Not only are there barricades erected at all the entrances of the town but to everyone’s horror, antitank units and machine gun nests are placed ‘in strategic positions’ among the homes of ordinary locals! Some of the older veterans have tried to dissuade the burgomeister. He’s a good man Tante Susie and Onkel Werner have known for a long time. He told them he was threatened with execution if he ordered removal of the barricades. In turn, the veterans asked the local Wehrmacht commander, a Major Reinbrecht, to remove the barricades and put measures in place to keep the town safe. The commander told them his orders were to protect the town from the invading army and prevent their entry at all costs.

Yesterday, our situation here came to a head. A group of women and children assembled in the markplatz to persuade the commander and the local party leader to order the Wehrmacht out of town. Tante Susie and I joined the edge of the crowd, where we could still see the house. The children were told to stay indoors and prepare for bed. A delegation of women led by Thekla Fischer went into the Wehrmacht command post set up in the rathaus to speak to Major Reinbrecht. We didn’t have to wait long. The delegation hurried out of the rathaus, clearly furious. Thekla’s voice rang across the square as she told the crowd that Reinbrecht did not hear their plea but had threatened to shoot anyone who did not leave the room immediately. I thought she must be lying because I couldn’t believe that a highly ranking officer would threaten harm to a group of unarmed women, but I was wrong. Reinbrecht came out of his hole shortly after and soldiers were placed around the town square as a means of intimidating or controlling us, it doesn’t matter which. I was incensed but I wasn’t the only one. Reinbrecht read out the edicts once again and explained that his troops could not leave without authorisation.

There was much restlessness in the crowd by this time and murmuring at his disregard for our safety and our town became shouts of anger, punctuated by the waving of arms and fists. One of the local soldiers mounted a wagon to try to calm the crowd and reassure them that everything would be all right. Men! They think that if they speak, we should listen, agree and obey! Well, he was wrong to get involved. The crowd was wound up now, hurling abuse at him, spitting and jeering, harassing his wife, who stood nearby. He pulled his gun, threatening to shoot if his wife was harmed and, as he was the only one they could get to, the women nearby pulled him off the wagon. One of the elderly businessmen wrestled the gun away from him. Reinbrecht threatened to execute this elderly leader of the community on the spot. Thank God, a veteran was able to persuade him not to.

At this point, I didn’t know what was going to happen. The crowd was beyond reason and surging towards Reinbrecht. Tante Susie tried to pull me away to the safety of the house before things turned nasty. As we turned to leave, we heard Reinbrecht shout, ‘Jabos!’ Only with the thought that there were fighter bombers overhead did the crowd break up, running for cover, and the square was silent once more.

Shaken by what had happened and unable to sleep, Tante Susie and I stayed up late, keeping each other company. Sounds of explosions punctuated the night but it wasn’t until today that we realised that our own Wehrmacht had shelled the edge of town in revenge for our actions. Luckily, there wasn’t much damage, but I can’t understand how we came to this. It was hard to believe that a simple request had escalated into madness. The women were justified in their response, trying to protect everything they held dear, when so much had already been taken away from them. We had thought that was the end of it all, but it was not.

One of the women, Anni Schunk, was taken from her home this morning by soldiers and questioned by Reinbrecht. Apparently, he wanted the names of the ringleaders of our demonstration. As if the plea to save the town was an organised measure of resistance against the Reich! Of course, she had no names to give, not that she would. She was placed in stocks in the town hall arcade and guarded by two soldiers, who were told to shoot her if she tried to escape. What disgraceful behaviour! He even wanted her head shaved but the barber refused. Anni was released after a couple of hours, distressed at her ordeal but triumphant that Reinbrecht had not got what he wanted or broken the spirit of the women of this town.

The stupid man then paraded a sixteen-year-old Hitler Youth around town as a hero after awarding him the Iron Cross. He had slipped behind American lines and reported on the position of their artillery. We shook our heads at the idiocy and most of us stayed or went indoors, rather than watch.

