"KARL"

She lived in Heidelberg, Germany during the "Reconstruction Period." Life for the Americans was comfortable as compared to the Germans. Many sad and distressing situations existed with the people of this country. Who can justify the destructive and unjust acts of a "mad man?"

When she landed in Germany, she felt like she was in enemy territory. It was a most foreboding experience to walk the streets of a people that America was at war with only a short while back. Interacting with the German people presented an entirely different picture. Americans have never experienced the invasion of a foreign country resulting in tremendous loss of lives, property and whatever. To listen to some of their unfortunate and devastating experiences makes one thank God that we live in America.

This is one of the stories related to her during that period. When Karl was six years old, his parents sent him to Switzerland for his education. At this age he was too young and unaware of Hitler's schemes. He returned to Germany at the age of fourteen, and was immediately drafted whether he wished to or not. He was just a child. No one had an opportunity to protest or rebel. Their training started at five in the morning and ended at ten in the night --by this time their bodies were too tired to complain, so they collapsed in bed. The following day they repeated the same experience. This continued throughout their training, they were taught to destroy their enemies --who were their enemies? Many times they did not know whom they were fighting. Karl said he saw and witnessed many atrocities at a very early age.

One would think he would be embittered and callused, but he was just the opposite --perhaps his love for music and nature helped to soften his unpleasant experience. He would walk a few miles in the morning to enjoy nature's surroundings before starting the day's work.

After the war was over, and the Americans occupied Germany, Karl went back to school and at the same time obtained a job with the Americans. He was well liked by the Americans and considered a pleasant person to work with. However, he had to discontinue his studies because the American personnel decreased the German staff, and increased the hours from eight to a twelve-hour working day. He could only practice on his days off, sometimes for eight hours.

Karl lived in a furnished room by himself because his family had no place for him. The housing situation was very poor. Before the war his parents were financially established. They owned a hotel-restaurant, which was bombed during the war. His parents were able to start a small restaurant with the hope of regaining what they lost.

Karl waited three years to relocate to America, each time a law was enacted it prohibited his departure from Germany. Finally, a new law despite its restrictions gave him the long awaited opportunity. By this time Karl was twenty years, he longed to be a composer. He played three instruments, piano, violin and cello. While working with the Americans he met and fell in love with an American girl. She too had been patiently waiting for Karl's papers to come through, so that they could leave together for the United States. Karl retained many German traditions and customs with the newly acquired American ways. This combination resulted in a very pleasant and sociable person. The writer found great pleasure in this short and limited friendship while living in Heidelberg, Germany.