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https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/7/13/ADerringtonAP150715-01.2.mp3
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Title
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Derrington, Arnold Pearce
Arnold Pearce Derrington
Arnold P Derrington
Arnold Derrington
A P Derrington
A Derrington
Description
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Two oral history interviews with Dr Arnold Pearce Derrington DFC (- 2016, 187333 Royal Air Force), a navigator with 462 and 466 Squadrons.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
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Derrington, AP
Date
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2015-07-15
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IBCC Digital Archive
Transcribed audio recording
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Transcription
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CB: My name is Chris Brockbank and I am conducting an interview with Doctor Arnold Pierce Derrington and we are in his house in Cornwall and we are going to talk about his experiences over the years in the RAF but starting off in his early days and then after the war with his civilian career. Today is the 14th July 2015 and I’m asking Derry to start in the early days. What was your background Derry and how did all of that progress?
DD: Well I was a child in Devon. I came to Cornwall at the age of eighteen months to live at St Erth. That’s still my model village and I was there until about 1930 and the family had grown by then and we moved to Marazion near St Michael’s Mount and I had my childhood days there. Very happy memories of Marazion and I still see friends from there and still hear from there.
I had a friend living nearby in a place called [?] and he was a navigator too. He’d been a clerk in an agricultural merchants and the, he went into the air force, and did a tour with Coastal Command and was posted to Rhodesia where he was an instructor. When he died eventually I spread his ashes from a lifeboat in Mounts Bay. But he and I were childhood friends. We were little rogues really because his father was a policeman and the father was very incensed sometimes. Some man came to him and said someone’s put water in the petrol of my motor tank in the tank the petrol tank of my motorbike and it turned out that we two boys had done it. Very embarrassing for the policemen. That boy’s sister is still alive. She visits me occasionally.
And at Marazion I was at the county school at Penzance and never dreamed I’d be flying. I saw Alan Cobham’s Air Circus. I’ve got his little notebook here. It’s in that blue container there. Do you have it? Alan Cobham’s book. That’s it. And I have a very dear friend I haven’t seen for seventy seven years. I went to that air display with his parents. And that was an air display that flew around with trailers behind the planes saying where the display was taking place and we were talking recently about that actual airfield which is between Marazion and Haile and my mother said, ‘Don’t you dare go up flying’ and I was offered a free flight and I did say no but within ten years I’d done a tour and got a DFC. It’s amazing how things go on isn’t it?
Now, where do we go from there now? I was at Marazion in the LDV or Home Guard and when I went to college at Exeter I decided to join the LDV there. And after a month or so the University Air Squadron was opening up in Exeter and I joined that and I was at St Luke’s, Exeter which was a teacher training place and until the last two or three years there were a few of us around but I’m the last one of them still going strong. One of the chaps Archie Smith from St Austell was on the county council with my wife. She was a councillor and had a very good career about it. She ended up with an MBE.
Well I went on then to University Air Squadron from this Home Guard lot there and I’ve even got a greeting telegram somewhere from a relation congratulating me on joining this University Air Squadron. I could dig that out if you want to see a picture of it I expect.
And well it was good training. We had a, a, a commanding officer called Searle who was the head of the physics department at Exeter and he had an adjutant called Crosscut and the main chap we met from an interesting flying point of view had the Croix de Guerre. He was a rear gunner. He was badly scarred.
And from the University Air Squadron I was attested in Weston Super Mare in June 1942 and that same month I joined the air force at Lords Cricket Ground. Our first payday, first money I’d earned in my life cause having been University Air Squadron I was a leading aircraftsmen and we were very superior indeed to the AC plonks. They only got a half a crown a day. And after a short time at Lords I was posted to Manchester to await overseas posting but they discovered that I needed corrective goggles so I was sent down to Brighton Aircrew Dispersal Wing, ACDW and had a very happy time there staying in a huge great hotel, sleeping on rough beds at the Hotel Metropole. And there was another one The Grand there was well and the [air?] parade still took place in those days and we saw some of the rather shaky soldiers who came back from there.
And from ACDW I was posted to grading school Ansty near Coventry. I was made into, well I did fly in a Tiger Moth but I was made into as a navigator and I’m very glad I was because it kept me going during the very horrible times that we were doing operations. I had my head down getting on with the job. I did look out a time or two but it was so horrific I got back to my base very soon and from the grading school I went to Blackpool waiting for overseas posting and from Liverpool I sailed to South Africa. It wasn’t straightforward because we were afraid of the submarines that might have damaged us so we went across the coast to America and then back again to freestone, Freetown and then from Freetown down around the Cape to Durban. We didn’t get off the boat at all. I was on gun duty on oerlikons.
When we got to Durban we went to a transit camp called Clairwood and there we were thrown an empty linen case and told to stuff it with grass because that would be our palliasse bed and the toilets, they were like huge great egg racks. I think there was accommodation for about eighty. And they fed us very well. It was very nice. The novelty of South Africa was interesting indeed. I met very interesting people there who worked in the Red Shield Club and they invited us into their homes and there was one family called Thornton who had a son same age as myself training as a doctor. I’ve heard from him right until recently when he died. And when I moved away from East London to Durban, Durban to East London we did some training in the air force work there. I went up there to do night flying at a place called Aliwal North and that was a place outside the town of Queenstown. It was a very strange volcanic rock there with a big flat top called [?] and there was [?] Association and I was a member of that for a long time and correspondence kept on.
And I met a dear man who was flying beside me called Harry Dunn. Because my name came in the alphabet first before his I was graded as first navigator he was graded as second navigator. And well I did turn out to be a better one than he did because I came top of the course. But Harry came to me when we went to our next stage up at Queenstown almost in tears. He said, “My maths is no good at all. Will you coach me?” Harry was out with the girls and drinking and didn’t bother at all really. He was good company but very happy go lucky.
And well we both got through and he came back with me on the same troopship back through Tufik (?)in the Red Sea. And the Germans were still in Italy and we had a lot of women and children on board who were being repatriated from India. They were service families. And they weren’t going to take any risks. When the Germans were clear, after a fortnight in Tufik we came back through the Mediterranean and home in time for Christmas 1943. And we were very popular because we brought back things which were normally rationed.
I bought a lovely Omega watch in East London for seven pounds ten shillings and well the same watch these days is nearly two thousand pounds. I lost that but that’s another story. I’ve bought another Omega since. I navigated on that one all the way through. They issued us with proper watches but I was delighted with my Omega. And I believe I had to hand wind it. I’d rather forgotten but recently I’ve seen the certificate when I bought the watch and apparently it had to be handed in to be oiled every year. Well mine never got any oil on it at all and I navigated on it pretty well. I was very happy with it. Delighted with my Omega.
Now where have we got? Oh yes. We were posted after Christmas leave, to West Freugh to acclimatise to British conditions and we flew up and down the Hebrides. Very fascinating indeed. I saw Iona which has a church which is the same pattern as our village church here in Pendeen - cruciform. And after going to this unit at West Freugh Harry got posted off to Transport Command and I was posted to Bomber Command. We were told, ‘write your wills. You won’t be here in six weeks time.’ I thought I’d find out how Harry’s going on. No reply. Wrote his parents – no reply. So I thought, well that’s it. I still have a lovely photo of him.
And I went on from West Freugh to, let’s see, OTU at Moreton in Marsh. Operational Training Unit. And that was on Wellingtons. In the meantime Harry had gone to Canada and became a fur merchant after the Transport Command experience as a fur merchant like his father was. And twenty or fifty years later on his conscience was pricking him because he had borrowed a book from an old aunt living near Bath and he came back to England from Canada to take this book to her. She was dead. Had an uncle ten miles away. Went to see him. He was dead too. So he thought I’m so far west I’ll go down Penzance and see old Derry. He didn’t tell me he was coming. I didn’t know where he was. I hadn’t forgotten him. And that day my wife and I were taking an old lady to hospital so we weren’t there in order to see him and Harry caught the train back to [?] to stay or he hoped to stay with a [sugar bidder[?]] there that he played rugby with before the war. When he got to the a [sugar bidder[?]] house he was out but the caretaker said, “Come on in and have a meal. He’ll be back in the morning.” and he was telling his tale of the book and going down to Penzance to see an old navigator friend. And that caretaker said was that navigator called Derry Derrington. He said, “How did you know that?” “I sat beside him on thirty one operations in bomber command. He was my navigator. I was his bomb aimer.” That dear boy has died since but his wife is still alive.
So after being at West Freugh Operational Training Unit there we crewed up, six of us, because we only had Wellingtons. We weren’t on a four engine outfit so we needed a flight engineer later and we gelled as a crew very quickly. Our pilot was an Australian called Les Evans, a dairy farmer’s son and he came from a place called Kingaroy in Queensland. And Les Evans was a very good pilot. He had been an instructor. We were all good chaps. We were never, there never was as good a crew as we are. Charlie will think so too. Charlie was friendly with another gunner called Dennis Cleaver and those two had crewed up together and they were looking for somebody to join and my pilot, Les Evans chose me for his navigator. I was delighted. Didn’t care whether he was Australian or Chinese or whatever he was. He was a dear old boy.
And after Les Evans, he and I were together, we chose the oldest wireless operator we could get and that was Tom Windsor. Tom was thirty one. We thought he was our grandfather [laughs] and Tom was a good old boy with the girls. One of the joking things which Charlie and I still talk about he used to say, “I’d like as many shillings,” and what that definitely meant we don’t quite know but we could guess all sorts of things. We were quite youngsters really in our early twenties. Tom was thirty one.
And well, we had Jonah who was in antiques with his brother. I was a trainee schoolmaster just qualified. Tom Windsor was a bookies clerk and Charlie and Dennis, the gunners, were both fitters and there were six of us. And we did OTU work at Moreton in the Marsh on Wellingtons and that was good. I saw my area where I live here from the air for the first time. I had been to see Alan Cobham’s Air Circus and did a flight - very limited indeed, but this was very wonderful to see our area from the, I suppose it was about ten thousand feet.
Well from the OTU we were posted to a Heavy Conversion Unit to get used to a four engine aircraft and we picked up an engineer who had been on the Queen Mary - Jock. Dear boy. Scotsman. A wee haggis we called him and he was good. In fact we had the most hair raising experience when we were doing a flight near the Isle Of Man because he had to change the petrol tanks over every so often in order to balance the aircraft, trim it up properly and he needed to go to the elsan and whether he was there longer then he should have done or what we don’t know but two engines cut out on us and I as navigator had to hold the escape hatch open, I did, ready for the crew to bailout and we got, Jonah, no Jock the engineer came back quickly, switched the right tanks over and she picked up and there we were again but we were very dicey indeed in those days.
Well we started our tour of operations. We were posted from our Heavy Conversion Unit to Driffield in Yorkshire just about twenty miles north of Hull. A lovely peacetime station. And the pilot did a second dickey, that is to give him experience. In the meantime we did all sorts of training to keep us well and fit. And on from there we started our own tour. And the first trip was an easy one cap griz nez. It was to do with army cooperation.
The second trip is one that was probably the most momentous in our lives. It was to a flying bomb site. Now on our back from leave we’d gone through London. We’d seen the headlines - Pilotless Aircraft over England and well those were the V1s and we didn’t know what that would mean and we were told this was a highly secret operation. We were not to talk to anybody about it at all and we were going to hit this target over, in daylight, at minute intervals. And as we were going down the country toward Beachy Head some silly bounder flying alongside us pressed the wrong button and what the crew were saying among themselves mentioned the name of the target. And that was [?] for the Germans. My pilot could see that every other aircraft was being shot down and he climbed an extra two thousand feet after Beachy Head [?] and did a shallow dive on the target. That gave us that bit more speed and we got there that split second before the minute was up but the flack came up and the Germans shot down one of their own fighters on our tail. Oh the gunners were quite screaming about it and we really felt we were getting acclimatised.
Well we got back from that we knew we’d got an aiming point. I’ve got a reconnaissance photograph of it here. It’s in my file which I’ll talk to you about later. That big fat file there is a list of all the things we did. All the, and I think it’s quite unique because the Australians were such a happy go lucky mob they didn’t collect them from us to shred them like most other people had done. I’ve got a complete unique set of operations and I know that we did well. We were good at wind finding and we did PFF support because we used to broadcast the wind that we found that was used by the master bomber.
Now where did we go from there? Well we did thirty one ops. Mainly over the Ruhr - Happy Valley, Flak Alley - all sorts of names for it and we got hit a time or two but we luckily came back and a lot of our dear chaps didn’t. I got back from a week’s leave and found seven complete crews wiped out. And they were dear boys. They were a jolly lot. They were mad as hatters. Motorbikes going around the mess, footprints on the ceiling. My speciality was doing forward rolls on the top of billiard tables or else in the fireplace. I’ve been told this later but I don’t remember it. And one chap flying with us he was the navigation leader he smoked his pipe through the side of the oxygen mask which was a little bit risky I think what do you think? Would you fancy doing that?
CB: No.
DD: No. No sensible person would I’m sure. In the middle of my tour I came home once and I thought I I’ll go up and see how my dad was getting on and I found him lying dead in the garden beside a bonfire. He’d had a stroke at the age of fifty four. That was, I was the oldest one of four children and my brother and I are the only two in our family now left but that was a great shock to me. It was the first dead person I’d seen and I was very saddened about it. I determined I wasn’t going to do any more flying when my tour was up although we were invited to be PFF people but I explained that I was the eldest of four and I couldn’t go back again and it wasn’t held against me. I was with a very fair lot.
The Aussies were a mad, happy lot. I got on wonderfully well with them. They were dears. And I never knew them do a bad, evil deed with anybody at all. They were wonderful. You’ll see pictures of some of them and some of the targets we had in my main logbook there.
Well we did get through our tour. I say the general thanksgiving every day for our creation, preservation. Preservation deeply underlined because we were preserved from all sorts of horrible things and we were able to save ourselves and our country by what we did. My Charlie, the rear gunner has a grandson I think it is who’s a Member of Parliament. There’s a photograph of him up there and I’ve got a letter of his in my general logbook here saying, ‘If I can do a much for the country as you chaps in Bomber Command then I shall feel I’ve done well.’ He’s a Doctor of Medicine as well as a Member of Parliament and I believe he had an increased majority at the last election. Charlie’s very proud of him. Charlie comes down this way on holiday occasionally. He was staying at a place called Mousehole not far from here with his, this man’s brother owns it and Charlie and his wife were down and we had some wonderful times together.
Earlier on I was talking about my friend in Canada who was, who met my bomb aimers crew over in Effingham near Goring and when this Harry came at one time he gave me my computer. Do you know it?
CB: I do.
AS: It’s a whizz wheel.
DD: A Dalton.
AS: A Dalton computer, yeah.
DD: A Dalton mark 3. While we were training as navigators this was our bible AP1234. There is an AP4567. I’ve seen it but I can’t get another copy. Anyhow, where I got this I don’t really remember but it was a precious book.
Well the tour was horrific. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world but I wouldn’t wish anyone else to have done it. And the crew were magnificent. We never had any quarrels or arguments. Les was a wonderful leader and well the mid gunner was a bit dicey sometimes but he was a jolly old boy and he loved singing too. We got on well. Talking about singing I’ve got a list of some of the ribald songs we sang.
We had lots of waiting around and because I live in the sticks down here in West Cornwall it took a long time to travel from Yorkshire to Cornwall. Twenty seven hours usually, stopping in London overnight very often, that I couldn’t come home on a forty eight hour pass. The time would be spent all with travelling and I passed my time away by doing this. This was my engagement present for my wife. This I did on an engineer’s bench in Air Force Station Driffield. The Song of Songs. In the back it says where it was done. Bound and written out by Arnold P Derrington between October and December 1944 at Driffield. I’m very proud of the title page of it. And I gave this to my wife and it will be my daughter’s eventually and this is the main title page. There.
CB: Wow.
DD: The Song of Songs. And I have bound a book before under ideal conditions but that was done on an engineer’s bench. The leatherwork as well and it’s very precious as you can imagine.
CB: What prompted you to do that?
DD: Pardon?
CB: What prompted you to do that?
DD: Well the language in it is very lovely and I felt it was a suitable engagement present for my wife.
[pause]
I’m wondering what is the next thing to talk about?
CB: Would you like to have a break?
DD: Hmmn?
CB: Would you like to have a break?
DD: No.
CB: Ok.
DD: No.
CB: So you said it was horrendous on operations so could you describe a typical operation that was hairy please?
DD: I got a diary which is totally illegal. There’s a black book over there somewhere. That’s it I think
[pause]
Yes diary of an RAF career after the 20th June ACRC etcetera. A tour of operations. An illegal document. Well its written, there’s quite a bit of detail there and I used it on one occasion for the people who are writing a history of our squadron. You see a book there, a big heavy book. That’s it. And my grandson Adam, who is going to have this stuff was so delighted he bought a copy for himself and, I was given a gratis copy and the two chaps who wrote it one is called Lax he was an ex air commodore and the other man there, a hyphenated name he was a chemistry professor very near where my daughter who lives in Australia. I’ve never met these two chaps but I’ve just had phone calls from them and with extracts from our diary and other things o sent them they got fifty references to us as a crew in that book. What’s it called again?
CB: To See the Dawn Again.
DD: To See the Dawn, yes. Well number, operation number eighteen. After much lighting, lightning the usual restless night I woke to a lovely morning. No signs of movement. Today is St Luke’s day. What happy memories it recalls. Possibly too many of us over the world - Canada, Africa, India, Gib West Indies and dear old England. Have I longed to, how I’ve longed to be on the cliffs today. Hanging around in the morning. FFI in the afternoon. Promise of pay then wait. Nothing doing. Draughts and roll call. Detailed for more, for move off tomorrow. I can’t read my own writing. Five weeks have elapsed since I heard from Helen and another five weeks will pass before I hear anything more. [?] I hadn’t done any operations that day.
CB: So this was a diary that you kept in addition to your logbook was it?
DD: Yes my logbooks are rather scruffy looking things.
CB: Yes I saw it on there.
DD: The South African one.
CB: Right.
DD: If I’d had it in England it would have had a rather nice blue cloth cover instead of a plain cover like that.
CB: Right ok. What prompted you to keep the diary?
DD: Oh just being [fussy?] and breaking regulations sort of thing.
[pause]
DD: I ought to be reading my own writing but I can’t.
CB: Well off the top of your head though what would you say was the most hair raising experience you had in a raid?
DD: Well even in the last raid we did. It was the 27th of December and we were going to the Ruhr and I’d had flu and I didn’t feel like flying at all. It wasn’t a case of LMF and it wasn’t a case of jitters it was a case of finishing near the end of the tour but I just did not feel well. My pilot Les said come on you’re alright you’ve always done well for us so far on previous occasions and off we went and I got taken sick and Jonah was sitting next to me the bomb aimer and I could tell him what to do when I couldn’t do it myself. And then I passed out and the heating failed at minus forty four. And we had to come down and I just vaguely knew what was happening. We had to come down to ten thousand feet because of the oxygen shortage. The heating had failed and the oxygen failed as well. And we had bombs being dropped by our own chaps up above and they were shooting at us down below and the fighters on our tail but I was able to work out the courses for the pilot. I’m sure you all know what the preparation is beforehand and there are estimated courses and things which one should take and as a navigator I’d worked that out in the briefing beforehand and I just read off from those and applied variation and deviation and gave the pilot those courses and we got through where we were going and whether we hit the target or not I don’t know because I handed over to Jonah, the bomb aimer. And on the way back I was feeling very unwell indeed and this was all due to the flu business I think. Anyhow, we did get back and thank God for that. That was a very hair raising situation to be in. I didn’t like feeling unable to do the job I had to do.
It was a very necessary job but a very horrible job and when I think we were trained to kill it’s a very revolting thought but if we didn’t do it we would have had much worse done to us as a nation and so I was very grateful to have got through my tour and because we were the only pommie crew amongst a lot of Australians they didn’t discriminate against us. Maybe we were favoured all the more I don’t know but they were dear fellows. We loved the lot of them and a very sad time it was when some got lost. There’s a recording of so many names of people who were lost after an operation.
That was a bit hair raising. Anything else you’d like to ask me?
CB: Yeah in practical terms was after the pilot was the navigator the most worked member of the crew?
DD: Oh yes and I was glad I was occupied like that. I didn’t see some of the horrible things that were going on but I had to record things. I had to give him new courses if need be and my main job was wind finding and I was able to do that well and our winds that we found were picked up, were broadcast so PFF could pick them up. And we were helpers of PFF we weren’t direct PFF people but PFF support was the denomination that we were given.
CB: So what is PFF?
DD: Pathfinders.
CB: Pathfinder right.
DD: Yes. They could wear a very special little golden wing.
[pause]
There’s a little map showing Elvington and such places we were talking about. You’ve got it alright?
CB: Yes thank you yeah.
CB Now on your plane.
DD: On?
CB On your Halifax did you have H2S?
DD: Oh yes.
CB: How did you use that?
DD: Yes.
CB: How did you use it?
DD: Well there was good screen to pick up the shape of towns and if a town had particular projection on one corner we could take a bearing on that and know where we were and I’ve got one chart in my, the big book which you can look at later on and I’ll show you a map which was specially adapted for H2S work. Gee was our main help and I’ve a Gee chart there. That gave us position line and we took a fix every six minutes and that was very handy because six minutes is a tenth of an hour and we could use the decimal point to move whatever our speed was. It was my job to find out what speed we were going. If we were getting to a place too early we’d have to do a dog leg beforehand. Do you know what that means?
CB: Just a weave.
DD: It was an equilateral triangle.
CB: Oh right.
DD: And you flew sides of it instead of a third and you just dodged with a piece across the bottom and you could lose two minutes or three if you would but that if you did that you were taking a colossal risk because you were crossing the main stream coming along. We were pretty close to each other sometimes.
CB: You couldn’t see them could you?
DD: No and there were times when you felt the slipstream of other aircraft almost as if the plane had hit a brick wall. She juddered because of it. Can you imagine that?
CB: How did you do your wind finding?
DD: Joining up the position on the ground to the position in the air and taking the vector that you got between the two you could work out the speed and the direction of the wind. The angle between the air position and the ground position gave you the direction of the wind. The length of the vector a quarter of the time you’d been working in the air you could work out the speed. It was done, this computer, are you aware what it was like? We had a red and green end on the pencil. It’s a laptop.
[pause]
DD: Had you seen one of these? No?
CB: No.
DD: No? Well speeds are set like that, went around that way and you put your wind on and you take a reading off against this point here and you know what angle we were working on.
CB: So this is the navigational computer mark 3, the Dalton Computer.
DD: And this was the circular slide rule converting centigrade to fahrenheit. Nautical to statute miles and so on. And my dear old friend on Transport Command brought that home from Canada for me.
CB: Oh did he? So it wasn’t standard issue in -
DD: Yes.
CB: The RAF? Was it?
DD: Oh yes.
CB: Oh it was. Right.
DD: Have a good look at it.
CB: Yes.
DD: And in that navigation manual there it tells you how to use it.
CB: Yeah.
DD: It talks about the duties of a navigator as such in that book too. The Navigator’s Bible.
CB: So back on operations a lot of it was the Ruhr. How did you actually find the target?
DD: Oh well the Pathfinders had been ahead normally and dropped flares. In daylight of course. It was a matter of the bomb aimer having taken near the target he’d then take over when we were say within ten miles of it, whateve,r and the target, when the PFF marked it, they had different methods of dropping flares. One name, I almost get nightmares about it - Wanganui. That was the name of an island near where Pathfinder Bennett lived. I’ve seen it from the air. Charlie Derby who you’ve met had been right around the south island of New Zealand and so had I. We went out at different times and stayed with Les Evans and his family. Les Evans has been here and stayed with us too. And Wanganui was the, when they dropped three different colours of flares and the master bomber would be overhead circling, looking down at the target and he’d give the bomb aimer instructions, drop your bombs to the right of the yellow flares or whatever. Yellow flares, red flares and green flares. Those were what we used.
And just to explain that Les Evans was an Australian but he emigrated to New Zealand.
DD: He married a New Zealand girl.
CB: Oh right.
DD: And he moved to Auckland.
CB: Right ok. So when you weren’t on operational flights what were you doing?
DD: Well keeping, getting as near to the right track as possible to the next turning point and we didn’t fly directly there. I can show you some little dots on little charts I’ve got there. Show you the operations we did and I’ve drawn them on straight lines but we never flew directly to the targets. This was in order to fox the Germans and we did all sorts of zigzags and shapes like that. And we also dropped window. Do you know what that is?
CB: Yeah.
DD: There’s some bits of window in my main big heavy blue book there. One of the wireless operator’s jobs used to throw out leaflets, propaganda leaflets. One thing which is rather saddening I had a lovely collection of leaflets and on one occasions when I was talking to a group somebody pinched them. I’ve got a few leaflets left but not the main lot that I did have.
CB: A collectable item.
DD: I suppose so yes.
So when you’re flying to the target you’re in a stream.
DD: Yes.
You’ve no idea where the other aircraft are. You said there were a number of issues, things that happened and you were glad you weren’t watching them because you were navigating so what sort of thing was that?
DD: Well it was up to the gunners and the bomb aimer went down into the nose. And they were keeping their eyes open for other aircraft too. We had no lights on of course as you can imagine and the pilot of course was alert to see that he was avoiding any other aircraft and you could feel the slipstream of other aircraft sometimes. It was quite a jolt at times to feel that but I still stayed at my post as navigator recording what was said by other people if it was necessary to record it and also making sure that I could easily feed the pilot with the course to steer once we’d been to the target.
I have rather an interesting business happening. Every October I go to a place called Porthleven and that’s where Guy Gibson was and I was flying at the same time as Guy Gibson but not actually on the same operations as he was and the people of Porthleven, he was there as a boy they’ve got a plaque up on a wall near the town clock which is away on a wing beside the harbour and because I’m a flying fellow I get invited over to it each year and they come and collect me for it and it’s a wonderful occasion. Very heartrending. And people reminiscent of their experiences of Guy Gibson as a child living in the town. Porthleven is about thirty miles from here I suppose. Out towards the Lizard Peninsula.
CB: As a crew, as a crew you did everything together.
DD: Oh yes.
CB: So when you weren’t flying what were doing?
DD: Writing that book you saw. Difficult to say. Ordinary sort of things. We visited local towns and did a bit of shopping. We weren’t a drinking party.
CB: Did you have many tasks to do on the airfield though?
DD: No.
CB: When you weren’t flying?
DD: Orderly Officer sometimes.
CB: Ahum.
DD: I was orderly officer on one occasion and a boy came up to the table and collected his pay, a corporal, and he’d been a boy at school with me. This was when I was at the Operational Training Unit and I got a message over the tannoy would Corporal Mitchell report to the Ordinary Officer. Got the fright of his life. Sounded terribly officious and when he saw me he just melted completely. And he was a boy with me at St Erth. His father was a carpenter and the president of the little band in the village and he was in that band.
CB: Now as you finished your operations.
DD: Oh yes.
CB: Then what happened?
DD: I got posted to Operational Training Unit as an instructor at Moreton in the Marsh and I decided then it would be a good time to get married and we lived in a village called Blockley which wasn’t far from the airfield there. It was an interesting little village. The plumber was called Mr Ledbetter.
[laughs]
The butcher was called Balhatchet. The chemist was called [Milton?] and I might think of a few more in a minute but, and the vicar was called Jasper. I was confirmed in Blockley.
CB: And what did you actually do as an instructor? Did you -
DD: Well, I didn’t fly then.
CB: Go up in the Wellingtons much
DD: I was a ground instruction.
CB: Right.
DD: And the young fellows who were going through were just needing, they were glad of my operational experience and one student who came through was a squadron leader who’d been with me in South Africa. He was a regular I think. I can’t think of his name now.
CB: And why would he be there?
DD: Oh to take a tour of operations. He hadn’t done any operations beforehand. He, he’d been a navigational pilot instructor. I can’t think of his name at all.
CB: No. So he was a pilot instructor as a pilot.
DD: Yes.
CB: But why was he getting navigation -
DD: He wanted -
CB: Training from you?
DD: To do a tour.
CB: Right.
DD: A tour was normally thirty one.
CB: Ahum.
DD: I believe Charlie who you met he had to do an extra one and he did it with a crew he had some illness or had flu or something and couldn’t go on operation with us and he said that they were a ropey lot. They were smoking. They were falling out among themselves and they were no, no sense of duty at all. But we were a very agreeable wonderful lot together and it was an experience that I can’t define. Closer than brothers. Our lives depended absolutely on each other and we relied on each other totally. Absolute trust. Absolute frankness.
CB: So what was your feelings at the end of the tour when you were all dispersed?
DD: When I was?
CB: When everybody was dispersed to other places.
DD: Well we wanted to keep in touch. We kept in touch with each other. I went to Dennis’ wedding at one time down at Llanelli and Dennis was a good old singer as I was saying. He had been a rather broad Oxford dialect beforehand. Now he’d become quite a little Welshman.
CB: So how long were you at the OTU as an instructor and what happened at the end of it?
DD: Well I was approached by someone who said, “You are an experienced navigator. Would you like to become a full time navigator?” I took the staff end course at Shawbury which was not far from Shrewsbury and right near there a place was called Church Stretton and the hill Caradoc which is the bungalow name here was overlooking where we were flying from. And the doctor who lived in this house before me came from that home district and he named this house after that hill called Caradoc which is a [?] in Shropshire.
Church Stretton has been rather precious to me because I had an aunt who lived there. She had a Breeches bible and she gave it to me which I’ve now handed to my son. My grandson Adam who will receive all my air force stuff he was married to a girl who came from there so we went back there to his wedding. And so church Stretton has been a little bit meaningful to us.
We had very good instruction there and I flew up to Reykjavik in Iceland. Went up on astro and came back on LRN Long Range Navigation.
CB: When you said you went up on astro that was because you were using the astrodome.
DD: Yes.
CB: And the sextant
DD: It wasn’t very, it wasn’t very accurate.
CB: But using a sextant.
DD: Oh yes.
CB: How often?
DD: A proper sextant.
CB: How often did you use sextants?
DD: Very rarely.
CB: On operation?
DD: I got I knew how to use one but it wasn’t used very often because it did need really precision and Gee and H2S gave us that. We could be much more precise than just map reading and well we were so high sometimes map reading wasn’t so easy and of course sometimes there was no character in what the land was below us.
CB: So how did you feel about using Gee because -
DD: Oh Gee was ideal. Yes the Gee screen gave us the position lines which we plotted and the more the angle between two position lines got nearer to a right angle the more precise it was. If it was shallow and less then say fifteen degrees it was little bit too inaccurate so we attempted to get position lines that would do that. In the book that I’ve got there the big heavy one you can look in that. Maybe you’d like to turn over a different pages in that and talk to me about that.
CB: Yes.
DD: But we, I stayed there after Shawbury, went back to Moreton in the Marsh again and I think I was offered the chance, “Would you like to come back in to the air force. Full air force.” No I didn’t wish to. I wanted to settle down to married life and family life and I did but I did ATC cadet work and that was very rewarding indeed.
CB: So -
DD: One of my cadets is still a local farmer here. He was a farmer’s boy and he was such a good cadet he was given something that in 1950 or so was a great privilege - a free flight to Singapore. I still see him and he still remembers the joy of being able to do that sort of thing. He went back to farming again.
CB: When were you demobbed and where?
DD: In September 1945. And my son David was born in that month as well. I was demobilised, where was it now? Harrogate I think. I’m not really sure. Harrogate I think.
CB: Right. I think in a moment we’ll pause for a break but just talk to me please a little more about H2S because that was sort of a mixed blessing.
DD: Well it was very good. H2S - just a code name for it, gave you on your screen a fluorescent picture of the ground below and towns stood out more so than anything else and if a town had a particular projection you could cotton on to that in order to get a bearing from it. And you’d rotate the screen [phone ringing] in order to – can you answer it please?
Tape mark 5308 the telephone begins to ring and the interview answers it for the interviewee – not transcribed.
Tape mark 5348 TAPE THEN REPEATS UNTIL MARK 1.47.20
CB: Derry we were just talking about the fact you were on 462 and then 466 squadrons
DD: Yes.
CB: At Driffield. Could you just explain how that evolved with the two squadrons?
DD: Well I started off with 466 all together but, and then 462 had been in the western desert and were posted back to England to take special duties. They were going to have a station of their own later on so we were transferred from 466 to 462 for that interim time. When 462 was built up to be a good squadron size then we were posted back to 466 and I can’t remember the name now but 462 went to not Swanton Morley
CB: Foulsham
DD: Faversham was it? That’s it so they were posted to that. They were a complete squadron on their own and you can read about it in the book by Mark Lax and the professor of chemistry. It’s possible that Mark Lax may be coming over to see me in late autumn this year. I’ve invited him. Whether he will or not I don’t know.
CB: So what’s his involvement with the squadron?
DD: He was just interested writing its history.
CB: Right.
DD: What his Australian Air Force career was I don’t know but he was an Air Commodore.
CB: And what age is he?
DD: Oh I should think middle fifties I should think.
CB: Right.
DD: They’re both younger than we are.
CB: So that covers that extremely well thank you very much and what were, oh final point. What were special operations?
DD: They might have been gardening which of course is laying mines in shipping tracks that was called gardening - code name for it. It could have been dropping food to needy people in certain areas that were damaged, overseas that is not in England. Those were their special duties.
CB: Right.
DD: They weren’t torpedo dropping but I did have a friend who was on Swordfishes dropping but that would have been a special duty but that was left to the RNAS which later was embodied in the RAF.
CB: Thank you. I’ll stop it there and pick up later.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Derry Derrington
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Great Britain. Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Description
An account of the resource
Dr Arnold Pearce Derrington grew up in Cornwall and joined the University Air Squadron at Exeter. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 and completed training at RAF Ansty, South Africa, RAF West Freugh and RAF Moreton in the Marsh, where he trained as a navigator on Wellingtons. He was posted to RAF Driffield where he served with 462 and 466 Squadrons. Most of his operations were over the Ruhr. He discusses H2S and Gee in detail. He was later an instructor at RAF Moreton in the Marsh and was demobbed in 1945. He kept a diary of his time in Bomber Command.
Creator
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Chris Brockbank
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2015-07-14
Format
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00:56:20 audio recording
Language
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eng
Identifier
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ADerringtonAP150715-01
Contributor
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Julie Williams
Heather Hughes
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
South Africa
Great Britain
England--Gloucestershire
England--Warwickshire
England--Yorkshire
Scotland--Wigtownshire
Germany
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Type
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Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
1943
1944
1945
462 Squadron
466 Squadron
aircrew
bombing
crewing up
Distinguished Flying Cross
Gee
H2S
Heavy Conversion Unit
love and romance
memorial
navigator
Operational Training Unit
perception of bombing war
pilot
RAF Ansty
RAF Driffield
RAF Moreton in the Marsh
RAF Shawbury
RAF West Freugh
sanitation
training
V-1
V-weapon
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/8/16/PPfeiferKW1601.2.jpg
0450b59d1d85189add452a3dedb38f49
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/8/16/APfeiferKW160627.1.mp3
c26ca3cc75b7c84732e467d5dd9a806b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Pfeifer, Charly
Charly Pfeifer
C Pfeifer
Karl W Pfeifer
Description
An account of the resource
One interview with Karl Wilhelm Pfeifer (b. 1941), a schoolboy in Betzdorf an der Sieg during the war. The collection was catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Pfeifer, KW
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-06-27
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
PS: Lieber Charly,
CP: We can talk English, if you like to.
PS: Nein, es ist besser auf Deutsch. Können Sie mir erstmal ganz einfach ein bisschen von Ihrer Jugend erzählen. Die ersten Erinnerungen die Sie haben.
CP: Ja, die hängen natürlich zusammen mit den Zweiten Weltkrieg, weil, das ja außergewöhnlich, Krieg ist immer außergewöhnliche Situation, und da ich in der Nähe einer Stadt wohnte, in der zum Beispeil, sehr viel militärischer Nachschub über die Eisenbahn verschoben wurde, gleichzeitig gab es dort eine Fabrik für Lokomotiven und Industrie für Reparatur von Lokomotiven undsoweiter. Weil alles was in der Nähe im Krieg zerschossen wurde, wurde dort repariert. Also waren die Alliierten daran interessiert, diese Werke und die Eisenbahn, den Eisenbahnknotenpunkt stillzulegen durch air raids, was sie dann auch gemacht haben. Und ich kann mich dann als Kind in soweit daran erinnern, denn Bombenabwürfe sind ja nun nicht uberhörbar. Dann war es so, das abends und nachts, wenn die Alarmsirenen gingen, wir natürlich aus dem Bett mussten. Meine Mutter, mein Vater hatten schon immer einen gepackten Koffer da stehen. Und dann sind wir los in, entweder einen Bunker, das war aber kein Bunker der extra errichtet wurde, sondern das war ein Stollen von einer ehemaligen Mangangrube, oder aber wir sind, war auch wir bei also in einen Eisenbahntunnel dann nachts. Und… [dog barking] Dann ist klar das nach Bombenangriffen die Stadt dann brannte und ich kann mich erinnern dass meine Mutter mich auf den Arm nahm, weil ich alleine nicht so aus dem Fenster gucken konnte, schauen konnte, und ich dann gedacht habe das die Sonne rot scheint weil der Himmel rot war, aber in Wirklichkeit war das ja nur der Wiederschein des Feuers aus der Stadt.
