I know she spent 3 years in the czech republic with the Kinderlandverschickung (Germany sent many german children to neighbour countries to escape the cruelties of war) and I heard one story from her where american soldiers made all the students line up in front of the school there and passed her with the words “too young“. I'm not pointing any fingers, war brings out the worst in humans. I will never know the feeling of a soldier, your job to kill the enemy, when a month ago you were a barber, baker or teacher (or student). she also suffered from hunger and similar but what strikes me is that she and also my deceased german grandparents often had to chuckle when they spoke about their experience with the war (my granddad throwing himself on the ground in the field he scavenged for potatoes when allied fighters flew close over his head, 70 years later remembering with a smirk on his face.) I guess its their way of coping, they were children back then. I just want to use the opportunity as she is an eye witness to something that has happened not too long ago in terms of history but so long ago that it seems out of the grasp of my mind. I also just learned that her father fought in Verdun. Time has taken its toll on her but she is good with words and has a brilliant memory.
Edit: It was probably unwise to include the “too-young-story“ but it was one that stuck with me. I am aware of the vast sacrafice the allies made to liberate europe.
I would be interested in learning the following:
How much information was available about the war and how it was going? When the war ended, how accurate was the information that she was told during the war? Did she notice any changes in propaganda throughout the course of the war? What were things like at the end? What was her view of the Allies after the war? At what point did her family realize the war was lost?
How did society's perspective on the war change throughout her life? Was she aware of what was going on in the world in general, or did she only notice major upheavals and political events when they directly concerned her? What was the food like? Any interesting stories about her experiences, or about her father? What are some minor details about society back then that we have no idea about now?
Thoughts on post-war Germany. What did she know about the other side East/Wes? Thoughts on NATO/Warsaw Pact, since Germany would feel the brunt of any confrontation. Similarly, very post-war, what she felt about the fall of the Berlin wall. What her parents did during the war. If her father fought at Verdun, it would be interesting, if she knew, what her parents' view of WW1 was. A common thread of the inter-war period is that the German army was betrayed by its government. Would be interesting if her parents thought of that view. If she had siblings, what they did during the war. What she thought of her Czech caretakers. Did the caretakers feel put upon by the Germans?
How did what she ate change as the war went on?
I would ask her if she remembers random acts of kindness from strangers or people she didn't know well during harsh times, especially of there is a language barrier involved.
If there were any notable stories, I'm sure it would stick out in memory as well as the horror.
Did she or anyone else think, in 1945- 1946, that Germany would "rise again" and fight again, avenge the curent defeat? Like many did in 1919?
I'd be interested in day to day life. The US heavily rationed a lot of goods and foods. There were huge recycling programs with contests and bonds drives happened nearly daily. Victory gardens and reusability were a big dead.
Did Germany have the same things?
What were her memories of German-occupied Czechoslovakia? Was she caught up in the Czechoslovak expulsion of Germans, or had friends who were? If she did, does she have memories from that period, and how does she feel about the event (and Czechs and Slovaks) now?
What did she know about the Holocaust at the time, and what did she learn afterwards?
Apologies if this is out-of-line, but I wanted to ask the mods if, in this case, u/PicOfABrick finds interesting answers to the questions asked by members, that a momentary exception to the No Personal Anecdotes rule might apply to this post, for their godmother's memories only. We recognize that her answers are not intended to capture an entire picture of the second World War, but might hold value as a perspective to broaden or humanize what the esteemed experts here have contributed, and continue to contribute, to the greater understanding of the confluence of historical perspective and personal experience of the war.
Was she at any time to any extent in agreement with the nazi propaganda. If yes, did that ever change, and how/when?
What was the most terrifying thing that had happened? Whould be something good to ask.
Did her view of her country change after the war? This is more of a post-war question. What did she think of East Germany?
How they survived day to day. The human voice is something that is often missing from documentaries that focus on military.
I'd just get her remembering and talking and then let her talk. It'd be interesting to see what kinds of things she thinks are important to share.
Hey u/PicOfABrick, just wanted to ask how the interview went and if it went well, have you organized your notes and posted it anywhere by chance? I would love to see the final outcome.