Re: Questions/answers from Vienna
Tom Holloway (xuegx@CSV.WARWICK.AC.UK)
Fri, 17 Oct 1997 15:30:27 +0100
----- Forwarded message from Lotte Evans -----
>From Chatback" <MEMORIES@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Hello to Wilson Stuart School from Melbourne Australia. I will not be
able to answer several of your questions as I lived in Vienna the capital
of Austria during the war. Therefore I have never been in an Anderson
Shelter and neither did I live in London during the Blitz.
On Wed, 15 Oct 1997, Wilson Stuart School wrote:
> Some students in yeaar 11 have some questions about life during the second
> world war.
>
> WHAT WERE YOUR FEELINGS LIKE WHEN YOU HEARD THE FIRST AIRD RAID SIRENS.
I was only six years old when the war started but I remember vividly that
I was frightened out of my wits by the sirens. You see at first air raids
came during the night. And believe me there nothing quite like being
woken from a deep sleep by the howling of an air raid siren.
>
> WAS IT LIKE AN ADVENTURE TO BE IN THE HITLER YOUTH?
I was only in it for a couple of month at the end of the war. For me it
wasn't very adventurous as it was compulsory in Austria and I didn't
really want to join.
>
> WAS YOU EVACUATED AND IF SO WAS IT AN ADVENTURE?
>
I was never evacuated, but I did have some friends who were sent to the
country were they had to work on farms and I doubt that they enjoyed this.
> DID YOU FIND RATIONING HARD TO COPE WITH NOT HAVING THE THINGS YOU LIKE THE
> MOST AS MUCH AS YOU DID BEFORE.
>
I dont remember giving it much thought as everyone else was in the same
situation. We did not have a lot but during the war we never went hungry
either
> WAS IT HARD TO RATION YOUR SWEETS?
>
I really can't remember having many sweets during the war. I think my
mother saved the little there was for birthdays and christmas
>
> WHAT DID YOU DO IN YOUR ANDERSON SHELTER?
>
In Vienna my family went to the cellar in the apartment building I lived.
A lot of people went to air raid bunkers. If you ever go for a holiday to
Vienna try and see one of the great air raid bunkers which are still in
existence as it is impossible to get rid of them as they are to massive
to blow up.
>
> WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WEAR A GAS MASK.
Very uncomfortable
>
> WHAT WAS THE BLACK OUT LIKE?
>
I never went out at night as there was a curfew
>
> WAS THE WAR LIKE A GAME TO YOU.
No can't say it was. I remember sitting in class at school and instead of
listening to the teacher we strained our ears for the first sign of a
pre-warning and than we tried to race home to be with our family.
>
Lotte Evans
the Vienna Schoolgirl of the Memories Web Site
rylcae@minyos.its.rmit.edu.au
----- End of forwarded message from Lotte Evans -----