Speziel kann ich mich erinnern an den Winter 1944-45, wenn wir Kinder spät nachmittags draußen gespielt haben, und es war blauer Himmel, dann konnten wir die Abschüsse der V2 Raketen sehen, weil in unserer Nähe, war nur ein Paar Kilometer weg von uns, war eine Abschussstation für V2 Raketen und im abendblauen Himmel konnte man schön sehen den Kondenstreifen der Rakete und wenn Brennschluss war, sah man nur noch in der Abendsonne den hellen Punkt weiterfliegen. Die wurden damals aber schon nicht mehr in Richtung England geschossen, sondern Richtung Belgien und Holland, weil sich in dem Bereich die Alliierten schon befanden, nach der Normandie. Und das war natürlich für uns Kinder interessant, weil logischerweise wir das ja nicht so als Krieg empfunden haben, weil wir ja nicht direkt da involved, also beteiligt waren, sondern mehr als, ja eine Art von besonderer Ablenkung aus dem Tagesgeschehen heraus. Und wir sind dann, dass weiss ich noch, 1945, sind wir dann von Zuhause weg, weil so viel gebombt wurde, und sind das, aber nicht allzu weit weg, sind wir in so‘n Dorf gezogen, was für Bombardements kein Interesse war, wo also nichts war, keine Industrien und nichts. Da wo ich zum Anfang wohnte war natürlich viel Industrie und dran war man ja interessiert. Und das direkte Ruhrgebiet, das war ja auch nur 80-90 km weg von mir, damals, so dass wir das alles also mitgekriegt haben. Wo ich mich noch dran erinnern kann war dass, sehr oft, abends, wenn‘s dunkel wurde, dunkel war, wir, ein einzelnes Flugzeug kam, wir nannten ihn den eisernen Gustaf und der machte aber nichts anderes, das war der Pfadfinder, der vor wegflog, und dann die sogenannten, wir sagten Christbaüme, Weinachtsbaüme, gesetzt hat, das war also, sah aus wie ein Riesending mit Leuchtkugeln, das also die ganze Gegend erhelte, und das war wie wir, wie ich dann später erfuhr, als ich älter war, dass das kein Schauspiel war, sondern dass das die Zielmarkierung für die Bomber war. Und auch als Kind haben wir natürlich nicht gewusst, sind das nun Englische Bomber, sind das Amerikanische Bomber oder, für uns waren das einfach nur Bomber.
Nachwirkungen von all diesen Dingen, nach den Krieg, als ich dann selber einigermaßen unterwegs war, also selbststandig war. Wir haben sehr viel aus der Natur gelebt damals, das hieß, wir gingen im Herbst, auch Pilze sammeln undsoweiter, und da haben wir zum Beispiel massenhaft nicht explodierte Brandbomben gefunden, Stabbrandbomben, das waren Fehlwürfe, die also die Stadt nicht erreicht haben, sondern in einem Waldgebiet runtergegangen sind. Das könnte ich Ihnen hier auch, ich habe extra deshalb hier Google Earth angeschmissen. Ich kann Ihnen das mal zeigen wo das war. Ok?
PS: Ach ja, können Sie mir sagen wo Sie eben gelebt haben?
CP: Betzdorf an der Sieg, das ist 90 km nordöstlich von Köln. Köln ist für jeden ‚n Begriff. Da bin ich geboren, aufgewachsen und ich bin 1961 erst nach Jever gekommen hier, durch die Luftwaffe. Sonst habe ich da unten gelebt, in dieser Gegend, dicht, dicht zum Ruhrgebiet. Das ist, was ich Ihnen jetzt erzählt hab, ist alles nichts von Jever hier. Jever war nichts los hier. Die Bomben, das weiß ich von Bekannten, die Bomben die hier gefallen sind, waren alles Notwürfe, dass heißt die sie in Bremen nicht so wie Wellington, die sie in Bremen nicht losgeworden sind wegen Wetter, oder Wilhelmshafen vorbeigeworfen haben die hier, aber meistens im Land hier und wo nichts passiert ist. Aber wie gesagt, zu meiner Zeit, da unten ist sehr viel bombardiert worden, weil ja auch alle Flugzeuge, die Bomber, auch in der Nacht, wenn die zum Ruhrgebiet flogen, flogen die immer über uns weg. Weil wir, halt, aus der Luft betrachtet waren wir direkt vor der Haustür, wenn man so will. Denn aus der Luft betrachtet sind ja 80-100 km keine Entfernung. So, und [pauses] ich weiß allerdings, also eben nicht mein Erleben, das weiß ich auch aus der Erzählung meiner Tante, die dort nach wie vor, als wir mal kurzfristig weggezogen waren wegen der Bombenwürfe, die ist dort geblieben und die hat auch erlebt, wie dann die Amerikaner eingerückt sind dort und wo also gegenüber auf den anderen Hügel noch Deutsche lagen und die sich dann gegenseitig da beschossen haben. Hat’s auch noch ein Paar Tote gegeben, liegen noch drei und auch ein Amerikanischer Leutnant liegt noch bei uns in meiner Heimat noch auf den Friedhof heutzutage. Und das ist aber alles relativ schnell gegangen da denn das waren die letzten Kriegstage wo also, die Alliierten rückten vor und die Deutschen rückten nur immer weiter weg. Das war also nicht mehr weiter viel, wiegesagt. Nach dem Kriege dann [waren] wir als Kinder natürlich sehr interessiert an allem. Wir sind also überall hingelaufen, wo abgeschossene Panzer lagen, wo abgeschossene Flugzeuge lagen, weil das für uns Kinder interessant war sowas. Da sind natürlich überall hinmarschiert. In der vicinity, also in der Nähe da wo wir hinlaufen konnten. Und da gab es für uns natürlich einiges zu sehen, für uns Kinder, wir waren ja neugierig, wie, wo, was ist da. Ja, ich bin auch in dieser Gegend zur Schule gegangen. Bin dann nach der Schule, wie in Deutschland üblich, habe ich ‚ne Lehre gemacht und am Ende dieser Lehrzeit von dreienhalb Jahren bin ich dann zur Luftwaffe gegangen. Und hab dann so die Standardausbildung gemacht bei der Luftwaffe, Flugzeugführerschein, Fluglehrerlehrgang, irgendwann Offiziersschule und also was hier, und hab auch sehr viel Ausbildung in America gemacht, war also sehr oft in Amerika drüben, und bin dann 1993 hier in Jever Airbase auch pensioniert worden. Habe mich aber trotzdem immer weiter mit der Luftwaffe beschäftigt. Der Fliegerhorst Jever hier ist so mein zweites Zuhause. Und so ist das auch gekommen, nachdem ich die ersten Verbindungen mit Jack Waterfall hatte, das ich dann diese Geschichten wieder intensiviert hatte. Ich wusste zwar sehr lange schon, ich wusste, seit Anfang der Sechziger Jahre wusste ich, wo die Wellington abgestürtzt war, weil ich kannte den Förster, den Vor-Vorgänger von Carsten Streufert, den kannte ich auch gut, der hat mir das mal eines Tages gezeigt und damals, 1960, war das ja gerade zehn jahre, zwanzig Jahre her und die Baüme waren dann noch nicht so wie sie dann heute sind, das war alles noch gut sichtbar. Und wir haben dann damals auch schon Einzelteile gesammelt die man so noch oberflächlich fand weil wir in den Neunzehnhundertsechziger Jahren noch nicht die, oder überhaupt, wir hatten überhaupt keinen Metalldetector, oder wie wir sagen Minensuchgerät. Heute haben wir natürlich, ich auch, das modernste Gerät. Wenn ich heute da langgehe, piept es an allen Ecken und Kanten, weil immer noch Blechstücke, Munitionen und allesmögliche im Boden leigt. Denn die damalige Luftwaffe im Dritten Reich hat ja nur oberflächlich abgeraümt, die Grossteile die da rumlagen. Alles andere da hat keiner gesucht, was da an Kleinzeug rumliegt. Und deshalb findet da man das heute noch. Und Ich bin mir sicher, da will ich zunächst auch mal hin, dass man an anderen Stellen auch noch genügend findet. Denn südlich vom Flugplatz, die Wellington die ist ja runtergegangen im Upjeeverschen Forst. Noch weiter südlich sind auch welche abgeschossen worden und um die Stellen denke ich hat sich heute noch gar niemand gekümmert. Es ist auch in Deutschland ein bisschen kompliziert weil man, weil offiziell brauche ich ja jedesmal die Genehmiegung vom Landeigentümer, das ich da überhaupt hin gehen darf und normalerwiese müsste ich noch eine Polizeiliche Genemiegung haben, weil ja immer die Gefahr besteht, Munition zu finden und ähnliches. Die brauche ich aber nicht, weil ich Gottseidank Munitionsfachmann bin durch die Luftwaffe und Sprenglizenzen habe und Feuerwehrlizenz, so das ich das eigen verantwortlich machen kann. Aber am sonsten ist das immer mit Schwierigkeiten verbunden, weil viele Landeigentümer sagen nein sie wollen das nicht, das man auf ihrem Land keine Löcher gräbt zum Beispiel. Ja, [pauses] zum Krieg fallt mir natürlich jetzt im Moment so gar nichts mehr ein.
PS: Sie deuteten vorher… Sie haben mir vorher die Bilder gezeigt von der Gegend um Betzdorf und den anderen Ort. Können sie mir das moment noch einmal wieder ein bisschen erzählen, der Ort wo Sie Pilze…
CP: Ich bin aufgewachsen in einem Ort, der heißt Scheuerfeld. Da haben wir letztens erst 1100 Jahre Bestehen gefeiert. Das ist eigentlich ein ganz besonderer Ort. Das war zu der Zeit da unten als ich geboren wurde noch Gebiet der Freien Männer, so nannte man das, änhlich wie hier in Ostfriesland, deshalb heißen die Ostfriesen ja auch die freien Ostfriesen. Und dieser Ort liegt ungefähr zwei Km von der Stadt Betzdorf weg. So dass das letztendlich, wenn ich das aus der Luft betrachte, eine Einheit ist das ganze. [pauses] Ja wie gesagt, da bin ich halt geboren, aufgewachsen und habe das halt erlebt was ich vorhin nun berichtet habe, aus der Kriegszeit, genau in dieser Gegend da.
PS: Sie hatten mir da auch erzählt warum….. Sie hatten da eben etwas von Scheuerfeld und Betzdorf erzählt in Verbindung mit den Bombardierungen.
CP: Ja, genau. Weil in Betzdorf diese Werke waren, Eismann Ausbesserungswerk, Lokomotivenfabrik, also wo Lokomotiven gebaut wurden, und viele, viel Gerät der Bahn, der Eisenbahn war ja zum Teil nach Bombenangriffen nicht mehr zu reparieren also musste man ja auch noch neue Lokomotiven bauen. Und in Betzdorf war ein grosser Rangierbahnhof, wo also Waren, Kriegsmaterial zu Zügen zusammengestellt wurde, die dann halt irgendwohinn an die Front fuhren, und auch mit Kanonen drauf, Panzer, Munitionen, was weiss ich, und deshalb war Betzdorf für die Alliierten vom Interesse, logischerweise Nachschub abschneiden und halt verhindern das noch, durch Bombardierungen, das noch Lokomotiven gebaut or repariert wurden, undsoweiter. Das war ein Hauptgrund warum dort viel bombardiert wurde.
PS: Sind Sie noch in… haben Sie noch Familie in Betzdorf? Und Scheuerfeld?
CP: Nein, nur Bekannte. Schulfreunde. Meine Familie, meine Eltern sind tot und meine Geschwister wohnen überall nur nicht mehr da. Da wohnen nur noch Freunde, Bekannte, keine, keine Verwandtschaft von mir mehr. Wobei ich, wobei muss ich sagen, ich komme ein Mal im Jahr komme ich dorthin. Ich besuch also, einmal im Jahr besuche ich mein Schulfreund da unten. Ich bin ja auch, wie Sie sehen, Jägersman und mein Schulfreund hat auch ein Jagdgebiet da unten und da fahre ich einmal im Jahr zur Jagd da runter und frische die Jugenderinnerungen auf.
Zum Beispiel, habe ich, ich erzählte ja vorhin das wir im Winter da gesehen haben wenn die V2 flog. Da bin ich inzwischen mal gewesen, wo die abgeschossen wurde und das waren ja zum Teil ganz einfache Abschussgebiete. Da hat man einfach mitten im Wald irgendwo ‚ne Betonplatte gegossen, mehr war das nicht, und der Rest war ja alles in LKWs, die dann drumrum im Wald gut getarnt standen und da bin ich zum Beispiel hin gewesen, ein Ort der heißt Bad Marienberg und dort habe ich dann im Wald auch noch so eine Platte, so ne Abschussrampe, so ‚ne Platte gefunden. Das war Bad Marienberg und eine andere Abschusstellung, die war nicht weit davon, die hieß Hachenburg.
PS: Und das waren die V2.
CP: Ja, das war V2. Das wird auch gut beschrieben in einem Buch, das da heißt “Kriegsschauplatz Westerwald”. Da kommt das drin vor und dann gibt‘s aus dieser Gegend noch ein Buch, das hieß, ich erklär das gleich, “Gefrorene Blitze”. Das stammt aus den Volksmund, das heißt, das haben die Leute so gesagt, wenn die V2 ab einer bestimmten Höhe zog die auch Kondensstreifen und genauso wie bei jetzt von den Jets wenn der Kondenstreifen anfangt zu zerfallen, irgendwann zerfiel der natürlich auch und weil der eine Zeitlang da war und sah aus wie ein Blitz, haben die Leute auf den Land das “Gefrorene Blitze” genannt. Und so heißt auch das Buch. “Gefrorene Blitze” behandelt die V2 Stationen im Westerwald. Und das ist ja direkt an meiner Heimat. Ich bin zwar Rheinland-Pfälzer aber der Westerwald grenzte direkt an meiner Heimat dran.
PS: Hat der Freund den Sie hin und wieder besuchen noch Erinnerungen? Haben Sie je noch darüber gesprochen?
CP: Ja, wir haben vorwiegend nur über Nachkriegsdinge gesprochen. Zum Beispiel, wenn wir im Wald waren und Brandbomben eingesammelt haben und sowas. Aber ob er direkt noch aus den letzten Kriegsjahr oder so noch was weiß, oder das letzte Halbjahr, sagen wir mal 1945 Januar bis Mai, das weiß ich nicht, da musste ich ihn ja fragen, weil wir uns weniger darüber unterhalten haben.
PS: Ich weiss jetzt nicht ob ich das aufgenommen haben. Können Sie mir vielleicht noch Moment von dieser Erfahrung mit den Brandbomben erzählen?
CP: Ja, Wie gesagt, Die Brandbomben steckten, das waren die Sechskantstabe, so lang, die stachen einfach den Waldboden, weil sie nicht explodiert waren. Und wenn wir Kinder im Wald waren zu Pilze suchen oder sonst, haben wir die natürlich gefunden. Und neugierig wie wir waren haben wir natürlich auch welche mitgenommen. Weil das war so. Wir haben in diesen Dingern gar keine Gefahr gesehen, weil diese Sachen alle bei uns in der Schule sehr genau beschrieben waren. In der Schule auf den Fluren überall hingen Plakate, „Hände weg von Fundmunition“, und da waren die einzelnen Sachen, die man finden konnte, waren da alle beschrieben und da waren zum Beispeil die Brandbomben auch beschrieben. Und da ich mich zu der Zeit auch schon, was ich heute noch tue, für alle diese Dinge, Waffen und Kriegsmaterial und Sprengstoff und alles interessiere, habe ich also.. Also die Brandbomben da habe ich natürlich nicht mit vier Jahren gesucht, sonder das war in der Zeit wenn wir schon alleine in den Wald gingen um Pilze zu suchen, da war ich zehn, elf, zwölf Jahre alt. Und da hab ich mich also schon sehr für Munition und Sprengstoff und all sowas interessiert. Und das habe ich natürlich später beim Militär alles ausgebaut das ganze.
PS: Und wenn Sie jetzt zurückdenken an die Kriegszeit, gesehen von heute, welche Eindrücke haben Sie?
CP: Sagen wir mal so. Was störend war, war nachts aufzustehen und in den Bunker zu rennen. Am sonsten, für uns Kinder, war das eine interessante Zeit, weil immer was los war. Und dann, man sah Flugzeuge am Himmel und wusste natürlich als Kind noch nicht genau überhaupt nicht wer ist wer, man wusste nur “die mögen sich nicht” weil da geschossen wurde oben, das hörte man ja unten. Von daher war es seine erlebnisreiche, interessante Zeit. Wie gesagt, mal abgesehen vom Bunkerlaufen nachts und änhlichen. Und was natürlich gestört hat, uns Kinder, gegen Ende des Krieges, Kinder haben ja immer Hunger, und Essen war immer weniger gegen Ende des Krieges. Das hat also eine bischen gestört, dass man vom eigenen Magenknurren, nicht nur von der Sirene wach wurde nachts, sondern auch vom eigenen Magenknurren. Aber am sonsten was tagsüber war und was so geschah um uns drum rum, weil ja außer Bombardements direkt am Boden bei uns zu der Zeit keine Kriegshandlungen waren. War ja nix, das war ja alles in der Luft. Und deshalb war es für uns Kinder immer interessant. [pauses] Meine Schwester, das ist ein Phänomen, das müssten aber Psychologen klaren. Meine Schwester ist im März 1945 geboren, das heißt die war bei Kriegsende drei Monate alt. Und das war die Zeit wo also sehr viel Bombardement war, und sehr viel geschossen wurde in der Luft und und und. Was ich später erlebt habe war, da habe ich mich immer gefragt, wie kann das sein. Wenn wir beim Essen sassen, und es kam in der Küche nur eine Fliege angeflogen, da ist meine Schwester vom Stuhl gesprungen und hat sich unterm Tisch versteckt. Obwohl sie das ja eigentlich gar nicht, sie war drei monate alt als das alles passierte. In wieweit man das ganze Getöse im Mutterleib schon mitkriegt weiss ich nicht. Ich sag dass ist ein Fall für irgendein Psychologen, rausszufinden wie sowas kam. Aber meine Schwester brauchte nur eine Fliege sehen die ankommt, irgendwas was in der Luft fliegt, war die verschwunden, weg.
PS: Jetzt wo Sie seit einigen Jahren die Beziehungen, gute Beziehungen zu den Briten haben, wie sehen Sie das ein bisschen alles, ich meine die Bombenkampagne und, ja?
CP: Ja sagen wir mal so. Nicht nur die Engländer und Amerikaner haben gebombt, wir haben auch gebombt. Also beruhte auf Gegenseitigkeit. Deshalb bin ich auf niemandem gram. Und dann, habe ich auch heute den Standtpunkt dass die Welt noch wesentlich besser sein könnte, wenn wir keine Politiker hatten. Denn sehr viele Politiker sind ja Schuld an manch einem Desaster. Und wie man ja jetzt auch sieht in unseren Beziehungen mit den Verwandten der ehemaligen Besatzung und und und, Leute unter sich vertragen sich in der Regel immer gut. Das ist überhaupt kein Thema und ich hätte auch keinen Groll gegen irgendjemandem, was weil das ist halt Krieg. Da fürt nicht nur einer Krieg, sondern da führt auch der andere Krieg. Und da muss man halt rechnen, damit rechnen dass es da Tote und Verletzte gibt, und und und. Nur also ich stehe dem ganzen, und das war auch in der Zeit wo ich in Amerika war, eigentlich positiv gegenüber, weil ich mir sage, die Leute unter sich vertragen sich in der Regel immer gut. Irgendwelche die dann, da gibt es ja ein spezieles Wort für in Deutschland, Scharfmacher, Leute die also solange hetzen, aufhetzen bis der nächste meint er muss mal zum Gewehr greifen. Also ich will das was wir hier machen und deshalb wollen wir das auch für die Zukunft weiter aufrechterhalten. Da bin ich auch mit Jack einig, wir können uns naturlich, alleine schon aus Kostengründen, nicht jedes Jahr treffen hier. Aber wir werden das ganze am Leben erhalten und vielleicht haben ich ja noch die Gelegenheit, wenn meine Gesundheit mir keinen Strich durch die Rechnung macht, noch irgenwelche anderen Absturtzstellen zu erkunden hier und vielleicht noch Kontakt zu anderen Leuten bekommen in England. Denn die Zeit drängt ja. Wir als Zeitzeugen sterben aus und die Englischen Zeitzeugen sterben genauso aus, so dass man irgendwann keinen mehr hat mit dem man über diese Dinge reden kann, den man, weil halt niemand mehr da ist. [pauses] Und Ich habe leider, leider auch in meiner Heimat da unten, wie gesagt, ausser mein Schulkameraden, auch niemanden mehr der so alt ist, dass er mir berichten könnte, den der müsste ja so wie Heino, 94 sein. Und, Ja und ich selber bin auch 75 und viele von meinen Bekannten da unten leben schon gar nicht mehr. Mein Schulfreund, auch 75, Paar noch drum rum, aber es gibt natürlich auch welche die sich im ganzen Leben für sowas gar nicht interessiert haben, die wissen auch nix zu erzählen weil sie das nicht interessiert hat. Und wir wie gesagt, wir haben früher, als Kinder, alles was mit Militär zu tun hatte, was wir gefunden haben im Wald, haben wir mitgenommen, haben wir gesammelt, zum Leidwesen meiner Eltern, den die mochten ja auch keinen Sprengstoff und keine Bomben im Haus haben. Aber ich hatte, wie das früher auch im Land so war, wir hatten neben dem Haus ein Hühnerstall, und änhliches, da immer alles versteckt. Aber wie gesagt, kenne ich leider niemandem da unten der also älter ist und der sagen könnte “Ja, ich habe noch das und das erlebt”.
PS: Wissen Sie von mehreren anderen Absturtzstellen hier in der Gegend?
CP: Ja es müssen noch zwei in der Nähe vom Ems-Jade-Kanal liegen und im Bereich Wilhelmshaven müssen noch welche sein, wo ich aber nicht auf‘m Meter genau kenne, wäre aber herauszufinden.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Interview with Charly Pfeifer
Creator
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Peter Schulze
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Description
An account of the resource
Charly Pfeifer recounts his experiences of the bombing of Betzdorf an der Sieg, a small town not far from the Ruhr. He explains the strategic importance of the city, due to the presence of locomotive works. He recounts taking shelter from the bombs in a former manganese mine. He remembers the time as a child, when he used to go into the forest looking for mushrooms and finding incendiary devices. He tells that he wasn’t afraid of these objects because at school there were posters with detailed descriptions of the ordnance. He happened to find V-2 ramps hidden in the forest. He explains how it was a very interesting time for children because there was always something happening. The most annoying aspect, he remarks, was being woken up, not only by the air alarm, but also by the rumbling of his own tummy. He recounts seeing Pathfinder aircraft, which they as children used to call 'The Iron Gustav' and when it dropped the target indicators, which they called 'Christmas trees'. He tells about his sister’s weird and unexplainable behaviour. Although she was only three months old at the time of end of the war, later on whenever there was a fly coming into the kitchen, she jumped down from her chair and quickly hid under the table.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2016-06-27
Contributor
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Peter Schulze
Language
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deu
Spatial Coverage
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Germany--Betzdorf
Germany
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Format
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00:35:31 audio recording
Type
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Sound
Identifier
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APfeiferKW160627
Coverage
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Civilian
bombing
childhood in wartime
civil defence
home front
incendiary device
Pathfinders
target indicator
V-2
V-weapon
Window
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Dirks, Heino
H Dirks
Heinrich Dirks
Description
An account of the resource
One oral history interview with Heino Dirks (b.1922), a German firefighter at Jever airbase.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2016-06-26
Identifier
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Dirks, H
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Heino Dirks
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Airplanes, Military--Accidents
Fire fighters
Germany. Luftwaffe
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Schulze
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-06-26
Contributor
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Peter Schulze
Format
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01:03:27 audio recording
Language
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deu
Identifier
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ADirksH160626
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany--Jever
Germany--Hamburg
France
Belgium
Germany
Russia (Federation)
Rights
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In accordance with the conditions stipulated by the donor, this item is available only at the International Bomber Command Centre / University of Lincoln. For more information please visit https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items-not-available-online
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Description
An account of the resource
Heino Dirks recounts his younger life in Jever, his experience as a decorator's apprentice in Wilhelmshaven and his service as a firefighter at Jever Airbase. He recollects the crash of a 37 Squadron Wellington R3263 when on duty and his efforts to extinguish the fire. He chronicles his military life in the Luftwaffe, serving in Belgium, France and Germany until being taken prisoner by the Russians. He recollects his escape from a Russian camp together with a friend and his adventurous journey back home. He reminisces about the bombing of Hamburg, when he went to visit his sister. Herr Dirks recounts the hardships in pre and post-war Germany.
In accordance with the conditions stipulated by the donor, this item is available only at the University of Lincoln.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Wehrmacht. Luftwaffe
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1940-06-06
1940-06-07
bombing
crash
firefighting
prisoner of war
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/129/40/PFlowersJ1501.1.jpg
c8c6c363f3571803b163c63628f7293d
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/129/40/PFlowersJ1502.1.jpg
13dff83dcc74f0fe413ea7eb4a08fccc
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/129/40/AFlowersHJ150602.2.mp3
f58403692c6da41dbb74bf1dcbd8b1fe
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Flowers, James
H J Flowers
Horrace James Flowers
Harry James Flowers
Description
An account of the resource
15 items. The collection concerns the wartime experiences of Flight Sergeant Horace James Flowers, a rear gunner with 50 Squadron at RAF Skellingthorpe. The collection consists of one oral history interview, a propaganda leaflet and nine photographs. The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by James Flowers and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Flowers, HJ
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
HJF: My name is Horace James Flowers. I’m known as James. I am recording my, I served in the RAF for four and a half years from 1944 until 1947. I attained the rank of flight sergeant and flew, and served with 50 squadron and 44 squadron, 50 squadron at Skellingthorpe and 40 squadron, 44 squadron in Tiger Force at a number of squads, at a number centres, stations. I’m recording this for the International Bomber Command Centre on the 2nd of June, er, 2nd of June 2015 in, at xxxxx Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. Yeah. I was born on the 9th of 10th, 9th of the 10th 1924 in a small village called Huthwaite in Nottinghamshire. I remained in Huthwaite, remained in Huthwaite during my education which was only secondary modern. Secondary modern. I then left school at fourteen, 1939. That sounds bad doesn’t it?
MJ: That’s alright.
HJF: I left school, I left school when I was fourteen. That was 1939. I became an apprentice butcher and loved the job. I absolutely loved it and if it hadn’t have been, hadn’t have been for the war, I’m certain I would have remained in that trade for the rest of my working life. However, Sutton in Ashfield area, Huthwaite and Sutton in Ashfield area rapidly became an area, a training area for a battalion of troops. And also there were Yanks at er, at Kingsmill Hospital and there were the paratroopers at Hardwick Hall five miles away. They was the elite and they used to come in at night time and the village had, all the village halls had been turned into dance halls so the town was thriving at night time, with hundreds probably thousands of, of soldiers coming in to be entertained for the night. It was so exciting. Now, the paratroopers were special. They were elite and when they used to come in they used to create skirmishes in the, you know, to a teenager it was so exciting and at the same time my brother had joined the navy and he was he was in, in, he was stationed at Brightlingsea at what they called [unclear] sorry [unclear]
[pause]. Yes.
HJF: German U-boats used to, used to speed in and torpedo any, any ship that was in the area. At the same time, at this particular time I had a girlfriend whose brother was in aircrew and he was a wireless operator and he used to come home at the weekends and I used to listen to his stories about his fly, what was happening while he was flying. This really stimulated my interest so I just had to get to it, get involved. Now, on the 18th of February 1943 I attended the, enlistment section-
[pause]
On the 18th of February 1943 I attended the recruitment section, recruitment place at Mansfield to be given a medical for aircrew which I passed A1. How excited I was when the medical officer told me that I’d passed A1. Not that my excitement was allowed to last long because shortly after the recruiting officer called me in to his office to give me the bad news. Now then, this is, ‘I’m very sorry to tell you, you can’t be accepted. We can’t accept anyone who is in a reserved occupation.’ I was completely devastated because I’d took a year to get in. I pleaded for them to change their mind, ‘Sorry you can only be accepted if the authorities release you from your reserved occupation.’ To a teenager desperate to volunteer this was terrible news. It felt as if a bomb had been dropped on me by the recruiting officer. My factory manager showed no sympathy at all. He firmly informed me that unless I was medically released I would have to remain with them until the end of the war. The problem was that I needed to be A1 to be accepted for air crew and unfit to be released from the reserved occupation. How do I get around that? Continuously I racked my brain to try and think of a way that I could overcome this problem. Months went by and I began to despair. It seemed as if my chance of joining the RAF had gone forever. At last I had an idea. I wondered, will it work? No matter whether it did or not I just had to try something. So with my heart in my mouth I arranged an appointment with my factory doctor. Attending the appointment I showed the doctor all the spots on my face, and telling him that I considered that the heavy fumes of the machine grinder on which, on which I was working was giving me dermatitis. I then requested that I should be released from this work. My case was so thin and I knew it but I had to try something. I then had to listen to the doctor giving me a real dressing down. How awful he made me feel. He ended his lecture by saying, ‘You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself. Men are dying for the likes of you.’ Feeling very subdued I then quietly said, ‘But doctor, I only want releasing from munitions because I volunteered and been accepted for air crew. The RAF won’t take me if you don’t release me.’ With my heart in my mouth I waited as he fixed his gaze on me for what seemed an eternity. He looked me straight in the eye. Then without another word he reached for his pen and signed my release. As I got up to leave the surgery he leaned forward and shook my hand and wished me luck. All these problems had taken a year to resolve. Is that?
MJ: Yes
HJF: Now, having reached my ninetieth year I can’t help thinking how much slimmer my chances of surviving this terrible war would have been if I’d been allowed to leave my reserved occupation in 1943. Although I knew that being a rear gunner was a very dangerous job with a very high casualty rate, so much so that rear gunners were named Charlies and that’s another name for stupid fool, it didn’t matter to me what others thought. This was the way I wished to serve my country. Yeah, so that goes on to my “Tail End Charlie’s Story”.
MJ: Ahum
HJF: This was the title I gave to my book which I’ve, which I’ve had produced, “A Tail End Charlie’s Story” ‘cause I think that fits the bill. Right, on the 6th of March 1944 I reported to the induction centre at Lords Cricket Ground, London along with hundreds more recruits for entry to the RAF. Lords Cricket Ground was used during the 1939 ‘45 war as an induction centre for air crew. A roll call, a roll call was made during which, to my astonishment, a second HJ Flowers’ name was called out. It was then that I first met Henry James Flowers. Henry told me that he came from a village called Bargoed in South Wales. From then onwards we became constant companions. We remained together during basic training at RAF Bridgnorth after which we were posted to RAF Stormy Down for air gunnery training. Fortunately, we were kept together during flying training and in actual fact ended up serving on both 50 and 44 squadron, squadrons. Now, ok, recruitment before I get on to?
MJ: You can put it whatever way you like.
HJF: Does that sound alright?
MJ: Yes it’s fine. It’s superb. I mean I know exactly what you mean when you said that London had had a right bash of it.
HJF: Yeah.
MJ: I mean, my nan got bombed out twice. You know, nothing left.
HJF: We got friends, we’ve got a friend that lost everything twice. Absolutely everything.
MJ: Yeah, yeah.
HJF: She lived near where I was stationed yeah.
MJ: ‘Cause the road that they lived in doesn’t exist.
HJF: Yeah.
MJ: And so on. You know people don’t-
HJF: Yeah.
MJ: Realise this sort of thing. Are you ready?
HJF: Yeah ok. After disembarking from the troop train at Bridgnorth railway station we formed up in threes. Shouldering our heavy kit bags we began the long march to camp. The last mile was up a steep hill. As new recruits, unfit, with no marching experience at all, all carrying a heavy kit bag the formation rapidly turned into a gaggle. By the time we reached the camp everyone was on the point of collapse. Next morning, after the recruits had been formed up on the parade ground the NCO in charge of the parade informed us that we’d be confined to barracks for the entire six weeks - square bashing, ‘You will not be allowed in public until you can be a credit to your uniform.’ From that moment on we spent every minute of every day drilling and exercising. My muscles screamed out from the strains. The course seemed never ending. Much to my surprise the strain became less. I was obviously getting fitter. Not content with keeping us hard all day we were also given guard duty at night. On Saturday and Sunday a percentage of recruits were picked out to stand guard throughout the weekend. It was just the luck of the draw as to whether your name would come out. By the end of the fourth week I was badly missing my girlfriend Eunice so despite the ban on boots, new boots, new recruits leaving camp I began to make plans. Now, having been on guard duty at a sentry box on the edge of the wood at the rear of the camp I knew there was a way in and out. Those on guard duty were given instructions to arrest anyone there but be that it may I let loads of them through expecting them to make the, make the favour, if I, if I needed it. I noticed. Now desperate to return home I was willing to risk anything. So after duty on the fourth Friday I slipped out of camp by the back way and began thumbing lifts. In uniform they came very easily and with a matter of hours I was back home again. Early next day I walked the two miles to my girlfriend’s house. This was the first time that Eunice had seen me in uniform and I knew that I’d created a good impression. We had a lovely day and a half together. I can still remember going for a walk that Sunday morning along a very attractive country walk known locally as Skegby Bottoms. The sun shone brightly as we sat there. I was at peace with the world. I wanted it to go on and on and on. Late Sunday night I successfully re-entered the camp through the back. Through the woods. In no time I was back in my billet. The moment Taffy saw me he exclaimed, ‘Your name was called out several times for guard duty over the weekend.’ ‘Oh dear,’ I thought, ‘Blimey I shall be on a charge on Monday morning’. Sure enough I was called off the parade ground and told to report to the commanding officer. Shaking like a leaf I stood to attention in front of him. ‘Sorry. I didn’t hear my name called out.’ Not impressed, he said ‘Fourteen days jankers and do it again and I’ll throw the book at you.’ Next day I reported to the cookhouse in full pike. Just my luck to be the only one on jankers, jankers at the time to peel the thousands and thousands of potatoes needed to feed a camp full of hungry airmen and then to wash the pots that had to be used for meals. Gosh it was hard work. You may have thought that all this effort made my weekend worthwhile. I’m in no doubt at all. It was.
Now then, what did I get to? 3rd of, 3rd of June 1944 see us arrive at Bridgnorth for flying training. Now this training was on Avro Ansons. It had one mid upper turret and we used to fire at drogues that used to come by with a, with a Spitfire travelling a drogue alongside us. And quite honestly, quite honestly it was I think, I think the pilot was, of the Spitfire, was in more danger of us hitting him than us hitting the drogue. Anyway, when, when we finished this course, at the end of this course I managed to get a day’s, a weekend off so I travelled home to see Eunice. She was in the Land Army near Grimley and I remember as I arrived at the, at the hostel, at the hostel Eunice was telling me about the, about someone who was getting married. One of the Land Army girls getting married. And I could feel that this was the, that there seemed to be a longing in her voice which suggested to me that this was the right time to once again, for the hundredth time ask her if she’d marry me. And so as she turned to me I said, ‘Well shall we get married then?’ and she said, ‘Yes, let’s.’ I’m not joking with you I could have fallen through the floor. Anyway, we decided there and then. She said, ‘What are you doing now?’ I said well I’m going now to Husbands Bosworth for a ten week course on OTU training and she says, ‘Ok when will that finish?’ Well we calculated it out that it would finish about October the 14th. She says, ‘Ok we’ll add a week to that. We’ll add a week to that. We’ll get married on the 21st of October.’ Not for one minute did we think the things that could happen in a flying training. So naïve we were. Anyway, a week before, two weeks before the October the 21st flying training, all flying training was cancelled through bad weather. We didn’t fly for nearly eight days. Comes the 20th, comes the 20th of, of October and I’m getting married the next day. I’d still got four hours flying to do that morning. Anyway, by sheer luck we got the flying training finished, finished by dinnertime. We then needed to, to get cleared from the station, and of course collect all our gear because we’re moving to another, another station. And, and we’d got, in those days, today if you wanted to get cleared from a section they do it on computer, can do it in five minutes. In our day we used to have to go to every section to get our chitty signed, mainly on foot. Fortunately, Taffy managed to borrow a couple, a couple of bikes. He was going to be my best man so he’s coming with me. We circulated and of course there’s a tremendous area in, in, on an RAF aerodrome and we circulated the area on these cycles and I’m certain that everybody, every section knew we were getting married because as we were, the next day every section and as we, the next day, and as we came in they immediately signed my chit. Bless them all. Anyway the admin section was closing at 5 o’clock. We arrived there at five minutes to five. The admin, the officer then cleared us from the section and, and he says, ‘Ok, right, you can go now. Report to RAF Wigsley on Monday the 23rd.’ I thought, bloody hell, two days. We then had to start [laughs] we then had to start our journey. Now in those days, in those days there was very little transport. We had to, we had to cadge lifts we had to catch buses, local buses, train journeys, local train journeys. It took us all night. We didn’t arrive in Sutton in Ashfield until half past eight on the Saturday the 21st. Having been awake all night I was absolutely shattered. Anyway we walked out of Sutton in Ashfield railway station and Eunice lived a mile to the right and I, and I lived two miles to the left. Taffy walked to tell Eunice we’d arrived. I walked the two miles to Huthwaite to, to my parent’s home. Now there was so much happening. The wedding was planned for 2.30. There was so much happening I never got any rest. I was absolutely cream crackered. By, I remember, I remember we were in, as we got in, as we got in to the taxi turned up to St Mary’s Church at Sutton in Ashfield and I says to my mum ‘Oh I can’t.’ ‘Go on, go on, ‘she said, ‘Oh no. You’re here now. Go on. Get going.’ Anyway we got into the church and I’m not joking I stood at the altar and I was absolutely asleep on my feet. I can’t explain how tired I was. Anyway, after a while suddenly there was a thump in my ribs and I opened my eyes and said. ‘I will’ and it was back to sleep again and quite honestly that’s all I remember of my, of my, of my wedding. And then photographs. The photographer wouldn’t take any photographs at the church. He insisted that we went down to his studio which was a couple of miles away and then he only took, would agree to take two photographs. One of Eunice and I and the wedding group. How different it is these days. Wedding photographers dominate the wedding and take millions of photographs and charge a tremendous amount of money. They do, don’t they? Anyway, Eunice was late when she arrived at the, at the church. She told me later, she said as the taxi drew away from her house a funeral appeared. Now it’s bad luck for you to go past a funeral. That’s what they said. So, quickly the taxi driver changed direction, changed direction to, to avoid it. Lo and behold they were just about to turn up the drive to the, to the church it was quite a long drive two or three hundred yards long and another, another funeral appeared so quickly he turns around and went back again and made another deviation. Well, she says she thought this a sign our wedding wouldn’t last. Well sixty nine years, seventy years later I think probably her premonition was a little bit wrong.
