After some wonderful and restful days with my German family, I head out on stage 2 tomorrow, from Flensburg to Celle to continue following my gran’s journey as a refugee after the second world war.
When my gran reached Flensburg she had already survived a plane crash and then taken another plane to end up in Flensburg. Stage 2 of my route is the part of her journey that she walked with a friend she had met along the way. Clearly in very difficult circumstances and in particular, not knowing what had happened to her family.
For me, this is actually the most important part. To imagine what she went through and what others go through every day across the world (the news in Northern Iraq is a very current example and just so terrible and sad). I’m not pretending to live in the same circumstances by any means and my journey will be easy in comparison to hers but I’m excited to see what I come across.
Here is an extract from her story in her own words to give a better idea (I’ll add extra bits along the way):
“I finally ended up on an airfield near Flensburg, Schleswig Holstein. Two weeks later in June 1945 the war ended. I burnt my papers as they were airfield papers. The Canadians moved in and told us all to go home. Having no home and no news of what had happened to my family I set off to walk to Celle. I had met a girl called Lilo who asked me to go home with her to Celle. We walked for three weeks sleeping in haystacks, eating turnips and even stealing milk. One night I gave up my winter coat to sleep on a sofa. It was heaven. We always walked over fields never roads, thus avoiding the allies who would have put us into refugee camps…
…On our journey we met thousands of people on the move as there were no trains or buses. Everyone was trying to find refuge or find their way home. It was chaos. I had blood blisters on my feet and had my feet bandaged at each Red Cross station. At each station we had to write our names in a book so that people would be able to trace us. I remember looking for my parents’ names in all of the books as I still didn’t know what had happened to them. All we were able to scrounge to eat was bread, black treacle and milk.”
This is the reason that I am fundraising for the Red Cross while I complete this challenge.
Unfortunately and despite quite a bit of research, I wasn’t able to find my gran’s route exactly. I have searched high and low looking for a map of the Red Cross stations at the time so that I could work out roughly the route she took. I’ve contacted the Red Cross, libraries, the Imperial War Museum in London to name a few but have had no success.
So the route I have put together is with the information I have. In my gran’s story there are only about three locations that are specified along the way (crossing the Kiel Canal, Blankanese and Hamburg hospital) so I am trying to go through these.
I will also be following roads (as opposed to crossing fields) as Ironman Bob (as well as farmers) wouldn’t be too happy with me!
On a slightly different note, I thought I’d share a few highlights from the past few days.
One of the first things I tried to do when I got to my Uncle’s was to find a physio and get a proper sports massage. My Uncle lives in a small village called Humptrup and as luck would have it, down the road is the German national handball team’s physio! How crazy is that? So not only did I get to see a physio (twice) but probably one of the best (he’s been to the Olympics and everything). He found a couple of issues and advised a few days rest to allow them to heal hence a couple more days with family, no complaints at all, it’s been fantastic.
The cool thing is that at the physio I was not only treated to a massage but acupuncture, laser and all kinds of weird and wonderful machines, I felt like an elite athlete for a couple of hours, a dream come true. Thank you Norbert Mommsen (Nomo)!
I also went back to the museum about a local artist called Nolde to see the full exhibition. The exhibition which is in his old house and studio as well as the gardens were beautiful. I just love the way he saw and used colour.
Went to a quaint Danish village called Tondern with Uncle Peter and Christina which I’m told at Christmas is stunning, must come back and see.
They even have a year-round Christmas shop!
I’ve even been to work with my Uncle Peter to drive the train with him, me being a big kid again.
My wonderful Uncle Peter
The strangest thing to have happened while I’ve been here is soon after I arrived by Aunt Regina’s car was stolen. Not from outside her house but from the garage with the keys in it!
It was pretty stressful for her trying to sort paperwork out and finding a solution to get to work etc.
Anyhow, yesterday, a family friend (who knew the car had been stolen) spots the car (while in his car) in a nearby town, follows it and calls the police at the same time. The people in the stolen car realised they are being followed so a car chase ensued! The police arrive, join in the chase, stop them and what do they say? That someone is trying to steal their car!
Turns out it was a couple of homeless people who had found their new home. This is clearly very sad but I’m also very happy that my Aunt Regina has her car back.
Some wonderful moments with family and I know my gran would be so very happy that we’ve all reconnected again. Wonderful people with very big hearts.
You are always welcome again….hope you are well….was a pleasure to meet u here on the end of germany..see u christmas in tondern:)… Big hug,nomo
Awesome blog Joyners I almost feel like I’m there with you.
🙂 Thanks for the phenomenal support
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