were glad that also I child was present, who might mitigate the soldiers. And indeed the soldiers were friendly to me and gave me chocolate. When we had passed the checkpoint, a great relief filled the compartment. At my surprise granny grasped the chocolate and throw it out of the window. She put the arm on my shoulder and said: “It might be poisoned, my dear!”, while the other passengers nodded.
With the grand parents in Klein-Engersdorf
An elderly man with tears in his eyes embraced us at the railroad station in Vienna, which was almost a ruin. Then we travelled through a lot of war damaged places to the village of Klein-Engersdorf. The mansion with its large garden and the cottage where the grandparents lived were intact and would become for me for two years a paradise.
The landlords, also elderly people, who had suffered a lot during the war, were very fond of me and spoiled me with toys. My grandparents lived in harmony, but they still tried to find out something of their missing son. When they heard that transports of released prisoners of war came back from Russia, they travelled with me to the railroad station in Vienna and showed the ex-prisoners photos of uncle Hans. But all these efforts were in vain and with tears in their eyes they went back home. Finally they accepted his death on the battlefield.
Grandpa was a very social person and arranged for me two kids to play with. When he asked the permission of the landlords to let them enter their garden, they got very angry and reprimanded him: “Aren´t you aware, Sir, that the one girl is illegitimate and the other comes from a divorced couple. Their parents sinned against the church! They are no good companionship for your grandchild.”
Back in his cottage grandpa told grandma about this discussion. Granny shook her head angrily and shouted: “These people are insincere. What they miss is the essence of Christianity, compassion!” From this day on she restricted her contacts to the landlords and I played outside with my new friends.
An elderly man with tears in his eyes embraced us at the railroad station in Vienna, which was almost a ruin. Then we travelled through a lot of war damaged places to the village of Klein-Engersdorf. The mansion with its large garden and the cottage where the grandparents lived were intact and would become for me for two years a paradise.
The landlords, also elderly people, who had suffered a lot during the war, were very fond of me and spoiled me with toys. My grandparents lived in harmony, but they still tried to find out something of their missing son. When they heard that transports of released prisoners of war came back from Russia, they travelled with me to the railroad station in Vienna and showed the ex-prisoners photos of uncle Hans. But all these efforts were in vain and with tears in their eyes they went back home. Finally they accepted his death on the battlefield.
Grandpa was a very social person and arranged for me two kids to play with. When he asked the permission of the landlords to let them enter their garden, they got very angry and reprimanded him: “Aren´t you aware, Sir, that the one girl is illegitimate and the other comes from a divorced couple. Their parents sinned against the church! They are no good companionship for your grandchild.”
Back in his cottage grandpa told grandma about this discussion. Granny shook her head angrily and shouted: “These people are insincere. What they miss is the essence of Christianity, compassion!” From this day on she restricted her contacts to the landlords and I played outside with my new friends.
Paradise lost
When I was five years old, grandpa taught me reading and writing. Every day, after his teaching in the school, he called me into his study, a little garden house, and introduced me to the amazing world of letters and the spelling of words.
A month before my sixth birthday, I entered the kitchen of my grandparents, which served also as living room and saw granny in tears next to my grandfather, holding a letter in his hand. We set down and then grandpa spoke to me softly: your father has decided that you has to come home again and enter the school in their village since the school in Klein-Engersdorf was, according to him unsuitable, as there was only one class for pupils of different grades. I can´t imagine, that my mother was glad about this decision, but I think that my father wanted to give me a good education. From then on the unclouded years of my childhood ended.
When I was five years old, grandpa taught me reading and writing. Every day, after his teaching in the school, he called me into his study, a little garden house, and introduced me to the amazing world of letters and the spelling of words.
A month before my sixth birthday, I entered the kitchen of my grandparents, which served also as living room and saw granny in tears next to my grandfather, holding a letter in his hand. We set down and then grandpa spoke to me softly: your father has decided that you has to come home again and enter the school in their village since the school in Klein-Engersdorf was, according to him unsuitable, as there was only one class for pupils of different grades. I can´t imagine, that my mother was glad about this decision, but I think that my father wanted to give me a good education. From then on the unclouded years of my childhood ended.