[laughs].
Fortunately, the Sunday, Sunday, a telegram arrived at my home to tell me that I’d been given eight days leave. So, so we didn’t have to report to Wigsley until eight days later but I want to go back a little bit now to my flying training because quite honestly flying training on Wellington bombers, it was a marvellous experience. Dangerous. Always exciting. Mostly enjoyable but quite honestly we were like kids playing with big new toys and we couldn’t get enough of it. Now, many things happened, happened, that quite honestly, that could, we could have bought it there and then. I remember one instant. One instant comes to, comes to mind. This was a training flight up to the north of Scotland and, and this was one for the first night trips that we had. Now, navigation in those days was very, very difficult because they didn’t have radar, the navigator didn’t have radar. He had to use his maps and they used to even use the stars and, and even used to ask us, ask us for things on the ground so that was how primitive it was. Anyway, we flew up to the north of Scotland. It was six and half hour trip and when we got to the north of Scotland we were due to turn, to turn starboard to come down the North Sea but instead of telling us to turn starboard the navigator told Skip to turn port so instead of travelling down the North Sea we were travelling down the Irish Sea. In fact we were rapidly going towards bloody America [laughs] and extended the flight trip quite a long way. He said the reason why this happened was because he accidently pulled his, we were flying above twelve thousand feet and he accidently pulled his, his oxygen cylinder thing out, connection out so he, but that was his story. Anyway, we goes down the North Sea. I remember we got back to, we got back to the Husbands Bosworth area and I remember looking down. It was absolutely, early hours of the morning, it was absolutely pitch dark. You could not see a thing on the ground and Jack the navigator says, ‘Ok Skip. We’re over base.’ Skip says, ‘Can’t see anything.’ So he says, ‘Ok, dog leg.’ so he does a five minute dog leg, comes back again and he says, ‘Right Skip. We’re over base.’ And when he says that there’s a chorus of voices says, ‘You’re up the spout, you’re bloody up the spout we can’t see anything.’ Ok, another dog leg. We did another dog leg and another dog leg and then when we gets to the fourth one there’s a voice, the flight engineer butts in and says, ‘Hey. Hey, we’ve only got, you’d better pull your fingers out, we’ve only got four minutes of fuel left.’ I was sitting, I was in the rear turret listening to all this going and quite honestly my ring was beginning to twitch. I thought to myself, ‘bloody hell if they don’t do something about it we’re going to crash’. So I switched it on. I say, ‘Skip why don’t you call somebody up?’ He says, ‘Oh yes.’ He then calls out the base. The base called in the, the aircraft codes, signs and immediately lights, the aerodrome lights flicked on straight beneath us. Navigator, nav, had been right all the time. We made an emergency landing. We taxied around this, we taxied round, around the perimeter. We turns in to, turns into our bay and as we turned into the bay, before we were in, the engines stopped. That’s how close we were. Ok now then. I’ll go forward now to after my wedding ok.
MJ: Yeah.
HJF: Are we still going?
MJ: Yeah.
HJF: After, after the wedding I reported to, to Wiglsey. Now, once again we, one, one time comes to mind we had a complete and utter cock up on Stirlings. I remember we were corkscrewing, corkscrew starboard, corkscrew port and the Skipper was saying to me diving starboard, diving starboard, climbing port, climbing starboard, rolling port, so on. The corkscrew. And in the middle of this cork, and this Spitfire was attacking us, was attacking us from behind and I was giving a running commentary on, on him coming in and all of a sudden the aircraft levelled out and a panicked voice came over the, came over the intercom, ‘Put on parachutes, jump, jump, jump.’ And I thought, ‘bloody hell, I can’t believe this’. The next second, ‘Put on parachute. Jump, jump, jump. I can’t hold it, I can’t hold it, I can’t hold it.’ I thought to myself ‘bloody hell there’s something happening I can’t see’ and I thought to myself, I thought ‘I’ll have a go’. So I drags the turret around to the beam, pulls on my slider, green as grass I was at the time. Now with experience I’d have opened the door and just flopped back outwards but green as grass I dragged myself out of the turret outside and I was standing outside and the wind was terrible. You can imagine. We were twelve thousand feet, travelling two hundred miles an hour and I’m looking down. I remember standing there with one, with my feet on the edge of the turret, one arm’s holding the top of the turret and I looked down and cows in fields looked, looked like flies. I thought, ‘Bloody hell I wonder if my parachute will open.’ Anyway, I thought to myself I’ll have a go. So therefore, I thought, I started, I released one hand and took, took, began to take my helmet off and quite honestly it was, there was so much noise outside I could hardly hear anything. All of a sudden I heard a faint voice and I didn’t care what it was it I thought, that’s somebody shouting something. It took me twenty minutes to get out but five seconds to get back in. I was back in like a bloody flash and I held my hands to my ears and it was the flight engineer. We’d got a, we’d got a extra member of the crew that time, he was a tour expired extra flight engineer and he was shouting, ‘Don’t go. Don’t go. Don’t go.’ So, right, well what happened? When we got down as we came down to land I was so stressed up with this thing as I climbed, as I came out of the turret into the fuselage I just asked myself, I just had to know whether my chute would have opened. So I immediately, I pulled the rip cord and my parachute spilled out into the fuselage. It cost me two and six pence to have it, now that’s a lot of money. When you think it’s only two pounds a week for me and I was giving a pound to my Mrs that was a lot of money to me but I didn’t care. It gave me the confidence that at least, at least it opened. Now, when we got out, when we got out I say, I says, I says to Skip, ‘What happened?’ He says, ‘Well’ he says, ‘We were diving,’ he says, ‘We were diving and climbing and rolling in the what do you call it,’ he says, ‘And all of a sudden a window just at the back of my head, unbeknown to me, flew out.’ The window had got, on the inside, had got a lead weighted curtain and as it, as the window blew out it sucked this lead weighted curtain out and he says it just started banging on the side of the fuselage bang, bang, bang, bang he says, ‘I suddenly heard this bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang tremendous noise’ he says, and at that precise moment by sheer coincidence the instructor, flight engineer, the bloody fool, sitting at the side of me, the starboard outer oversped. Now, the standard procedure is to pull the nose of the aircraft like climbing a hill to steady it down. Now, instead of just poking the Skipper or, or switching his intercom on which was at his mouth and saying what was happening he immediately dragged on, dragged as hard as he could on the controls to lift. Now, the Skipper at the time because he was hearing this banging noise was trying to keep the aircraft straight and level and at the same time the flight engineer, and they were pulling against each other and I’m not joking it was a complete and utter cock up but I’ve often thought to myself what did that bloody Spitfire driver think of me when he saw me standing outside, climbing out, he must have thought I were doolally.
[laughs]
Another thing happened whilst we were in flying training. We were doing the corkscrewing. All of a sudden all four engines cut out. Quick as a flash Skipper slammed the aircraft in to a vertical dive and kick-started the engine. Fortunately got them going, fortunately we got plenty of height, kick-started them. By golly that did make your heart flutter [laughs] and then our final training, training trip with, on Stirlings we had an emergency landing and we had, we had to make an emergency landing at Woodhall Spa, the home of 617 of all places, and as we, as we touched down all of a sudden the Stirling swung off, swung off the runway and headed straight for flying control. Now the Stirling was a massive aircraft and, and the cockpit, when the cockpit, when it was stopped, when it was stationery the cockpit was level with the windows in flying control and we, we careered across the, across the, the grass and stopped about a couple of foot from the, from the flying control windows and Skip said he could see flying control people running away from the windows in panic and when we stopped he says, he switches on, he says, ‘Flying control, ‘he says, ‘Can you see where we are?’ and a droll voice, a dry voice came over, ‘Yes’.[laughs] Anyway, the bonus for this was we spent the night at Woodhall Spa and we were, we were able to spend the night in the mess and we were able to mix with those elite airmen, the 617 people. It was absolutely wonderful. Anyway, the next morning we flew the thirty five minutes back, back, back to base at Wigsley and that was our last training trip, flying training trip. The next day we went to, we transferred to RAF Syerston for Lanc finish school which we spent two weeks there. At the end of the two weeks we were being moved to squadron. We were now fully trained. Now, for some reason we, on the 24th of January 1945 we, we boarded a RAF transport to take us from there to squadron. For some reason and I don’t know why we were taken to RAF Balderton for the night. Now, we were absolutely dead beat when we got there. It’s a bit sexy.
[laughs]
Absolutely dead beat so we went to bed very early. Now, we were in a Nissen hut with about twenty beds and there was entrances both sides. Now, fast asleep, late on, I don’t know, about midnight, all of a sudden there was a door opened the other end and a couple, excited couple came in and they obviously didn’t know there was anybody there. Short time later the excited talk, sexual. [laughs] and this went on and on and on and on. Anyway satisfaction came in time and they crept out laughingly and after they’d gone a quiet voice says, ‘Did you hear all that?’ [laughs] It goes without saying that fit aircrew fully trained wouldn’t miss a thing like that. It certainly brightened my night up. The next day we were a, to 50 squadron Skellingthorpe. We arrived at RAF Skellingthorpe on the 25th of January 1945. Now, the atmosphere, there was quite an atmosphere on training, training, on training stations but it was nothing like this. There was that feeling like an electric feeling. There was so much bustle and things going off, watching, actually we were nearly month before we did our first operation but we, all right? Seeing aircraft take off, disappearing, new aircraft coming in, the wild, wild parties that were in the mess. The atmosphere was absolutely wonderful. Now as I said we were a month, we were doing training during the time and I remember wonder, wonder if, if I’m going to be up to it because you never know do you? Anyway, it was the 5th of March, the 5th of March by the time we, we did our first operation and what an operation. What an eye opener. Now, I remember we walked into the, we walked into the briefing room, and The excited chatter and then all of a sudden the briefing officer came in quite pleased and deathly silence instantly. Your target for tonight will be Bohlen. Bohlen. Apparently, I found out, it was going to be a ten hour trip. Your, your route will be passing the Ruhr, in the Ruhr, in the Ruhr 3 Group will be attacking the Ruhr. In that area expect to see enemy fighters attacking in pairs. One from above and one below. If one gets above, if one gets beneath you they will shoot you to pieces. So be careful. Beware. Anyway, briefing finished and we’re standing outside. They’re all chatting all excitedly together and I’m talking to Flight Lieutenant Ling’s rear gunner and I can’t remember his name but I knew that he’d been, he was getting towards the end of his tour. I says to him how are things going, what was the flight like? Obviously, obviously I was quite uptight and he said, ‘Oh don’t worry, there’s nothing to it. Nothing to it. And I said something to him which I’m not going to tell you about which made me think, made me think ‘You’re not taking it seriously enough.’ He said, ‘Oh’ he says, ‘Don’t worry. I’ve never seen, I’ve never seen a fighter at all.’ Unbelievably, we came, we came across our first Messerschmitt less than four hours later. He say, ‘Don’t worry. There’s nothing to it’ and I thought, anyway they got the chop on the next trip, the next what do you call it, you see. Anyway, I remember going out to the aircraft at Skellingthorpe and the tension in me was absolutely sky high and I remember it didn’t seem to take us long, didn’t seem to take us long before we were taxiing out and as we were taxiing out I was looking around and there was all, I’m certain as I remember 61 squadron were also going that night and there were all these aircraft taxiing around the perimeter. The atmosphere was absolutely electric and all above, above, above all above us we could see the Lincoln cathedral in front of us and all above we could see heavily laden bombers gradually circling up, circling around. The tension inside me just went just like that. I was ready for it. Anyway, we turns on to the peri track, taxies up to the runway, waits our turn, turns on to, turns on to the, turns on to the, on to the runway. Skip calls, ‘Brakes on. Full power.’ And then, ‘Right, brakes off’ and, and we began to surge forward and alongside the, alongside the runway was a line of ground staff waving us off. What a wonderful take off. What a wonderful send off. Anyway, this was the first time that we’d been in a, in a Lancaster with a full bomb load. We’d got fourteen thousand pounds of bombs on and two thousand two hundred gallons of fuel. It was as much as any aircraft, Lancaster aircraft could carry in those days. I remember we were surging along, we were surging along, the vibration, this was the first time I’d heard the engines on full throttle right through the gate. The aircraft was absolutely, all the fuselage was vibrating with the tension of it. Anyway, as I, as I remember one two five was the one, was about the speed that you used to take off. I remember engineers started to call out one twenty, one twenty one, one twenty two, one twenty four, one twenty five and then Skip dragged the aircraft and you could feel the fuselage vibrating as he was fighting to get the aircraft into the air and then we had another problem. The Skellingthorpe runway was aimed straight at Lincoln Cathedral on top of that hill. Now that’s like a pimple today but to us in, in 1945 it was a terrible object to get over and we used to have to be banking while still at stalling speed. We used to be banking to miss that, well, I say ‘bloody cathedral, oh God’ and then when we got to a thousand feet it was such a relief. Anyway, I remember, I remember gradually climbed up. Our operation height was twelve thousand feet. I remember circling around. There were hundreds of aircraft. I think there were about two hundred and fifty aircraft involved in that operation. They were oh wonderful sight, wonderful sight gradually, circling around getting up to height and then a green light, Very light came from came out of one of the, the leading aircraft and we immediately began into a bomb, into a stream and we started to head out for Germany over the North Sea. Now, gradually, we’d set off at half past five at night, March and it was getting dark, getting quite dusk and as we set out, as we set out over the, over the North Sea gradually the light disappeared and so the aircraft, the aircraft, gradually, my night vision was developed. It used to take you twenty minutes for your night vision to develop and, and gradually all you could see was just, you could see Lancasters when they were the image of them when they were very close and you could see the sparks of the engine and we used to, we used to, we’d been told, warned about these twin fighters so we were swaying from side to side so we could look straight beneath us so we wouldn’t be caught out and I remember we’d been flying over the North Sea and were now entering, entering, enemy territory for the first time. The tension built up in, the adrenalin. I should say adrenalin building up inside me and I remember I was looking, it was now almost pitch dark, although it was a moonlit night it was still dark and I remember watching this, watching this Lancaster drift slowly underneath us, about twenty or thirty feet beneath us and it had just drifted underneath us. I could just see the sparks from its engines and just as he drifted there was a tremendous explosion just a short distance behind us and the explosion, the light split in half, then the next second, two, two seconds later there were two tremendous explosions. Two Lancasters rammed each other and both exploded in mid-air and then it was back to complete darkness. It hadn’t, the shock, the shock it hadn’t taken me long to realise the difficulties of being on operational active service but you know sadly fourteen air crew, airmen had lost their lives in that second but the shockwave was, it was so close to us the shockwave came right through our aircraft, violently vibrated us and quite honestly I wouldn’t have been surprised if it had blown us down. Anyway, we carried on. We climbed up to twelve thousand feet. Now, it was a moonlit night, a moonlit night and the clouds, the clouds looked like a rolling sea. It was so picturesque. The clouds were up to ten thousand feet, we were two thousand feet above and it looked so picturesque. It was lovely and I remember my concentration was absolutely sky high and all of a sudden I saw something which could have been a fly on a window, it was just a slight movement right down deep, deep on, on the starboard side and I thought to myself, bloody hell a fighter. Can’t be. Who said he’d never seen a fighter? Yeah, I thought, anyway it was at that moment that I made, through inexperience, something which could have been, could have been fatal to us because I should, all my, all my training, I should have in actual fact immediately called and, and warned the crew what was happening. Nevertheless, despite this mistake I automatically aimed my guns at it. Gradually this object moved gradually astern and when it was dead astern at ten thousand feet gradually it started coming up. Now when it got to, when it got level with us the image of the aircraft filled my, filled the ring on my gun sight and it was at that moment that the hundreds of hours that I’d spent viewing, viewing pictures, silhouettes of, of fighter, of enemy fighters, fighters on screens in training paid off because I recognised it a Messerschmitt 109. Immediately, without, without a second thought I pressed my, pressed my button and gave it a prolonged burst straight at the fighter and I watched my, I watched my tracers go straight in it. At this fraction of a second I immediately switched on and shouted, ‘Fighter. Fighter. Dive, dive, dive.’ And the Skipper slammed the aircraft straight into a, into a vertical dive and he’s shouting me, ‘You mean corkscrew. You mean corkscrew.’ But I didn’t. I meant dive because there was no deflection required because he was absolutely dead astern. Anyway, I watched my tracers go straight into it, straight into it and the fighter immediately went straight down as if out of control straight into the cloud. I’m convinced now that I shot it down but of course rules do not allow you to claim anything when you don’t see the ground and we were at ten thousand, the clouds at ten thousand feet so therefore that’s but I’m convinced that I got him. Anyway, we carried on to the target, this was another couple of hours RT silence and all of a sudden, all of a sudden a voice, RT silence was broken. Now, a voice came over as calm as I’m talking to you, ‘Control to Link One how do you read me?’ And it was the, it was the voice of the controller who I feel certain was Wing Commander Stubbs, a man I had a great respect for. ‘Link One to control. Loud and clear. Control to Link One go in and mark the target.’ Ok. Right, carry,’ I listened to this conversation. We’re gradually, now we’re quite some distance from the target but gradually now the pathfinders are now beginning to drop their flares so the sky’s beginning to light up so I’m beginning to see lights in, lights in the sky and gradually as we are approaching as we are getting nearer and nearer the target. I’m listening to the conversation of the controller and the Link One now when everything was done and everything had been marked with satisfaction controller says, ‘Ok. Ok Link One, go home, go home.’ Then he called out which I’m certain was Bandwagon. They called the bomber stream Bandwagon, ‘Hello Bandwagon,’ and that was our call sign, ‘Hello Bandwagon. Come in and bomb the target. Bomb red flares,’ and he was giving instruction to which flares to bomb and when he’d finished all that he says, he says, now, ‘No flak. Watch out for fighters.’ So, anyway, we approach the target and just before the target, just before we reach the target all of a sudden a single engine fighter which I’m certain was a Messerschmitt 109 suddenly made a run at us. I immediately, now I was listening to the bomb aimer and Skipper beginning to give instructions for our bombing run and our instructions was that you should not corkscrew during that time. We were taught to be quiet so immediately I aimed and fired. Calamity. The back of my gun sight dropped out and a white light there, I’d been five hours in pitch darkness, and this white light bomb sight bulb was right in front of me. Now, it only took me seconds to put it together but twenty minutes for my, for my night vision to come back and during that time anything could have happened. I couldn’t have done a thing. I could hear what was happening and all the talk and I couldn’t see a thing. What happened to that fighter I will never know. Anyway, we went on our bomber run and, and I could hear the bomb aimer saying, ‘Left, left, steady, steady, steady. Ok bombs gone.’ Now, the bombs used to drop at about a thousand feet per second. We were twelve thousand feet so twelve seconds later he says, ‘Photograph taken.’ Now, immediately Skipper slammed the nose of the aircraft right down. We went straight down a couple of thousand feet straight into the cloud and we stayed in those clouds for hours. Anyway, we came out of the clouds eventually and then lo and behold as we came out of the cloud over to our, over to our side I can’t remember if it was port or starboard there was a bloody Lancaster flying on with all its lights on. The stupid buggers. With all his lights on. We scooted away from it as quick as we could. So anyway we got back to our area where the cathedral, over the cathedral. Now, Skellingthorpe, Scampton and Waddingon, their circuits almost intertwined around the cathedral, more or less. Now, when we used to come over the cathedral you can- now you can imagine everything was visual so therefore there were loyal scores of very, very tired, tired aircrew so all, all desperate to get home, desperate to get home so there was a tremendous danger of collision and another thing, another thing, the night before this, the night of the 4th , 4th of March, three intruders had shot three Lancasters down in the circuit at Waddington and one at Fulbeck so this had immediately filtered through us so instead of relaxing as one do after, after being in the turret for nigh on ten, eleven hours my concentration as we switched our landing lights on, we just used to have landing lights while we were in the circuit, and I remember as we switched our landing lights on about, about twenty aircraft close by and they must have been in different circuits switched their lights on. Now, I remember I was, my concentration was sky high and I remember thinking Skip calls twenty degrees of flap, a hundred degree of flap and I was all the time searching all the way around thinking to myself I’m not going to be caught out by an intruder because this was the dangerous, you’re like a sitting duck then. We came in to land we stopped in dispersal all the twelve hours of tension drained out of me. I thought to myself ‘bloody hell and this is only the first one’. And that was my first operation. Yeah. Another interesting operation was the one to Lutzkendorf which was on the 14th of March 1945. There were two hundred and forty five Lancasters involved and eleven Mosquitos. Eighteen aircraft failed to return. Never even reported in the paper and that’s nearly two hundred people it’s just, yeah, anyway. Anyway, took off about ten minutes to five. I remember we, we flew past the Ruhr and once again rear group, 3 Group were attacking the Ruhr and I remember as we passed by I could see the fight that was going on. I could see flak shells bursting in the air. Tremendous. I could see air to air tracer bullets from, from bomber to fighter. I could see bombs dropping and I thought bloody hell we’ve got another, we’ve got another two hours to go yet and then we continued a short distance away and now there was another problem. We’d been warned that there was a fighter, a fighter aerodrome, a night fighter ‘drome in this area which had a light shining from its roof, from the top of flying control so that, so that we knew from one that there would be, there would be fighters, night fighters in strength in this area and this light was on specifically so they could stay in the air until the last minute, down, refuel and be up again. Now, I remember I suddenly saw this and the adrenalin was such, I thought to myself God the night fighter are bound. All of a sudden I saw the airfield had been strafed. The light disappeared. Obviously, it must have been one of our aircraft. One of our aircraft. I know full well that putting the light out didn’t, didn’t make much difference to the fact that fighters were around but boy it did relieve me. Anyway, we carried on to the, we carried on to the target and once again, once again, I can’t remember the controller it might have been Wing Commander Stubbs but he went through the same procedure, went through the same procedure. I remember him saying at the end, ‘No flak. Look out for fighters. Watch out for fighters’. This was our fourth trip and the tension was beginning to build up in me as we were going through the target and I remember without me intercom switched on I was listening to the, I was listening to the bomb aimer saying, ‘Left, left, left, steady’ and I was shouting, I was shouting in a loud voice, ‘Drop the bloody thing. Drop the bloody thing and let’s get out of here.’ Anyway, after what seemed an interminable length of time he said ‘Bombs gone.’ Skip immediately slammed the aircraft down into a dive and disappeared from the, and as we as we left the target I thought to myself, ‘thank God, we got away with it’. Little did I know. Now, I remember we’d left the target, we’d been gone probably ten and fifteen minutes and I could still hear that controller over the target. ‘Bomb green, the green flare,’ do this, undershoot it, do this, do that. It was absolutely inspirational. He must have been, he seemed to have been over the target hours. Anyway as I’m listening to this left from the target about approximately fifteen minutes when all of a sudden a fighter flare burst straight above us. From complete darkness it was like switching the light on, an electric light on in a pitch dark room. The shock of it made me sink deep in, deep in to my, in to my turret. My seat. Mind you, immediately my mind started working like lightning and I, looking out of the, looking out of, I searched the area. I searched the area all the way, all the way. I searched the area all over and sure enough high on the starboard side I could my left I could see an FW190 coming in fast dragging all I’d been looking I hadn’t been turning my turret around so as quick as I can I’m dragging my turret around. I didn’t have time to aim. So, immediately I got anywhere near I pressed my, I starts firing, my gun starts rattling away I’m dragging, trying to drag my tracer, tracer bullets into it and I’m watching it. Then all of a sudden with this, this aircraft coming in fast I felt rather than saw something on my, deep on the starboard side and forcing myself to take my eyes off this aircraft I had a quick glance to the right, to the right, and there deep down, deep down on the port side. It’s my right but it’s the port side of the aircraft, deep down on the port side was a JU88 almost underneath us and I thought, bloody hell. Immediately I realised that if he could get underneath us he was going to shoot us to pieces so I stopped firing at him, drags my turret around and as soon as I can, as soon as I can I began firing at this JU88 and immediately, immediately they both of them broke away. Now, they played cat and mouse with us for twenty six minutes. Now, that might not seem a long, a long time but as each, each attack only lasted about ten seconds. How many times they came in I don’t know but anyway Lancasters, Lancasters didn’t have any power assisted controls. The Skipper was corkscrewing continuously for forty minutes. The physical effort on him must have been absolutely terrific. Anyway, the tension inside me remained after. I didn’t realise they were twenty six minutes. After a time, after a long time with my tension, with my concentration, still sky high they disappeared. They must have decided that, that, you know, either run out of fuel or they realised they might as well go for an easier target. Anyway, the navigator, I only know it was twenty six minutes because the navigator told me later but when we got back I remember the relief as we passed over the English coast. It was absolutely fantastic. I know we weren’t safe but the relief to be over. It seemed so much comfort to be coming over, over this country. Now, when we, when we, after we came in to land I found out that all ten thousand rounds that I’d supplied to my rear turret - I’d fired every one. There wasn’t one left. So if we’d have had another attack by one of those fighters I couldn’t have done anything about it. That was as close we were to disaster. Phew. And sadly, sadly Flight Lieutenant Ling and crew did not return from this, from this operation and I’m not surprised. Well I shouldn’t say this but, no I won’t say any further. I did think that the rear gunner was getting a bit blasé and probably he wasn’t doing what he should have been doing but I don’t know. I can’t say anything more about that. But that was my fourth operation.
Another interesting operation was a daylight operation to Nordhausen. There were two hundred and forty Lancasters involved. Now during briefing we’d been told that the SS troops had been transferred to Nordhausen to protect Hitler. Now, this was what made it interesting with thoughts that we might be bombing Hitler. Now, we didn’t have any flak or fighters to contend with but all we had was problems. Now, I remember we took off. Generally speaking most of my operations in fact all of the other operations we used to take off from, from Skellingthorpe and go straight out to the North Sea. On this occasion we were going to travel south, south and meet up with 3 group aircraft and, and, and travel to Nordhausen with them, you see, which, which meant we were going to drive past the London area. Now, we’d been warned at briefing be careful near the London area. Their ack ack gunners don’t like strangers, unidentified aircraft flying over. They will fire first and ask second so beware. Anyway, having taken off in the early hours of the morning it was still absolutely pitch. 2.30 we took off. It was still pitch dark as we went by, went by the London area and I remember as we arrived there, there were absolutely hundreds and hundreds of searchlights shining up and quite honestly we were so close to them I thought, I was really on tenterhooks, because I thought bloody hell, thinking about the fourteen thousand pound of bombs underneath us and those, those twitchy ack ack gunners. Anyway, I was looking down, all of a sudden Skip slammed the aircraft in to a vertical drive. Now the g-force on me was tremendous. It drew me, stretched my body up and my body, my head hit the top of the fuselage with a bang, the top of the turret rather with a bang and just at that precise second, now you’ve got to remember that I had no perspex at all in front of me, so, therefore, therefore the open air was just there and just as that happened a Lancaster aircraft flew just over and I swear to this day that if I’d have put my hand out I could have touched that aircraft. Another one of our nine lives. Anyway we carried on. We met with up 3 Group, over Reading it was, and we drifted out over the, over the, on to enemy territory. I remember we were so widely spaced out well, we were used to flying at night-time, we didn’t need to be in a gaggle when all of a sudden there was a voice came up, RT silence broken and it was obviously the fighter leader controller, fighter leader and he shouts up ‘Close up. Close up. How do you expect me to bloody protect you?’ Anyway, we got to Nordhausen and boy did we close up. Our operational height was about twelve thousand feet as far as I could remember. I can’t remember. Somewhere in that region. But two hundred and fifty aircraft then from being miles apart suddenly homed in together in to a thin line and I remember there was aircraft all the way around us, almost touching us. Now, I didn’t mind the ones at the side or the ones below or the ones straight above us but I was leaning forward in my turret and looking up. The ones I was concerned of one above in front that I couldn’t see because I thought to myself they’ll be dropping bloody bombs on us and I’m looking at them when all of a sudden, all of a sudden a full load of bombs missed the back of my turret with this, with a fraction. Almost touching us. Ten, ten one thousand pound bombs and a cookie. Now, they go down like lightning. Fifty foot beneath us was a Lancaster. The first, the first thousand pounder hit this fuselage right in the middle, right, just at the back of the mid upper turret. I cringed, expecting it to explode but lo and behold the bomb went straight through the fuselage and disappeared, continued down. The next, the next thousand pounder hit the middle of the wing and I still couldn’t believe it. I’m still cringing again and it bounced back and bounced off. Now the cookie, which was a contact bomb, they must have had err, you know biometric things that didn’t explode above five hundred feet or something but the cookie was a contact bomb. It missed the side of the fuselage by a skin of paint. Anyway, I remember the, the aircraft disappeared and there was a lot, there was a lot happening. I forgot about it. Anyway, by sheer chance at the end of the war I was listening to Canadian troops embarking on to the ship to go home and, and the person being interviewed was a pilot and it was an interesting story and do you know he went through what I’ve just told you. It was the, it was the pilot of this aircraft and he said, he said, and it was so pleasing to know, that they’d staggered back to the North Sea and dropped their bombs and got, and they survived the war. Anyway, anyway we were coming over the North Sea about, about ten thousand feet and all of a sudden I saw two Lancasters drop right down to zero feet and I thought bloody hell they’re going in. They’re going in. And all of a sudden from the back of one of them I suddenly saw foam appear and it was like watching a motorboat swing, speeding along and this foam behind, I can’t remember, two engines, two of the engines, this foam was behind it for about four hundred yards when gradually it picked up, climbed up and I thought to myself, ‘oh they’re ok. They’re alright’. Anyway, by sheer coincidence four days later when we returned from an operation we were diverted to Spilsby of all places, 44 squadron which I eventually finished up on and we were able to get out of the aircraft to have a walk you know and have a stretch and I was walking by this aircraft which had got props bent and all the props on one side. I think it was just on one side [laughs] I think it was just on one side. They were bent almost double and I, and there was a ground staff working on it and I said, ‘God, what happened to that aircraft?’ He said, ‘The silly buggers,’ he says, ‘This bloke and another bloke coming from an operation a few days ago, they were playing about to find which one could get closer to the sea. This silly bugger dragged his props in the water. Nearly drowned his rear gunner.’ I thought to myself, ‘God, how did they manage to keep the aircraft flying with damage like that?’ Anyway, he said they were being court martialled. I don’t know. Anyway, and that was that.
[laughs]
Another very interesting operation was a daylight operation to Hamburg oil installations, Germany on the 9th of April 1945. During this operation twenty five jet fighters ME262s attacked the bomber force. This was, I believe, the first time that any fighters were ever used during any war, first attack. Anyway, there were, there were, there were fifty seven bombers involved. 50 squadron, 61 squadron I think we got twelve and something like that, 61 squadron and 617 and 9 squadron. We were to, we were to drop, we were to drop thousand pounders on the oil installations and 617 and 9 squadron were to drop a tall boy. I can’t remember if eight thousand or twelve thousand pound bombs on the, on the submarine pens. Now, the thing was that because of the weight of the Tall Boy they’d taken out of the Lancasters, 617 and 9 squadrons they’d taken away the bomb doors and had actually taken off the mid upper turret to lighten the aircraft so to be able to carry it ready to take off and because of this we were, we were instructed that we were to fly in a gaggle and fly as quick, as close as possible to support them. Now another thing the apparently 309 squadron, a Polish squadron flying mustangs, would escort us and 65 squadron were also taking part. Now, we took off at about well 14.48 I believe it was. The weather was perfect and I remember our operational height was twelve thousand feet. Now, I remember we were passing over, we were passed quickly, over, over the, over the North Sea and I’m thinking to myself now Hamburg was a very, very dangerous place. A very important place to Germany. Still is. Still is. But because of this over the war, during the war they’d built up a tremendous defence and if you had any aircraft attacking there we could have heavy losses so we knew that we were in for a difficult time when we got there. I remember passing over, over Germany and all of a sudden every so often the flak was bursting, shells were bursting shells were bursting around us but quite honestly I never gave them a thought. You know I was used to night, night bombing where the flak was a bright light but I never gave as I say, probably I should have done. Anyway we got to, got to Hamburg, near to Hamburg and I rotated my turret. I can’t remember port or starboard side but we were coming up and turned square to the right over Hamburg.
Other: Can somebody come in here?
