The Silver Ring

DRESDEN, JANUARY 1945

The next thing I knew Curt and I were standing on a street corner." Where are we?", I said. Curt replied," we are in my hometown of Dresden"
No sooner had he said this when I heard the wail of sirens. "What is that"?, I exclaimed." Air Raid", Curt responded matter of factly." Quick, over there is a shelter. We need to take cover." I just followed Curt's lead and found myself in a shelter with about a hundred other people. They were mostly old, or women with children. I could hear concussions and explosions. Obviously, the bombs were hitting targets in the area. About a half hour later, the all clear siren wailed. Curt and I left the shelter, and  began walking. I saw a cross street. Curt pointed and said this is where I live Koningstrasse. We arrived at #45, and we proceed to go into the building and walk up three flights of stairs. 

Curt opened the door. There was a woman about 50 sitting at a dining room table. She looked very sad. There were two photographs on the table. One of them, was of a middle aged man and the other a young man in uniform. "My dad and brother", Curt explained. A little girl, about 10 came racing out of another room. She ran to Curt and threw her arms around him. He picked her up and swung  her around like a doll. She giggled, and hugged  him even tighter."Matt", he said, "this is my sister Katrin". Katrin smiled at me and returned her gaze and attention to Curt.

Curt went over to the woman" Mutte", he said," I would like to introduce you to a new friend, this is Mattias." I went to his mom and shook  hands. Curt said," Mattias this is my mother, Monika." Frau Hoch smiled, and she said to me," Mattias, what are your doing in Dresden?" Before I could speak, Curt cut in." Mutte, Mattias is from East Prussia, the Bolsheviks  have invaded the Fatherland. He was sent out and was assigned to Dresden." Frau Hoch looked at me with motherly concern. "Mattias, what about your parents, family, or relatives?". Once again, Curt cut in." Mutte, the evacuation was quick, Mattias never had a time to go home. He does not know anything about his family and their condition. Mattias is being assigned to a Volksturm unit here, They will be going with us  to the front." Frau Hoch looked very sad." Yes, Curt, I know tomorrow morning you will be leaving with your unit."" I was wondering", Curt said, "if Mattias could stay with us?"  His mother smiled and said,of course. If the situation was reversed, I am sure Mattias' family would take you in as well"'. Mattias", she said,"" I don't have much to offer for food. We do have a few apples and potatoes. I also have some bread and lard. You can make a sandwich. I might even have some tea". I replied," Frau Hoch, please do not bother yourself about this."No," she insisted, " it is only right to make our guest feel as comfortable as possible."

Frau Hoch put some bread, lard and apples on the table. She heated water for tea. Curt and I sat at the table and began to eat. Suddenly the air raid sirens sounded again. Curt said," we need to get into the shelter". He gathered his mother and Katrin and rushed them out of the door. "Mattias", he shouted." follow me!"

There was a shelter about a block away. It too was filled with women and children. The explosions could be heard clearly. The earth shook, and some dust from the concrete dropped towards the floor, but the shelter was sturdy. In about a half hour the all clear sounded and we went back to the Hoch apartment.

I wolfed down the bread and drank the cold tea, and the apple was great. Frau Hoch had gone to a cupboard and brought out a blanket and pillow. She placed it on the sofa. "When you are ready, Mattias, this will be your bed." She excused herself and took Katrin to get ready for bed.

Curt said," get some sleep", we need to be at the train station at 6:00am. We are shipping out!"

It seemed like a minute after I sat on the sofa I was asleep. The next thing I can remember is Curt shouting at me in a playful way. "Get up, do you want to get us shot"! Frau Hoch and Katrin came into the room. Katrin grabbed Curt around the neck and kissed him on the cheeks. She did not want to let him go. Frau Hoch tried to put on a brave front. I could tell she was really worried and sad.

Next to the photo of Otto on the table was a small box. She opened the box and there was the silver ring. "Curt", she said. "This belonged to Otto. I want you to have it. Always remember your brother. Remember your father, Katrin and me too. Let this be something that will connect you to us, no matter where you will be." She began to cry quietly. Curt took the ring and put it on his finger." Mutte, don't worry, I will never forget our family. Please don't forget me either." They all embraced. Frau Hoch came to me and shook my  hand. "Please, Mattias, be safe and watch out for Curt." Katrin ran up and grabbed me around the neck and kissed me on both cheeks. "Please Mattias, take care of Curt and bring him back to us." I smiled as best as I could, and gave Katrin a peck on the cheek. I also gave Frau Hoch a peck on the cheek too. She seemed pleased. I thanked them for their hospitality. Curt was getting his gear ready and was at the door. "Mattias, we don't have all day. I have to report at 7:00am. It is 6:15am now, and the depot  is a good hike from here, we need to get moving!" Curt quickly went and kissed his mother and Katrin, and we were out the door and on our way to the depot.