Survival

My Opa’s name was Dr. Rudolf Hedler. He was the absolute best Opa in the world, and went through many ordeals to become the person he ended up as, many unknown to me. But what I do know I find amazing.

My grandparents are German, and had to live through the Second World War. Opa was 17 when the recruiters came knocking on his door, and demanded that he fight for Germany. He had only two options: Fight or die. He chose to fight, as most did when faced with that decision. No, he was not a Nazi. He was simply one of the many German soldiers being forced to fight.

The war changed him, needless to say. He was captured by the enemy twice, and escaped from their camps each time, which was an amazing feat. Oma, being a young girl, was allowed to live at home, but for many years during and after the war, Germany starved. Food was scarce, and everyone was given food coupons, which divided up the food for the country. Sometimes they went for days with next to nothing to eat, but finally years later the ordeal was over. Both of them had survived the war, and its after effects. They had survived bombings, living in fear, being shot at and famine.

Opa barely ever spoke of his time in the war, and neither does Oma. They became some of the strongest people that I know, and never failed to find the beauty in life, no matter how hard it was. Oma always has a hug ready, and so did Opa. They were always prepared to make lemonade out of life’s lemons.