Going back a little bit I remember as we were going over the, going over the North Sea it was a completely cloudless sky, brilliant sun and I remember thinking to myself where are those bloody fighters supposed to be, that are supposed to be protecting us? Three squadrons were supposed to be protecting us but every so often, every so often we saw right in the distance swirling around oh I thought, ‘Oh lovely. There they are.’ Anyway we carried on. I remember as we, as we, as we entered, got over mainland Europe gradually every so often we’d hear the phuf phuf of flak shells at the side of us which I just ignored. I don’t know a bit complacent probably but I just didn’t care about them. Didn’t take any, anyway we gets to Hamburg and Hamburg, I’m just, I’m repeating myself now. Hamburg was a very special place. Was then. Is now. And during the war years they’d built up a tremendous, tremendous defensive force. They, they could send up a box barrage of flak in an instant and I remember we were approaching, approaching Hamburg and I can’t remember which side we were. Left or right. But I leaned forward, leaned forward and I looked and turned my turret to the beam and leaned forward to look forward and I could almost see in front of us and I could see the target as we were approaching her and I’m not joking I have never seen flak like it. We were, we were, I think we, I think we were, our height was we bombed from about sixteen thousand feet but up to around our bombing height there was a complete black cloud of flak shells bursting out and I remember thinking to myself, bloody hell we’re never going to get through that. Now I’m just going to divert a little bit because we were at the back of the fifty seven aircraft and a friend of mine on 61 squadron, Ted Beswick, he was in the front aircraft and he was telling me later he says they were watching this predict, this flak. I forget what you call it. Predicted flak. It gradually approaching him and he said until one burst right in front of the nose and he says and, and, and parts flew through the front through the bomb aimers position and, and, and badly injured the engine, the bomb aimer. Anyway, we carried on to the target. We turned on to the target and we, I’m not joking with you, I can’t describe what it was like going through the flak. It was absolutely frightening you. I was thinking, I say, frightening. Anyway, believe it or not we went, we got through the target unscathed. We dropped our bombs and I understand it was a successful bombing. Anyway, we left the target and I could see aircraft. I feel certain I could see aircraft around, some damaged but nobody shot down. Anyway we’d left the target and we’d been left a few minutes. I then turned my turret around and I thought to myself, bloody hell, we’re back marker. Sitting duck for any fighters. So immediately I switched on. I said, ‘Skip, Skip we’re back marker. Sitting duck for any fighters.’ He says, ‘Ok. Ok.’ So he immediately shoves full throttle on and gradually, gradually we moved forward so we could see aircraft behind me. That made me feel a bit better. Now, a short time later and I can’t remember how long, all of a sudden twenty five ME262s attacked the formation. I only saw five but I know from later reports it was twenty five but I saw five aircraft coming along the, coming along the ground level and I, I called, ‘Skip Skip I can see, I can see five small aircraft on almost at ground level.’ God, I’ve never seen aircraft travelling so fast. They, they, they began to climb. I says, ‘God they’re climbing faster than I’ve ever seen any aircraft dive.’ Within seconds they were up to our operational height. They levelled out and came straight at us canons blazing. Canons blazing’s straight through us like a dose of salts. Now, one of them come straight at us and I’m firing as hard trying, trying as hard as I could ‘cause it’s like lightning is happening, trying to drag my tracer bullets into it and it came so close I thought to myself it’s going to ram us and I’m not joking he then swung in between us and another Lancaster by my side, by our side and, and I could see the, I could see fighter, I could see the fighter pilot as close as I can see you now. Anyway, I’m swinging and firing my turret and all of a sudden I realised that I’m firin my, still firing my bullets straight through this Lancaster at the side of me. I lifted my arms like lightning off, off my, off my off my controls and, and, and I thought to myself bloody hell, I thought to myself might have shot down my, the aircraft but of course you can’t shoot an aircraft down by firing straight at it you have to fire in front of them but that was fortunate because it was a 617 aircraft. I don’t know what would have been said. Anyway, we, we’d left the target, we left the target and only a few seconds later after they’d attacked us all of a sudden by the side of us the aircraft, the back marker aircraft exploded, broke in half and began to drop straight down. Now, when it had dropped about a thousand feet I saw although the rear turret would immediately lose, as it broke in half, lose, lose any control we had we had a handle which we could turn and swing the turret around. Anyway, after about a thousand feet I saw the, this is another story I’ll tell you in a bit which I’d forgotten to tell you. Forgotten to tell you. I watched this rear gunner drag himself out of the, out of the turret and fall away and I thought to myself oh thank God, he’s, thank God he’s, going to get away with it. He was a friend of mine. Anyway, the parachute opened and a few seconds puff it exploded in flames and then I had to watch this friend of mine, friend of mine struggling, drop away, gradually drop away to his death. Now, I’ll tell you a little, I’d forgotten to tell you but when we went out to the aircraft, when we went out to the aircraft after we’d had the briefing you all race out and you all try to get on to the buses as there were buses and lorries. Now, the buses were a lot of comfort so therefore you raced to get in those. Now we raced in and I sat in the front seat and, and sitting at the side of me was Norman, Norman Garfield Fenton. Friend of mine. I say he’s a friend, he was a squadron friend not that I knew much about his private life other than that he was from Kettering. But I says to him, ‘What aircraft are you in? He says, ‘Fred. F Freddy.’ Now F Freddy, we did four ops in there so it gave us, gave us chat, you know, something to talk about. Anyway we got to the dispersal area and, and climbs out. All of us rush to our aircraft and climbed aboard and did our pre-start checks and afterwards there was still an hour or so to go. We climb out of the fuselage and, and, and went Taffy and I went, went and sat down, sat down on the grass and a few seconds later Norman walks across and we sat down and there we are. I think we took off at 2.30 so it was quite warm and where we sat there chatting away talking about what we were going to do. I remember I do believe he said he’d got a little child. I can’t remember but I think he said he had a young family but we were chatting about what we were doing and four hours later I watched him die. You know, it really did affect me. I mean, at night time you just disappeared, didn’t have the same effect on you but knowing, I recognised the aircraft as it dropped away as V and F. I could see it clearly so I knew this was Dennis, Dennis struggling and nearly got out and I had to watch him fall and it did affect me for quite a long time and poor Dennis and Flying Officer [Berryman] who was his Skipper and, and one of the other crew are buried in, in Hamburg but oh dear it did affect me for quite a long time that. Ok. Now one thing I’ve got when we got back to briefing. When we got back to briefing we turned around and told the briefing officers we’d been attacked by jets and they says not possible. Not possible. Not possible. There’s no, there’s no airfields around Hamburg for jets but little did we know, little did we know that jets, the Germans were taking off from motorways. Ten out of ten for them for innovation. But apparently the, the powers that be killed the story because they were so fearful of the effect it might on morale, of morale of our aircrew. But then I want to go back a little bit now to Ted Beswick. He saw all, I only saw five but he saw all twenty five. Now, one of them came at us came at them and he shouts port corkscrew, corkscrew, go, go but of course they couldn’t because they were in gaggle. Anyway when the, when the ME262s had attacked they began to swung around and began to go around to reposition they could only do one or two attacks because of limited fuel but one drew up by accident right on, right on their starboard side I can’t remember starboard or port side. Anyway he immediately fired and saw his tracer bullets go straight into it, straight into it and immediately, immediately the aircraft went straight down as if out of control and he watched it spiral down. Ted is convinced that he made a kill, he made a kill. Of course he couldn’t claim it because once again he didn’t see the ground. But they had another incident they did. They had a hang-up bomb. They couldn’t get rid of it and try as they might they couldn’t get rid of it so they started to go back and try to get rid of it in the, in the North Sea. They still couldn’t get rid of it so they decided to bring it back, bring it back to Skelly. Now as they came in, in to land there was a bang as they touched down and the bomb dropped on to the bomb doors. Now, they pulled up immediately at the end of runway, got out of the aircraft, scooted away from the aircraft called up and a short time later, a short time later well some time later along comes the ground staff, gingerly opens up the, opens up the, winds open the, the bomb doors, bomb doors. Two of them stands there, catches a thousand pounder and then, you know, we have got a lot to thank those air crew people, ground staff people for. Wonderful, wonderful unsung heroes. One, one interesting operation was to [?] in Norway. I remember there was, I can’t remember how many aircraft, several hundred aircraft involved. But we’d been in we’d been told that we were to fly at zero level up the North Sea and I remember in the half-light seeing probably a couple of hundred Lancasters flying, almost touching, almost touching the waves. It was so exciting. I loved it I did. And I’m certain Skip enjoyed it just as a much as I did. Anyway, we got to the, we got to the, got to Norway and, I can’t remember how long it took us. Anyway, we climbed up to bombing height which would be, it would have been about ten to twelve thousand feet. Now, I seemed to remember one gun, one heavy gun but if I’m to believe records, records say there was no, no flak but I seem to remember one gun as we approached. One heavy gun. Anyway, we came in, we came in to bomb and, and we’re virtually on our bombing run and I’m listening to the Skip and the bomb aimer conversing when all of a sudden, now, always before when the Skip had had to dive the aircraft had to change direction of the aircraft it had always been a dive. On this occasion it was different all together. All of a sudden the aircraft reared straight up. Now, I remember I’m clinging on to my controls and I was transfixed. I was transfixed and even though my head still thumped the top of the turret because of the reaction of the aircraft swinging and at the same time we used to carry our flasks and sweets and chocolates given to people, aircrew and I remember them coming straight up in the air, straight up in the air and as the aircraft, aircraft levelled they all went straight out of the window and I said oh sod it. I was saving those for the return. But another thing happened. Ass this was happening. I’m hearing a swirl, a swirling noise of machine gun noise coming into my turret. Thousands of bullets was coming along the ducts into the aircraft. Now, I didn’t realise this was what happened but they came in and completely jammed the turret. Anyway, we levelled out. We crept back over the sea and got back home but if anything had happened we couldn’t have done a thing about that. Now, the thing is when I was on that operation, in our billet, in our billet was another crew err if you just give me a second I’ll remember his name. I’ll just get, now this operation was on the 25th, 26th of April 1945. Now, in my billet, in my billet was another crew. Now this crew, they disappeared and I didn’t know what happened so I just, this is when people got the chop things, just used to take there was usually two crews to a Nissan but when they got the chop they used to take, just take their things out. They disappeared. Never heard anything about them. Anyway, last year, last year at our reunion, our reunion a fellow approaches near our memorial. He says, ‘Hello James. Do you remember me? And I says to him, ‘I don’t think so. I can’t remember.’ Well, he says ‘You were in the next bed to me on 1945. January 1945.’ I says, ‘Oh yes.’ I said ‘What happened to you then?’ I said, ‘You disappeared didn’t you?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He says, he said, ‘When you were going on [?] we were on Exodus.’ Exodus operation. Fetching prisoners back from, from Europe, probably Brussels. Anyway, he says, ‘We dropped the prisoners, the POWs, ex-POWs down he said and headed for home and on the way back we crashed.’ He said, the, the ‘We had problems, engine problems and in trying to avoid these houses the wing tip hit the ground and, he says, ‘And it slewed into the ground. My turret was thrown off into, into a field.’ He said, ‘My guns were buried in the ground.’ He said, ‘I was in hospital for a week.’ He said the mid upper turret, the mid upper gunner got away with it he got a broken leg but the rest of the crew were all killed. I said, ‘Oh good God.’ I says, ‘I wondered what happened.’ They just disappeared. So there you are. Made contact all those years later but how did he finally manage? Probably he managed to find me because with me doing so much on our website. I’m better known. More people know me then I remember them. That’s probably it isn’t it. Could be couldn’t it? But an interesting story that isn’t it? There you are.
MJ: Ahum
HJF: Now then. I want to carry on. On the 1st of June, is it on? Switch her on.
MJ: It is on.
HJF: Yeah. On the 1st of June ‘45 we were transferred from 50 squadron to 44 squadron to be part of, to be part of Tiger Force. The intention was to, to, to fly us straight out, quickly out to the Far East. As a matter of fact Okinawa was going to be our base. So we, we went, we transferred to Spilsby. Now, from day one we started doing high level training. Anyway, I can’t remember but it was a few days after we got, one of our trips, it was only one and three quarter hour trips I think it was just about the worst one of all. I remember we’d got fourteen thousand pounds of bombs we were going to drop into dispersal area in the North Sea and as we taxied around all of a sudden, the port, the port inner set on fire. Now, the smoke was coming and filling my turret and I thought to myself silly bugger put your oxygen mask on, puthering in to me. Anyway, rapidly the, the engine was feathered and after a few minutes the Skip calls up flying control and tells them, ‘Engine fire. Waiting for instructions.’ We waited for instructions and a few minutes later the flying control calls, ‘Right, start the engine up. Give it a run up. Take off when you’re ready.’ When he switched off there was a chorus of voices, ‘We’re not bloody going, the stupid buggers, that engine wants checking. We’re not bloody going.’
MJ: Ahum
HJF: ‘We’re not bloody going.’ Anyway, Skipper in the meantime started the engine up. He revs it up, he says, ‘It seems ok to me. We’ve got to go.’ And we kept saying, ‘We’re not bloody going.’ Anyway, we turns on to the, and eventually gets and I’m not joking I was full of trepidation. I could feel in my water that something else was going to happen. Now, anyway we’d just got our wheels off the deck and the starboard outer seized. Now, let’s just think about it. We’ve got a dicky port inner and we got a, a seized starboard outer and we’ve got fourteen thousand pound of bomb. I’m not, that’s as much as an aircraft immediately started to vibrate telling me, telling me she’s going to stall. She’s going to stall. Now, quick as that I thought, my apprehension just disappeared. I thought to myself I’m going to, I’m going to jump no matter what the height. So, quick as lightning I swings my turret to beams, pulls open the doors. like a flash I was sitting outside and there I sat outside listening to, feeling the violent vibrations of the, of the aircraft as it gradually gained speed and height. It took us about thirty minutes to get up to about two thousand feet and while I’m sitting there just thinking about myself there our poor old Skipper was at the front fighting to keep this aircraft in the air. What a brilliant, brilliant Skipper. Anyway, we eventually get, gradually the vibration stopped. We got to the dispersal area, drops the bombs as near, as near as we could and returned. That, that trip took an hour and a quarter and it seemed the longest one of all. Good God we were so close and then what turned out to be our final trip, final flight actually for seventy, nearly seventy years as far as I was concerned. We were taking part in a dodge operation. Which, Dodge Operations were returning, returning British soldiers, taking, taking Italian troops back to Italy, to Bari in Italy and bringing British soldiers home. Now, we’d been so many times we used to fly visual. We used to go down to Marseilles, turn left over Marseilles, out over, out over the North Sea to the tip of Corsica and, and, and then make for Rome and over Rome straight for Bari. Now we were so casual about this we used to fly you know, anyway as it turns out the engineer, the engineer used to do a bit of piloting every so often. They used to keep their hand in. Anyway, fortunately the engineer had strapped himself in. Now we were carrying twenty one, twenty one Italians and I was sitting in the fuselage, in the fuselage. I was more or less a steward. Now, we were climbing, we were climbing up to ten tenths cloud. Now it was a very, very stormy day. Very, very hot day. Tropical storms everywhere and as it turned out we were the only aircraft only two of us arrived at Bari. Aircraft were diverted all different places. Anyway, we were climbing up through ten tenths cloud at ten thousand feet when all of a sudden cause safety height over, to cross the tip of Corsica, safety height being eleven thousand feet when all of a sudden the aircraft veered straight up, straight up and we flew slap bang into the centre of cunim, Now the tremendous upward force hit the belly of the, hit the aircraft and flung it straight up in the air. She stalled, dropped on her back and started to vertically drop down. Now, the Skipper standing by the side of the engineer as I say he was, he was, he was piloting was thrown up to the roof and he dragged himself around the, and for a time he thought to himself bloody hell we’re going. I’m going to drag myself back. Then he realised that the flight engineer was beginning to get a bit of joy so he drags himself around the fuselage, the side of the fuselage to a standing position alongside him and there was only single controls in a Lancaster. He then grabs hold of the controls and the two of them used all their strength to pull the aircraft out, out of its vertical dive. Now, as I told you I was in the back of the aircraft looking after these, looking after the Italians. I was thrown up to the ceiling and a water tank that was there for them floated up in the air, floated up in the air and were virtually trapped beyond the fuselage and as I looked, I could look at the back and there was, we’d got a Lancaster wheel in in the back, in the back which we were taking. Probably somebody had a burst tire. They’d left it loose. The silly buggers had left it loose. I watched this, watched this Lancaster wheel do a full circle of the fuselage. It smashed the auto gyro and it went around and it hit the machine gun ducts and right to the side of the ducts were the, were the rudder bar controls and I thought to myself, I was praying that it wouldn’t come rolling towards us when the next second, the next second with a slam I was banged down, banged down on to the floor, banged down on to the floor and I dragged myself up. All the Italians were in a complete panic and without thinking I just slotted the bloke at the side of me, slotted him, knocked him down and said, ‘Lie down.’ I made him lie down. Anyway, then I thought to myself, I thought as I’m standing there I thought to myself, actually I called Skip up. I said oh I think one of these, one of these Italians had pulled the [aerial] controls and we knew we’d lost an aircraft through somebody pulled themselves, their all external inside the aircraft and pulled them up and it had caused the aircraft to crash because it was almost you know in a position where they couldn’t change so I thought that’s what had happened, Anyway, as I’m standing looking all of a sudden the aircraft reared up again but not quite as bad. So I thought sod it I’ll have a look at this. Now our mid upper gunner had been transferred because of the end of the war you see, had transferred so I climbed into his turret and I was amazed. We should have been at eleven thousand feet to cross over safely over the tip of Corsica. We were then travelling along the coastline on the edge of the mountains, parallel. Somehow or other in the process of diving vertically we’d changed direction. Now, I don’t know whether it were luck or whether it was the skill of our pilot but anyway we turned, we were flying along the coast of, coast, coastline. Now then we came into land. Now at Bari, at Bari there was only one single runway. One single runway. And, and aircraft were, aircraft were positioned, were parked either side of the runway. Yanks on the left, yanks on one side and all Lancasters on the other. Now, as we came in to land, another thing, just at the end of the runway was a, was a large quarry and on very hot days, on very hot days used to cause an air pocket above the, right above the end of the runway. Now Skipper might have forgotten that or it might have been just because let’s face it I was stressed up and I was only looking after them, so God only knows how he was feeling but anyway as we came in to land we dropped from about sixty foot straight down. We hit the ground, we hit the tarmac with such a bang and the aircraft reared off, reared off, slewed to, slewed to port and, and coming, taxiing right down, right down just in front of us was a, was a flying fortress. We were heading straight for it. Skip immediately slams port throttle, full port throttle on, slews the aircraft and I could feel the undercarriage bending. Why it didn’t break I don’t know and there we are slewing across to the other side and going straight for the Lancs and he shoved full throttle on the other side and we straightened out and that was it and we levelled out. Now, you might have thought that was enough trouble for one thing but when we were coming up, we stayed there four days and I remember I was standing, we were waiting to return and we were standing about halfway along the runway and there were thousands of troops, thousands. There were hundreds of aircraft and thousands of troops, American and British, and we were watching the first Lancaster to take off and it came by us and it was almost as it came flashing by us it was almost at take-off speed when all of a sudden it turned completely ninety degrees. Now there were four line I think, I can’t remember whether it was three line or four lines but it went through the first ones, first ones, missed all the aircraft but hit another one in the line absolutely broadside and just as it hit its undercarriage collapsed but when it hit it’s props were churning into the side of the aircraft churning, churning. Now, thousands of us ran across thinking to ourself, expecting that there would be many many fatalities, many many fatalities but when we got to the aircraft, when we got to the aircraft there was a great big hole in the nose of the aircraft. Three, three, three soldiers climbed out of the front of the nose and do you know and people were pouring out of all sides of the engine. All sides of the aircraft. Do you know there were thousands of people out but do you know to my knowledge there was only one person, there were nobody killed and one person injured and that was he was injured through flying glass. Absolutely fantastic. I thought to myself this is a bloody mugs game. It’s time I pack this game up. Well I’ll tell you now it was an uneventful trip back to the, back to the, back to England but that was the last time I flew in any aircraft until about 2012.
[laughs] 1.38.08
Now, at the, I now over the years, over the years over the last, nearly twenty years I’ve been involved with the 50 and 61 Squadron Association website. Now, quite honestly I never, until, until I was in my seventies I’d never used a computer. But anyway, anyway I was instrumental in helping, helping, eventually, not for a start in helping to start up our website 50 and 61 Squadron Association websites. Now, I have a veteran’s album. I don’t do hardly anything these days Mike [Connock] does it but until, at our reunion 209 Air Vice Marshall Nigel Baldwin came up to me and says, ‘James, I’ve got a story here, an interesting story which would be good for your veterans album.’ Now, it was then I was interested to, I was then introduced to a person called Chris Keltie. Now -
Other: I don’t want to hear your secrets.
HJF: Yeah Chris Keltie. He then, Chris told me a story which at the time -
Other: Make him at least give you a drink.
HJF: No. No. You’re alright.
Other: At least make him. Now I’m telling you. Go on.
HJF: Oh did, did we bring that cup of coffee in? Did we leave that coffee in there? I don’t think we did did we?
MJ: No.
HJF: Oh bloody hell we forgot. Oh sorry.
HJF: As I say. Chris Keltie. Chris Keltie. He told me a story which at the time I just didn’t believe. I couldn’t believe that anybody, because of my experiences, I couldn’t believe that anybody could do what I was being told but he was telling me that a pilot whilst severely injured and weakened by loss of blood had regained control of an earthbound Lancaster and, and in pitch darkness brought the thing in to land and thereby saved the lives of, as it turned out, three of his crew members. For this he got nothing. Not even get, now I’ll tell you the full story. On the, it’s Victoria stuff. Victoria Cross stuff. I’m not joking with you. It was in July 1944 I can’t quite remember exact date. It might have been the 4th or 5th. Anyway, they successfully, they were bombing a V1 bomb site. It was 61 squadron aircraft. QR D Dog was the aircraft. Bill North was, Bill North, flight lieutenant. He was the flying officer at the time but it was Bill North, Bill North was the pilot and his aircraft was QR Dog. Now they were to, from thirteen thousand feet they were going to bomb the V1 sites. Now, which they were the first aircraft to bomb it and after, as they left the target an FW190 sprayed their aircraft. It blew away the fin, the port fin. It blew away the port fin. Blew away the port outer engine and fuel tank and it also it splattered the middle of the turret. Now, the mid upper gunner, now I used to say it was either between six and eight bullets, non life saving bullets in his body. Unbelievable. Splattered the turret. Anyway, it splattered all the Perspex, the cockpit Perspex and, and the pilot screamed out in agony as four bullets hit him. Two in his thigh and two in his left arm. Now, his left arm one of them hit the nerve and it paralysed his arm so his arm was flailing there. Now, immediately and the aircraft immediately begins, it’s earthbound screaming towards the earth. He immediately gives instructions to bail out and begins to drag himself out to go to the escape hatch. Now, as he drags himself out of the seat the flight engineer who is sitting by his side reaches back. Now, as the pilot had sat on his parachute. Now, but the, but the flight engineer and the rest most of the crew, the rear turret and rear gunner all had clip on chutes now his was clipped on the fuselage. Now, he reaches back to unclip his, his ‘chute off the fuselage, the side of the fuselage and as he pulls it off it’s been shot to pieces by bullets. It’s just at that point Bill was about to drop out of the escape hatch. Quickly he grabs hold of his shoulder and shouts my parachutes gone, my parachutes gone. Now, nobody would have blamed Bill North If he’d have thought to himself nothing I can do. I’m badly injured myself and just to have gone just to continue to drop out but without one second thought he made a conscious decision to drag himself back into his to his controls. Now, the, the landing an aircraft, a Lancaster is a two man job. You need, you need the help of the flight engineer. The flight engineer was frozen with fear. Couldn’t do anything. Now, Bill North, with one hand, his adrenalin must have been five hundred percent I have no idea how he did it but unbelievably with the aircraft screaming earthbound he regains control and in pitch darkness not only did he regain control but in this very heavily wooded area he found, he found a clearing, brought the aircraft in to land from an impossible height at an impossible speed. No, no flaps involved because the bloke couldn’t, the flight engineer couldn’t do anything. Had the presence of mind as he brought the aircraft in to land it tail down so there would be less danger of fuel tank, of fuel explosion and landed and when it became stationery he was so weak from the loss of blood that he slipped into unconsciousness. Now then, as it turned out not only had he saved the life of the flight engineer alongside him but apparently the mid upper gunner and another person, I think wireless operator, were both trapped in the fuselage because their turret ‘chutes had been shot to pieces, so they, as I say he slipped into unconsciousness so they had to carry, carry him, they had to carry him out of the aircraft and as they laid him on the grass at the side of the plane he slipped into unconsciousness and they thought he was dying. Anyway, time went by. The French were involved but I can’t remember who else was involved but in time the Germans came, whisked him into a hospital and he remained in hospital for several months after which he was, he was transferred to a concentration camp and he finished the war, and finished the war in a concentration camp. For this he didn’t get any mention in despatches. Not even a mention in despatches. Absolutely disgraceful. This is, this is, this is VC stuff. Now when Mr Ball when, when Nigel Ball contacted me I, I wrote this story, this was several years before, I wrote his story on my website. Now last year, October during last year the, the sons of, of Bill North, he’d passed away the year before, wrote to David Cameron to thank him for what he’d to done to get the air crew their memorial in London and thanked him for getting the clasp. Bloody clasp. Ridiculous. Anyway, anyway out of the blue, credit to David Cameron. David Cameron phoned them personally. No wrote to them personally and invited to them to come and see him at the, at the House of Commons. Now, they decided that what a golden opportunity this to try and get a posthumous award for their father. So they put together a delegation of about ten people and they wanted a representative of the squadron association to be, to be, to be with them. Now, as to whether I was the only one or not I’ve no idea but I was the person that was invited to go. Now, I travelled down to London and I remember, I remember we, we, David Cameron was wonderful actually. I remember he took us and we were chatting to him in his office and he was chatting to all the party and I couldn’t hear him he was right at the far end of the room and I says, ‘I can’t hear.’ And he says, ‘ok’ and got, upped sticks and came and sat right to the side of me and I’m listening to them talking. Now, quite honestly as I was listening to him you know how people are when they’re talking to someone of higher authority? They, they become meek and mild don’t they? And I’m listening and I don’t hear very well. After they’d been going on for quite some time I thought to myself they’re missing the point so in actual fact I had spoken to him and told him that why I was there to represent the association and I, I interceded. I said, ‘But sir, we’re missing the point of our visit.’ and I says and I then went into detail of this, of what Bill North had done and I says to him this is bloody Victoria Cross stuff and for this he gets nothing. Not even a mention in despatches. This is a complete disgrace and I remember, I remember David Cameron looked set aback and he looks at me and says, ‘Well I don’t know. All the hassle I’m getting here.’ He said in a friendly way. It wasn’t nasty. ‘All the hassle I’m getting here and he says the hassle I’ve had in question time today and he says and it’s my birthday today.’ And I said, ‘I beg your pardon?’ He said, ‘It’s my birthday today.’ I says, ‘It’s mine as well’ and he reached over and he said, ‘Birthday boys.’ [laughs]
[laugh]
There you are but do you know something we had, we had a celebration last year for my ninetieth birthday and, and, and seventieth wedding anniversary and last year. It was in October. October. And last year, about three weeks before our, before our party a friend of ours and I don’t know how he got this phone number my friend answers the phone and this voice says, ‘Hello, this is David Cameron here’ and she says, ‘Oh don’t – tell me another one.’ And he said, ‘No. This is David Cameron ringing from the House of Commons. Can you give me the details of Mr and Mrs Flowers celebrations’ on the, and you know he said, ‘Because I want to send them a letter’ and lo and behold lo and behold on the, on the, my birthday arrives a letter comes, ‘Dear Mr Flowers,’ from the House of Commons ‘I’m writing to you wish you a very happy ninetieth birthday. This is a marvellous occasion and I’m sure you will use this opportunity to celebrate all your many achievements and all you have seen and experienced. I would like to send you, Samantha and my best wishes for a wonderful birthday.’ That was on the 9th of October. On the 21st of October we gets another one. ‘Dear Mr and Mrs Flowers I am delighted to send my congratulations to you both on your seventieth wedding anniversary. It’s a huge achievement to celebrate such a long and happy marriage. A great example to family and friends and your local community. Samantha and I would like to wish you all the best on your anniversary. We very much hope you enjoy your celebrations. Have a lovely day. David Cameron.’ We of course did have the letter from the queen we all know the queen the queen had millions. She can’t do it personally do it you know that’s a secretary but to think that David Cameron made the effort during such political time to ring my friend up to find out details of our celebrations and then to ring us up and send this. As a matter of fact I sent him a Christmas card and he sent me a Christmas card back.
[laughs]
There you are, now, that’s different isn’t it? In conclusion I would like to go back to the time in 1941/2, I can’t remember the exact date, my first sighting of my dear wife. Of my Eunice. I remember at the time I was working on munitions twelve hour shifts a day, week about and I was on daylight day shifts this time and I’d finished at 7 o’clock, cycled home and, and home and quick change and cycled back two miles to Sutton in Ashfield baths which had been converted to a dance hall and as I went in it had a balcony. I went in about 9 o’clock. I climbed the stairs to the balcony and I remember looking down and it was a teeming mass of dancing local people, RAF, navy all having an absolute, and a wonderful band with all the top, all having, and the RAC band was there. It had top musicians in it and I remember I was looking down and I saw right beneath me I saw this beautiful young lady in a yellow and white check dress. I’m not saying anything wrong but she was flitting from one male to, from one friend to another. She was obviously the life and soul of the party and I thought to myself God what a cracker. So, quick as lightning I rushed downstairs and I stood in the background until the opportunity came and I tapped her on the shoulder and I said to her, ‘Can I have a dance please?’ and ‘ Yes.’ And the first time I held her in my arms oh she didn’t have make me quiver and it was the first time that I met my dear wife. [laughs] How I ended up with her I will never know. She was so beautiful and so energetic. She was out every night dancing. There were thousands of soldiers all around training all on the lookout, all on the lookout for, for, for as beautiful women and here I was just working on munitions. Nothing going for me. My chances of making a go with her were very very slim. Anyway, gradually I became a friends. It was two years before she’d call me a friend. But there you are. That’s how I met my dear wife and there we are seventy years later. Love of my life. Still feel as we did as all those years ago. Beautiful woman. Still beautiful woman still beautiful in my eyes. How’s that. As I say I’m in my ninetieth year and I can’t help thinking of my family. Thinking of the time on the 25th October when our first son Ian was born and when he was accidently deaf when he was only thirteen and a half you never get over it, time never heals it. The birth of my second son Richard and when he was accidentally shot in the head by his wife. He was so lucky to have survived. Then my third Phillip born ‘68, ‘58 and to his lovely daughter. She was absolutely beautiful. Passed away when she was two years and nine months. Then there was my fourth son was a whopper when he was born and the, and the midwife says to my he’s the biggest baby I’ve ever had and she said ironically he’s the biggest baby I’ve had as well. Then I think to the stresses and strains and excitement I felt during my aircrew years and the thirty two years as a driving examiner and to the pleasure we felt on the birth of two granddaughters, eight grandsons, fourteen great grandchildren and finally I recall the seventy years that I’ve been married to my dear wife Eunice. I can’t help thinking of all the times I felt like throwing her in the bloody river or burying her with the plants in the garden yet despite all this she still remains the love of my life. Such wonderful memories.
I would like to end by saying that during the time that we, as a crew, were involved in bomber operations we were attacked by ME109s, JU88s, FW190s, ME262s jet fighters, passed through flak you could have walked on, almost touched passing aircraft, almost crashed through fuel shortage and fell vertically from eleven thousand to five hundred feet. Nothing special. Just the normal sort of thing that most Bomber Command aircrew had to put up with during World War 2. Happy days.
MJ: On behalf of the Bomber Command I’d like to thank James Flowers for his interview on the 2nd of June 2015. This is Michael Jeffries, recordist.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with James Flowers
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Great Britain. Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Description
An account of the resource
Horace James Flowers was born and grew up in Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire. He became an apprentice butcher before being released to volunteer for the Royal Air Force in 1944. He trained as an air gunner at RAF Bridgnorth, RAF Wigsley and RAF Syerston and attained the rank of flight sergeant, serving largely with 50 Squadron at RAF Skellingthorpe. He recounts his experiences on several operations, including Bohlen, Nordhausen, Lutzendorf and Hamburg. He was transferred to 44 squadron in June 1945 as part of the intended Tiger Force and also took part in Operation Dodge. He also discusses how he met his wife, Eunice, and their marriage in 1944, his role with the 50/61 Squadron Association after the war, authorship of a memoir ‘A Tail End Charlie’s Story’ and the occasion of his ninetieth birthday when he received a call from the Prime Minister, David Cameron.
Creator
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Michael Jeffries
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2015-06-02
Contributor
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Julie Williams
Heather Hughes
Format
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01:58:11 audio recording
Language
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eng
Identifier
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AFlowersHJ150602, PFlowersHJ1501, PFlowersHJ1502
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Nottinghamshire
Germany--Böhlen
Germany--Nordhausen (Thuringia)
Germany--Lutzendorf
Germany--Hamburg
Germany
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
1944
1945
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Conforms To
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Pending review
44 Squadron
50 Squadron
617 Squadron
air gunner
aircrew
Anson
anti-aircraft fire
bomb struck
bombing
fear
final resting place
Fw 190
Ju 88
love and romance
Master Bomber
Me 109
Me 262
military discipline
military ethos
military service conditions
Operation Dodge (1945)
P-51
Pathfinders
RAF Bridgnorth
RAF Skellingthorpe
RAF Stormy Down
RAF Syerston
RAF Wigsley
recruitment
Spitfire
Stirling
Tallboy
target indicator
Tiger force
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/46/MemoroDE 14947.1.mp3
b9a1d1a023b500101b49561eb5b9c0a9
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Am 7, am 7. Oktober wurde ja Dresden ‘s erste Mal bombardiert, und ich hatte eigenartige Weise an dem Tag irgendwie Angst und meine Mutti sagte “ach ich schäle jetzt noch Kartoffeln weil wenn Vollalarm, nach’m Vollalarm können wir ja wieder hoch”. Und ich ging da mit meinem Bruder runter und traf unten einen Jungen aus unserem Haus, der genauso alt war wie ich, also zehn Jahre, und sagte, “Du geh doch bitte mit in Keller, ich hab heute irgendwie so Angst”, und da sagte er “nein das darf ich nicht, ich muss zu meiner Oma und zu meinem kleinen Baby Schwesterchen” und ich hab wirklich gekämpf, wie um sein Leben, “bitte geh doch mit und so weiter, dann lass Dich halt mal von Deiner Oma schimpfen, aber Du gehst jetzt mit”, “nein, ich darf des nicht”. Und der Junge ist dann leider auch ums Leben gekommen, weil er hinterher mir dann Vorwürfe gemacht hat, hätte ich ihn mir dort fester angehalten. Als dann dieser fürchterliche Brand, ne Sprengbombe war’s, in die vierstöckingen Haüser runterkam, war erstensmal ein fürcherlicher Staub, trotzdem kam Staub rein, und dann hiess es, also über den Schutthaufen können wir nicht gehen, vor allem nicht wir Kinder, da gab’s Durch, einen Durchbruch, aus Ziegelsteinen nehme ich an, und da war, war daneben gestanden eine Riesen Wanne, das musste immer der Schutz, dass musste der Schutzwart musste immer hinstellen mit frischem Wasser, und Hacken [?] und Beile zum durchschlagen, und wir mussten auch alle immer ein [sic] Bademantel dabei haben, oder ein Handtuch, damit wir dann den Staub weghalten konnten von unserer [sic] Mund und Nase. Und dann sind wir durch den Durchbruch, es war also ganz komisches Gefühl, in ‘ne fremdes Haus und dann noch einmal durch in Durchbruch und dann kam man auf eine ganz anderen Strassenseite, kam man dann raus und wir liefen dann nach Dresden Neustadt und meine Mutti hatte den Bademantel an und ich hab mich geschämt und sagte “zieh doch den Mantel aus, was sollen den die Leute denken am, am, am Sonnabend Mittags mit Bademantel” und meine Mutti sagte “ist mir alles gleich, Hauptsache weg, Hauptsache weg von Dresden”. Und, und ganz eigenartig ist, was ich auch noch manchmal überleg, meine Enkelin, die ist auch am 7. Oktober geboren, 1990, und da dachte ich mir, eigentlich, wenn’s, wenn’s nach meiner Mutti gegangen wär, waren wir ja gar nicht in Keller, wäre ich eigentlich auch da gestorben, am 7. Oktober. Und da haben wir eben erst vor kurzem wieder debattiert, eigenartig, 7. Oktober.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Gerda Gentner
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Dresden
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-10-07
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
00:03:08 audio recording
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#14947
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Contributor
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Peter Schulze
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Description
An account of the resource
Gerda Gentner (b. 1934) recalls the first bombing of Dresden on 7 October 1944. Gerda describes how she unsuccessfully tried to persuade a young boy to take shelter with her in the basement and reminisces her feeling when she knew that he had died as result of his determination not to abandon his grandmother. Recollects the explosion of a bomb which shattered the house and describes how she and his mother emerged in city changed beyond recognition, still wrapped in bath robes used to protect from dust. Emphasises the coincidence of her granddaughter being born the same day.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Nikolai C C Schulz
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
bombing
childhood in wartime
civil defence
home front
shelter
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/49/Memoro 10169.1.mp3
fab50146aa4a614d17bcaebd9df4dd67
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Agnes Stocker: 5. März 1945, hiess es, die Russen werden, kommen näher und wollten die Insel einnehmen. Sie kamen aber momentan nicht über die Dievenow und wir wurden gezwungen, am 5. März alle die Stadt zu verlassen. Wir waren, wurden also evakuiert, mussten uns eine andere Bleibe suchen. Und dann sind wir am 5. März abends auf die Chaussee; und es waren ungefähr bis Swinemünde, bis zum nächsten großen Hindernis, das war die Peene, die wir überqueren müssten, nein die Swine, Entschuldigung, die Swine, die wir überqueren mussten, und die wurde nur mit Schiffen, mit Booten konnten wir übersetzen, dass dauerte natürlich. Und da ist die Stadt, praktisch also wir haben glaub ich nur einen Kilometer in einer Stunde fahren können, war vollkommen verstopft. Und da hat meine Mutter gesagt, nein, sie hat einen Bruder in Kalkofen, das war auf der Strecke, da sind wir abgebogen, dass heisst nicht mit dem Treck, den wollten wir ja mitnehmen, damit ist mein Burder, eine Cousine und meine Schwester, sind bei dem Treck geblieben, wir hatten einen Treck uns gemacht, wo wir auch noch meinen Grossvater mitgenommen haben, der lebte bei seinem Sohn in Hagen. Und ja der ist mit uns dann nach Kalkofen und da hat mein Onkel dafür gesorgt, dass wir mit Booten über das Haff rausfahren konnten nach Ueckermünde. Und in Ueckermünde waren dann wir erst mal ein paar Tage in Kalkofen und dann sind wir rausgekommen und dann haben wir in Ueckermünde auf ein Schiff gewartet damit es, damit wir weiterhin übersetzen konnten, wir wollten nach Neukalen in Mecklenburg. Und das war ein Ort, wo meine Tante aufgewachsen ist und die hatte dort Verwandte und das war unser Ziel. Und am zwölften März war der grosse Angriff auf Swinemünde. Ein grosser Bombenangriff auf Swinemünde Mittags um zwölf. Und da ist, nach den Bombenangriffen, und meine Schwester, also unsere Schwester, und unser Bruder und diese Cousine waren zu der Zeit gerade in Swinemünde. Die sind übergesetzt, die haben so lange gebraucht und die waren gerade in Swinemünde. Und meine Mutter, meine Tante und ich, wir haben in Ueckermünde, das ist Luftlinien-mäßig vielleicht zehn Kilometer weg, und da haben wir das alles mit ansehen müssen, wie viele Bomben gefallen sind undosweiter, und wie die Tiefflieger angekommen sind. Jedenfalls haben wir gedacht das gibt es nicht, das wir, das die drei wenn sie noch in Swinemünde wären, mit den Treck rauskommen. Meine Mutter war restlos fertig, Tante Emi war restlos fertig und ich auch, das haben wir unmittelbar mitterlebt. Die Toten die es dann gab, da ist extra ein Friedhof, das ist der Golm gewesen, also ist auch heute noch der Golm, so eine kleine Bergkupel und da sind, ist ein Friedhof eingerichtet worden, und der war, der ist mit 25000 Toten. Man sprach immer von Dresden, glaub ich, der grösste Luftangriff, aber da waren es noch mehr, so viele Menschen gestorben, die man nicht registriert hat, durch die Flüchtligen, die per Booten über die Ostsee von oben, von der ganzen Küste angekommen sind und, ja, das waren 25000 Tote. Und wir haben dann noch gewartet, ätliche Tage, und auf einmal standen alle drei gesund vor uns, und der Wagen war auch unbeschädigt und die zwei Pferde waren auch unbeschädigt. Sie haben so ein grosses Glück gehabt und sind gut angekommen in Neukalen. Aber da haben wir nur eine Weile gelebt. Wir sind da untergekommen bei Verwandten undsoweiter. Und dann hiess es, die Russen sind über die Dievenow und in Anmarsch. Mussten wir also wieder weg, wir wollten also gen Westen.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Agnes Stocker
Description
An account of the resource
Agnes Stocker (b. 1932) recounts her evacuation from her hometown and the journey to Ueckermünde. Agnes tells how she get separated from her sister, her brother and her cousin (who followed the road to Swinemünde), while she, her mother and her aunt first took refuge at Kalkofen and then took a boat to Ueckermünde. Describes the Swinemünde bombing as seen from Ueckermünde - recalls aircraft strafing, emphasises 25000 casualties and compares this operation to the bombing of Dresden. Agnes explains how the high death toll was due to the number of refugees who had fled from the East coast of the Baltic Sea by boat. She recalls how her sister, her brother and her cousin were caught in the city under attack, her anguish at not knowing their fate, and her relief when she eventually reunites with them.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2013-11-06
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
00:06:06 audio recording
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#10169
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Poland
Germany
Poland--Świnoujście
Germany--Dresden
Germany--Ueckermünde
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-03-05
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Schulze
Peter Schulze
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Nikolai C C Schulz
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
bombing
childhood in wartime
displaced person
evacuation
home front
strafing
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/50/Memoro 1031.2.mp3
88b700827a065365bf7920cc4a244493
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Brigitte Terboven: Ja, es war im Mai 44. In dieser Nacht mussten wir wieder mal, wie so oft, jede Nacht mussten wir ja raus, weil es Fliegeralarm gab, nicht nur tagsüber sondern insbesondere nachts kamen die Fliegeralarmen, die Bombergeschwader und flogen über uns weg, irgendwohin und in dieser Nacht war ein Angriff auf Essen. Das Ziel war eben die Stadt Essen, das Ruhrgebiet überhaupt. Ein Britischer, wie es hiess, Bomberverband kam und die in der nähe gelegene Flakbatterie durfte nicht schiessen, so hiess es später, weil Deutsche Nachtjäger in der Luft waren, nicht, da hätte ja dann möglicherweise ein Nachtjäger getroffen werden können. Ein Nachtjäger verfolgte einen Britischen Bomber und der, um schneller weg zu kommen, warf eine Luftmine einfach irgendwo runter und die kam 20 meter neben meinem Elternhaus nieder und das ganze Haus fiel zusammen wie ein Kartenhaus. Die Kellerdecke blieb zwar erhalten, aber in dieser Nacht war niemand von uns im Keller. Wir waren auf dem Wege in den Keller aber das war auch alles. Es sind vier Personen, meine Mutter, ein Ehepaar aus der Nachbarschaft und die Frau des Hauptmans dieser Flakbatterie ums Leben gekommen. Mich hat man rausgeholt. Ich soll, ich weiss es nicht mehr genau, ich war ja 14 Jahre alt, nach meiner Mutter gerufen haben, weil ich merkte, ich liege, aber ich liege nicht im Bett, ich liege, ich bin furchtbar eng, das weiss ich noch, und ich schmecke, ich habe Sand im Mund, oder Dreck, oder irgendwas, das habe ich gemerkt, das ist meine unmittelbare Erinnerung, und dann bin ich bewusstlos geworden und erst am nächsten Vormittag im Krankenhaus wieder zu mir gekommen. Und es hatt mich schon sehr gewundert dass mein Onkel, der Bruder meiner Mutter, im Verlauf des Vormittags kam, aber es gibt ja Zufälle im Leben und ich habe da nicht weiter drüber nachgedacht. Man hat mir die ersten acht Tage nicht sagen dürfen, das meine Mutter ums Leben gekommen war weil ich so schwer verletzt war, so das man nicht wusste, ob ich überhaupt überlebe.