I never imagined in my wildest dreams what came next. I can scarcely believe it even now and every time I shut my eyes, I can see the scene burned into my mind. We were going about our business. Tante Susie had the children in bed and we were walking across to the Schmotzers’ to help them in the canteen next to their house. We heard a roar coming down the street and an official car screeched to a stop in front of the Schmotzer house. Christine and Hans were on the sidewalk when an officer jumped out of the car asking for Fräu Schmotzer. Christine admitted that she was Fräu Schmotzer and a man dressed in the black leather coat of a Gestapo officer climbed out of the car. He accused her of organising the demonstration. She immediately said no, that she had not, and began backing away. He drew his revolver. Tante Susie and I were standing still down the street, rooted to the spot. I couldn’t believe my eyes. He fired at her as she was turning to flee. She fell to the sidewalk. I’ll never forget the screams of her family around her. The Gestapo officer walked up to her while she lay there and shot her twice more at close range. I only later learnt that the first shot had hit her in the neck, the next two shots in her mouth and left eye. Who, except a sadistic monster, would do that and to an innocent, unarmed woman? Tante Susie and I were sobbing in each other’s arms, shaking with terror and horror. We watched as he placed a placard with big, red lettering on her body. It said: ‘A traitor has been executed.’

I don’t understand why Christine was targeted. She was a good woman, not a troublemaker, no more involved in organising the meeting in the square as Tante Susie and I, or of confronting Major Reinbrecht. All I can say is that thank God the Americans are coming. This nightmare has to end. We can only hope that they will treat us well, as they did with my parents in Trier and that they leave the town intact.

So, my darling, I end this letter so that young Hans can bring it to you before the Americans arrive. I hope you are well. Stay safe. I pray that I see you again soon, that we will be all reunited. I cannot think that my time is up yet but if it is, look after Vati and remember that I love you.

All my love, Mutti.

I lay back on the bed, staring at the blank ceiling, tears rolling down my face. Mutti was right. This war had degenerated into something we could never have imagined. We had heard that Illesheim Airpark was now occupied by the Americans and as far as I knew, Bad Windsheim had avoided destruction. The efforts of those women had paid off. The sacrifice of Fräu Schmotzer and the grief of her family had not been in vain. I felt ashamed to be associated with the Wehrmacht. Then I remembered how most of the military had worked towards the good of the Fatherland and its people, often sacrificing a great deal themselves. There were always those who took advantage and abused the power they had been given; it seemed that the war had not only brought out the best in people but also the worst. I wondered if the Führer was aware of the actions of men like these. Surely he couldn’t countenance such things?

I had to hide the letter carefully. Thank God, Hans had brought it straight to me and hadn’t been intercepted by the SS – my mother’s letter would be considered treasonous. I shuddered, thinking of the consequences if it had been found. I longed for the comfort of Erich’s arms around me but I didn’t dare seek him out. Instead, I tucked the letter into my brassiere, rolled into a ball on my bed, and fell into an uneasy sleep. I dreamt of skulking Gestapo and SS men searching for me as I tried to escape them, men who turned into American soldiers with revolvers pointed at my head as I screamed my innocence, running for my life.

A few days after I had received Mutti’s letter, Vati sent news with a visiting official. His letter explained that he was well among the chaos of his München office, organising the retreat of the Wehrmacht in southern Germany. They were preparing for the arrival of the American army and he emphasised once again that I was to stay out of München, even though I was so close, and make my way to Windsheim to my mother. As Colonel von Wissenbach was in Markt Schwaben, Vati advised me to stay close to Erich, that he would protect me and get me to safety. It was ironic that I was being forced to spend more time with Erich, but Vati was right, and there was nothing I could do about our situation except what he suggested.

I breathed a sigh of relief to know that Vati was safe and well for the time being. Then I noticed that there was an additional page to the letter. I frowned at the quickly scribbled note.

‘Are you all right?’ asked Marissa, sitting at the next desk.

Looking up from the letter, I stared at her a moment, confused.

‘Are you all right?’ she repeated.

‘My fiancé is alive,’ I whispered.

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