Nightmares of an East Prussian Childhood : A Memoir of the Russian Occupation

The mother of 11 year old Ilse Glaus turned down the last plane out of East Prussia ahead of the advancing Russians in order to stay back with her aged parents. That decision cost her family dearly in wartorn Europe, 1945. Ilse grew up on a small farm, with a wonderful family, the woods as a playground and the beaches of the Baltic. Then turmoil followed the German defeat by the Russians and the subsequent occupation. In 31 months under the Russians, Ilse's family is driven from their home, she mourns her missing father, witnesses her mother's rape, sees her grandparents and baby brother succumb to the brutal conditions, and hears of her oldest sister's capture and death in a work prison. Fighting starvation, Ilse crafts ways to coexist with the Russians, scavenging, begging and stealing to help the family survive. In 31 Months Under The Russians, Ilse Glaus's Family Is Driven From Their Home, She Mourns Her Missing Father, Witnesses Her Mother's Rape, Sees Her Grandparents And Baby Brother Succumb To The Brutal Conditions, And Hears Of Her Oldest Sister's Capture And Death. Ilse Crafts Ways To Coexist, Scavenging, Begging And Stealing To Help The Family Survive--provided By Publisher. Preface / By Bernie Stritzke -- Preface / By Ilse Stritzke (nee Glaus) -- Introduction / By Bernie Stritzke -- A Mother's Regret -- The Evacuation -- Back To Palmnicken -- The Second Evacuation -- Omi's Sacrifce -- Desperate Times -- The Commandant's Assault -- The Statue -- Attempted Kidnap -- The White Horse -- The First Winter -- Off To Goldbach -- Then, Five Women -- Three Dead Soldiers -- A Stolen Potato -- A Sparrow Falls -- An End In Sight -- The Expulsion -- In Germany -- Mutti's Meltdown -- Gerd -- The Engagement -- The Voyage -- Chicago -- Appendix: A Brief History Of The Region. Ilse Stritzke, With Bernie Stritzke. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Table of Contents 6 Acknowledgments by Bernie Stritzke 8 Preface by Bernie Stritzke 10 Preface by Ilse Stritzke (Née Glaus) 12 Introduction by Bernie Stritzke 14 1. A Mother's Regret 16 2. The Evacuation 24 3. Back to Palmnicken 39 4. The Second Evacuation 50 5. Omi's Sacrifi
ce 63 6. Desperate Times 69 7. The Commandant's Assault 74 8. The Statue 83 9. Attempted Kidnap 89 10. The White Horse 98 11. The First Winter 103 12. Off to Goldbach 109 13. Then, Five Women 119 14. Three Dead Soldiers 124 15. A Stolen Potato 127 16. A Sparrow Falls 135 17. An End in Sight 140 18. The Expulsion 147 19. In Germany 153 20. Mutti's Breakdown 160 21. Gerd 169 22. The Engagement 173 23. The Voyage 181 24. Chicago 187 Appendix. Maps and a Brief History of the Region 192 Chapter Notes 196 Index 200