Mein Vater war, wie gesagt, eingezogen und man kannte nur seine Feldpostnummer und hat an diese Feldpostnummer ein Telegramm geschickt, was er aber nicht bekommen hat. Mein Bruder war Luftwaffenhelfer, den hat ein Lehrer unserer Schule freundlicherweise geholt, als er erfuhr, was passiert war. Und mein Vater kam eine Woche später, da hätte meine Mutter Geburtstag gehabt, ihren 47sten, da hatte er es geschaft Urlaub zu bekommen und er kam, er stieg in Wuppertal in die Strassenbahn, damals fuhr noch eine Strassenbahn nach Cronenberg hoch, und traf einen Bekannten, der ihn kondolierte und mein Vater wusste überhaupt nicht, warum und weshalb und das war natürlich entsetzlich für meinen Vater. Mein Vater erst hat mir dann gesagt was wirklich passiert war. Mein Bruder hatte mich schon einige Tage vorher im Krankenhaus besucht. Als Luftwaffenhelfer trug er ja diese Hakenkreuzbinde mit, die rot-weiße Binde mit einem Hakenkreuz drauf, und auf dieser Binde hatte er einen Trauerflor, auch eine schwarze Binde. Und ich fragte ihn, “warum hast Du das schwarze Ding da drauf”, und er sagte, “damit es nicht dreckig wird”, so ganz beilaüfig, und sprach dann schnell von was anderem und ich habe ihm geglaubt. So naiv war man und man wehrte sich ja auch gegen tragische Erkenntnisse. Es war, das Leben war bedrolich, das wussten wir alle. Wir hatten kaum was zu essen, wir hatten im Wuppertal, als die Amerikaner dann ein Jahr später kamen, wären 1200 Kalorien pro Tag im Ruhrgebiet an Nahrungsmitteln auf den Lebensmittelkarten auszuteilen gewesen. Im Wuppertal war es besonders schlimm, da gab es nur 600 Kalorien pro Kopf. Und es war eine so schreckliche Zeit, die 44-45, die Zeit, da gab es so viele Tote zu beklagen, nicht nur gefallene Soldaten, sondern auch Bombentote, so das die Todesanzeigen in der Zeitung etwa 6-7 cm im Quadrat gross sein durften, weil einfach der Platz nicht ausreichte in den Zeitungen. Und jeder gefallene Soldat, und jeder Bombentote hatte dieses eiserne Kreuz in der Todesanzeige, links oben, glaub ich, oder rechts oben, das weiss ich jetzt nun nicht mehr, in der Ecke was dieses eiserne Kreuz angebracht. Ich weiss nicht, wie viele Seiten in der Zeitung voll waren mit diesen kleinen Todesanzeigen.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Brigitte Terboven
Description
An account of the resource
Brigitte Terboven (b. 1930) recalls the bombing of Essen and the dropping of an air mine by a British bomber which was trying to evade a German night fighter. The bomb hit the ground about 20 meters from her home which collapsed like a house of cards. Remembers the death of four people, including her mother; how she was severely injured, barely survived and kept in the dark about her mother’s death for a week. Describes the attempt to bet in touch with her father with the news of his wife’s death and how he was informed only a week later, coming home on her mother’s birthday. Emphasises wartime hardships: food rationing; daily calories intake dropping from the notional 1200 calories to 600; reduced spaces for obituaries in newspapers.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2012-09-07
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
00:06:25 audio recording
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#1031
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Wuppertal
Germany--Essen
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-05
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Schulze
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
anti-aircraft fire
bombing
childhood in wartime
civil defence
home front
Luftwaffenhelfer
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/67/Memoro 15496.2.mp3
eb7972ded45a668661f8d92a5ede35eb
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Jörg Funfoff: Es ist so. Ich bin Jahrgang 1942, aus dem Sommer und kann im Grunde genommen nichts vom Krieg erinnern, aber da gibt es doch etwas. Das ist mir übrigens erst sehr spät wieder eingefallen und das sind authenthische Momente. Die stammen aber aus dem Frühjahr 1945, ich vermute aus dem Februar, das habe ich mir später erst erklärt. Ich stamme aus einem, aus dem Berliner Norden und wir waren, wir saßen genau in der Einflugschneise der Bomber. In der Dorfbraue [?] von Heiligensee heulte die Sirene auf, aber wir hatten schon so ein Ohr das wir die Bomber schon früher anfliegen hörten. Szene irgendwie Abends was weiss ich, 22 Uhr, meine Eltern gehen ins Bett, die nannten das “wir werden jetzt ins Bett steigen”, das war ein authenthischer Begriff dafür. Ich hatte am Fussende ein Gitterbett, stehe da drin, meine Eltern tauchen also in die Betten ab, und ich stehe und sage “Fieger”. Und mein Vater: “Ach quatsch, der Junge, wat der erzählt”, liegt sich in Bett, meine Mutter aber bleibt stehen, jeht an det Fenster, hebt diese Rolleau zu der Verdunkelung so ein bisschen weg und lauscht und sagt, “der Junge hat recht”. Und das war ein Zeitpunkt, da war ich gerade mal zweieinhalb Jahre alt. Und ich nehme an das ist auch der Grund warum sich das eingeprägt hat. Wir haben die [unclear] gepackt, raus in den Bunker.
Wir hatten einen Erdbunker im Garten. Das war eine halb unterirdische Anlage, aus Erde gebaut. Man ging ungefähr vier Stufen runter, die waren so mit Pflöcken und Ästen gesichert, also richtig Pfadfindermässig sah det aus. Und da konnten auf zwei langen Bänken, das war auch Erdbänke ebenso gesichert, konnten ungefähr fufzehn Personen sassen, da kamen auch die Nachbarn rüber, die hatten ja die, also nach dem man die Flieger hörte, ging dann die Sirene los. Also praktisch hatte ick die Vorinformationen schon. Deswegen war ich glau ick [unclear], hat sich das eingeprägt, der Junge macht wat richtig, war so eine Form von Anerkennung. Runter in den Keller, in diesen Erdbunker, Entschuldigung, und der ist, ein Erdbunker ist halb unterirdisch, oben druber ist eine Ladung von dünnen Stämmen und Ästen und dann Erde draufgeschichtet und dieses Mistding rettet niemandem vor einer Bombe, niemandem. Aber das ist den Vorortbewohnern eben aufgespatzt (?) worden und war teilweise auch Pflicht und manche haben es aus reinem Interesse gebaut, wir hatten sogar auch Helfer dabei soweit, das ist mir aber später erzählt worden. Und nun saß man also da unten und musste genau wie in den anderen Bunker abwarten bis also die Warnung aufhörte.
Und da erinnere ich mich an einen zweiten Punkt, und zwar ist das, eine Oma aus der Nachbarschaft, nämlich Frau Stark, die kam auch immer in diesen Bunker, wie auch andere Nachbarn und die saß da und die hatte sich, so waren die Berliner eben, die hatte sich einen Eimer Wasser mitgebracht, in dem Kartoffeln drin waren. Und die schälte die Kartoffeln während sie da unten saß, machte die wat nützliches. Dat war ja nur eine unproduktive Wartezeit. Und jetzt sah ich als kinderjunge wie die, während sie die Kartoffeln schälte und schnitt, sich eine Scheibe abschnitt und aß. Ich muss geguckt haben wie ein Auto den ich wusste von Zuhause, Kartoffeln ißt man gekocht, die ißt man nicht roh. Ich muss so dusselig geguckt haben dass mir Frau Stark eine von diesen Kartoffelscheiben angeboten hat. Und ich habe dann davon gekostet und dann war so das alle ins Lachen gerieten, auch det erinnere ick weil ich ein so dusseliges Gesicht gemacht haben muss. Det waren so eigentümliche Erfahrungen von einer Bunkersituation und Geborgenheit, in der man sich im Grunde genommen als Kind zu Hause fühlte. Also ich habe nicht diese höllischen Ereignisse der Innerstädte undsoweiter miterlebt, ich bin eben ein Vorort Produkt.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Jörg Funfoff
Description
An account of the resource
Jörg Funfoff (b. 1942) recounts the experience of being a young boy at Heiligensee, a Berlin suburb; on the flying path of approaching bombers. Narrates how he was the first to hear the bombers approaching before they are in sight (a fact he was proud of) and the time he spent inside a makeshift shelter dug in the garden and covered with twigs and branches. Emphasises the uselessness of that kind of shelter and mentions an old woman from the neighbourhood who used to sit inside peeling potatoes.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-05-19
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
00:05:21 audio recording
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#15496
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Berlin
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Schulze
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
bombing
childhood in wartime
civil defence
home front
shelter
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/68/Memoro 15628.1.mp3
8c81fb9a1dccb84e06f78347255c9c39
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
JS: Also ich bin Jahrgang 1936. Meine bewussten Kindheitserinnerungen, an die man sich so erinnert, sind eigentlich Kriegszeitenerinnerungen. Als der Krieg begann war ich drei Jahre alt, als er aufhörte war ich etwa neun. Und, ja, das war Alltag. Man konnte sich gar nicht vorstellen das es was anderes, das es eine andere Zeit geben könnte, ohne Bombenalarm, in den Keller runterlaufen, in den Bunker hasten, ohne diese Leuchtspuren am Himmel, ohne Artillerieabwehrfeuer in der Nacht, wecken durch Alarm, schnell noch die Oberkleidung anziehen, denn man schlief ja halb angezogen, das gehörte also zur Überlebensstrategie. [alarm clock goes off] Dann schnappte ich mein kleines Köfferchen, wo ich meine drei, sieben Sachen drin hatte, und einen kleinen Rucksack, Oma, Opa war ja wieder eingezogen, aber nicht als Soldat sondern war bei der SHD, bei der Schutz- und Hilfstruppe, und Oma nahm den schweren Rucksack und wir hasteten zum Bunker, der war ungefähr, fusslaüfig, fast ‘n Kilometer entfernt. Und ich weiss noch eines Nachts, Oma fiel, und Oma konnte allein mit dem schweren Rucksack kam sie nicht richtig hoch, die Leute hasteten vorbei. Ich rief, helft doch der Oma, helft doch der Oma. Es hat so lange gedauert bis dann jemand angehalten hat im Lauf und der Oma aufgeholfen hat, damit wir in den Bunker kamen. Ich hatte einen kleinen Hitler, so aus Pappmaché, angemalt, [showing the puppet’s raised arm] der war abgebrochen, das war für mich damals schon als Kind, als Kind, war das für mich schon ein Verlust. Wurde immer wieder angeklebt, aber fiel immer wieder langsam runter. Symbolisch eine durchaus bedeutsame Geste. Die Fliegerangriffe waren furchtbar. Man saß im Keller als der Barmen Angriff kam. Das werde ich nie im Leben vergessen, Licht ging aus, die Einschläge waren sehr sehr nahe zu hören, das Haus bebte, alle hatten Angst, alle, schrien zum Teil. Die Männer gingen behertzt schon nach oben und guckten, na ist in der Nahe etwas eingeschlagen? aber es war ja Barmen, das erste Wuppertaler Ziel. Das zweite Wuppertaler Angriff auf Elberfeld wo wir wohnten haben wir nicht abgewartet sondern... Ich heisse Schauerte, die Schauertes sind im Sauerland so beheimatet wie Schmidts im Rheinland und wir haben eben auch Verwandte [emphasis] im Sauerland gehabt und zu dem ist meine Mutter die wiederverheiratet war, natürlich direkt nach der Trauung, mein Vater starb als ich einanviertel Jahr alt war an TBC, mein Stiefvater geheiratet, eingezogen, zweimal [emphasis] zum Heimaturlaub gekommen, daraus resultieren meine zwei Halbgeschwister und naturlich beim dritten Urlaub überhaupt nicht mehr wiedergekommen, vermisst. Also meine Mutter mit meinen zwei kleinen Geschwister, meine Oma und ich, wir evakuierten sag ich mal ins Sauerland und haben den Eberfelder Angriff gehört. Unser Haus hat überlebt, aber die Giebelwand zur linke Seite zum Nachbarhaus war völlig weg weil das Haus war also getroffen worden und es war ein Gründerzeit-Mietshaus gewesen, erste Etage wir wohnten, nebenan wohnten Ralenbecks, hatten die andere Zweizimmerwohnung, und die hatten keine, die guckten wenn man die Tür reinging, direkt ins Freie. Nun haben die dann bei uns gewohnt, bis wir aus dem Sauerland dann wiederkamen. Es war eine fürchterliche Zeit, kaum was zu essen, wir konnten aus dem Sauerland immer wieder was mitbringen, Hamsterfahrten, auch nach dem Krieg noch, mit meiner Mutter Hamsterfahrten gemacht. Ich, kleiner Bömsel [?] auch im Rucksack, und dann zu den Verwandten hin. Die Züge heillos überfüllt, heillos überfüllt, auf den Trittbrettern, in den Coupées hinein, auf den Puffern, überall fuhren die Menschen mit. Das war auch hinterher noch, als ich in die Stadtmitte zur Schule musste, mit der Strassenbahn zu fahren, wir sind nur auf den Außenleisten gestanden und haben den Eltern den Platz im Wagen gelassen. Das grösste Erlebnis für mich war, und dann will ich von auch dieser Zeit gar nicht mehr grossartig erzählen wir haben’s ja alle überlebt, mit Aussnahme meines Stiefvaters, war als Deutschland dann schliesslich am 8. Mai kapitulierte und an dem Abend meine Oma mir sagte, „Junge, du kannst dich, kannst ausziehen wenn Du ins Bett gehst, kommt kein Angriff mehr“. Das hab ich nicht glauben wollen. Ich hab mein Leibchen, war ein selbstgestricktes Ding da von der Oma, als Unterzeug, wo man auch an Strapsen die langen Strümpfe dran machen konnte, das war furchtbar, ein Horror für einen Jungen, weil das war fast wie Mädchen und so, aber dies Leibchen lies man natürlich zur Kriegszeiten nachts immer unter. Ich habe der Oma nicht geglaubt, ich hab das Leibchen druntergelassen di ersten Nächte. Dann stellte sich langsam doch der Glaube ein, das diese schlimme Zeit vorüber war.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interviews with Jaun Schauerte
Description
An account of the resource
Jaun Schauerte (b. 1936) recalls rushing to the shelter with a suitcase and a bag pack. Remembers one night when his grandmother fell under the heavy weight of the rucksack and nobody stopped to help her. Recalls the Bremen bombing, while he was inside a shelter; being evacuated to the Sauerland with his relatives; the Elberfeld bombing and how their house survived the attack unscathed. Recounts anecdotes of a small Hitler figure made of papier-mâché; wartime hardships; trips to get supplies and overcrowded trains. Describes the end of wartime precautions on the evening Germany surrendered.
Date
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2016-06-09
Format
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00:07:07 audio recording
Identifier
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Memoro#15628
Spatial Coverage
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Germany
Germany--Bremen
Germany--Wuppertal
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Contributor
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Peter Schulze
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
bombing
childhood in wartime
civil defence
evacuation
home front
shelter
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/69/Memoro 4898.1.mp3
afdd3d84544e3c939509e606c40a0a42
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
MM: „Das ist, am 13. Februar ist meine Mutter, das Haus ist völlig verbrannt, der ganze Block brannte, und meine Mutter, die war grade von der Arbeit gekommen, Spätschicht, und hatte sich nur hingelegt und hatt den ersten Alarm, „alle in den Luftschutzkellern, grosse Angriffe auf Dresden stehen bevor“, haben die durch’s Radio gesagt und da hat sie gedacht, ach ich blieb liegen. Plötzlich war ihr [unclear] als da fällt eine Puppe runter [unclear] bei mir und da wurde sie aufgeschreckt und da ging auch schon das Licht aus und da hat sie die Tasche und den Koffer genommen und ist in den Keller und hat vorher noch mein Konfirmationskleid vom Bügel gerissen wie sie dachte es war aber eine Kunststoffschürze, die hatt sie noch in den Koffer gesteckt und dann in den Luftschutzkeller gegangen und dann, der erste Angriff der hat das Haus nicht beschädicht und da ist meine Mutter noch raufgerannt, hat überall noch die Gardinen abgerissen weil natürlich sämtliche Fenster kaputt waren und die wehten raus zum Fenster, die währen ja auch sofort, wie sie dachten, Brandherde gewesen aber am zweiten, bezeihungsweise am Mitternachtsangriff, um neun war der erste, viertel neun, ist das Haus auch ausgebrannt, da ist vom Hof her auch Phosphor gekommen. Da ist sie raus und an den Elbwiesen entlang zu ihren Elternhaus und ist auch heil angekommen. Allerdings die Stiefel die sie hatte, die hatten Brandlöcher und die eine Tasche, die hat sie weggeworfen. Ja, [background noise] ich war zu der Zeit bei meinen Grosseltern und wie jetzt der Angriff began, man sah den Himmel blutrot, da ist meine Tante, ihre jüngere Schwester, mit mir in die Stadt gegangen, wir sind also rein in die Stadt, und kamen kaum vorwärts, da kamen schon die ersten Flüchtlinge und Ausgebombten, und da war so ein Gedränge das wir einen Umweg gemacht haben und sind dann merkwürdigerweise an einer Schule vorbeigekommen und da sagte jemand: “ihr Haus brennt, aber die Mutti lebt”, die wohnte da in der Nähe. Und dann sind wir da ungekehrt und sind zu den Grosseltern in das Haus gekommen. Und meine Mutter war dann schon da und meine Cousine, sieben Jahre jünger, ich war ja vierzehn, da kam mir entgegen und rief:” [unclear] ist alles verbrannt”, Ja, ist alles verbrannt, “der Puppenwagen auch?” Das war das schlimmste [unclear]“
Memoro DE: „[unclear] Erzählungen was, wie soll ich sagen, was fehlt ist einfach warscheinlich der Geruch auch dieser Brände, die Schreie, warscheinlich viele Tausende Menschen verletzt, verbranntes Fleisch…“
MM: „Furchtbar. Das habe ich alles nicht so mitgekriegt, weil wir am Elbufer gegangen sind und der ganze Feuersturm ist in die Stadt reingezogen, weil ja der Sauerstoff verbraucht war durch die Hitze und da zog das alles in die Stadt rein. Ausserhalb auf den Elbwiesen war es nur rauchig und natürlich hab ich dann um Mittag die Tiefflieger gesehen. Da hab ich mich mit meiner Tante auf die Eisschollen gelegt, war ja Februar, und haben Körper eingezogen und gesehen wie die Tiefflieger über die Elbe geflogen sind und ich, obwohl es alles geleugnet wird, meine doch, das die geschossen haben, es war ein Lärm, und mit Maschinengewehren, warum ja auch nicht, wurden auch Bomben geworfen. Und Jedenfalls sah man auf den anderen Elbufer sah man die Leute die sich hinwarfen. Ob sie nun getroffen waren [?] oder bloss sich auch hinwarfen, jedenfalls die Tiefflieger die hat man ja gesehen.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Margarete Meyer
Description
An account of the resource
Margarete Meyer (b. 1936) describes the 13 February 1945 Dresden bombing and recounts how her mother reacted to the alarm. She rushed to the shelter and took some belongings, including what she thought was her confirmation dress. Explains how her mother managed to leave the house after the second attack and escaped to the open fields along the river Elbe. Describes how she managed to reunite with her at her grandparent’s house after fleeing along streets, overcrowded with refugees and injured people. Describes how she didn’t experience the firestorm because she was on the Elbe riverbank, where she saw aircraft bombing civilians and people taking cover by throwing themselves onto the ground.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-02-15
Format
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00:04:15 audio recording
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#4898
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany--Dresden
Germany
Europe--Elbe River
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Schulze
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-02-13
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
bombing
bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945)
childhood in wartime
civil defence
displaced person
home front
shelter
strafing
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/70/Memoro 425.1.mp3
d3817744f14ba3c28a5b6214688a72b8
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
IH: [part missing in the original file] In Berlin, also es war [pauses] Ende, es war Anfang 1945, und ich bin, [pauses] ich traüme, dass ich verschüttet werde und ich traüme aber auch, und es kam auch raus dass ich das überleben werde also ich brauche keine Angst zu haben ich werde das überleben aber ich werde etwas ganz furchtbares erleben. Und damals haben wir in einen Patentbüro gearbeitet, bei Patentanwälten, und es waren ein Haufen Leute da in dem Haus und es kam ein Alarm und wir gingen in den Keller und es sind, es ist ganz Charlottenburg und ganz Kreuzberg bombardiert worden, drei Stunden lang und es sind mindestens drei Bomben vor unser Haus gefallen, es hat gewackelt und gezittert und gebebt es ist aber Gott sei dank nicht eingefallen aber es kam dann noch, ach ne, haben wir gefunden, wir müssen hier raus, und die Leute fingen an zu schreien und zu weinen, ja weil es zu brennen anfing. Ich bin jemand, oder ich war immer jemand, wenn’s schwierig wird und die Leute werden, hysterische Krise Anfälle, werde ich ganz ruhig, ich hab gesagt ‘Leute seid still wir haben hier, wir können hier raus, wir werden uns hier retten, wir kommen hier raus, und bitte schreit jetzt nicht rum, so dann, wir finden das schon. Wir fanden auch diese Stelle, da waren die Keller miteinander verbunden mit einer dünnen Schicht, so ‘n Paar Ziegelsteine und da gab’s ‘n Hammer dazu, dann haben wir das eingeschlagen im Moment wo ich durch dieses Loch, durch diese, diese Öffnung [audio interrupted and cut] die Bombe direkt auf’s Haus, dieses Haus bricht zusammen und ich bin bis zu den Schultern oder bis [part missing in the original file] begraben. Dann haben sie mich rausgeholt und wir sind raus, mir ist nichts passiert und wir kamen auf die Strasse und es war alles zerstört, ganz Kreuzberg war eine einzige, ja, Schutthalde und die Leichen lagen auf der Strasse und ich habe einfach nur ‘Danke’ gesagt ‘Danke, Gott oder wer immer das ist der für uns sorgt, Danke dass ich leben darf’ und bin nach Hause gelaufen und meine Mutter stand schon vor der Tür und wartete auf mich, die wußte das ja und hatt mich umarmt, und hatt gesagt ‘Kind, ja, und ich glaube jetzt müssen wir Berlin verlassen’. Und dann sind wir nach Süddeutschland ausgebüxt, wie man so sagt. Das war’s.
Unknown interviewer: na gut [?]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Inge Heinrich
Description
An account of the resource
Inge Heinrich (b. 1922) describes the bombing of the Berlin borough of Kreuzberg and recounts how she had dreamt of being buried alive under the rubble but surviving in the end. Tells of how the patent agency building, in which she was working, was hit by three bombs but luckily didn’t immediately crumble; emphasises how she managed to keep calm and reassure those who panicked; explains how she escaped from the building on fire only to be buried under the rubble caused by a subsequent bomb hit. Tells of how she survived the bombing and was able to run back home, where her mother was waiting for her
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2008-10-15
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
00:02:51 audio recording
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#425
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany--Berlin
Germany
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Schulze
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
civilian
Civilian
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
bombing
civil defence
home front
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/71/Memoro 1546.2.mp3
3e225be819b1fb48286e50ab5fa2343b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
CWB: “Also jetzt geht’s über mein Erlebnis zu der Erinnerung im Luftschutzkeller. Der Luftschutzkeller war ja jahrelang ein Ort, wo man mehr Zeit verbringen konnte als in der eigenen Wohnung und eine ganz besondere Situation über die ich noch nirgendwo im Roman oder in Literatur etwas wirklich adäquat beschreibendes gefunden habe, aber vielleicht gibt’s irgendwo, ich kenn’s noch nicht. Also der Luftschutzkeller ist ein Raum in den man höchst unfreiwillig als Hausgemeinschaft eben getrieben wird durch ein Signal, nämlich die Sirene. Wenn man das nicht befolgt hat man noch mehr Risiko, nämlich in der Wohnung sozusagen von Bomben umgelegt zu werden, aber das Risiko natürlich im Luftschutzkeller ist auch sehr erheblich denn man kann ja verschüttet werden, man muss auf ängstem Raum sogar mit Sauerstoffmangel, muss man da mit Leuten, mit dem [sic] man vielleicht verfeindet ist, Deutschland ist ja das Land der Nachbarschaftsprozesse weltweit führend, zu unser Schande sei es gesagt, zur Schande der Rechthaber und Kleingärtner. Und da ist also im Luftschutzkeller eine besondere Atmosphäre, und ganz generell ist mir schon als Kind aufgefallen, das sich im Krieg die Geister scheiden. Der Krieg ist vielleicht [emphasises] leider nötig, damit die Leute sich entscheiden. Jetzt in diesen Friedenszeiten leben alle so nebenander her und zeigen unsere spitze Ecken und Kanten nicht, aber im Luftschutzkeller kommt eben alles raus, das ist eine Kathartische Situation. Da war ich also gerade dreizehn, den mit dreizehneinhalb kam ich weg aus Berlin im Rahmen der Kinderlandverschickung. Also mit dreizehn Jahren und naturlich mit zwölf schon auch, aber ganz besonders schlimm war es 1943, als nämlich Deutschland die Lufthoheit verlor. Wir hatten kein Öl mehr als Bargut, dass heißt, unsere Flieger, unsere Abwehrflotte wie auch unsere Angriffsflotte waren zwanzig Jahre voraus, das habe ich jetzt in [unclear] gelesen technisch, aber sie konnten nicht mehr starten. Dass heißt, wir haben die Lufthoheit verloren, das war eine ganz bestimmter Tag. Plötzlich konnten die [unclear] ungehindert einfliegen und dann hat dieser Englische Luftmarschall den Befehl gegeben eben, als Vergeltung auf die V-Waffen, die Vergeltung auf die Vergeltungswaffen, nichts mehr zu schonen, dann fing tatsächlich der Terrorkrieg an und ja zu unseren Ungunsten. [part missing in the original file] Also diese Situation des Luftschutzkellers die ist so unvergesslich und hat sich mir so eingeprägt, nun ist ja das Alter von dreizehn Jahren auch eine Prägezeit, es ist ja auch der Beginn der Pubertät, man ist hell wach in jeder Beziehung, weiss noch nicht genau was in der Welt los ist. Wir hatten im Haus auch berühmte Leute, zum Beispiel war da der Feldmarschall Milch, der einzig jüdische General der Deutschen Wehrmacht, der ja von, also der Name ist ja ganz klar Milch, ich habe ihn auch ganz gut gekannt, vom Fahrstuhl und vom Luftschutzkeller, sehr netter Mensch, der war ja derjenige wo Goering dann gesagt hat, “wer Jude ist bestimme ich”, weil Himmler den abschiessen wollte. Es war ja ein erbitterter Kampf zwischen Goering und Himmler. Und im Übrigen war meine Mutter mit der Frau von Goering befreundet weil die Emmy Sonnemann eben eine Schauspielerin war zur Zeit meiner Mutter da waren die Kolleginen. Wir hatten also einen Draht zu Goering, der war aber nicht benutzt, einmal versucht, es ging dann schief. Also im Luftschutzkeller dann haben sich die Geister geschieden, worüber geredet wurde, und es war eine richtige Todesangst da, denn jedes Mahl wenn der Alarm zu Ende war, ging man raus und musste erstmal prüfen ob man verschüttet war und am Schluss war ja auch alles kaput, nur wir kamen noch raus und zum Teil fielen noch Bombensplitter während auch schon Entwarnung war. Und ein Bombensplitter viel mal direkt vor meinem kleinen Bruder, der war damals ein Baby, nieder, und da hatte ich wieder so’n religiöses Erlebniss, also er soll weiterleben, und der lebt ja auch heute noch und ist mein lieber Bruder, [unclear] zwölf Jahre junger in Brüssel. Und in den Keller dann, das hat man mir erzählt, ich erzähle etwas indirekt, was mir viele Leute erzählt haben aber ich habe festgestellt das besonders wenn man etwas Gutes tut, wenn man etwas mit ganz reinem Gewissen tut, was so durch einen hindurchfliesst, und gar nicht im Umweg über’s Gehirn geht, das man das dann vergisst weil es offensichtlich inspiriert ist und man ist in irgendeinen Lebensfluss oder Heilstrom angeschlossen. So war das auch, jedenfalls hat man mir berichtet, das ich reihe um gegangen bin und die Leute getröstet habe, also ganz bedeutende Leute die im Keller dann eben ihre Angst durchbrechen liessen. Und dieses Erlebnis, also diese erzwungene Gemeinschaft, die Leute die nichts gemeinsam haben außer der Adresse und dann diese notdürftig abgestützten luftschutzkeller, die auch nicht viel aushalten und diese Stimmung und das lustigste war noch, wenn die Sirene tönte, am Schluss haben wir uns ja gar nicht mehr ausgezogen, weil es sich nicht lohnte, wir haben uns in Kleidern auf’s Bett gelegt um schneller im Keller zu sein und wenn dann eines Tages mal keine Flieger kamen oder nicht wie damals neun, halb zehn Uhr Abends dann mit den Berliner Witz, haben sich die Leute im Treppenhaus versammelt und haben gesagt: “Ach Jotchen, ach Jotchen, et wird Ihnen doch nischt zujestoßen sein”, nicht, also dass man sich dann noch um die Alliierten sorgt, ob diese Flieger da ankommen. Faszinierend war’s die Scheinwerferkegel, das ist für mich ein Gleichnis der Erkenntnis geworden. Da kamen also die Flugzeuge und ein Scheinwerfer hat den erfasst und wieder verloren und dann hatt man einen Kegel gebildet und der Kegel wurde zum Kreuz und dann konnte das Flugzeug abgeschossen werden. Das ist für mich ungeheuer sinnbildlich, das habe ich mir angeguckt, das fand ich faszinierend. Und eines Tages bin ich im Grunewald spazieren gegangen, wir wohnten nicht weit weg davon, und da sah ich etwas, was ich auch nie vergessen werde. Ich sah in Puppengröße, also etwa ein Meter, sah ich einen Alliierten Piloten, völlig eingeschrumpft, wie also in einer Maschine eingeschrumpft, aber alles war erkennbar, Gesicht und alles, und dann habe ich mir nachher von Physikern erklären lassen, ich hab das verboten, Entschuldigung, ich hab das vergessen, verloren, was es für eine Erklärung war, jedenfalls habe ich diesen eingeschrumpften Piloten da gesehen. Und eine Sache erinnere ich mich auch noch, wir hatten ganz getrennt immer alles was mit Bad und Toilette zu tun hatte von unseren Eltern, und einmal da war es so dringlich das meine Mutter reingekommen ist und sagt “Kinder guckt mal weg” und hatt sich dann auf’s Kloh gesetzt ohne das wir zugeguckt haben, aber jedenfalls das meine Mutter in meiner Gegenwart, damals dreizehn Jahre alt, sozusagen, pinkelte das war für mich auch so ein Erlebnis was ich nicht vergessen werde, es hat ja eine gewisse Vertrautheit hergestellt. Ja, das sind also eingeprägte Erinnerungen, die eigentlich ganz stark sind, nicht, die, kann man mich nachts wecken und ich kann das alles noch erzählen.”
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Christoph Wagner Brausewetter
Description
An account of the resource
Christoph Wagner Brausewetter (b. 1929) recounts the hardships civilians endured inside a shelter, the risks involved and the fact they spent there more time there than at home. Maintains that the worst year was 1943, when aircraft were no longer able to take off and Germany lost its air supremacy. Mentions his neighbour Field Marshal Erhard Milch and how his mother got acquainted with Goering’s wife. Tells of how a bomb splinter nearly missed his baby brother and how this triggered a religious epiphany. Describes moments of humour when, waiting for the next bombing, they wondered if something had happened to the bomber crews. Narrates how he was fascinated by the searchlights forming a cross when coning an enemy aircraft and the moment he stumbled upon the shrunken corpse of an allied pilot in the Grünwald forest.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
00:08:12 audio recording
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#1546
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Schulze
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Grünwald
Germany--Berlin
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
bombing
childhood in wartime
civil defence
faith
Goering, Hermann (1893-1946)
home front
sanitation
searchlight
shelter
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/73/Memoro 4243.2.mp3
567dca1b364de2a5bacc4b0dce0fc037
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
MD: Ein Eindruck noch der mir auch unvergesslich ist, ist das eines Tages, hat meine Mutter mich Brot holen geschickt nach [unclear] in das Dorf oben auf’m Berg [pauses] und ich war [clears her throat] noch auf der ebenen Strecke, rechts in einiger Entfernung war Wald und es kamen Tiefflieger, ganz viele und der Wald fing an zu brennen und ich kriechte eine panische Angst, ich habe mich in diesen Graben geschmissen obwohl der sumpfig war oder feucht damit man mich nicht sieht, weil es ganz ungeschützt alles war, offener Weg und ich gehört hatte dass die Tiefflieger auch auf einzelne Menschen schiessen, die sich da in der Gegend rumbewegen. Und ich lag dann da in dem Graben und hörte also dann immer zu den Tiefflieger und hab gebetet, dass das bald vorbei ist und ich bald aufstehen und nach Hause rennen kann, aber es hatt sehr lange gedauert. Und dann habe ich gesehen wie Soldaten flohen. Die kamen aus dem Wald. Und [clears throat] als ich dann endlich zurück konnte, also so’ne Pause mal kam mit den Tieffliegern, da sah ich wie diese auf der Hauptstrasse, auf der Dorfstrasse so durch rannten und liefen.
Unknown interviewer: Deutsche Soldaten.
MD: Deutsche Soldaten, die völlig abgerissen waren, schmutzig, kaputte Uniform, hungrig, aber auf der Flucht. Die Dorfbewohner haben, wollten schon denen irgendwie was zu essen geben, obwohl niemand viel hatte aber sie haben sich also auch gar nicht lange aufhalten koennen. Und tatsachlich, nicht lange danach, vielleicht ein Paar Stunden danach, kamen die Amerikaner durch’s Dorf gerollt auf Panzern. Da hab ich zum ersten Mal Schwarze gesehen, auch alle in Uniform, chic, gut rasiert, frisch gekämmt, als ob sie jetzt grade einen Ausflug machen würden. So sahen alle aus und alle waren auch alle ganz nett und freundlich, und schmissen so ‘n bisschen Schockolade in die Kindermenge. Die Dorfbewohner standen am Rand und guckten mit offenen Mündern. [pauses] [clears throat] Zunächst hatten wir Angst, aber als wir sahen dass die uns dann gar nix taten sondern einfach nur durchfahren wollten, wohin auch immer, warscheinlich hinter den Deutschen Soldaten her, da wurden wir dann etwas mutiger und einige sachten sogar: ‘Please give me chocolate’ und die kriechten dann auch was.”
