HRS Bad Salzdetfurth

Comenius – Programme

Bad Salzdetfurth Bad Salzdetfurth in World War IIin World War II

Results of theResults of the2nd year‘s work2nd year‘s work

WolfgangBorchert

Short Stories

PriestJoseph Müller

World WarII

Bad Salzdetfurth

How the people in Bad Salzdetfurth How the people in Bad Salzdetfurth and Germany experienced the 2nd World War and Germany experienced the 2nd World War

and the new startand the new start Our Comenius- Team watched Ufa reports and movies, studied chronicles Our Comenius- Team watched Ufa reports and movies, studied chronicles

of the villages that belong to Bad Salzdetfurth and read famous literature, of the villages that belong to Bad Salzdetfurth and read famous literature, like short- stories from Wolfgang Borchert and Elisabeth Langgässer and like short- stories from Wolfgang Borchert and Elisabeth Langgässer and many others.many others.

Doing all this we found out that the 2nd World War passed Bad Doing all this we found out that the 2nd World War passed Bad Salzdetfurth nearly without damage, but that Hildesheim, 15 kilometres Salzdetfurth nearly without damage, but that Hildesheim, 15 kilometres from here, was totally destroyed.from here, was totally destroyed.

From our history books we know the unbelievable numbers of dead From our history books we know the unbelievable numbers of dead soldiers and civilians. Many people who survived were destroyed inside soldiers and civilians. Many people who survived were destroyed inside for a long time; many of them till the end of their life.for a long time; many of them till the end of their life.

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How the people in Bad Salzdetfurth How the people in Bad Salzdetfurth and Germany experienced the 2nd World War and Germany experienced the 2nd World War

and the new startand the new start Today, 62 years after the end of the 2nd World War, we students just have a Today, 62 years after the end of the 2nd World War, we students just have a

superficial view of the war. Some of us watch or listen carefully when new superficial view of the war. Some of us watch or listen carefully when new horror- stories from the theatres of war in the world arrive. But that’s far away horror- stories from the theatres of war in the world arrive. But that’s far away and only shocks a little when German soldiers, who are working for peace, are and only shocks a little when German soldiers, who are working for peace, are killed.killed.

Short- stories, like the ones of Wolfgang Borchert, which show the cruelty of Short- stories, like the ones of Wolfgang Borchert, which show the cruelty of the war never appeared in our school history books and vanished from our the war never appeared in our school history books and vanished from our latest reading books! Why? Don’t they want to burden us in the year 2007, latest reading books! Why? Don’t they want to burden us in the year 2007, although it would be really necessary because of the actual theatres of war and although it would be really necessary because of the actual theatres of war and the rightists who grow strong again?the rightists who grow strong again?

Our Comenius- Team wants to focus some short- stories of Wolfgang Borchert Our Comenius- Team wants to focus some short- stories of Wolfgang Borchert and try to answer the question above.and try to answer the question above.

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Wolfgang BorchertWolfgang Borchert The author Wolfgang Borchert died two years after the end of the 2nd The author Wolfgang Borchert died two years after the end of the 2nd

World War at the age of 28 years because of a serious lung disease.World War at the age of 28 years because of a serious lung disease.

He had to experience all sides of the war under these conditions and wrote He had to experience all sides of the war under these conditions and wrote short- stories with this impressions during, at the end and right after the short- stories with this impressions during, at the end and right after the war.war.

Herein he shows the shock of the civilians and the oppressed soldiers. Herein he shows the shock of the civilians and the oppressed soldiers.

Very often the strickened persons understand their situation and can cope Very often the strickened persons understand their situation and can cope with it.with it.

The author knows how to give predictions and a view into the future that The author knows how to give predictions and a view into the future that the short- story can‘t give because it doesn‘t have an end.the short- story can‘t give because it doesn‘t have an end.

We read the following short- stories:We read the following short- stories: The four soldiersThe four soldiers The three dark kingsThe three dark kings The breadThe bread The kitchen clockThe kitchen clock The rats are sleeping at nightThe rats are sleeping at night

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The four soldiersThe four soldiers The four soldiers squat in a shelter that doesn’t seem to be very save. The four soldiers squat in a shelter that doesn’t seem to be very save.

They are laughing when the bombs don’t hit them and think about the question if they are They are laughing when the bombs don’t hit them and think about the question if they are sitting in a field of rapes or of radish. sitting in a field of rapes or of radish.

They look like dead and strike their hated guns. (The soldier’s bride)They look like dead and strike their hated guns. (The soldier’s bride)

In the end they are laughing about the dark, dark valley. In the end they are laughing about the dark, dark valley.

