East Germany and the Escape: Kitchen Table Memoirs
Released November, 2011
Author – Doris Kienitz
Publisher – FriesenPress
Hello Friends!
This book has been in the works for about 5 years. It is the compelling story about my father’s life…growing up in communist East Germany, surviving WW2, the aftermath, risking his life helping others escape into West Berlin, before he, my mother and four siblings escaped, three months before the wall went up! My father had a dream to come to Canada to make a better life for his young family. Emigrating in 1962 with just $124 in their pocket and speaking no English, my parents made Toronto their home. As my father says, ‘We had nothing, no chair, no table…nothing!’ At least they had each other.
Just when they started to get on their feet, my mother found out she was pregnant again – with me. Depressed at the prospect of another mouth to feed, my mother felt hopelessly alone. But with my father’s urging, my parents trudged on. We were very poor in our modest home in Scarborough. Eventually my parents scraped together enough money and bought a butcher business in Hagersville, in Southern Ontario. It was a very tough go at first! After working extremely hard, my parents retired just 10 years later to the small community of Cheapside.
Growing up hearing dad retell of his stories from ‘back home’ made me appreciate more of what I had. About eight years ago, while driving home from a meditation class, the idea of writing a book came to me. I remember how vivid it was. It sounded so simple! Yet when we began, dad was all over the place, telling me stories not as they appeared chronologically. It was quite a task to sort them out. It was also a challenge to get dad to tell me more of his emotions (he is a guy after all!) while explaining some of his more difficult moments such as when his twin daughters (my sisters) died. He could tell me much more about his hunting excursions! Not that dad isn’t emotional – he cries openly – he just has a hard time SAYING how he is feeling. We are a much more expressive society now than back in East Germany, where survival was most important. Feelings were pushed down in order to carry on.
East Germany and the Escape: Kitchen Table Memoirs 
I regret my not taking the initiative with my parents before they passed away as their situation in Europe during WW2 would have been compelling. And having send that I envy you for doing this not just for your dad but for you as well. Thanks to you both for sharing. I’ve read most of the book and its riveting.
Thank you so much, Zig. We recently came back from an amazing trip to Germany, so I apologize for not responding earlier. Documenting history as it happens is important for future generations.
I just finished reading the book and having been in a similar situation with my family I found it to be very, very interesting. I received a copy from my sister, Angela (Angelika), who wanted me to read it because she, too, found it hard to put down. You see, my father, who was born in a German-speaking village in what is now a part of Poland, and my mother, from Bakonyoslop in Hungary, escaped East Germany in 1957. They had three children at the time, my brother Gerhard who was 5, myself aged 4 and my sister who was three. We were all born in Crimmitschau, near Leipzig. Unfortunately, my parents shared few stories with us. After leaving East Germany, we lived in Buss, a village west of Frankfurt for 2 years. We arrived in Dunnville, Ontario in June 1959 and the family has lived here since that time. My parents had three more children, all boys. They both passed a few years ago. In reading your book I wished I would have spoken more of our history. Thanks so much for writing this book. I truly enjoyed reading it and having visited my home town and other parts of Germany, both before an after the wall came down, I can relate very well to the stories you described. Thanks again.
Regards,
Siegfried Rose
Thank you Siegfried for also sharing your story.I know with many, stories are too painful to think about, let alone talk about. My dad has a few other stories, but he did not want to make East Germany and the Escape a gruesome read. I think the reader gets the picture of how tough it was. Isn’t it wonderful that we live in Canada?
Take care, Sig!
Best wishes,
Doris
I agree that it is important, and I also agree that it is difficult to take our parents back to painful moments that we need them to share with us.
The legacies will be lost if the questions are not asked. Bravo to you Doris for taking yourself back in time with your Father to share with others the courage and tenacity that it took to make a better life for us, the children of those who experienced another type of childhood and young life…including real war and the great depression.
These are the real adventurers, I just cannot imagine being so brave. Thank you for sharing such a personal story.
Thank you Debra for taking the time to write. It was difficult for dad to go down this journey. Although we shared many tears together, it was a wonderful bonding time for us. Hope our we/our children never have to experience such a thing. My father deserves a bravery medal. Children (10-100) of all ages should read such a book to discover and remember those tough times so that we may truly appreciate what we have now. There may be a lot less complaining then!
Thank you Debra!
Very best regards,
Doris