03:39

Ruth Deutschmann

Benjamin Epp

Kufstein

1999-03-26

1917

Much later I found out why our Emperor Franz Josef has even started this war against Serbia. But then, as a child, I did not know it. I knew even then as a child - but I'd say it now, because I usually forget maybe - I did not know that our father - he was a train driver and he had a nickname: the "red Christl," he said on the all the way, for wherever someone wronged, they came to my father, who was not an elected shop steward, but he was the Mandler-Christl. But he called the "red Christl," and have complained to him, and he then went to the people of the respective boiler room and board did not go away until the boiler house Board has not the man to be right. His service law, which he had written in his hand. And that's why my father was just the "red Christl. But! Even my father - we were three children in the family, I had two sisters. And we have received from our grandfather has a lifelong Erbgeschenk, and that each child received 2000 florins. This has been a very good money at that time in 1912 or 1911, taken over as the father. And then he added in 19-end 14 when the war had already broken out, without asking our mother - then patriarchy has prevailed - without asking our mother, he drew these 6000 florins as war bonds! A Social Democrat, as he called himself. He was probably never a. But well, he has helped his colleagues and he has also occurred, but in the family, he was not. But that is done, you have to imagine. And then came all at once, we should give our gold. "I gave gold for iron", it said. The women and the men then have their wedding rings have executed introduced to the community and had received an iron ring. Your golden necklaces, bracelets her, they have had. Certainly not all! The brightest have not done probably. Only those who are just all of this could be-all and then surprise. They were so patriotic, they called it, and they have exchanged their gold for iron, so that we win the war, yes. And that was already in a period in which it has been: "Lemberg still in our possession." Still in our possession! Yes, these are my memories of how the war has begun.