Gerda Degenhardt (b. Germany, 1926), blinded during the Second World War (WWII). "We were walking and singing. It was really nice at the BDM, the Bund Deutscher Madel (German Girls Alliance), I had a lot of fun there. I was not worried during the last days of the war; I was even optimistic. Goebbels and Hitler said on the radio that there was a new weapon, a V1 or V2. Everything was going to be alright. Meanwhile, Konigsberg was surrounded by the Russians. Old men, along with fifteen-...
more »Gerda Degenhardt (b. Germany, 1926), blinded during the Second World War (WWII). "We were walking and singing. It was really nice at the BDM, the Bund Deutscher Madel (German Girls Alliance), I had a lot of fun there. I was not worried during the last days of the war; I was even optimistic. Goebbels and Hitler said on the radio that there was a new weapon, a V1 or V2. Everything was going to be alright. Meanwhile, Konigsberg was surrounded by the Russians. Old men, along with fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds, were suddenly walking around with guns on their backs. Us women all had to go and see the mayor. I was assigned to a sewing workshop and had to repair uniforms. I sat by the window when a Russian plane came. I still remember that it sounded like a sewing machine. I became blind because of the bombing. Looking back, I never should have gone to the sewing workshop; but I was stupid and fearless." . CHECK with MRM/FNA
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