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Maria Domanovszky
Description
An account of the resource
Maria Domanovszky (b. 1937) recounts how she threw herself into a swampy ditch when under fire and how she lay down praying and hoping to get back home safely. Describes German soldiers with torn and dirty uniforms escaping from a burning forest. Tells memories of the first encounter with black American soldiers: they were friendly, looked well-dressed and threw chocolate to a crowd of village children. When the adults standing nearby realised that the soldiers were no cause of alarm, they asked for chocolate as well.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2010-08-04
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Schulze
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
00:03:00 audio recording
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#4243
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
African heritage
childhood in wartime
faith
home front
strafing
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/20/83/Memoro 6714.1.mp3
7785ec323bb861422333b07946bd50ba
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
GM: Ci han mandato alla stazione ferroviaria, loro avevano tanti, tanti locomotori diesel, e facevano conto di ripararli e di mettere noi per la riparazione di questa roba. Ma nella notte c’è venuto un bombardamento, hanno centrato in pieno la stazione della ferrovia, il magazzino, è andato giù tutto, e il lavoro lì è finito, non c’è rimasto più niente. Allora ho cercato un’altra sistemazione, lì insomma mi son dato da fare perché loro erano molto attivi, molto in gamba da quella parte lì. M’han mandato al garage della Opel in città, e lì ho lavorato, riparavamo camion, e li ho lavorato quindici giorni, venti giorni, e due o tre volte al giorno c’era l’allarme, bisognava scappare, bisognava cercare un rifugio, cercare modo di salvare la pelle. Solo che quella volta lì era un pomeriggio, il tedesco che ci comandava faceva la barba, faceva la barba, si era già insaponato tutto, suona l’allarme, noi scappiamo e lui ‘Eh ma scappate sempre, non è micca niente continuate a lavorare, ma cosa state lì a fare’. Troviamo un rifugio ci mettiamo dentro, solo all’ingresso perché dentro proprio noi non ci lasciavano entrare, ci mettevano fuori. Per un momento vedo il tedesco che arriva di gran corsa con metà la barba insaponata e metà no [laughs]. ‘Cos’hai fatto? Cos’hai fatto?’ ‘C’è caduta una bomba sul garage!’ perché avevamo un garage molto grande con il piano sopra così, non il tetto, un cos’. E allora quando è finito l’allarme siamo andati indietro a vedere, siam tornati là: non c’era più niente, era caduto giù tutto. E allora ci han lasciati lì un po’ di giorni, abitavamo in una cantina perché di fabbricati non ce n’eran più. Allora si scendeva una scala e si andava in cantina, avevamo messo delle assi sopra dei mattoni perché c’era anche un palmo d’acqua e si dormiva lì sopra. Però c’era un problema, non c’arrivano più i viveri, perché era tutto ormai a pezzi. E di lì han cercato di spostarci in un campo civile di italiani civili. Eravamo diciassette, diciotto amici [pause] di Alba, di Dronero, di, insomma, tutti di qua. E siamo andati a vedere, veniva buio: ‘Quel posto lì, mah questa baracca potrebbe andare bene’. Io l’ho guardata un momentino e ho detto: ‘No, io in questa baracca, stanotte non vengo a dormire perché non mi fido, ormai i disastri sono troppi, non si può, non si può stare qua, io vado via vuol dire che ci vediamo domani mattina’. E sono andato alla porta della fabbrica, forte di quella tessera lì, vado alla porta della fabbrica, presento la tessera, ma loro non mi lasciano entrare. Han detto ‘No, non si può entrare a quest’ora, perché non lavorate mica! Cosa va dentro a fare? ‘È un problema, problema...’. Mi sono seduto lì, ho aspettato fino alle 10, alle 11, pioviginava, e poi ho detto: ‘Prendo lungo il muro di cinta, da qualche parte il bombardamento ha buttato giù il muro e io entro dentro’. E sono entrato dentro, poi sono andato dove lavoravo, e sono andato nella cantina, e sempre lì con due palmi d’acqua, ho messo un po’ di mattoni, ho preso due tavole, le ho messe sopra, ho detto ‘Cosi’ dormo qua sono più sicuro’. Alla notte ci arriva il solito bombardamento che arrivava tutte le notti e siamo scappati c’era un posto di rifugio dove andavano i russi, perché i russi erano in Germania, deportati civili, famiglie intere, uomini donne bambini: c’era di tutto. E le donne le facevano lavorare per la ferrovia, le facevano lavorare per le strade, come gli uomini, preciso. E son andato lì e lì avevano questo rifugio, arriva l’allarme, scappo, sempre in questo rifugio, lì in piedi. C’era già un torinese lì, che non ricordo il nome, anche lui appoggiato lì, comincia il bombardamento: badabim, badabom, badabom. Si sentono dei colpi tremendi [emphasis]. Per trovare una scusa ‘È la contraerea che spara su, non è le bombe che scendono giù, mica possibile!’. A un certo punto, si vede che una bomba ci ha centrato, e il rifugio fa tutto così. Lì c’era un filtro per il gas, se per caso avessero buttato il gas, c’era una cosa che funzionava a mano, un ventilatore che funzionava a mano, che filtrava l’aria per il gas. Lì sopra c’era delle russe con dei bambini e c’avevano la bottiglia del latte. Come la bomba ha picchiato lì, io ho visto le bottiglie del latte che si sono spaccate e il latte è andato giù, senza prendere un colpo senza niente, si vede, non so, lo spostamento d’aria, cos’era. Ho detto: ‘Qua è finita, qua, non ci salviamo più, sarà la fine’. C’era delle panche, ho visto che i russi erano a pancia a terra sotto alle panche, ho detto: ‘È inutile, se la bomba cade proprio qua siamo partiti, andiamo tutti in paradiso, e non se ne parli più’. E poi invece ci siamo salvati, la cosa è andata ancora discretamente bene, ma noi eravamo disoccupati praticamente, perché i bombardamenti erano un disastro. Appunto una notte, scappando da questa cantina, per andare in un rifugio sulla piazza centrale, lì si fermava tutto, c’era il tram fermo per la strada, era buio e io correvo, e quando si sentiva la bomba che cadeva, vrrrr, uno si buttava per terra, contro un muro, contro qualcosa, e poi mi alzavo, partivo di nuovo di corsa, non ho visto il tram, ho picchiato dentro il tram [laughs] [unclear] con la testa rotta, ma sono riuscito ad arrivare al rifugio e salvarmi. Dopo un po’ di giorni c’è arrivato l'ingegnere e ci ha di nuovo trasferiti, ci hanno trasferiti a Berzabe’ [?] un paesino dieci chilometri fuori Ludwigshafen. Lì facevamo, riparavamo camion che portavano viveri e munizioni al fronte, perché il fronte era lì, oramai eravamo contro il fronte. Era un posto abbastanza tranquillo perché si vedevano i bombardamenti su Ludwigshafen, su Ludwigshafen e Mannheim, perché c’era il Reno che divideva Ludwigshafen e Mannheim, ma erano due città si può dire unite dai ponti e, si vedevano i bombardamenti, però noi lì non abbiamo più avuto bombardamenti, e siamo stati lì fin che c’è arrivati gli Americani.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Giovanni Monchiero
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Description
An account of the resource
Giovanni Monchiero (b. 1923) gives a detailed account of his experience in labour camps in Germany: he started working at a train station but it was bombed, then he moved to the Opel garage but it was also bombed. He also describes an occasion when, during a bombing, he shared the shelter with Russian prisoners - men, women and children. Giovanni talks about the shock of seeing a bottle of milk shatter in front of him because of a change in pressure. He also recollects that he was finally moved to a civilian camp near Ludwigshafen and Mannheim.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
00:09:35 audio recording
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#6714
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany--Mannheim
Italy
Germany
Germany--Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Language
A language of the resource
ita
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Francesca Campani
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. La banca della memoria
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
bombing
civil defence
forced labour
home front
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/27/92/PFilliputtiA16010002.2.jpg
6c3f33f71caf0827e7d7fa1ae9a7b425
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Filiputti, Angiolino
Angiolino Filiputti
Alfonsino Filiputti
A Filiputti
Description
An account of the resource
127 items. The collection consists of a selection of works created by Alfonsino ‘Angiolino’ Filiputti (1924-1999). A promising painter from childhood, Angiolino was initially fascinated by marine subjects but his parents’ financial hardships forced an end to his formal education after completing primary school. Thereafter, he took up painting as an absorbing pastime. Angiolino depicted some of the most dramatic and controversial aspects of the Second World War as seen from the perspective of San Giorgio di Nogaro, a small town in the Friuli region of Italy. Bombings, events reported by newspapers, broadcast by the radio or spread by eyewitnesses, became the subject of colourful paintings, in which news details were embellished by his own rich imaginings. Each work was accompanied by long pasted-on captions, so as to create fascinating works in which text and image were inseparable. After the war, however, interest in his work declined and Angiolino grew increasingly disenchanted as he lamented the lack of recognition accorded his art, of which he was proud.
The work of Angiolino Filiputti was rediscovered thanks to the efforts of Pierluigi Visintin (San Giorgio di Nogaro 1946 – Udine 2008), a figurehead of the Friulan cultural movement, author, journalist, screenwriter and translator of Greek and Latin classical works into the Friulan language. 183 temperas were eventually displayed in 2005 under the title "La guerra di Angiolino" (“Angiolino’s war”.) The exhibition toured many cities and towns, jointly curated by the late Pierluigi Visintin, the art critic Giancarlo Pauletto and Flavio Fabbroni, member of the Istituto Friulano per la Storia del Movimento di Liberazione (Institute for the history of the resistance movement in the Friuli region).
The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Anna and Stefano Filiputti, the sons of Angiolino Filipputi, for granting permission to reproduce his works. The BCC Digital Archive is also grateful to Alessandra Bertolissi, wife of Pierluigi Visintin, Alessandra Kerservan, head of the publishing house Kappa Vu and Pietro Del Frate, mayor of San Giorgio di Nogaro.
Originals are on display at
Biblioteca comunale di San Giorgio di Nogaro
Piazza Plebiscito, 2
33058 San Giorgio di Nogaro (UD)
ITALY
++39 0431 620281
info.biblioteca@comune.sangiorgiodinogaro.ud.it
The collection was catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Filiputti, A-S
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Bombing of Munich
Description
An account of the resource
The ruins of buildings and industrial plants in Munich are silhouetted against a wall of flames and smoke. At the top of the frame, a portion of blue sky appears to be full of aircraft, some of them crashing in flames. Anti-aircraft batteries, a bridge, ruins and the tail section of an aircraft are visible in the foreground.
Label reads “154”; signed by the author; caption reads “23 SETTEMBRE 1944. GERMANIA massiccie formazioni di quadrimotori anglo-americani provenienti dai campi italiani di Foggia, attaccano MONACO di BAVIERA in pieno giorno.”
Caption translates as: “23 September 1944. Germany, massive waves of four-engine, Anglo-American aircraft from the Italian airfields in Foggia attacking Munich in broad daylight.”
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PFilliputtiA16010002
Language
A language of the resource
ita
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Angiolino Filiputti
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Francesca Campani
Alessandro Pesaro
Helen Durham
Giulia Banti
Maureen Clarke
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One tempera on paper, pasted on mount board
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany--Munich
Germany
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-09-23
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Artwork
arts and crafts
bombing
shot down
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/27/140/PFilliputtiA16010051.2.jpg
e75a61ae382c1099490254b528a43e36
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Filiputti, Angiolino
Angiolino Filiputti
Alfonsino Filiputti
A Filiputti
Description
An account of the resource
127 items. The collection consists of a selection of works created by Alfonsino ‘Angiolino’ Filiputti (1924-1999). A promising painter from childhood, Angiolino was initially fascinated by marine subjects but his parents’ financial hardships forced an end to his formal education after completing primary school. Thereafter, he took up painting as an absorbing pastime. Angiolino depicted some of the most dramatic and controversial aspects of the Second World War as seen from the perspective of San Giorgio di Nogaro, a small town in the Friuli region of Italy. Bombings, events reported by newspapers, broadcast by the radio or spread by eyewitnesses, became the subject of colourful paintings, in which news details were embellished by his own rich imaginings. Each work was accompanied by long pasted-on captions, so as to create fascinating works in which text and image were inseparable. After the war, however, interest in his work declined and Angiolino grew increasingly disenchanted as he lamented the lack of recognition accorded his art, of which he was proud.
The work of Angiolino Filiputti was rediscovered thanks to the efforts of Pierluigi Visintin (San Giorgio di Nogaro 1946 – Udine 2008), a figurehead of the Friulan cultural movement, author, journalist, screenwriter and translator of Greek and Latin classical works into the Friulan language. 183 temperas were eventually displayed in 2005 under the title "La guerra di Angiolino" (“Angiolino’s war”.) The exhibition toured many cities and towns, jointly curated by the late Pierluigi Visintin, the art critic Giancarlo Pauletto and Flavio Fabbroni, member of the Istituto Friulano per la Storia del Movimento di Liberazione (Institute for the history of the resistance movement in the Friuli region).
The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Anna and Stefano Filiputti, the sons of Angiolino Filipputi, for granting permission to reproduce his works. The BCC Digital Archive is also grateful to Alessandra Bertolissi, wife of Pierluigi Visintin, Alessandra Kerservan, head of the publishing house Kappa Vu and Pietro Del Frate, mayor of San Giorgio di Nogaro.
Originals are on display at
Biblioteca comunale di San Giorgio di Nogaro
Piazza Plebiscito, 2
33058 San Giorgio di Nogaro (UD)
ITALY
++39 0431 620281
info.biblioteca@comune.sangiorgiodinogaro.ud.it
The collection was catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Filiputti, A-S
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Description
An account of the resource
Prisoners are visible behind barbed wire, wearing blue and white striped clothes and black shoes. A German soldier is guarding them, armed with a rifle. There are two huts. The white building has a large chimney with black smoke billowing out of it. The men look emaciated. One man is lying on the ground.
Label reads “109”; signed by the author; caption reads “Maggio 1944. Belsen orrenda! Erano ancora su questa terra oppure avevano superato senza accorgersi il confine tra la vita e la morte, ed erano capitati nella cupa città delle larve e degli spettri in un immane e repellente formicaio umano dove i vivi erano frammisti ai morti.”
Caption translates as: “May 1944. Horrible Belsen! Were they still in the same place of our, or did they cross the threshold between life and death without even noticing it? They ended up in the gloomy city of shadows and ghosts, in a dreadful and repulsive human anthill where the living commingled with the dead.”
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PFilliputtiA16010051
Language
A language of the resource
ita
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Angiolino Filiputti
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Francesca Campani
Alessandro Pesaro
Helen Durham
Giulia Banti
Maureen Clarke
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One tempera on paper, pasted on mount board
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Bergen (Celle)--Belsen
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-05
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Artwork
arts and crafts
Holocaust
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/27/179/PFilliputtiA16010090.2.jpg
22a207b58ea037c4a8887b0a63f3bde5
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Filiputti, Angiolino
Angiolino Filiputti
Alfonsino Filiputti
A Filiputti
Description
An account of the resource
127 items. The collection consists of a selection of works created by Alfonsino ‘Angiolino’ Filiputti (1924-1999). A promising painter from childhood, Angiolino was initially fascinated by marine subjects but his parents’ financial hardships forced an end to his formal education after completing primary school. Thereafter, he took up painting as an absorbing pastime. Angiolino depicted some of the most dramatic and controversial aspects of the Second World War as seen from the perspective of San Giorgio di Nogaro, a small town in the Friuli region of Italy. Bombings, events reported by newspapers, broadcast by the radio or spread by eyewitnesses, became the subject of colourful paintings, in which news details were embellished by his own rich imaginings. Each work was accompanied by long pasted-on captions, so as to create fascinating works in which text and image were inseparable. After the war, however, interest in his work declined and Angiolino grew increasingly disenchanted as he lamented the lack of recognition accorded his art, of which he was proud.
The work of Angiolino Filiputti was rediscovered thanks to the efforts of Pierluigi Visintin (San Giorgio di Nogaro 1946 – Udine 2008), a figurehead of the Friulan cultural movement, author, journalist, screenwriter and translator of Greek and Latin classical works into the Friulan language. 183 temperas were eventually displayed in 2005 under the title "La guerra di Angiolino" (“Angiolino’s war”.) The exhibition toured many cities and towns, jointly curated by the late Pierluigi Visintin, the art critic Giancarlo Pauletto and Flavio Fabbroni, member of the Istituto Friulano per la Storia del Movimento di Liberazione (Institute for the history of the resistance movement in the Friuli region).
The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Anna and Stefano Filiputti, the sons of Angiolino Filipputi, for granting permission to reproduce his works. The BCC Digital Archive is also grateful to Alessandra Bertolissi, wife of Pierluigi Visintin, Alessandra Kerservan, head of the publishing house Kappa Vu and Pietro Del Frate, mayor of San Giorgio di Nogaro.
Originals are on display at
Biblioteca comunale di San Giorgio di Nogaro
Piazza Plebiscito, 2
33058 San Giorgio di Nogaro (UD)
ITALY
++39 0431 620281
info.biblioteca@comune.sangiorgiodinogaro.ud.it
The collection was catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Filiputti, A-S
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Bombing of Dresden
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PFilliputtiA16010090
Description
An account of the resource
Men, women and children flee in panic surrounded by fire and destruction. One man falls to the ground near a pylon. Two ships are visible in the background and the nearer of the two has taken a direct hit and exploded in flames. At the top of the picture, six aircraft continue to bomb, causing further explosions and plumes of smoke.
Label reads “225”; signed by the author; caption reads “(I) DRESDA, GERMANIA, l’APOCALISSE CHE POCHI CONOSCONO. 13 FEBBRAIO 1945. La Bomba atomica sù Hiroshima provocò 71.000 morti, il bombardamento sù Dresda, sei mesi prima ne aveva provocati almeno 135.000. La tempesta di fuoco più violenta di tutta la storia, Goebbels diceva che a Dresda, c’erano solo fabbriche di dentifricio e talco, ma a Dresda furono i civili a pagare, e a un prezzo spaventoso. Il triplice attacco sù Dredsa, l’operazione “colpo di tuono” iniziò alle 22.15 del 13 Febbraio 1945, d’improvviso il cielo sì illuminò a giorno: erano le cascate di bengala al magnesio, in 3 minuti con un rombo assordante, planarono sulle case 244 ”Lancaster”…"
Caption translates as: “(1) Dresden, Germany – The Apocalypse That Only A Few Know. 13 February 1945. The atomic bomb on Hiroshima caused 71,000 deaths. Six months earlier, the bombing over Dresden caused at least 135,000 deaths: the most violent firestorm in history. Goebbels said that, in Dresden, there were only toothpaste and talcum factories. However, those who paid the consequences were mostly the civilians. They paid a horrendous price. The triple attack over Dresden – operation “Thunderclap” – began on 13 February 1945 at 10.15 pm. Suddenly, the sky became floodlit with magnesium flares. Within three minutes, 244 Lancaster aircraft glided [sic] on the houses, making a thunderous rumble…”.
Language
A language of the resource
ita
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Angiolino Filiputti
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Francesca Campani
Alessandro Pesaro
Helen Durham
Giulia Banti
Maureen Clarke
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One tempera on paper, pasted on mount board
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany--Dresden
Germany
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-02-13
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Artwork
arts and crafts
bombing
bombing of Dresden (13 - 15 February 1945)
childhood in wartime
incendiary device
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/27/189/PFilliputtiA16010100.2.jpg
a61adcbbd91ca20ee6d8b1c58b050be3
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Filiputti, Angiolino
Angiolino Filiputti
Alfonsino Filiputti
A Filiputti
Description
An account of the resource
127 items. The collection consists of a selection of works created by Alfonsino ‘Angiolino’ Filiputti (1924-1999). A promising painter from childhood, Angiolino was initially fascinated by marine subjects but his parents’ financial hardships forced an end to his formal education after completing primary school. Thereafter, he took up painting as an absorbing pastime. Angiolino depicted some of the most dramatic and controversial aspects of the Second World War as seen from the perspective of San Giorgio di Nogaro, a small town in the Friuli region of Italy. Bombings, events reported by newspapers, broadcast by the radio or spread by eyewitnesses, became the subject of colourful paintings, in which news details were embellished by his own rich imaginings. Each work was accompanied by long pasted-on captions, so as to create fascinating works in which text and image were inseparable. After the war, however, interest in his work declined and Angiolino grew increasingly disenchanted as he lamented the lack of recognition accorded his art, of which he was proud.
The work of Angiolino Filiputti was rediscovered thanks to the efforts of Pierluigi Visintin (San Giorgio di Nogaro 1946 – Udine 2008), a figurehead of the Friulan cultural movement, author, journalist, screenwriter and translator of Greek and Latin classical works into the Friulan language. 183 temperas were eventually displayed in 2005 under the title "La guerra di Angiolino" (“Angiolino’s war”.) The exhibition toured many cities and towns, jointly curated by the late Pierluigi Visintin, the art critic Giancarlo Pauletto and Flavio Fabbroni, member of the Istituto Friulano per la Storia del Movimento di Liberazione (Institute for the history of the resistance movement in the Friuli region).
The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Anna and Stefano Filiputti, the sons of Angiolino Filipputi, for granting permission to reproduce his works. The BCC Digital Archive is also grateful to Alessandra Bertolissi, wife of Pierluigi Visintin, Alessandra Kerservan, head of the publishing house Kappa Vu and Pietro Del Frate, mayor of San Giorgio di Nogaro.
Originals are on display at
Biblioteca comunale di San Giorgio di Nogaro
Piazza Plebiscito, 2
33058 San Giorgio di Nogaro (UD)
ITALY
++39 0431 620281
info.biblioteca@comune.sangiorgiodinogaro.ud.it
The collection was catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Filiputti, A-S
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The American vanguard attacks a bridge on the Rhine
Description
An account of the resource
Two firing tanks are crossing the bridge. Five men are jumping into the river, whilst others are being killed and are throwing their guns into the air. On the bank to the left of the bridge, men are advancing behind the tanks, whilst on the opposite bank a large explosion has engulfed men in flames and smoke. Below the bridge, to the right of the picture, a partially submerged German tank is visible. Above the bridge are two aircraft. One is swooping down to attack whilst under air attack itself while the other ascends, trailing black smoke. In the distance are groups of other aircraft.
Label reads “249”; signed by the author; caption reads “MARZO 1945. Violenti combattimenti delle punte corazzate americane per il possesso di un ponte sul Reno ancora transitabile, pattuglie di retroguardia tedesche tentano di far brillare le mine, senza successo.”
Caption translates as: “March 1945. Intense action between the vanguards of American armored units for the control of a bridge on the Rhine, which was then still passable. German rear-guard patrols tried to detonate the mines, unsuccessfully.”
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PFilliputtiA16010100
Language
A language of the resource
ita
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Angiolino Filiputti
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Francesca Campani
Alessandro Pesaro
Helen Durham
Giulia Banti
Maureen Clarke
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One tempera on paper, pasted on mount board
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany--Remagen
Germany
Rhine River
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-04
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Artwork
arts and crafts
bombing
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/27/215/PFilliputtiA16010126.2.jpg
ee52b1ff372bfb0380d0df36c0f70393
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Filiputti, Angiolino
Angiolino Filiputti
Alfonsino Filiputti
A Filiputti
Description
An account of the resource
127 items. The collection consists of a selection of works created by Alfonsino ‘Angiolino’ Filiputti (1924-1999). A promising painter from childhood, Angiolino was initially fascinated by marine subjects but his parents’ financial hardships forced an end to his formal education after completing primary school. Thereafter, he took up painting as an absorbing pastime. Angiolino depicted some of the most dramatic and controversial aspects of the Second World War as seen from the perspective of San Giorgio di Nogaro, a small town in the Friuli region of Italy. Bombings, events reported by newspapers, broadcast by the radio or spread by eyewitnesses, became the subject of colourful paintings, in which news details were embellished by his own rich imaginings. Each work was accompanied by long pasted-on captions, so as to create fascinating works in which text and image were inseparable. After the war, however, interest in his work declined and Angiolino grew increasingly disenchanted as he lamented the lack of recognition accorded his art, of which he was proud.
The work of Angiolino Filiputti was rediscovered thanks to the efforts of Pierluigi Visintin (San Giorgio di Nogaro 1946 – Udine 2008), a figurehead of the Friulan cultural movement, author, journalist, screenwriter and translator of Greek and Latin classical works into the Friulan language. 183 temperas were eventually displayed in 2005 under the title "La guerra di Angiolino" (“Angiolino’s war”.) The exhibition toured many cities and towns, jointly curated by the late Pierluigi Visintin, the art critic Giancarlo Pauletto and Flavio Fabbroni, member of the Istituto Friulano per la Storia del Movimento di Liberazione (Institute for the history of the resistance movement in the Friuli region).
The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Anna and Stefano Filiputti, the sons of Angiolino Filipputi, for granting permission to reproduce his works. The BCC Digital Archive is also grateful to Alessandra Bertolissi, wife of Pierluigi Visintin, Alessandra Kerservan, head of the publishing house Kappa Vu and Pietro Del Frate, mayor of San Giorgio di Nogaro.
Originals are on display at
Biblioteca comunale di San Giorgio di Nogaro
Piazza Plebiscito, 2
33058 San Giorgio di Nogaro (UD)
ITALY
++39 0431 620281
info.biblioteca@comune.sangiorgiodinogaro.ud.it
The collection was catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Filiputti, A-S
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Eder, Möhne and Sorpe operation
Description
An account of the resource
A Lancaster flies over the explosion of an Upkeep bouncing bomb against a dam. A second aircraft has been hit by anti-aircraft fire and is plunging towards the water, engulfed in flames and smoke. A third Lancaster is visible on the right with a bomb visible below it.
Label reads “320 bis”; signed by the author; caption reads “16 MAGGIO 1943. Ore 21.28 il primo “Lancaster” inglese dell’operazione “castise” [Chastise] si alza in volo da Scampton, con a bordo il tenente colonello Guj Penrose Gibson [Guj Penrose Gibson] della RAF, pilota notturno dagli obiettivi impossibili, prima sull‘Italia settentrionale, poi sulle dighe della Rhur. Si prova la bomba rotante, o rimbalzante a forma cilindrica, alta m 1.50 diametro di 1.27 pesa 4.196 Kg con carica esplosiva di 2.992 Kg. – 18 bombardieri in 3 ondate attaccano le dighe di Mohne [Möhne], di Sarpe [Sorpe], di Scwelme [Schwelm], e al 3o tentativo quella di Eder, squarciata, 110 milioni di metri cubi d’acqua precipitano a valle. La contraerea spara a zero, 8 bombardieri su 19 sono abbattuti, il 20 settembre 1944 Guj Penrose Gibson [Guy Penrose Gibson] decorato con “Victoria cross” in azione con “master bomber” su Rheidt [Rheydt], sarà abbattuto.”
Caption translates as: “16 May 1943, 9.28 pm. The first British Lancaster involved in operation Chastise took off from Scampton, carrying the RAF Lieutenant Colonel Guy Penrose Gibson. He was the night pilot of impossible operations: at first on the North of Italy, then on the Rhur dams. They tried the rotating bomb, or the bouncing one, a cylindrical device which measuring 1.5 metres in height, 1.27 metres in diameter, weighing 4,196 kilograms, and with an 2.992 kilograms explosive charge. 18 bombers attacked the Möhne, Sorpe and Schwelm [sic} dams in three waves. On the third attempt they hit the dam in Eder. They collapsed and 110 million cubic metres of water rushed downstream. The anti-aircraft artillery fired point blank, shooting down eight bombers out of nineteen. On 20 September 1944, Guy Penrose Gibson, who was honoured with the “Victoria Cross”, was shot down in action as “master bomber” over Rheydt.”
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PFilliputtiA16010126
Language
A language of the resource
ita
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Angiolino Filiputti
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Francesca Campani
Alessandro Pesaro
Helen Durham
Giulia Banti
Maureen Clarke
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany--Eder Dam
Germany--Sorpe Dam
Germany
Germany--Möhne River Dam
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-05-16
1943-05-17
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One tempera on paper, pasted on mount board
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Artwork
617 Squadron
anti-aircraft fire
arts and crafts
bombing
bouncing bomb
Eder Möhne and Sorpe operation (16–17 May 1943)
Gibson, Guy Penrose (1918-1944)
Lancaster
Master Bomber
Victoria Cross
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/219/Memoro 4729.1.mp3
c90c7e924e4fdf169b03eb94fd4be842
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
HCV: Im Krieg hat mein Vater ausfindig gemacht wo wir einen guten, einen verhältnissmässig guten Luftschutzkeller bekommen, das es einen verhältnissmässig guten Luftschutzkeller gab. Und er hat sich dann umgesehen und hat gesagt also im Shell-Haus, dass hieß ja Shell-Haus weil es von der Shell AG gebaut worden war, da gehen wir nicht, das ist zu dicht am Kanal und wenn da eine Luftmine schräg reingeht da ertrinken wir alle. Und da hat er ausfindig gemacht das hier [points to with her hand] die U-Bahn, die U-Bahn Abstellgleise waren und zwar gingen die bis fast zur Kurfürstenstrasse, vom Nollendorfplatz bis zur Kurfürstenstrasse durch, bis zum U-Bahnhof. Und da ging dann, da konnte man runtergehen, und die wurden, diese Abstellgleise, das waren drei Etagen, die hatte man dann als Luftschutzraüme zur Verfügung gestellt, und hatte sie so ein bischen hergerichtet, mit Bänken und Tischen und Lampen und und, luftdichten Fenstern, beziehungsweise Türen, das die richtig diese Abdichtung hatten, also diese feuerfesten.
Unknown interviewer: Feurschutztüren
HCV: die gab es damals auch schon, das waren diese Metalltüren, so, die gab’s da und die waren da auch eingebaut undsoweiter. Und dann sind wir dahin gegangen das war nach diesen schlimmen Angriff am 29-30 januar 1944, als hier die ganze Potsdamer Straße brannte und wir auch Glück hatten, das wir hier in der PohlStraße davongekommen waren. Aber wir hatten gar kein Gas und kein Wasser und die, und unser Schornstein, wir konnten also nicht kochen weil der Schornstein voller Trümmer war, voller Steine zugeschüttet war, das musste alles erst geraümt werden, also wir waren ein Paar Tage da auch ein bisschen hilflos. Aber mein Vater hatte das ausfindig gemacht und dann sind wir dann in den, also das ist also von Anfang der Pohlstrasse, also Anfang der Potsdammerstrasse bis hierher immer ein ganz ziemlicher Weg gewesen und wir sind dann wenn der Voralarm kam, das waren dann diese Sirenentöne die dann drei mal in Abständen aufheulten und dann sind wir meistens schon losgegangen und haben dann dort auch Plätze gefunden und das weil es ja dann sehr oft passierte, also jede Nacht war dann Alarm, manchmal sogar zweimal und wir hatten auch mitunter dreimal Alarm sind wir dann, hatte sich da so ‘ne kleine Gruppe gebildet, die sich kennengelernt hatte. Und dann waren da also alle möglichen Menschen, unter anderem auch ‘ne ältere Dame, so richtig Berliner Original, bei jedem Satz hatte man, da hätte man lachen können weil die so [unclear] aufwar, und so viel Mutterwitz hatte, und wir sitzen alle da und unterhalten uns und so hatte man auch festgestellt welche Einstellung man hatte und dann hat man sich einige Witze erzählt und natürlich auch die politischen Sachen kam dann und so und das war also etwas lockere Gruppe und man fühlte sich, wir fühlten uns da unten verhaltnissmässig sicher auch. Mann hörte zwar Bomben und dann wusste man auch das Einschläge waren aber man hatte nicht das Gefühl unbedingt da voller Angst sitzen zu müssen. Und wir sitzen eines Tages da und plotzlich hörte man da so klappern, klingeln und dann sagte die Alte, ich weiss auch den Namen nicht mehr, jetzt wollen wir mal ruhig sein, wollen wir uns mal über etwas anderes unterhalten, irgendetwas unterhalten über die politische Lage unterhalten. Und dann kam eine Frau rein mit einem Dackel, so auch mittleres Alters, so anfang, um die fünfzig umschätzend, bisschen untersetzter Typ, also man merkte sie kam aus der östlichen Gegend von Deutschland oder Süd-west Deutschland, sprach auch ein gewissen Akzent und war sehr nett und sehr freundlich, wir unterhielten uns mit ihr und da wir ja nun gewarnt waren, waren wir natürlich ein bisschen vorsichtig und haben uns über ganz banale Sachen unterhalten und als wir uns dann das nächste Mahl trafen da erzählte uns der wo diese Frau nicht dabei war, erzählte uns die Frau ja sagt sie die ist, die spioniert überall rum und denunziert die Leute, die kommt aus der Tschechei und ist in Prag, ist wohl eine Pragerin, spricht ja Deutsch, also die Prager haben damals grossenteils auch Deutsch gesprochen, die ist also mit den Nazis ganz eng, ist also eine Nazi-rieke, hat sie gesagt.
UI: Nazi-rieke?
HCV: Nazi-rieke [laughs] Na ja, und also jedenfalls haben wir das dann. Sie hat also in Prag da schon einiges erlebt, die haben sie schon hinterher Steine geschmissen und so weil sie bekannt war, sie soll schon eine ganze Menge Leute denunziert haben. Na ja, also schön, die haben wir ein Paar mal erlebt und die war schon nett und freundlich, wenn sie da war aber wir haben uns zurückerhalten. Und der Krieg ist zu Ende und dann haben wir erfahren dass sie auch in der Pohlstraße gewohnt hat. Damals hiess die Pohlstraße noch Ludendorff-Straße, nach dem General Ludendorff, wir wohnten rechts und die wohnte auf der linken Seite, nicht weit von der Kluckstraße weg. Das Haus ist dann auch noch niedergebrannt worden hinterher. Aber als die noch da wohnte das war gleich nachdem die Russen, als praktisch die Kampftruppen vorbei waren und die Richtung Potsdammer Brücke sich bewegt hatten das muss auch noch am selben, am nächsten Tag war es, der 28. April war als die Russen uns [unclear] haben und dass muss am 29. April gewesen sein, da kam dann die politische Polizei, die Politoffiziere und haben sich einer Frau Metarum erkundigt, so hiess die Frau und dann hat man die aus der Wohnung geholt, kam sie mit ihrem Dackel runter. Und dann haben die Russen sie gefragt wie sie heisst und die hat dann ihren Namen genannt und dann hat der Russische Offizier gesagt ‘gehen Sie bitte vor’ und dann ist die vorgegangen und dann hat er die von hinten mit einen [unclear] Schuss erschossen. Das haben wir dann am nächsten Tag von einer Bekannten erfahren, die da auch gewohnt hatte und Unterkunft hatte weil sie vorher in den anderen, in einem anderen Haus ausgebombt war, die kannten wir auch gut. Ja und der Dackel jaulte auf als er sah das sein Frauchen [unclear] und dann hat man den Dackel auch gleich erschossen. Die war also bekannt. So, und die Rückmeldung habe ich dann von der Gedenkstätte Deutscher Wiederstand bekommen. Ich hab das erzählt, hab das Bericht gegeben und dann hat mir dann der [unclear] der diese ganzen Dokumentation zurechtgemacht hat, der hat mir dann gesagt, ja sagt er ich habe das erfahren, die wohnte in der Pohlstraße 90. Also die wohnte da, und die war da bekannt und die wohnte in der Pohlstraße 90. Also habe ich die Rückmeldung bekommen das das so gestimmt hat. Da war ich eigentlich sehr froh das das was ich erzählt habe auch Wirklichkeit war, gestimmt hat, nicht. Denn manchmal weiss man ja nicht, [unclear] dein Gedächnis oder aber es war ja so es ist so eingeprägt gewesen das das ja gar nicht anders gewesen sein konnte, nicht.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Helga Cent-Velden
Description
An account of the resource
Helga Cent-Velden (b. 1926) recounts her life in Berlin under constant threat of bombing. Describes how her father tried to locate a suitable air raid shelter for the family and especially how he ruled out the Shell House because of a canal running nearby and the consequent risk of flooding. Narrates how he eventually took the family to the sidings of Berlin underground railway, which had been fitted with benches, tables, lamps and fire doors. Describes the friendly community inside the shelter stressing the aftermath of the 29/30 January 1944 bombing, when the people were unable to cook because of a blocked chimney. Narrates how they shared the shelter with a German-speaking woman from Prague and her dachshund and how they later discovered that she was a well-known informer. Recalls on how Russian political officers came to look for this woman the 29 April 1945 and how they shot her and the dog.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Schulze
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#4729
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Berlin
Format
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00:08:54 audio recording
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-04-29
1944-04-30
1945-04-29
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
animal
bombing
civil defence
home front
shelter
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/220/Memoro 14606.1.mp3
8d3e1cbd9bae99ffee21d313eaaaa8d8
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
EB: Ja, und dann ist, dann kam also, die Russen kamen immer näher, und das wurde aber in dem Deutschen Rundfunk nicht erwähnt, und das die im Grunde schon vor den Toren von Berlin standen, das wusste man im Prinzip auch nicht. Man hörte aber das Radio ab, der Westliche, sogenannte Westliche Rundfunk der kam aus Frankreich und da hatten meine Mutter und ich erfahren das die Russen vor der Tür stehen. Dann wurde unser Haus schwer beschädigt durch [part missing in the original file] jede Nacht Fliegeralarm, jede Nacht, das letzte Jahr in Berlin das war scheusslich, aber das war bei euch auch schlimm nicht, war auch viel Bombardement. Ja, Und dann, wir konnten das Haus nicht mehr bewohnen und dann gab’s die Wahl, entweder hier bleiben, die Russen erwarten mit allen Schwierigkeiten oder weg. Na ja, und dann sind wir das vom Südharz hatte mein Vater entfernte Verwandte und zu denen waren [unclear] zu nächst geflohen aus Berlin weil wie gesagt, wir hatten kein Dach mehr über dem Kopf. Zum Schluss waren nachts bombardierten die Amerikaner und die Engländer tags, also das weiss ich nicht mehr, jedenfalls wurde Tag und Nacht bombardiert. [pauses] Und da fanden wir da haben ich meinen Hund unter’n Arm genommen, neben meiner Mutter das einzige beliebteste Stück und wir sind in den Südharz. Aber ich war, ich hatte keine Angst absolut nicht, das war also erstaunlich. Und ich sagte, Mutti, wir haben da die Schreibmaschine in Berlin, also das ist so wertvoll, es gab doch keine Schreibmaschinen zu kaufen, und ich muss sie doch holen. Und meine Mutter mochte das gar nicht aber ich hab’s gemacht. Da bin ich und im Südharz nach zehn Stunden bin ich angekommen. Alle halbe Stunde kamen die Tiefflieger [makes a wooshing sound] und dann die Paar Mitreisenden, die meissten Leute trauten sich ja gar nicht mehr [pauses] nach Berlin [unclear] wieder zu fahren ich habe dann also diese Schreibmaschine geholt und dann war alle halbe Stunde wurde schwer geschossen mit Maschinengewehren vom Flugzeug aus das waren die Alliierten, entweder die Amerikaner oder die Engländer [clears throat].