Here Borchert wants to say that they won’t survive and that their life- light will go out like Here Borchert wants to say that they won’t survive and that their life- light will go out like the small light of their mine- lamp.the small light of their mine- lamp.

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The three dark kingsThe three dark kings In the ruins of a bombed house somewhere in Germany a woman gave birth In the ruins of a bombed house somewhere in Germany a woman gave birth to a son an hour ago. to a son an hour ago.

In spite of a shabby oven for which the father of the child can hardly find wood you can see In spite of a shabby oven for which the father of the child can hardly find wood you can see their breath.their breath.

Three oppressed homecomers come in to warm up themselves. Three oppressed homecomers come in to warm up themselves.

They are weakened from the war and give their last belongings to the child. They are weakened from the war and give their last belongings to the child.

They are regardful, smoke outside and walk away again.They are regardful, smoke outside and walk away again.

The young mother is proud of her strong son who cries loudly in the light of the fire.The young mother is proud of her strong son who cries loudly in the light of the fire.

This beam can be seen as a prediction for surviving.This beam can be seen as a prediction for surviving.

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The breadThe bread During the 2nd World War there were eating- rations from which nobody was satisfied. During the 2nd World War there were eating- rations from which nobody was satisfied.

A couple that was married for 37 years meets in the kitchen at night where the husband had A couple that was married for 37 years meets in the kitchen at night where the husband had cut off a slide of bread secretly. cut off a slide of bread secretly.

The woman had worried about her husband as he didn’t lie in bed next to her. The woman had worried about her husband as he didn’t lie in bed next to her.

She doesn’t have the confidence to ask him about the bread because it’s embarrassing. She doesn’t have the confidence to ask him about the bread because it’s embarrassing.

They are talking about irrelevant things to save the situation and not to lie at each other.They are talking about irrelevant things to save the situation and not to lie at each other.

Later, when the woman pretends to sleep, she can hear her husband chewing the rest of the Later, when the woman pretends to sleep, she can hear her husband chewing the rest of the bread in his mouth.bread in his mouth.

The next evening she gives her second slice of bread to him pretending to have problems The next evening she gives her second slice of bread to him pretending to have problems with her stomach. with her stomach.

Now he feels embarrassed. Now he feels embarrassed.

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The kitchen clockThe kitchen clock This story takes place in the time after the war and is about a This story takes place in the time after the war and is about a

twenty- year old man who sits between two strangers on a park bench.twenty- year old man who sits between two strangers on a park bench.

He shows them a kitchen clock and explains that the clock is He shows them a kitchen clock and explains that the clock is the only thing that he had saved from his parents’ bombed house. the only thing that he had saved from his parents’ bombed house.

The funny thing is that the clock stopped at half past three. The funny thing is that the clock stopped at half past three.

That has always been the time when he came home at night and his mum That has always been the time when he came home at night and his mum prepared a warm meal for him. prepared a warm meal for him.

The man lost his whole family in the war. The man lost his whole family in the war.

The kitchen clock is the only thing he has got.The kitchen clock is the only thing he has got.

The everyday life before seems to him like paradise now. The everyday life before seems to him like paradise now.

The man next to him is staring at his feet but he can’t see them because he has The man next to him is staring at his feet but he can’t see them because he has to think about the word “paradise” all the time.to think about the word “paradise” all the time.

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The rats are sleeping at nightThe rats are sleeping at night In the desert of ruins of a bombed town in the 2nd World War In the desert of ruins of a bombed town in the 2nd World War there is Jürgen, a nine- year old boy.there is Jürgen, a nine- year old boy.

He guards his brother who’s buried alive day and night so the rats can’t eat him.He guards his brother who’s buried alive day and night so the rats can’t eat him.

An old man talks to Jürgen and the young boy starts to trust him. An old man talks to Jürgen and the young boy starts to trust him.

When the old man mentions that Jürgen can have a look at his rabbits the boy When the old man mentions that Jürgen can have a look at his rabbits the boy says that he can’t give up the watch. says that he can’t give up the watch.

The old man turns round and goes away when Jürgen starts telling him about his The old man turns round and goes away when Jürgen starts telling him about his little brother and that he has to guard him so the rats can’t eat him.little brother and that he has to guard him so the rats can’t eat him.

The old man lies to Jürgen that the rats are sleeping at night. The old man lies to Jürgen that the rats are sleeping at night.

So after sunrise the boy gives up the watch and chooses one rabbit.So after sunrise the boy gives up the watch and chooses one rabbit.

