A Christmas Story

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Pummelchen
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Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:49 pm

A Christmas Story

Post by Pummelchen »

Christmas 1944


It was freezing cold and the little stove was burning. Wood and coal did their job and the top of the stove was glowing – still we were freezing, because the windows were broken. One window got totally smashed in an airraid. Persilboxes were used to keep the snow out of the flat. Still, we were content and quite, as it was Christmas Eve. The old grammophone played “ Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht” and all of the family sang along. The thoughts were with the father, who was in the war – perhaps in Russia or even already taken prisoner on his way to Siberia or even worth. Our mother was crying, but the few branches of a christmas tree with two candles on them gave some kind of security to the cellar room. Then the “handing out” of the presents was done. We children were more than happy recieving handknitted socks made out of old pullovers, even an apple each and some biscuits. It was quite in the room, only the old record playing with it´s scratches here and there.

Suddenly we heard a noise from the stairs. We were frightened. In the light of the candles we saw a shadow, which got bigger. Then a voice calling: “ Is no one at home?”. But we did not answer. A second time: “ Hello, Father Christmas is here! Käthe, Peter, Annchen, it is time for presents!” My mother jumped up and shouted all excited: “Father! Paul! Is that you?” and then they fell in each others arms. Our father was back home and it was a very special feeling – we were so happy. Father had been very lucky. He was to accompany an ambulance and thus was able to surprise us. Out of his rucksack he got some parcels wrapped up in newspaper, one for each of us. But we were so delighted with him coming home, that we did not unwrapp them. We never had a better Christmas than this one before. For a short while, we were a propper, complete family again. Father, mother and us two children forgot the world around us. The record on the grammophone was played over and over again – by the way, it was the only record we owned – and soon us children fell asleep peacefully.

The next morning we got up very early and went as a family to church. After church we had to hurry up home, as the stove needed looking after. Now it was time to unpack our presents from father. My sister got a doll, which was named Lisa immediately, Mama`s surprise was a muff made from rabbit´s fur and I had the best present: a pair of winter shoes. In the afternoon though, father had to leave us again, because he only had a permit to stay with us for one night. We were all sitting around the table crying. We said good bye to him, giving him a huge hug one at a time. Mother carried herself perfectly. Together we walked him to the station, from where he went to the collecting point in Kassel.

The best present on this Christmas Day was of course to have seen father. Sadly we left the station to go home…or what could be called home in these days. The atmosphere was depressing. We went down to our cellar room and were grateful to have enough material for the stove to keep us warm.

Christmas 1944 gave us the chance to be a family again for once. The train that father took to Kassel, was bombed on its´ way there – he never came back.


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Hoffman Grink

Re: A Christmas Story

Post by Hoffman Grink »

And all over Europe (including across Der Kanal) that same scene was played out a hundred thousand times with tiny little nuances - We just don't know how lucky we are.
Franz repper
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Re: A Christmas Story

Post by Franz repper »

Herr grink that is so true , A nice but sad story
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jamaicabraden
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Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:56 pm

Re: A Christmas Story

Post by jamaicabraden »

A nice but sad Christmas story indeed because Christmas is about a time to be together with your family and loved ones. We are just lucky. Hayz

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jamaicabraden
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Re: A Christmas Story

Post by jamaicabraden »

A nice but sad Christmas story indeed because Christmas is about a time to be together with your family and loved ones. We are just lucky. Hayz

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