NCCS: Engländer.
EB: Bitte?
NCCS: Engländer.
EB: Ja, und dann wohnten wir bei Frau Zwiebelkorn [smiles] den das Haus der Verwandten war auch zerstört, da wurde auch schwer bombardiert, weil da eine Munitionsfabrik in der Nähe war. [pauses] Ja, und habe einfach die Sache abgewartet, war nicht schön, nicht, man wusste, man wusste nur na ja, also die Russen stehen vor der Tür, und auf der anderen Seite sind die Amerikaner, wann werden die zusammenstoßen und wie ist das für uns.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Eva Brossmer
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Contributor
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Peter Schulze
Format
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00:04:29 audio recording
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#14606
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Berlin
Description
An account of the resource
Eva Brossmer (b. 1925) remembers the incessant bombing of Berlin by the Allied and explains how she and her mother fled to Südharz trying to avoid the advancing Russians. Explains how German broadcasts did not mention their advance and how she heard the news from French radio stations. Narrates her journey back to Berlin to fetch her typewriter and stresses how it was interrupted by repeated strafing.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Nikolai C C Schulz
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
bombing
home front
strafing
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/242/Memoro 15926.1.mp3
7d20ce419acbae7ace9081c1d9f4e8f0
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
RR: Grüß Gott, ich bin Renate Rothaler. Ich neunundsiebzig Jahre alt und stamme aus Thüringen. In Gotha bin ich aufgewachsen, dort habe ich auch den Krieg ziemlich bewusst durchlebt und habe auch noch eine Zeit lang die DDR genossen. In den ersten Kriegsjahren kriegten wir nicht so sehr viel mit. Mein Vater war eingezogen und meine Mutter lebte mit meiner kleinen Schwester und mir alleine in einem hübschen Dreifamilienhaus mit Garten, schönes, edles Haus. [pauses] Wie gesagt, am Anfang kriegten wir nicht so sehr viel mit, aber im Frühjahr 1944, Februar, ich erinnere mich, es war ein strahlend schöner Tag, alles weiss voll Schnee, die Mutter hatte uns Kohlrübensuppe gekocht und das mochten wir gar nicht, und da war uns das sehr willkommen das mit einemmahl Flugzeuggebrumme zu hören war. Ruck Zuck standen Eva und ich auf’m Fensterbrett in der Küche und drückten die Nase an die Scheibe, die Mutter stand hinter uns damit wir nicht runterfielen war aber sehr neugierig. Es war ein riesiger Schwarm silberner Vögel und wir dachten das sind Deutsche weil es hat kein Alarm gegeben. Und ich ging die erste Klasse in die Schule und hab damit geprahlt wie gut ich schon zählen konnte. Hab die silbernen Vögel gezählt. Bei 47 fingen die an Eier zu legen. Das waren keine Deutschen, das waren Amis! Meine Mutter hatte uns rechts und links unter’n Arm genommen und ist mit uns in den Keller gerasst. Mein lieber Schwarn! Na ja, aber es ist uns glücklicherweise nichts passiert. Ostern, in den Osterferien 1944, wurde meine Schule bombardiert. Wir waren natürlich in Ferien und die Schule wurde als Lazarett genutzt aber zum Glück fiel die Bombe ins Treppenhaus und es hat keiner davon Schaden genommen. Wir hatten natürlich keine Schule mehr, war auch nicht zu übel. Und da die Angriffe immer stärker wurden, hatte meine Mutter folgenden Entschluss gefasst. Sie packte jeden Früh einen Picknickkorb, eine Tasche mit Spielsachen und Büchern und Decken und wir fuhren um 5 Uhr mit der ersten Waldbahn in den Thüringer Wald, suchten uns eine schöne Wiese und schlugen da unser Lager auf. Und da haben wir dann gespielt und vorgelesen, ich konnte da inzwischen schon lesen, machte das auch sehr gerne. Die Mutti hatte uns die Bücher von Gustav Freitag eingepackt, der in einem Vorort von Gotha gelebt hatte und den wir deswegen schon besonders schätzten. Der hatte eine grosses Werk verfasst, heißt die Ahnen, mehrere Bände, und es handelt von einem Königsssohn und seinen Nachkommen bis zur fast heutigen Zeit. Und jedes dieser einzelnen Bücher begann mit einer Jahreszahl, im Jahre sowieso. Und diese Jahreszahl bezog sich immer auf ein wichtiges Ereignis in der Geschichte. Und ich habe diese Bücher unheimlich gerne gelesen, weil ich sowieso eine Leseratte war, eigentlich ja heut noch bin. Und Diese Jahreszahlen die haben mir ein fabelhaftes Gerüst gegeben für den Geschichtsunterricht, da konnte ich sozusagen alles was ich neu erfahren habe anknüpfen. Na schön. Eines Tages war der Vater in Urlaub da und fuhr mit uns auch raus in den Wald. Er lief vor uns her und wir fanden auf der Wiese so dicke, weisse Pilze. Und die sahen eigentlich aus wie Schneebälle, sagen wir mal. Und wir packten die Dinger und warfen die auf den Vati, als wenn wir ihn mit Schneebällen beschmeissen. Und da wurde er sehr ärgerlich, nicht weil wir ihn beschmissen haben, sondern weil wir ihn mit den Pilzen beschmissen haben. Er kannte die, das waren Boviste, eine sehr sehr schmackhafte, gute Sorte und wir hätten eine Mordsessen davon machen können und jetzt hatte er sie auf’m Pelz.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Renate Rothaler
Description
An account of the resource
Renate Rothaler (b. 1937) recounts her wartime experiences in Gotha, where she lived with her mother and sister while her father was drafted. Mentions a bombing in spring 1944 when she watched ‘silver birds’ that soon started to drop bombs, a sight that prompted her mother to rush the whole family down to the cellar. Mentions the Easter 1944 bombing of their school - which was then used as a hospital - and explains how a bomb hit the staircase without causing harm. Explains that when the bombing war grew in intensity, her mother packed every day a picnic basket and caught the train to the Thuringian Forest. They spent their time playing and reading the books of the local novelist Gustav Freytag, works which gave Renate a basic historical knowledge.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
00:05:39 audio recording
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#15926
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Gotha
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-04
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Schulze
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
bombing
childhood in wartime
home front
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/29/243/AFerrariM170116.2.mp3
a3f8ccbccdac58edcd8c58e57a4fdfe0
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ferrari, Marino
M Ferrari
Marino Ferrari
Description
An account of the resource
One oral history interview with Marino Ferrari who recollects his wartime experiences as military internee in Germany.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-01-16
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Ferrari, M
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
FA: eeh signor Marino, eeh vuole raccontarci la sua esperienza prima della guerra, la sua infanzia.
MF: Dunque prima della guerra io lavoravo al all’arsenale di Pavia no, l’arsenale militare, poi ci hanno un bel momento, ci hanno militarizzati, gli operai avevano il grado di sergente, e l’operaio specializzato sergente maggiore e il capo fabbrica era, era maresciallo, ecco. Quando è arrivato il momento di andare a militare m’han chiesto se volevo fermarmi a lavorare lì, essendo pagato, no? Però, da poco furbo, ho chiesto di andare a militare, io volevo andare in un posto dove si guidava i camion, eh si. M’han mandato a Reggio, a a Catanzaro in fanteria. Da Catanzaro lì si trattava di, si si aspettava che lo sbarco degli Alleati e allora noi della fanteria dovevamo andare in Sicilia per contrariarli no? Invece io, lavorando lì a Pavia, facevo un lavoro, eeeh ero collaudatore di barchetti [barchini] d’assalto, che erano cose della Marina, che erano in dotazione al Genio, Genio pontieri. Allora io ho telefonato al al colonnello lì di Pavia, c’ho detto se poteva farmi chiamare un avvicinamento. Dopo tre o quattro giorni mi è arrivato, sono, il capitano mi ha chiamato e ha detto ‘Ferrari ti sei comportato bene nelle, nelle nelle marce, ti sei guadagnato una una licenza’ ‘La ringrazio’ c’ho detto. Però ha detto ‘M’era arrivato un dispaccio da gente, da Roma che devo mandarti subito a Verona. Beh adesso scegli te come’ e io, allora io ho scelto di andare, perché ha detto ‘O fai la licenza e poi vieni indietro e vai’ ho detto ‘No guardi io vado subito a Verona perché la strada è lunga’ e allora ho pensato subito, passo da, passo da Piacenza invece di andare a Verona vado fino a Casteggio, sto tre giorni e, e così ho fatto. Poi mi son presentato in caserma [coughs]. Lì [coughs] stavano aspettando le reclute per formare la compagnia e io ero l’unico soldato semplice che che c’era il capitano, il tenente e fatto sta che poi era, abbiamo fatto la compagnia. Subito la compagnia, poi stavano arrivando gli alleati. I tedeschi, lì comandavano i tedeschi lì a, in in Italia, allora han pensato giustamente che i militari, sarebbero andati con, con gli Alleati, e allora han pensato di deportarci tutti in Germania eh. Siamo arrivati in Germania, ci han messo in un campo di concentramento, dopo setto otto giorni arriva un [coughs] un ufficiale tedesco con un eeeh con un interprete e fa ‘Dunque il capitano chiede se c’è qualcuno che vuole andare fuori a lavorare, uno che sappia il mestiere però’ cercavano tornitori, saldatori, meccanici. Io ero un meccanico praticamente, perché lì lavoravo da, e non ho detto niente. Dopo un po’ tornano ancora e chiedono venticinque eeeh venticinque erano [pause], da andare, da andare in campagna, erano praticamente agricoltori. E allora ero insieme a uno, c’era una squadra di di romagnoli che erano tutti, mancavano ancora per fare venticinque, sette o otto e allora ci ho detto con un mio amico ‘Facciamoci iscrivere anche noi che in campagna ci sarà qualcosa da mangiare’. E difatti siamo andati, la sera prima ci han fatto dormire in una palazzina, al mattino ci siamo alzati, c’era un soldato che faceva la, era da guardia ecco, era lì con un fucile in spalla ma gente che di Hitler ne avevano na basta a basta, eeeh siamo andati in stazione, c’era il treno che era pieno di gente, lavoratori, però c’era mezza carrozza vuota per noi. Che su, che i tedeschi se non avevano altro erano puntuali in un modo, e le cose. Siamo usciti, siamo andati, poi siamo arrivati in una stazione, e dovevamo andare, noi aspettavamo da fare gli gli agricoltori, invece c’era una, eeeh una ferrovia che dalla stazione arrivava, circa un chilometro, arrivava nel posto dove dovevamo lavorare. Lì c’era, dovevamo dare il cambio a venticinque francesi che erano lì a lavorare al nostro posto, però loro dovevano andare via, il padrone però s’è tenuto un francese perché era quello che faceva di tutto, che il padrone aveva un figlio militare, un altro che aveva diciotto anni era pronto per, e aveva un figlio di nove anni che che comunque, lui aveva bisogno di quel francese lì che parlava bene tedesco. E lì c’han dato da mangiare, ma da mangiare lì ci prendevano con la fame noi eh, c’era un po’ d’acqua calda con dentro a esser fortunati tre o quattro pezzi di, di quelle rape, ma rape da da da bestia, non. E noi eeeeh cosa, cercavamo di migliorare un po’, perché abbiam detto ‘Se ci date più da mangiare lavoriamo un po’di più’. Allora il padrone poi l’ha capita, perché fra l’altro c’era, il padrone aveva anche un mulino, ma un mulino grosso eh, un mulino che i francesi gli avevano dato il fuoco, l’avevan bruciato, e allora dove c’era l’apparecchiatura del mulino c’han messo, c’han messo, eeeh han tirato via tutto e c’han messo del grano, del frumento, frumento che arrivava dalla Russia, che noi eravamo dalla parte proprio, eeh de della della polonia lì dove è entrato eeh. Lì i soldati, quei francesi lì non avevano più tanto lavoro perché il mulino non non, c’era solo da, era il momento che arrivava il grano dalla Russia, arrivavano i vagoni, e allora con un trattore andavano in stazione a rimorchiarli, si rimorchiavano fino a lì, davanti davanti andavano su una piattaforma, andavano dentro direttamente, li scaricavano, ma ci saranno stati eeh non so, due o tremila quintali di grano e c’erano due montagne, era un capannone da centro metri, per dieci o dodici, alto sempre, quindi c’erano. Proprio quel giorno lì c’erano dei vagoni da scaricare e io per, poi c’erano dei muratori che lavoravano lì e allora c’han messo in fila, il capo della segheria, era una segheria, praticamente dovevamo tagliare delle piante eeeh, capo della segheria ha scelto un po’ di, di persone che andavano bene a lui, che gli sembrava e li ha messi lì a tagliare, e io mi son messo coi muratori. Eh intanto è arrivato il francese col padrone e cercava se c’era qualcuno, e si son si son presentati in sette o otto e io fui, ero l’unico che avevo la patente italiana, non era valida ero, ma comunque, non mi sono neanche, allora il francese ha preso su un’italiano e con il trattore tutti i giorni si andava a prendere, era una zona che c’erano delle, delle piante no, c’erano delle, tagliavano le piante e poi le le catalogavano tutte, facevano il numero. E il nostro padrone comperava il bosco, e e c’era da andare a prendere quelle piante lì, caricarle su su un trattore rimorchio, era il lavoro che c’era da fare. Poi ci davano un pezzo di, con le misure, c’erano quelle seghe in due, uno da una parte e lì, dopo due ore di piante non ce n’erano più da tagliare, gli italiani lavoravano forse troppo. Perché io quel quel giorno lì alla sera, quando è arrivato indietro il francese con l’altro italiano stavamo mangiando e, il francese si è messo lì da una parte, guardava e allora io ho detto, adesso, avevo fatto un anno di francese ma lo sapevo poco, adesso provo un po’, sono andato l’ho salutato ‘Bonsoir Monsieur’ ‘Ah! Bonsoir’ e mi ha detto ‘Tu parli francese?’ in francese ‘No’ dico ‘Ma poco’ ‘Beh beh’. M’ha detto cosa facevo in Italia ‘Facevo il meccanico’ c’ho detto ‘E c’ho anche la patente di guida’ ‘Bene bene bene’. Poi prima, c’era la guardia che ha fatto segno di andare in baracca e lui mi ha detto ‘Come ti chiami?’. Comment t’appelle è come ti chiami. E c’ho detto il nome ‘Ferrari’ ‘Au revoir’ ‘Au revoir’. Il giorno dopo lui, lui e il padrone mi cercavano ma non si ricordavano bene il nome ‘Farrari, Farrari’ il padrone. Quando sono arrivati pari a me il francese ci ha detto ‘È quello lì’ ‘Ah sei tu Ferrari, Ferrari’. [unclear] Emil si chiamava il francese e allora io sono andato col francese no, ha preso su anche l’altro operaio che c’era prima, eravamo in tre, ci davano a mezzogiorno un sanguich [sandwich] ma là facevano delle micche che erano, un sanguich c’era da mangiare e allora si mangiava quel sanguich lì e una bottiglia di tè, tutti i giorni, tutti i giorni per cinque giorni. E poi io poi ho sempre fatto quel lavoro lì, quando c’era da andare con due trattori, perché lì in quel paese lì non si consumava una giocca, una goccia di benzina eh, biciclette, c’erano solo le biciclette, e io andavo, andavo con magari due trattori, uno lo guidavo io, quell’altro il francese. La polizia tutti i giorni ci fermava, perché eravamo solo noi, girare con, e allora qualche volta facevano il verbale, e tante volte facevano come in Italia, lasciavano andare altrimenti, e poi il padrone si era un po’ arrabbiato ma comunque, non avevo, non era valida la mia patente ecco. E lì ho sempre fatto quel lavoro lì, poi il sabato, eeh mezzogiorno, mattina andavamo in città a prendere la roba della gente del paese, loro andavano già comperavano quello che avevano bisogno e li portavano in un magazzino del padrone che non so se l’ha affittato, però lui il padrone aveva l’obbligo di servire tutto il paese, con quello che avevano bisogno. E allora andavamo a prendere quella roba lì poi c’era da distribuirle fino a mezzogiorno, dopo mezzogiorno, lì in paese lavoravano dei muratori, c’era da andare a prendere la roba dei muratori, calce, c’era un magazzino, c’era di tutto. Per un po’ il francese m’ha preso su, per due o tre sabati, poi mi ha detto ‘Senti puoi andare te solo a prendere, a prendere quella roba?’. Perché lui aveva, era era sposato, però aveva la fidanzata lì, una russa, allora lui, sabato mezzogiorno, viveva insieme al padrone lui no, mangiava assieme a lui, sabato a mezzogiorno si metteva a posto e andava a trovare la fidanzata. Andava là, mangiavano insieme, stava là pomeriggio, la sera dormiva là, domenica stavano insieme e lui dormiva ancora là [laughs] al mattino però era puntuale al lavoro. Eh siamo andati sempre avanti così, io avevo, conoscevo tutti dal paese, perché io portavo, c’era da portarci le birre, e poi io essendo meccanico, aggiustavo le biciclette, lì c’erano solo biciclette da aggiustare. E allora al venerdì ci, mi portano là sempre sette o otto biciclette, io in città prendevo la roba che bisognava, facevo fare ogni, ogni ordine, ricevute, poi la gente veniva, pagava e mi dava magari anche qualche, da fumare noi cercavamo sempre da fumare, e mi dava qualche, anche qualche marco ecco, fintanto che. Intanto lì poi c’è stato quell’attentato a Hitler, al paese dove eravamo noi, su quella linea lì, però è una cosa che non è, cioè per noi non abbiam saputo tanto, sapevamo perché lì la gente metà era contro Hitler, noi la sera al sabato che, andavamo da uno che sentiva Radio Londra e ci dava le notizie e quindi [laughs] era uno che era contro. Un’altra cosa che, anche il padrone era contro Hitler cioè, il francese, andavamo sempre, una volta al mese andavano a fare servizio per un mulino che non avevano trattori però avevano la farina da distribuire. E allora partivamo con due rimorchi per un trattore solo no? Che c’era da girare tutto il giorno, a fare le consegne ci veniva dietro un italiano che lavorava lì. Quell’italiano lì prendeva su i piombini da piombare il sacco, e la macchinetta e poi siccome che ogni rimorchio c’erano quattro o cinque quintali di farina bianca e quattro cinque quintali di farina per fare i dolci, io cercavo la farina bianca, allora andavo io con lui, con l’italiano su un rimorchio, lui apriva cinque o sei pacchi, tirava fuori un chilo di farine, e io mettevo. Dopo un po’ il francese quando si immaginava che era a posto, si fermava, andavo su io e lui andava su che lui cercava la farina semola da rubare per il padrone [laughs] e riempiva il suo sacchetto poi e poi tutto il giorno avevamo magari una ventina di pagnotte fresche perché, eh ma c’erano cinquanta o sessanta panettieri da servire, poi ci davano anche eeeh qualche sigaretta e alla sera dividevamo, il pane lo dividevamo io e l’altro italiano, invece sigarette e marchi li dividevamo in tre. Comunque lì si vedeva che il padrone faceva rubare, se era un tedesco non doveva però. È arrivato il momento che siamo andato avanti per un quindici mesi, dopo quindici mesi ci han passati civili, perché tenerci da deportati forse c’erano degli accordi di stato che dovevano pagare un po’, eeeh pagare un po’ lo stato italiano. Eeeh siamo, siam passati civili e verso ottobre del ’44 è mancato il lavoro lì, e allora il padrone ha comperato un bosco di legna già tagliata, da, che bisognava andare all’ultima fermata, quando andavamo avanti e indietro, era l’ultima fermata della metropolitana di Berlino, no, proprio all’estremo, e c’era, forse a Postdam, Postdam che era l’ultima fermata della, e arrivavamo lì. E il francese era un po’, anche lui voleva fare un po’, e c’hanno, il padrone ci ha alloggiati in una in una casetta, sembrava una casetta delle bambole, e allora siamo arrivati, c’era 120 chilometri da dove eravamo noi a là, ci ha accompagnati il padrone. Siamo arrivati là, era bruciato un filtro del, del, il trattore aveva il suo gasolio no, a legna, ha bruciato il filtro allora bisognava venirlo a cercare ancora lì, è venuto a casa quel, quell’altro che era insieme a noi, eravamo in tre, due italiani, è venuto a casa lui, ha preso quell’affare, il giorno dopo l’ha portato su, l’abbiam messo a posto e siamo andati a vedere il bosco dove la legna, dove c’era la legna da portare via, siccome che il francese c’era già stato lì prima, anni prima, aveva fatto amicizia con un oste, uno che aveva un’osteria e però di clienti non ne aveva, era un contrabbandiere praticamente. E allora abbiam caricato due metri cubi di legna, già tagliata, e l’abbiam portata lì da quell’oste lì, ce l’abbiamo tagliata tutta a pezzetti nel posto [?], intanto ci ha dato una bella cassetta di birra, sigarette [laughs] e insomma ci ha fatto, e avevamo le tessere anche del, perché da civili ci han dato le tessere, ci pagavano, le tessere, le abbiamo date a quello lì, lui ci andava a prendere la nostra roba, ci manteneva sempre. Un giorno così, l’altro giorno ‘Beh oggi riposiamo, va là’, poi dopo un altro giorno non facevamo niente, insomma che nel bosco non si avrebbe, passato quindici giorni, e a casa aspettavano la legna. Allora poi, un giorno si è bucata una gomma, c’erano quelle ruote come abbiamo i trattori adesso noi, sono alte come una persona, e allora cosa si fa? Era la vigilia di Natale, l’antivigilia di Natale, ho detto ‘Vado, vedo, vado a casa io, vado eeh dal padrone a prenderne un’altra’. E difatti vado in stazione, mi metto in fila (perché era l’antivigilia c’era la gente così) mi metto in fila, arriva il mio turno e quello dei biglietti mi fa segno di mettermi di dietro ‘Ma io devo, c’ho il treno’. Non parlavo, cosa fai? Son dovuto andare in fila. Arriva un’altra volta, però il treno non c’era più, lui m’ha fatto il biglietto, vado in stazione, in stazione giro un po’ avanti e indietro e ho visto che c’era uno che mi seguiva, che non, allora ho provato a cambiare binario, passato sotto, e quello là di sotto. Poi arriva il treno che devo prendere io e a furia di spingere son riuscito ad andare su, ma c’era la gente che, era un treno locale. Dopo cinque, cinque minuti neanche si ferma e mi sento dietro eeh andare giù, cioè mi ha fatto segno di andare giù ‘Ma io devo andare’. Vado giù, cosa fa, vado giù. Vado giù lì poi il treno, c’era il bigliettaio che girava e cominciava a chiuder le porte, e poi si è accorto che io ero lì, mi ha chiamato per vedere. Mi ha portato in un vagone dove metà vagone non c’erano sedili, c’era un tavolo, sedie e c’erano e quelli lì che cercavano i biglietti, no, c’erano i controllori. Mi fan sedere e poi domande, e da dove viene, e cosa fa e cosa chiede. Beh io tedesco non lo parlavo, ma non avevo, c’ho fatto vedere la patente ‘Nicht gut, nicht gut, nicht gut’. Intanto mi prendevano sempre, dopo guardo bene nel portafoglio, c’era un permesso che per andar là m’aveva fatto il poliziotto del paese. E allora ce l’ho fatto vedere ‘Aaaah gut! Gut!’ è buono, è buono questo, va bene, adesso sappiamo da dove vieni e allora m’hanno dato da fumare e sono stato lì con loro fintanto che siamo arrivati nelle città loro han detto ‘Noi andiamo giù, e te?’ ‘No io vado ancora al mio paese, è appena avanti’. Difatti sono andato dal padrone, c’ho detto com’era che, allora l’indomani, era la vigilia, al mattino presto ci siamo alzati, siamo andati da uno che aveva il trattore però non poteva adoperarlo e aveva quelle gomme lì. Allora ne abbiamo smontate una, il padrone mi ha fatto, mi ha aiutato a portarla al treno, siamo riusciti a metterlo, c’erano quei vagoni che di dietro c’era uno spazio eeh si poteva stare in piedi. Avevamo fatto quattro o cinque chilometri arriviamo a Cottbus, era la nostra, la città che abbiamo più vicino, il treno si ferma, si ferma lì il treno, non va più avanti, beh c’è da prendere un altro treno, un altro treno aspetto che arriva, mi avvicino con la mia ruota lì, il controllore ‘Nein! Nein!’ come dire ‘Non vedi che è pieno, non si può’. Allora aspetta l’altro, aspetto l’altro va a finire che sono stata tutto il giorno senza mangiare. È arrivato un momento alla sera che c’era ancora un treno che andava a Berlino, allora cosa ho fatto, prendo la mia gomma fuori dalla stazione, vado, ho fatto alzare il gommista dove andavamo noi, si è alzato, ci ho detto ‘Lascio qua questa gomma la vengo a prendere dopo Natale’ ‘Ah vabbeh, vabbeh, vabbeh’. Allora vado ancora in stazione, adesso ci riesco ad andar su, allora ci riesco, e di fatti sono arrivato là che era tardi e il francese mi fa ‘E la gomma?’ ‘E la gomma l’ho lasciata lì perché non si poteva’. E il giorno dopo dall’Italia ci avevano mandati un chilo di riso a testa e un chilo di formaggio, e allora quelli lì li ho presi su, a mangiarli alla vigilia. E in più il francese mi ha detto ‘Vai, vai dalla mia fidanzata, ci dici che non ha niente, se non ha niente da darti’. Ma quella là rubava anche lei. Ma poi eeeh sono andato a dirci ‘Guarda Emil non viene perché stiamo lavorando’ ho detto ‘Stasera vengo io dunque’. Di fatti è venuta [?] in bicicletta, una gallina, già pronta, e lì avevano l’abitudine di mettere, allevavano le oche tagliavano tutto il momento e li mettevano nei vasi con il suo grasso, e c’era un paio di vasi di quelli lì, avevo lo zaino pieno di robe da mangiare. Il giorno, la mattina dopo siamo andati lì per per prendere quella ruota lì e non son riuscito, allora l’ho lasciato lì e sono andato da solo che domani, all’indomani abbiamo fatto la festa. E poi finito, poi dopo le, dopo Santo Stefano fa, adesso di, ch’ho detto ‘Vai te’ con il mio amico ‘Vai te a prendere la gomma, vai lì a Cottbus, non andare a casa perché altrimenti se ti vede’. E lui va, e poi è andato a farsi vedere a casa, è andato a vedere dove, il padrone l’ha visto ‘Come mai Nello, Nello, come mai?’ ‘Eh sono venuto a prendere la ruota che Ferrari ha lasciato lì’ [laughs]. È cominciato, comunque lui ce l’ha fatta poi a portarla su, le abbiam montate. Alla sera stavamo arrivando e il francese e l’altro italiano erano già in baracca, erano. Io stavo vuotando la, che erano i filtri del, dell’acqua sul, stavo, e vedo uno che dalla strada principale viene: era il padrone. Si è messo a gridare ‘E io vi denuncio! Vi denuncio per per sabotaggio, sabotage, sabotage’, era, era, e mi ha fatto ‘Emil dov’è Emil dov’è?’ ‘È in casa’ e allora è andato. Quando sono andato poi a mettere il trattore su nel garage, vado indietro, era là che rideva e sai perché? Non aveva da, non aveva da fumare e allora il francese ci ha allungato un pacchetto di sigarette [laughs]. Però poi il mattino, ha dormito lì e il giorno dopo è partito, di legna non ce n’erano, di legna, e allora abbiam detto ‘Adesso sarà il momento di prendere, andare a prendere un po’ di legna e portavamo in una stazione lì dove c’era, da da dove mettevamo le piante, c’era una riva no che andava, e allora abbiamo ordinato i vagoni, perché abbiamo do, ci volevano due vagoni per, con su le, che sterzando giravano tutti e due, che uno solo non ci, la pianta era più lunga di un , e allora abbiam caricato un po’, ogni cinque minuti suonava l’allarme, e allora piantavamo lì, si spegnevano le luci e andavamo sotto un ponte, però mal che vadi, dopo suonava il cessato allarme, torna indietro, a un bel momento ‘Beh guarda lasciamo stare, adesso vado in stazione e ci dico di spedirlo’. I vagoni erano a metà, sì e no. ‘Eh va beh’. E allora noi andiamo a casa e il padrone prima di tutto non ci ha pagato tutto, ha tenuto un po’ si soldi, perché, e di legna non ne abbiamo visto, non è mai arrivata la legna lì, però lì è cominciato a esserci la legna vicino da andare a prendere le piante, e allora andavamo lì a prendere le piante. Siamo stati lì due o tre mesi, e poi eeeh un mattino siamo andati a prendere lì, era vicino ‘Facciamo due viaggi, andiamo un po’ presto’. E andiamo e c’era una mitragliatrice puntata verso dove dovevano arrivare i russi, no? Che lì oramai era, eeeh abbiam caricato, siamo andati in baracca e abbiam detto ‘Andiamo a mangiare un po’’. Intanto è venuto il finimondo, bombe, e ci abbiam detto con il, avevamo il cuoco che lo pagava il padrone e cosa è ‘E son già passati gli aeroplani e adesso sono andati a fare un altro giro’. E loro fuori dalle baracche, siamo corsi verso, c’erano delle piante, ci siam messi. Intanto hanno fatto un altro giro e sono andati, poi noi ci siamo spostati un po’ e abbiamo detto ‘Andiamo, eeeh andiamo, passiamo dopo il paese, ci sono dei boschi, ci mettiamo lì. Siamo stati lì un po’, poi incominciano ad arrivare le granate, fiiiiiiii, passavano sopra andavano, man mano giravano gli apparecchi e le granate si avvicinavano perché a loro segnalavano, ‘Accorciate il tiro’. E infatti accorcia accorcia ‘Adesso, adesso arriveranno qua dove siamo noi, andiamo via’. E allora abbiam deciso di arrivare in baracca a prendere la nostra roba e andare via, siamo andati, c’era una spianata di, c’era un prato con in mezzo una ventina di piante. Siamo andati verso quelle piante e gli aeroplani erano come se ci prendevano, noi ci mettevamo di dietro a una pianta e loro, intanto che loro hanno fatto il giro siamo andati in baracca. Lì era quasi sera e il francese ci fa ‘Se ci aiutate, andiamo via coi padroni perché stasera il padrone, il paese deve sgomberare’ e lì avevano già cercato il posto ‘Questo paese va in questo paese’ e lì requisivano il comune, requisivano le scuole, insomma un paese stava nell’altro. ‘Ma sì’ dico ‘Noi altroché, io vengo aiutarti a mettere in moto il trattore’. Intanto gli altri han cominciato a portar giù un po’ di materassi per la moglie del padrone, eeeh il padrone però doveva restare, perché lì ultimamente avevano fatto, in un argine, avevano fatto tante buche, ogni buca, doveva andarci dentro un tedesco, per difendere l’ultimo, eeeh quando arrivavano i russi, difendere il paese, e stavano in quel buco lì con, che poi le le forse non son servite niente perché, e intanto abbiamo, eeh abbiamo messo in moto il trattore, siam venuti indietro, per agganciare il rimorchio, siamo a cinquanta metri, è scoppiata una granata proprio in mezzo alla strada dove c’era il rimorchio. Gli italiani erano tutti sotto il rimorchio e uno solo è rimasto un po’ ferito. E ha bucato tutte e gomme, che poi dall’altra parte della strada transitava una compagnia di tedeschi, soldati, in ritirata, uno ha preso una scheggia, c’ha tranciato il piede con dentro la scarpa, le urla eeeh, lì ci avran tirato, insomma l’abbiam fasciato, l’han fasciato loro perché noi lì abbiam girato il trattore e ci prepara davanti un ufficiale che fa ‘Adesso prendete su questo ferito, andate, quando arrivate nella strada principale’ ha detto ‘Lì ci deve essere un’infermeria, un ospedale, andate lì, chiamate e fate caricare, ma state attenti perché non si scherza eh?’. E di fatti poi noi siamo arrivati a quel punto lì, io sono andato giù, ho suonato alla caserma lì, son venuti fuori, mi son fatto capire che c’era un ferito, ‘Ricoveratelo lì’, son venuti a prenderlo e noi siamo andati in quel paese là. E al mattino, siamo arrivati al mattino, eeh quelli del paese si son messi a posto, tutti, e noi siamo andati in una casina, ci siamo alloggiati in una casina, perché lì allora i tedeschi erano buoni con noi, te se venivo, dopo abbiam saputo che se trovavi un russo che dicevi ‘Quello lì mi ha fatto del male’ ci mettevano due, tac, ah c’han fatto una legge che, e le città dove sono entrati poi son venuti, quella lì era deserta, c’era è venuto il momento che non si poteva più entrare perché ormai, perché il giorno dopo dovevo andare a fare un trasloco in quella città lì e il mattino, quello che doveva fare il trasloco mi ha detto ‘Guarda non si può più entrare in città, quindi’ per me è stato meglio. Dopo setto otto giorni o dieci, sono arrivati i russi lì dov’eravamo noi, già spostati no, noi eravamo in un paesino, e da mangiare prendevamo delle patate e poi andavamo, al mattino andavamo fuori in un bosco c’era un fosso, ci mettevamo lì poi facevamo cuocere le patate. Quel giorno lì, eravamo lì e c’era una mitraglia piazzata lì a cinquanta metri, verso di noi ‘Madonna e qua e non va micca tanto bene’ e allora dopo un po’ provo a vedere, andiamo fuori a vedere, una raffica di mitra ‘Stai giù’ poi ancora abbiamo visto la mitraglia non c’era più, il soldato non c’era più, però la raffica di mitra arrivava [coughs] allora abbiamo detto ‘Sa, prendiamo su la nostra pentola e andiamo direttamente in paese almeno i padroni ci difenderanno, se’. Andiamo verso il paese, andiamo in un certo punto c’era una cappelletta lì, e c’era un soldato seduto lì, quando ci siamo avvicinati abbiamo visto che aveva la stella rossa sulla bustina ‘Quello lì è russo!’. E di fatti era un russo, ci siamo abbracciati, oh ci abbiamo fatto una festa [laughs]. E lui mi ha detto ‘Andate avanti, andate avanti: lì tutti noi, noi avanti’ di fatti siamo andati verso il paese, c’è venuto in contro un ufficiale, perché in paese c’erano tre o quattro russi eh che giravano in tutte le case per vedere se c’erano dei soldati, e viene verso di noi, leva il coperchio della pentola, le patate, ha preso la pentola e ha rovesciato le patate in un fosso, e noi ‘Eeeh’ l’ha di ‘Dopo, dopo’ e allora ci ha fatto il segno di andare in fondo, in fondo al paese c’era tre o quattro militari, qualche uomo ancora valido del paese che lì lo prendevano e li mandavano in Russia eh, a piedi [emphasis], e c’era un soldato che ci guidava siamo andati, siamo andati in una villa che c’era un portone, andiamo dentro lì e c’era pieno di tedeschi e poi abbiam sentito in casa che si, che parlavano, andiamo a vedere, [coughs] siamo andati in casa: erano tutti russi e polacchi, allora andiamo bene ‘Italiani, italiani’ sì sì, quelli ci, qualcuno ci diceva ‘Italiano però hai fatto la guerra contro di noi’ ma la maggior parte insomma, e siamo andati subito a vedere in cantina ma non c’era più niente da mangiare. Allora arriva sera [coughs] ci portano fuori al giardino e ci dividono tedeschi, italiani, francesi c’erano diverse. E poi i tedeschi, intanto passava una colonna di tedeschi che venivano da più avanti verso Berlino, li hanno accodati a quelli lì e via a piedi, poi i polacchi, e noi ci abbiamo detto ‘Ma il mangiare?’ e loro ci hanno fatto capire che non c’è tanto da mangiare come adesso, non ce n’è mai stato quindi ‘Ci sono delle case, andate dentro, prendete quello che volete, comandate voi!’. E c’era un polacco, una squadra, che aveva anche una rivoltella, parlava bene, e noi siamo andati in un paesino e ha detto quello là ‘Ora ci fermiamo qua, dormiamo questo, cerchiamo di dormire’, eh e allora intanto, e abbiamo ‘Domani mattina’ ho detto allora, intanto abbiamo girato un po’ abbiamo visto una casa con dentro una luce, siamo andati dentro, c’erano [coughs] due russi vecchi che erano, erano, lavoravano per i padroni delle ville e c’era qualche polacco lì, siamo andati a vedere subito in cantina perché lì c’era la stufa una stufa accesa, e c’era qualche vaso di quei pezzi lì d’oca che, allora li abbiamo subito messi nell’acqua calda e a abbiamo cominciato. Poi andiamo fuori, abbiamo sentito il verso delle galline sulla cascina, e sì c’erano delle galline, siamo andati su in due o tre, abbiamo individuato al buio, tiriamo il collo e giù, intanto che siamo scesi la prima che abbiamo giù era già nella pentola [laughs] abbiamo mangiato le galline, eh dopo abbiamo cominciato a stare bene ‘Eh adesso andiamo a vedere ancora fuori’. Siamo andati nella stalla c’era, c’era una mucca, e allora adesso, però di notte girava un russo lì, l’abbiam portato là ‘Secondo te si può?’ ‘Nein, nein’ quella lì, mi ha fatto capire, è già segnata, ‘Quando le truppe ha bisogno della carne vengono a prendere queste bestie’ ‘Ah beh allora’. Allora gira di dietro c’era un porcile con due maiali ‘I maiali si possono ammazzare’ e allora uno l’abbiam fatto andare lì, e l’altro l’abbiamo ammazzato con con una sbarra di ferro no, ha fatto una morte un po’, l’abbiam portato fuori da lì, ci abbiam tagliato la testa, andar via il sangue, poi abbiamo preso i prosciutti, in spalla, li abbiam fatti cuocere un po’ l’abbiam mangiato, un po’ l’abbiamo messo nello zaino e la mattina dopo l’abbiam preso su, l’abbiam preso su tutto e siamo andati all’appuntamento, di fatto c’erano quei polacchi che andavano a casa, noi ci accompagnavano fino a quelle città lì che era il suo confine dove c’era un agglomerato tutto, che lì avevano chiuso delle delle vie e una via era per gli italiani, l’altra via era per i francesi, l’altra via c’erano tante nazionalità [caughs] e ognuno aveva, però lì ci davano da mangiare. Ma noi non siamo arrivati fino a lì, siamo passati da dove c’era il nostro paese, ci abbiam detto con quelli là voi andate, noi andiamo nel nostro paese ‘Sì, sì, sì’ tanto cosa ci interessava a quello là, e di fatti abbiam parlato dal nostro paese, non abbiamo visto nessuno. Solo che lì avevano portato delle casse di farina di latte no, di cinquanta chili. Prima, in principio quando le han portate, abbiam visto che il francese ogni tanto andava su apriva e poi andava giù con un sacchetto e io ‘Mah cosa ci avrà quello lì’. E allora dalla segheria si poteva andare in quella stanza lì, siamo andati su abbiamo visto era roba gialla roba, abbiam provato con l’acqua calda a mischiare, veniva una crema di [coughs] e allora un sacchetto per volta ho detto ‘Ma ragazzi qua se vuotiamo la cassa poi se ne accorgono’ e allora abbiam pensato di portare via una cassa intera così almeno, ce n’era una in meno ma. Di fatti abbiam, una sera, io dovevo essere sempre come, come spione, perché il padrone, ero nelle maniche del padrone, e allora anche se capitava qualcosa. E di fatti la sera siamo, due o tre sono andati dentro, io e un altro passeggiavamo sulla strada sì che se viene fuori il padrone, cerchiamo di intrattenerlo un po’, però non abbiamo visto niente, quando abbiam visto passare quelli là con la cassa allora e di fatti abbiamo subito smistato tutte le farine eeh siam ne abbiam portato un po’ a casa della guardia che lui le accettava molto volentieri [emphasis], portavamo il sacco delle patate, poi siccome c’era dentro, tra noi c’era un muratore che ha fatto due due ruote così di cemento eh, cemento puro, ci ha fatto tutte le scannelature e poi ci ha fatto la contro piastra e abbiamo fatto una macina, grano non mancava e allora in un foro ci mettevamo il grano che andava giù, si macinava e andava fuori la farina rimaneva subito, la crusca e un po’ da una parte, e allora avevamo la farina [laughs]. Beh comunque noi siamo andati là siamo andati, per arrivare in quella città lì, però non ci siamo arrivati, siamo arrivati che oramai c’era buio, in un satellite della città, sarebbe come Milano Cinisello [coughs] è una bella, era una cittadina messa bene, tutte le sue vie, era la villa sulla strada di dietro ci avevano da fare la corte, dall’altra parte c’era l’orto dell’altra via, era giù giù bene. Allora siamo andati nella prima villa che c’era ‘Ci fermiamo a dormire qua’, di fatti siamo andati di sopra sempre al buio e c’erano tre o quattro letti, c’erano quattro stanze, era una villa grossa, da basso c’era eeeh c’era il piano, poi c’erano due saloni, un salone lo abbiamo adibito a pranzo, un bel tavolo ci stavamo, nell’altra sala c’era una saracinesca, c’era una porta scorrevole, un mattino andavamo fuori, l’unica roba da portare era una tovaglia e le forchette, perché finito di mangiare lasciavamo le tovaglie dentro là si chiudeva. E siamo stati lì più di un mese in quel paese lì abbiamo vissuto da signori perché abbiam trovato una piccionaia, c’erano tutti, proprio ce n’erano tanti e allora una notte siamo andati abbiam mangiato il piccione, con dispiacere ma eeh povere bestie. Poi siamo andati un po’ fuori, c’era una stalla con una vacca che oramai era là sdraiata, e ci abbiamo dato da mangiare e da bere che insomma dopo sette otto giorni si è alzata e adesso la portiamo là e infatti l’abbiamo presa, andavamo stavamo andando portandola là, ci passan due russi con una camionetta, si fermano ‘E cos’è cos’è’ mi dice ‘Cosa fate’ eh adesso ammazziamo, e va beh te la ammazziamo noi, han tirato fuori la rivoltella e l’han ammazzata, a noi ci ha dato, ci han dato una coscia, ma non era tanto grassa, comunque è andata bene lo stesso. Poi girando per, girando per le le ville, che lì erano tutte ville da signori eh, c’erano degli armadi pieni di vestiti, in cantina abbiam trovato di tutto, abbiam trovato perfino del vino di Ballabio, qua del Tegio [?] abbiamo trovato zucchero, farine. C’era una villa che forse c’erano delle signorine, c’erano stati cinquanta di quei, di quei servizi di toilette che c’erano il profumo, rossetto, e allora li abbiam portati di là, al mattino, il cuoco arrivava su a fare il caffè e uno di noi si alzava e si girava per le stanze e si spruzzava un po’ di profumo e poi ci portavamo il caffè [laughs], ogni tanto eh. Un bel momento poi, lì nella villa accanto c’era uno di Redavalle insieme a un croato, cos’era, che parlava il russo, quello là tutti i giorni andava in città entrava nei ristoranti vuoti, portava a casa del liquore e ce ne dava, però un momento ha detto, sarà meglio che venite perché c’è in ballo il trasferimento, forse era il momento di. E infatti siamo andati là e siamo stati eeeh siamo stati un bel po’ perché là ci davano da mangiare anche però bisognava alzarsi, ogni via tre o quattro persone dovevano andare a pelar le patate, e tutti i giorni partiva un carro con sotto un cavallo con un russo e andava oltre il confine che praticamente si entrava in Polonia, perché i tedeschi prima avevano conquistato la Polonia e poi avevano mandato i tedeschi, fra l’altro avevano costruito Mauthausen, Mauthausen era in Polonia non era in Germania, e noi c’era ancora l’insegna Mauthausen. E allora se si poteva appena appena, ci andavamo, col cavallo, perché andavamo oltre il confine, avanti nei paesi a prender della roba, lì eeh si vede che c’era qualche deposito di di farina, patate. E poi lì passava un russo, avvisava nel paese ‘Fra un’ora questo paese deve essere sgomberato’. Lì erano tutti tedeschi, e dovevano, in un’ora facevano poco eh, però avevano quasi tutti, il cavallo con il carro, attaccavano il cavallo al il carro e l’infilavano via. Noi andando di là magari si incontrava la colonna che veniva, andava via, portavano, quando arrivavano quasi nella Germania, che c’era, lì c’eran tutti boschi no, se c’era un’entrata, c’era lì un russo, infilava la colonna dentro lì, e poi cominciava a sparare che la gente a piedi, via tutta, piantavano là cavalli, eeeh viveri, tutto, piantavano là, altrimenti. E allora noi, c’era il russo che guidava il carro guardava, cercava il cavallo più bello che c’era, lo prendeva, noi cercavamo invece roba da mangiare. E poi è venuto il momento che ci siamo, ci siamo andati là e abbiamo fatto il trasferimento, da lì siamo andati in un’altra città dove si presumeva la partenza, e di fatti il, siamo passati dalla Francia, visita di qua, visita di là, siamo arrivati al confine e lì c’era, di solito c’era un camion ogni regione che veniva ad aspettare i prigionieri per portarli a casa, lì per la Lombardia c’era un camion che andava a Pavia, ero il solo che andava, ero il solo, però ho preso quel camion lì, m’ha portato a Pavia, da Pavia sono andato a Casteggio su un carro con un cavallo, che la gente allora eeeh da Casteggio o da Borgoratto andavano a Pavia con un carro con un cavallo a vendere la roba eh, camion non ce n’erano, e allora sono arrivato a Casteggio, è tutto quello che ho potuto, potuto fare.
