Last night I went with my friends to hear a most remarkable speaker. Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger
a convert to Judaism and the son of a decorated Nazi.
When his own children began asking questions about their grandparents, he decided to break the wall of silence and tell them the truth about himself and his family. He needed to express what compelled him to dramatically change his life.
He finally had to explore the relationship with his father and how it was overshadowed by the Holocaust. Their unresolved conflict and his fathers denial motivated him to search for answers, and he found them within himself and his acquired faith
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Born 13 years after the end of World War II, Wollschlaeger grew up in Bamberg, Germany, ironically in the house where Lt. Col. Claus von Stauffenberg — who unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate Hitler in 1944 — had lived.
Curious about his parents’ past, Bernd as a child heard conflicting versions from his mother and father. His mother, a refugee from the Sudeten region, was the daughter of wealthy industrialist parents who lost everything in the war, which she described as “as a terrible catastrophe for the country.”
On trips with his father, an avid fisherman and hunter, the boy heard a markedly different description.
“My father described it as the best time of his life,” said Wollschlaeger. “He was awarded the Iron Cross, which is like a Purple Heart, by a man he very much adored at the time, Adolph Hitler. Of course I was very proud of my father. He was a hero.”
Then an event occurred that changed his life — 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Wollschlaeger, who at 14 had never met a Jew and knew nothing about the Holocaust, saw headlines in the German media proclaiming, “Jews killed again in Germany.”
Unable to get a straight answer from his parents about what that meant, he did his own research and was horrified by what he learned. After several years of increasing conflict between father and son, his father made a startling declaration: “Somebody had to deal with Jews.”
Over time he began to lose all respect for his father & dispised all that he stood for. He felt guilt and shame. And, soon after he went to Israel to immerse himself in Jewish culture and teachings and find out all he could about this society living in the shadow of the Holocaust.
He fell in love with the Jewish people, with Israel and with Judaism.
After many many years of study he eventually converted to Judaism and not only became an Israeli citizen but served in the Israeli army. His father had, long before, disowned him and he never saw or spoke with them again. He explaned that he finally made peace with his parents at the cemetary where they are buried in Germany.
Dr. Wollschlaeger, who now practices in Florida, said his aim in telling his story is to help others understand “how we as individuals can stand up and make a difference to prevent something like the Shoah (Holocaust) from happening again.”
He has written a book called A German Life, available in both softcover and on Kindle.
He says "Against all odds, change is possible..."
It was a most enlightening evening, well spent.
Thanks for sharing this transformation story, Suze. I will definitely add this book to my reading list!
Posted by: Skinnamer | August 01, 2012 at 10:08 PM
Thanks Suze for Bernd's story. It resonates with me, a Canadian of German parents - while they were but children during the war, it was rare that they discussed the horrors that happened in their country. The first time I really understood the Shoah, was attending my high school - we numbered about 3000, about 75 percent Jewish. Some of my Jewish friends told me they could not bring me home to their parents and grandparents. And those that did opened a whole new culture to me. Those experiences are part of me. I often tell my children how this has been the source of conflict within me - members of my family were in the German army, some members were killed in allied bombings, and yet so many of my dear friends lost relatives in horrible ways,at the hands of that evil regime.
I always enjoy your entries about Jewish culture and customs - they are truly a sign of endurance and survival.
Posted by: Monica Lore | August 01, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Out of manure a flower grows.
Posted by: Molly Vollmer | July 31, 2012 at 08:13 PM
Just added this to my "want to read" list...sounds fascinating!
Posted by: Starla | July 31, 2012 at 12:01 PM
My 1st mentor when I started teaching was Jewish...for more than 7 years I became an adopted daughter where I spent so many incredible days & evenings. They kept a kosher home...I learned the difference and how to set a table accordingly. I met some of the most amazing people, heard the stories, learned the holidays. Although I'm not particulary religious my 1st {and still to this day} observation is the Jewish faith/religion is probably the kindest, gentlest, caring religion. TFS!
Posted by: Martha Richardson | July 31, 2012 at 08:26 AM
What an interesting life story and outcome! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Kate | July 31, 2012 at 07:59 AM
Wow very powerful stuff, very emotional. A brave man.
Posted by: Kathy Gledsdale | July 31, 2012 at 06:52 AM
An amazing story. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Linda Cain | July 30, 2012 at 09:37 PM