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Elfi lived with her grandparents, her Aunt Gusti (an early liberated woman), and her cousin Trudi from the age of two to twelve. She created her own fantasy world and was adventurous, and tomboyish. The growing Nazi Party forced the “Heil Hitler salute,” enrollment into a German girls group, and the involuntary sterilization of beloved Aunt Gusti. Elfi lived with a faith, instilled by her grandmother, that all would be well. To escape the bombings of the city, Elfi, her mother and her siblings were evacuated into the country. The family was divided and life consisted of food rationing, constant relocations and many difficulties including the bombing death of fellow students. In a small village most of the family was finally united, until the American tanks came thundering over the hill top. Three tanks parked in the farmyard in front of Elfi’s house. A soldier climbed out with his guitar and started playing and singing folk songs. Elfi watched and wondered…
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