Page 50 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2021- Online Magazine
P. 50
The German German children Melzer family to move to West
women of the town were not allowed to Germany.
were moved to attend school, and
Sudetenland, then were ordered to Dean emphasized the fact that
part of Germany, do light work, like the family had been “kicked out”
while the German weeding. Then, the of three countries. Erika’s father
men either worked family was moved went to work in the coal mines at
in the mines or again, this time to Walsum, Duisburg on the Rhein
were conscripted East, Communist- River. He was only 54 when he
into the German occupied, Germany. passed away just a few years later
Army. After the Erika – age 1 Uranium had been from Black Lung Disease.
war, parents tried to discovered in the Erika finished high school and
locate their children. Ore Mountains (Das then business school, focusing on
It took several Erzgebirge), and Finance and Accounting. In early
months for Erika to Erika’s father was 1953, she met Heinrich Hoeve, an
be found, and two needed in the mines. Electromechanical Engineer. They
years before the fell in love and married later that
family was reunited Food was very scarce. year.
with little Maria. Their meals consisted
of lots of potatoes The Rhineland was part of
In 1945, at the end of and cabbage. The the American sector after the
the war, the Russian family was moved war. Heinrich “Henry” had
Army invaded again to another spent much of his free time
Sudetenland Erika – about age 13 large collective farm with American soldiers and
(then belonging called Hertefeld, near had learned English. After he
to Germany) and together with Berlin. After having been forced and Erika were married, they
the local communists, expelled to move several times, the family were both eager to emigrate to
the German population to other had very few belongings. America, but sponsors were
regions. All Germans were difficult to find. Canada was most
moved from Erika’s village, Fortunately, 12-year-old Erika willing to take immigrants, so
except for Erika’s family, because was finally able to return to Henry emigrated there in August
they were able to speak the school after three years. She 1955. A little Catholic church in
Slovakian language which the was behind, but she had “a Hamilton, Canada helped Erika
Russians could understand. The wonderful teacher” who worked to join him in February 1956.
Russian soldiers patted Erika’s with her one-on-one. She loved
father on the back and called him the Russian language and found Not long after, Ford Aircraft
“Bratka”, meaning “Brother”. she was also very good with in Chicago sponsored Henry,
“figures”. Erika would sometimes and he finally made it into the
But the brotherhood did not last walk the eight kilometers to the United States, but Erika was left
long. One morning at 4am, two train station to hop on the train behind. She spoke no English
men came to their house and to Berlin to run errands for the (except for one word, “No”).
gave them 30 minutes to get teacher or go to the underground She did housework to earn
dressed and leave their home. black market to trade farm money and was carrying their
They made them walk to the train products for other merchandise. first child. As her November due
station, where they were loaded She has fond memories of those date approached, Erika, 8-1/2
onto an open coal wagon and years in Hertefeld. months pregnant, went to the
transported to a large farming U.S. Consulate in Niagara Falls
village near Prague. In January 1950, Erika’s father
managed to escape to West to request a Visa. She was told
For two years they were forced Germany. Later that year, the over and over, by clerk after
to work on the farm. The Russians “allowed” the rest of the clerk, that she would not be
50 Lubbock Senior Link