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Priest Joseph MüllerPriest Joseph Müller Joseph Müller was born on August 9th 1894 as the youngest of three brothers in Joseph Müller was born on August 9th 1894 as the youngest of three brothers in Saalmünster in Hessen.Saalmünster in Hessen.

In World War I he decided to interrupt his studies to become a war volunteer. In World War I he decided to interrupt his studies to become a war volunteer.

After having been injured seriously he made the plan to work for the After having been injured seriously he made the plan to work for the religious welfare.religious welfare.

On March 11th 1922 he was ordained priest and worked as a clergy man in DuderOn March 11th 1922 he was ordained priest and worked as a clergy man in Duderstadt, Hannoversch stadt, Hannoversch Münden, Celle and Wolfenbüttel.Münden, Celle and Wolfenbüttel.

His function as a priest led him to Lauterberg 1931, to Süpplingen 1934, His function as a priest led him to Lauterberg 1931, to Süpplingen 1934, to Heiningen 1937 and at last to Groß Düngen. to Heiningen 1937 and at last to Groß Düngen.

Because of his heartiness he was very popular with the youth.Because of his heartiness he was very popular with the youth.

In 1944 he told the following joke to an old ill man who he visited at home:In 1944 he told the following joke to an old ill man who he visited at home:

““A seriously injured soldier wishes to have Adolf Hitler and Hermann Göhring A seriously injured soldier wishes to have Adolf Hitler and Hermann Göhring next to his death- bed in the hospital. Naturally this isn’t possible but the nurse next to his death- bed in the hospital. Naturally this isn’t possible but the nurse put a picture of the two men to each side of the bed. The soldier says: <Now I die like Jesus Christ.>”put a picture of the two men to each side of the bed. The soldier says: <Now I die like Jesus Christ.>”

With this statement Hitler and Göhring are compared with the two criminals With this statement Hitler and Göhring are compared with the two criminals between who Jesus Christ died on the cross.between who Jesus Christ died on the cross.

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Priest Joseph MüllerPriest Joseph Müller After the son of the old man betrayed Joseph Müller to the Gestapo, he was arrested in Mai 1944. After the son of the old man betrayed Joseph Müller to the Gestapo, he was arrested in Mai 1944.

On August 28th 1944 Nazi- judge Roland Freisler condemned him to death per the guillotine.On August 28th 1944 Nazi- judge Roland Freisler condemned him to death per the guillotine.

He was executed in Görden/Berlin on September 11th 1944.He was executed in Görden/Berlin on September 11th 1944.

Very impressing are his last letters. He wrote them to his family and to his parish in Groß Düngen Very impressing are his last letters. He wrote them to his family and to his parish in Groß Düngen during his captivity and even one hour before his execution:during his captivity and even one hour before his execution:

““My heart is full of joy because I’m going home to my father. In one hour I’ll be at home My heart is full of joy because I’m going home to my father. In one hour I’ll be at home and leave earth for you. I know that I’ll lose my life. I want to give my blood for my parish… and leave earth for you. I know that I’ll lose my life. I want to give my blood for my parish… nothing can separate us from Jesus’ love.”nothing can separate us from Jesus’ love.”

Until today the people in Groß Düngen remember priest Joseph Müller:Until today the people in Groß Düngen remember priest Joseph Müller: The school and a street are named after him. You can visit his grave and an exhibition in The school and a street are named after him. You can visit his grave and an exhibition in

the parsonage and every year the bells of the church ring for his memory at 1pm on the the parsonage and every year the bells of the church ring for his memory at 1pm on the 11th of September.11th of September.

At the moment the inhabitants of Groß Düngen try to obtain priest Joseph Müller to be canonized.At the moment the inhabitants of Groß Düngen try to obtain priest Joseph Müller to be canonized.

That’s why our Comenius- Team tried to answer the following question:That’s why our Comenius- Team tried to answer the following question:

““Should Father Kolbe and Priest Joseph Müller be canonized by the Catholic Church?”Should Father Kolbe and Priest Joseph Müller be canonized by the Catholic Church?”

““In our opinion Father Kolbe should be canonized. He took the place for a father of three kids in the gas- In our opinion Father Kolbe should be canonized. He took the place for a father of three kids in the gas- chamber. It was very brave to die for a person who he didn’t know.chamber. It was very brave to die for a person who he didn’t know.

We are not sure if Priest Joseph Müller should be canonized. It was brave to tell this joke but at the same time We are not sure if Priest Joseph Müller should be canonized. It was brave to tell this joke but at the same time it was stupid. He didn’t save anybody’s life but send one more person to death- himself.”it was stupid. He didn’t save anybody’s life but send one more person to death- himself.” back