FA: Vedere. Ma prima, prima che prima che arrivassero i russi quando eravate a, vicino a Berlino, ha detto che suonava l’allarme,
MF: sì.
FA: Allarme anti aereo?
MF: Suonava l’allarme.
FA: Di, di che cosa?
MF: Le sirene, perché arrivavano le fortezze volanti.
FA: Voi sapevate chi, che aerei, di chi erano questi aerei, ve lo dicevano?
MF: No, no, questi aerei oramai lo sapevamo di chi erano.
FA: Ah.
MF: Erano americani.
FA: Ah.
MF: Perché i russi viaggiavano con dei leggeri, aeroplani leggeri, però gli americani e inglesi, tutte le sere arrivavano con le fortezze volanti.
FA: Tutte le sere.
MF: Tutte le sere. Allora suonava l’allarme, si spegnevano tutte le luci, però si accendevano le le.
FA: L’antiaerea.
FA: Insomma la contraerea, si accendeva la contraerea, si vedeva che girava, girava, girava se ne inquadrava uno, perché hanno avuto anche di perdite anche gli inglesi, gli americani eh, perché se, se inquadravano una fortezza volante non, non ci scappava più, era un gran difficile che poteva andar via ancora, allora le buttavano giù. Era già difficile a inquadrarla perché avranno avuto i suoi, però e ogni quarto d’ora o dieci minuti suonava l’allarme no? E lì si fermava tutto, poi suonava l’allarme che era finito e allora si vede che si accendevano le luci, e anche noi stavamo caricando il rimorchio, il vagone e ci fermavamo, e andavamo sotto un ponte, finito lì tornavamo indietro, ma dopo un quarto d’ora suonava ancora l’allarme, vuol dire che facevano il giro eeh eeh.
FA: E andavano a Berlino.
MF: Erano sopra Berlino.
FA: E voi vedevate.
MF: Noi li vedevamo sopra Berlino, nelle città, perché eravamo come di qua, non so eeeh Fumo o, tre o quattro chilometri, in periferia no, eravamo proprio in periferia di Belino [coughs] e vedevamo che erano già sopra le città.
FA: E vedevate che bombardavano.
MF: E bombardavano, sì perché Berlino era quasi distrutta eh, Berlino è grossissima eh ma c’han fatto dei danni che, eh, era era una cosa da vedersi ecco perchè, vedere lì tutte le, quegli aerei lì che man mano che c’era la contraerea girava magari uno si vedeva, poi la contraerea girava e non si vedevano più, però se ne inquadravano uno quello là era difficile che scappasse, perché erano, avevano della contraerea, non è come, nei paesi di contraeree non ce n’era, però i russi giravano con dei degli apparecchi leggeri, avevano su quelle cinque o sei bombe, piccole e bombardavano.
FA: Quindi i russi potevano bombardare, per dire, anche dove eravate, dove eravate voi. Perché erano più.
MF: Sì sì.
FA: Invece gli americani andavano su Berlino.
MF: I russi bombardavano anche, han bombardato dove eravamo noi, e noi abbiamo fatto di tutto per scapparci fuori, e loro vedevano, ci vedevano, io, noi non vedevamo loro, perché non c’era contraerea, viaggiavano a bassa quota eh e ci inseguivano, come.
FA: E voi.
MF: Una giornata intera, una giornata intera per, anche per mettere a posto, per fare delle, delle granate, no? Se erano troppo lungo lo accorciavano, loro giravano, vedeva dove scoppiava eeh.
FA: Ho capito.
UNKNOWN: Senta lei non vuol.
[part missing in the original file]
FA: Prima della pausa stavamo dicendo appunto del, dei russi che vi.
MF: Sì sì.
FA: Che vi seguivano, insomma, cosa provavate voi e i vostri compagni mentre succedevano queste cose?
MF: Ehh avevamo paura di prender le bombe perché non è che, loro ci prendevano forse per tedeschi, non è che sapevano che noi eravamo lì, altrimenti magari se sapevano che eravamo italiani non bombardavano, e invece bombardavano, e arrivavano le granate, poi ha incominciato ad arrivare in paese, che in paese non ha fatto neanche tanti danni, perché la popolazione si è arresa, la sera, verso sera son partiti tutti eh non c’è rimasto nessuno lì, c’è rimasto, qualcuno c’è rimasto perché dopo che noi siam passati di lì, c’erano ancora dei morti sul piazzale della stazione, era già puzzavano forse, era, e non c’era più nessuno che li, perché anche il nostro padrone doveva andare in quella buca, in una buca di quelle lì, però non c’è andato perché si è salvato, poi poi siamo andati in altre città dove era imminente la partenza e allora c’era un treno che passava tutti i giorni, un trenino, andava piano e andava da dove eravamo noi, un po’ più avanti alle città e viceversa no? E allora noi saltavamo su quel trenino lì e siam venuti, venivamo lì dove lavoravamo, dove, e abbiamo trovato anche il padrone, che l’abbiam beffato un po’ perché noi avevamo le sigarette, avevamo, e lui non aveva più niente. E allora, quando [laughs] lui aveva delle sigarette e noi no, magari passava lì c’era un ponte che, che passava sotto un fosso grosso e lui si portava sul ponte con la sigaretta, quando era a metà la buttava dentro nell’acqua [laughs] e allora poi ci abbiam fatto noi lo stesso scherzo a lui, che metteva.
FA: E quando succedeva, quando venivano a bombardare, vi nascondevate sempre sotto lo stesso ponte o vi, dov’è che vi mettevate.
MF: No, quando han bombardato lì da noi ci spostavamo un po’, perché.
FA: Cercavate di di scappare.
MF: Eh cercavamo che se le granate arrivavano verso di noi, poi un bel momento, viene viene sera, qua continuano tutte le notti, qua continuano e allora abbiam deciso di andare in baracca, prender su un po’ di roba e scappare, non sapendo dove andare eh, però abbiam trovato che venivano via anche i padroni, il posto c’era, c’era il rimorchio che era otto metri, ci stavamo su tutti, e e che poi è capitato di esserci su quel militare lì con via un piede. Però abbiam fatto una strada per scappare, non da una strada principale, perché, per strada ci vedevano, in un, diciamo era un sentiero che passava sotto delle piante lì, però giravano lo stesso, quando sganciavano i bengala era giorno e allora fermi tutti senza senza respirare, si illuminavano tutto, uno che si muoveva si vedeva. Poi non vedevano niente, il bengala si spegneva e allora si partiva si andava avanti. Ma poi una cosa che mi è rimasta impressa è eeeh le, il modo cioè di far la guerra dei russi, che loro non sprecavano, eeh di morti forse non, che loro si mettevano qua, magari bombardavano Fumo o Casetisma [Casatisma] fintanto che li stufavano, poi entravano e non c’era più nessuno, e allora avanti, però nella strada principale, lei vedeva una marea di uomini eh, ma per chilometri e chilometri, con carri armati con dei fusti che quattro o cinque metri e tutto, tutto a piedi, andavano tutti a piedi, i carri armati andavano piano e eravamo lì ‘Berlino! Berlino!’ ‘Avanti Berlino’ c’erano ancora [coughs] era, fa impressione, perché poi loro mettevano magari un drappello, cinque o sei russi, mettevi in un paese ‘Girate qua, guardate se c’è qualcosa, se c’è qualcuno li facciamo prigionieri e via’ e loro intanto andavano avanti, dietro non ci guardavano più, erano sicuri che che non ci rimaneva gente, in modo che di danni ne hanno avuti poco sicuro, prima, quando han cominciato a venire avanti e i tedeschi retrocedevano. Sì sì mi è rimasto impresso quella, quella marea di gente che per lo più si vedeva, non erano gente [coughs] cioè diciamo istruita perché vedere uno con quattro o cinque orologi, quando uno era fermo lo buttava via, no? Se è fermo non va più, c’era solo da tirarlo su, lo buttavano via, perché alla gente ci prendevano tutto quello che che avevano.
FA: Va bene. C’è qualcos’altro che vuole, vuole raccontarci di.
MF: Altro non di di interessante non mi viene in mente niente,
FA: Va bene.
MF: L’unica cosa che potevo eeeh testimoniare è quello lì, di quelle fortezze volanti che si vedevano sopra Berlino tutte le sere eh, e oramai Berlino era, sarà stata quasi disabitata anche lei, perché i danni erano erano ingenti eh si vedeva dalle fiammate, dalle. Però anche gli americani hanno avuto le le, insomma i suoi danni, perché oltre ai piloti aerei ci andava di mezzo un mezzo che. Che lì poi a un bel momento i tedeschi non sapevano più cosa fare eh, perché dovevano difendere il fronte de de lì che son sbarcati, dove son sbarcati poi gli Alleati vicino a Roma, Anzio, e Anzio c’è stato lo sbarco [coughs] io ci sono stato a Anzio lì a lavorare. Poi c’era lo sbarco in Sicilia, doveva far fronte, c’era il fronte francese, il fronte americano, e e tedesco e l’altro chi c’era contro, americani e inglesi, francesi [coughs]. I tedeschi avevano tre o quattro fronti e cercavano gente, specialmente fra gli internati, ogni due o tre mesi ci portavano in città no e la guardia ci diceva ‘Adesso vi diranno di partecipare alla sua causa, cioè di unirsi che poi vi manderanno in Italia, vi dicono [emphasis] però non credeteci, che non vi mandano in Italia! Vi tengono là, vi tengono qua, vi fanno lavorare e intanto chiudono’ facevano, quelli lì li mettevo in posti, nelle retrovie e, che è capitato che da noi è venuto per dire un camion, e queste son cose poi secondarie, il camion è andato dentro al capannone, no, ha scaricato e poi il camion è andato via è rimasto lì due militari e un ufficiale, verso sera l’ufficiale è venuto nella nostra baracca ma senza chiedere niente neh, è venuto dentro ha guardato, guarda ‘Quei due militari lì dormiranno qua’ perché c’erano dei posti ancora, prima c’erano dei posti per venticinque poi noi siamo rimasti in dodici quindi eh cosa vuoi fare ‘Sì, va bene’ e di fatti alla sera quei due militari lì venivano da noi, a un bel momento ci fanno, fanno capire se c’avevamo un paio di pantaloni, quelli lì ‘Eh sì’ però prima han chiesto una camicia, la camicia ci han portato una stecca di sigarette, erano venti pacchetti no? Dopo ci chiedono i pantaloni, i pantaloni molto di più sigarette, e allora han portato tre o quattro stecche o cinque. Chiedono la giacca, ci diamo anche la giacca, però sempre con un piccolo aumento, insomma avevamo, c’era, avevamo tanti pacchetti forse dieci pacchetti a testa. È saltato fuori che un bel momento, ci abbiam dato anche le scarpe, e m’ha detto ‘Sapete perché facciamo così? Perché noi siamo russi’. Erano due russi che si erano alleati coi tedeschi ‘Se ci vedono i nostri compatrioti per noi è finita eh, e allora li abbiam vestiti di civili, li han messo nel suo zaino e bun, basta lì. [coughs] Quindi c’erano anche quelli lì che, e rubavano tutti poi, perché da quel camion lì che è arrivato poi quando son partiti, eeeh son venuti a prender la roba che è rimasta, stanno per partire: trattore non parte più, lì c’era l’ufficiale, un ufficiale tedesco che comandava quei due lì ed è venuto uno con il trattore ‘Il trattore non parte, il trattore non parte’. E allora per combinazione era un trattore che io avevo rifatto nuovo, perché ho visto che era lì fermo, c’ho detto con il francese ‘Perché non lo adoperiamo’ era un bel trattorino (come un nostro piccolo che abbiamo qua con le ruote strette) ‘Non si può più aggiustare’ ‘Oh!’ e prova dire al padrone se posso guardarci, lui mi ha dato il permesso io l’ho rimesso a nuovo, no? Fatto bronzine nuove, tutto, tutto, e di fatti poi è partito, abbiamo adoperato un po’, ma poi il padrone l’ha dato al governo. E non parte quel trattore lì combinazione era un trattore come quello lì. Sapevo il divetto, e mi ha chiamato il padrone ‘Ferrari! prova a guardare il trattore’. Ci sono andato, ch’ho messo una mano c’ho chiuso un po’ l’aria, a veder, bisognava guardare, c’ho detto al tedesco che c’era su ‘Prova’ quello là è partito subito. L’ufficiale che gli era dietro ci ha detto al padrone ‘Ferrari viene con me adesso, io lascio qua un altro’ ‘Nein! Nein! Ferrari Ferrari mein Mechanik, mein Mechanik, mein Mechanik! Ferrari no no no’ [laughs]. E di fatti, altrimenti. Intanto che andavano via io ero lì, ho visto un tedesco lì che con uno scatolone, ha fatto un buco nel nel frumento dentro, l’ho visto, e ci ha messo quella scatola lì, mi son ricordato dove l’aveva messo. Appena via loro, io son subito andato dentro, ho cercato quel pacco lì e l’ho buttato dietro al capannone, c’era delle sterpaglie, ma alte. Dopo due minuti spunta il il capo della segheria viene, va dentro, incomincia a guardare, cerca cerca [laughs] che trovi, ha cercato un po’ è andato via, dopo un po’ ritorna, e cerca cerca cerca non l’ha trovato perché l’avevo messo via io e allora mi son messo, io avevo su una tuta con, da ginnastica, in fondo era chiusa e ci stavano dentro dei pacchetti di sigarette, e allora son andato, ho aperto il pacco, ho aperto tutti i pacchetti, non ho preso le stecche intere, tutti i pacchetti, un po’ di qua un po’ di là, c’ho fatto un paio di viaggi, li ho portati in baracca, toh, ero a posto. Quello lì è andato d’accordo con il tedesco di metterci lì un pacco di sigarette eh, e rubavano.
FA: Va bene, allora la ringraziamo molto per, per questa intervista.
MF: Sì sì no mi dispiace che praticamente nella guerra non ero il fronte dove si stava male dove si pativa la la fame. Lì noi in paese eravamo come i suoi figli, perché ognuno di noi si aveva fatto, si era fatto la sua famiglia tutti i sabati andava a lavorare lì, si faceva l’orto, ci faceva, ci spaccava la legna, magari buttava qualche pianta, preparava il terreno per metterci le patate, tutti i sabati e magari anche le domeniche, loro erano contenti, li pagavano, e noi, io avevo un altro lavoro però ero in contatto con tutti lì nel paese. Andavo, andavamo c’erano due bar, no avevamo un bar in centro e c’era i bar della stazione che era un bar ristorante perché aveva delle camere d’affittare via, e io e noi andavamo magari a fare la partita a biliardo così bevevamo delle birre, Ferrari non ha mai pagato una birra ‘No no Ferrari’ niente, perché venerdì, sabato ci portavamo i barili pieni di birre, delle città, eh lì, da soli non potevano andarli a prendere. Non è che, anche se potevano fare i prepotenti, perché dice ‘Te non c’entri niente, devi lavorare per’ no, ci pagavano eeeh. Le biciclette, io gliele aggiustavo tutte, però mi pagavano, davano qualche sigaretta, qualche marco, poi passando civili avevamo tutti i diritti dei pensionati tedeschi, ci pagavano, ci che i tedeschi essendo in pensione ci davano i soldi anche per vestirsi no, perché non basta solo mangiare, magari [coughs] vestirsi o che noi non ne avevamo bisogno, e a noi i soldi ci servivano perché al sabato e la domenica il panettiere preparava, c’era una rosetta di pane bianco no, come le nostre rosette qua o una fetta di torta, o l’uno o l’altro: noi prendevamo uno e l’altro perché pagavamo. I tedeschi non potevano prendere perché non ce lo davano neanche a piangere, perché se se un tedesco avesse preso una cosa in più, si faceva la spia però là chiudeva il negozio eh. Noi invece ce li dava perché lo pagavamo, era sicuro che non non lo denunciavamo, no no.
FA: Va bene allora la ringraziamo ancora molto per questa intervista.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Marino Ferrari
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Filippo Andi
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-01-16
Contributor
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Francesca Campani
Format
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01:19:52 audio recording
Language
A language of the resource
ita
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Italy--Pavia
Italy--Casteggio
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Cottbus
Italy--Po River Valley
Germany
Italy
Austria
Austria--Mauthausen
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
AFerrariM170116
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Description
An account of the resource
Marino Ferrari recalls his early life as an engineer at Pavia arsenal, and later in Catanzaro and Verona. Describes his life as an Italian military internee in East Prussia, working in different lumberyards. Speaks with affection of the German families he worked for, stressing mutual help, solidarity, and reasonably good living conditions. Recounts stories of his wartime experience: sourcing spare parts for machinery; dealing with authorities, civilians and other prisoners of war; rumours of the Stauffenberg plot. Describes two bombings: the first at a train station where he was loading tree trunks, the second when a shell exploding nearby slicing off a soldier's foot. Provides an account of night bombings on Berlin, describing the descent of target indicators, aircraft being coned by searchlights and civilians hiding in makeshift shelters. Chronicles the occupation by Soviet troops and recounts tricks and ruses used to get food and supplies, especially cigarettes. Narrates the trials and tribulations of his journey back to Casteggio.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
animal
bombing
civil defence
home front
love and romance
searchlight
target indicator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/263/Memoro 555.1.mp3
98fea93c1004a555ad4854856936700c
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
EG: Also es ist, des letzte Weihnachten da waren die grössten Bombenangriffe. Es war entsetzlich, die Strassen die waren voller Rauch und man ist im Keller gesessen mit grosser Angst weil bei jeder Detonation was war haben wir gedacht, hoffentlich kommt des net noch näher und kommt da ins eigene Haus. Und es war eine Luftgabe unten im Keller Es muss man sich vorstellen da sitzen vielleicht vierzig Menschen von so’m grossen Haus unten auf diesen Holzbänken und da war eine Kranke oide Leute dabei und der Kranke hatt immer wieder mal ein Ton von sich gegeben, hot laut nausch g’schrien weil er [unclear] nimmer mitkriegt das er auf der Holzpritsche ist und seine Frau, das war also auch ‘ne oide Oma, die war neben ihm auf der Holzpritsche und die hatt’s immer g’sagt [unclear] sei’s da still sei still und dann hott’s immer oinen Rosenkranz nach’m anderen gebetet und [unclear] sie haben selber Angst und sie hing an da Mutter und die anderen Kinder a so [unclear] die hingen auch an der Mutter [unclear] wenn dann diese oide Oma da immer heil ihre Mutter Gottes un beten und beten und einen Rosenkrantz nach’m anderen des erheitert und ermuntert ja aa ned und so, also es war a furchtbare Angst in dem Raum drinna wirklich a furchtbare Angst und auf oimoi kracht’s wieder und durch diesen Knall und durch diesen Bombenfall hat’s die Luftgabe da im Keller auf und es kommt a Haufen Schmutz und Dreck und so und aber a etliche Fetzen Papier durch des Luftgabenloch oder und der kleine Junge der steht do und schüttelt sein Mama und sagt ‘Mutti schau mal, schau mal, der Tommy schickt heute Einwickelpapier’. [laughs] alles unten kracht [unclear] diese Spannung, diese Angst, die war gebrochen in den Moment. Also es ist zwar kua Einwickelpapier gekommen aber [laughs] es ist wenigstens so gewesen das man aus’m Keller raushabenkönna es hat zwar wirklich eingeschlagen und wir haben nimmer in unsere Wohnung könna, wir waren total beschädigt aber wie gsagt wir haben in der Konditorei nebendran am Bodn schlafen dürfen und mein Vater der vom ersten Mobilmachungstag an bei der
Unknown interviewer: Wehrmacht
EG: beim [unclear] war ja, der hatt Urlaub bekommen aufgrund dessen das wir totalbeschädigt waren und ist auf einmal dann ist die Schiebetüre aufganga und in unserer größten Not wo wir mehr geweint als wir gelacht haben da steht unser Vater drinnen in der Tür und wir sagen da [unclear] Papa [unclear] und waren glücklich und haben gedacht für uns ist der Krieg vorbei, und wir haben unseren Vater wieder.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Erika Gautsch
Description
An account of the resource
Erika Gautsch (b. 1928) describes her wartime experience of being inside a shelter and the people she met there: an old sick man with his wife, who was incessantly reciting the rosary, and children clinging to their mothers. Emphasises tension and gripping fear with involuntary moments of humour. Following an explosion, numerous pieces of paper rained into the shelter and a boy said 'mum, look, the Tommy sends us wrapping paper'.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#555
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
00:02:59 audio recording
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Schulze
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
bombing
childhood in wartime
civil defence
faith
fear
home front
shelter
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/21/315/Memoro 2232.2.mp3
fdc8ddbb5a85aed3b5dad73bd4b97102
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Description
An account of the resource
18 items. The collection consists of interviews with German bombing survivors originally videotaped by Memoro, an international non-profit project and open archive of audio or video interviews of people born before 1950. The IBCC Digital Archive would like to express its gratitude to Nikolai Schulz (Memoro - Die Bank der Erinnerungen e.V) for granting permission to reproduce and transcribe the testimonies. To see them in their original video form please visit www.memoro.org/de-de/.
The collection was catalogued by IBCC staff
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
GK: [part missing in the original file] dann fange ich an mit unser Evakuierung in das Altmühltal zur Schwester meiner Mutter.
Unknown interviewer: Im Jahre?
GK: Im Jahre, ich war drei Jahre alt, dann war das 1942. Da gingen hier die Luftangriffe so stark an eben und des war nicht mehr erträglich vor allem mit kleinen Kindern. Ja gut, dann kamen wir zu der Tante, die wohnte eben in dieser [unclear] Beamtensiedlung und wir haben da zwei kleine Zimmer bekommen mit’m Kanonenofen und [pauses] und hatten aber nur die wichtigsten Sachen dabei den wir sind da eben mit dem Metzgerwagen hinten drauf gefahren und haben nur Bettzeug warscheinlich mitgenommen. Das war natürlich alles sehr beengend nach der Wohnung in München und es ging dann los mit Essenskargheit und meine Mutter war also, da hat sich entwickelt zu einer Organisatorin das war toll den man musste ja da, es gab ja Lebensmittelmarkt übrigens da wurden ja so kleine Abschnitte weggeschnitten und da gabs Zuteilungen, eben Mehl oder Zucker oder was grade vorhanden war. Und es gab einen Kanal mit Apfelbaümen die haben irgend wen dort gehört das weiss ich nicht und wenn Gewitter war da sind wir dann nachts hin und haben die Äpfel hochgehoben, eingesammelt und dann wurde Apfelkompott oder Apfelstrudel gemacht..
UI: Also nur das Fallobst oder auch gepflückt?
GK: Nein das Fallobst. Es wurde dann schon immer schlimmer, den das wurde immer mehr eingeschränkt, die Milch war zugeteilt für Kinder, wie viel wenig und sie war Magermilch hieß das damals. Wir gingen dann fast jeden Tag in den Wald, meine Tante, meine kleine Kusine und ich, und meine Mutter und wir haben Milchkannen mitgenommen, da wurden Beeren reingepflückt, Erdbeeren, Blaubeeren, dann wurden Pilze gesucht und nebenbei musste man die ganzen Tannenzapfen aufheben, die nicht so wie heute sondern die waren sehr rar weil alle Leute Tannenzapfen gesucht haben und so kleine Holzstückchen, und da kamen wir so gegen Mittag nach Hause so mit einen kleinen Rucksack mit Tannenzapfen, Milchkannen mit Beeren, und dann noch Körbchen mit Pilzen und das wurde dann gekocht und die Beeren mit Magermilch angerührt und vermischt und es war eine köstliches Essen. Und dann am Brennholz hat’s auch gemangelt und da wurde meine Mutter immer rabiat, die ist dann tagsüber in den Wald gegangen, hat sich die Baüme angeschaut, hat die nachts umgehackt und wenn’s sehr dunkel war dann ist sie mit meinem Bruder der neun Jahre älter eben war in den Wald und dann haben die die Baüme heimgezogen heimlich und das war natürlich alles verboten aber es blieb nichts anderes übrig. Nur in meiner Erinnerung weil ich ja so klein war alles, es war wunderbar, das Essen hat köstlich geschmeckt, die Ideen die sie hatte, heute verwendet man Fett da hat sie Magermilch verwendet ich weiss gar nicht wie das alles ging aber es war köstlich und mich gewundert dass ich so schöne Erinnerungen habe..
UI: Die Tannenzapfen als Brennholz.
GK: Als Brennholz, ach so die haben wir nicht gegessen.
UI: [unclear]
GK: Ja, dann hat mich gewundert wie das in der Luft lag daß es immer in Munchen viel schöner ist aber es hat mich doch immer ein Bisschen beeinträchtigt weil ich so dazwischen war, ich wusste ich gehörte dort nicht richtig hin und München kannte ich ja eigentlich gar nicht mehr und dann kam die Schulzeit und da habe ich auch gemerkt, ich bin irgendwie so außerhalb, das war nicht direct aber es war doch zu spüren und..
UI: [unclear] ein bisschen.
GK: Genau, die [unclear] ja. Und das war die Zeit noch mit strengen Unterricht, das waren Nonnen, die uns unterrichtet haben, Schwester Theobalda und die Schwester Gerbine und der Herr Benefiziat und der Herr Kaplan und die waren alle sehr eifrig im Strafen verordnen und des hiess Tatzen austeilen mit einem richtigen Weidenstock der so schon biegsam und ich war sehr brav, also ich war da verschont und eben, da gab es eben zwei Mädchen die etwas außerhalb der Norm waren und die waren sehr frech und ich glaub die haben sogar darauf angelegt die Lehrer zu ärgern und die mussten dann immer vortreten und die Hand hinhalten und die normalen Kinder die haben die Hand natürlich zurückgezogen aber diese Mädchen haben ihre Hand ausgestreckt, stolz, haben sich ihre Tatzen abgeholt und sind dann eben zurück, haben ihre Schultasche genommen und sind nach hause und sind tagelang nicht mehr aufgetaucht, denen war es völlig Wurst und den Eltern die wussten das warscheinlich gar nicht und ich hab die bewundert und wie gesagt ich hab dieses ehemalige Mädchen jetzt bei einem Klassentreffen wieder getroffen und die ist einfach toll, die war mutig und ist heute noch, hat ihr Leben gemeistert oder meistert’s immer noch, das find ich sehr schoön, den mutige Menschen sind was wunderbares.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Gerlinde Keller
Description
An account of the resource
Gerlinde Keller (b. 1939) was evacuated in 1942 from Munich to the Altmühltal, where she lived with her aunt in a purpose-built settlement. Explains how the intensifying bombings had made the city unsafe for children and how they managed to cope with wartime hardships: gathering mushrooms, wild berries and pine cones to be used as firewood; collecting fallen apples from a nearby orchard to make compote and strudel. Describes how her mother and her older brother went covertly into the forest to cut down trees at night. Emphasises her mother’s creative efforts in coping with the difficult situation and how she enjoyed the food available, for example berries with skimmed milk. Mentions the strange feeling of not belonging to anywhere and remembers the strict atmosphere of a school run by nuns, where pupils were subjected to corporal punishments. Remembers the defiant attitude of two girls, who provoked the teachers and showed a sense of pride in being punished.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
00:06:41 audio recording
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Memoro#2232
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Munich
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content has been originally published on Memoro – Die Bank der Erinnerungen, which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it as an audio track. To see it in its original video form and read the terms and conditions of use, please visit www.memoro.org and then click on the link to the German section. Please note that it was recorded by a third-party organisation which used technical specifications and operational protocols that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Schulze
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Subject
The topic of the resource
World War (1939-1945)
Bombing, Aerial
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Memoro. Die Bank der Erinnerungen
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
bombing
childhood in wartime
evacuation
home front
perception of bombing war