Omi's Biography
Omi's in love...
Omi was the oldest daughter of Gustav and Klara (Tillman) Jebram. She was born in 1920 in Herten, Westfallen (Westphalia), Germany. Herten is a small town in the middle of the Ruhrgebiet (Ruhr Valley), famous for its coal deposits, with about 70,000 inhabitants. More than 50 percent of all employment is directly dependent on the mining industry.
Gustav and Klara also had two more daughters. When Omi was about four years old, her parents divorced. When she was seven, her mother re-married a college student named "J.B." Burlage. He eventually graduated as a Steiger, or mine inspector, and was one of the few people who owned a car - a Ford.
When Omi was ten the family moved to a nice apartment in Langenbochum in the suburbs of Recklinghausen. When she was fifteen, Omi began training as a Hauswirtschafterin (Housekeeping Manager). In order to finish her training she worked in a large household in Essen for a family from San Antonio, Texas. After two years, Omi received her basic certificate and planned to train for two more years to become an accredited teacher, but had to quit because her mother Klara was very ill.
Gustav and Klara also had two more daughters. When Omi was about four years old, her parents divorced. When she was seven, her mother re-married a college student named "J.B." Burlage. He eventually graduated as a Steiger, or mine inspector, and was one of the few people who owned a car - a Ford.
When Omi was ten the family moved to a nice apartment in Langenbochum in the suburbs of Recklinghausen. When she was fifteen, Omi began training as a Hauswirtschafterin (Housekeeping Manager). In order to finish her training she worked in a large household in Essen for a family from San Antonio, Texas. After two years, Omi received her basic certificate and planned to train for two more years to become an accredited teacher, but had to quit because her mother Klara was very ill.
Hard Worker
Castle Rogaetz
Omi and her younger sister took turns caring for their mother, and Omi also worked at other jobs. One year she helped run the household in a former knight's castle called Burg Rogätz (English version) not far from Magdeburg.
In 1939 she managed the household of the owner of a construction company in Karlshagen (English version) on the Ostsee (Baltic Sea), where she met and fell in love with Opa.
In 1939 she managed the household of the owner of a construction company in Karlshagen (English version) on the Ostsee (Baltic Sea), where she met and fell in love with Opa.
Happy Couple
Marriage photo, 1940, Berlin
When they met, Omi was nineteen, and Opa was twenty-four. He was a Class 1A Schreiber (Clerk) with the Luftwaffe (German Air Force), stationed a few miles north of Karlshagen in Peenemünde. However, Opa, was about to be transferred to a base near Würzburg, over 600 kilometers away, so he asked Omi to go south to Berlin and stay with his (adopted) parents Otto and Elise Böttcher until he could join her.
Soon the Second World War was affecting everyone's lives. Nevertheless, the two were married in Tegelort in August 1940. Omi carried roses and wore a simple flower dress which her mother-in-law made for her from curtains -- the only available material. Opa wore his Air Force uniform. Sadly Opa had to return to his unit shortly afterwards.
In June of 1941, Omi's beloved mother Klara died. However, it was much later when Omi learned of her death from a girlfriend's telegram. By then Opa had been transferred to Leipheim, Schwaben (Swabia). Omi visited him there when she could.
Soon the Second World War was affecting everyone's lives. Nevertheless, the two were married in Tegelort in August 1940. Omi carried roses and wore a simple flower dress which her mother-in-law made for her from curtains -- the only available material. Opa wore his Air Force uniform. Sadly Opa had to return to his unit shortly afterwards.
In June of 1941, Omi's beloved mother Klara died. However, it was much later when Omi learned of her death from a girlfriend's telegram. By then Opa had been transferred to Leipheim, Schwaben (Swabia). Omi visited him there when she could.
Laughter is healthy...
Omi's visits her sister on the Reichsbahn
During the war, Hitler demanded that every able person work to support the war effort. Omi worked for a time at an ammunition factory in Tegelort. Opa was then transferred to France. Omi's next job was with the Reichsbahn (German Train System). She was happy working on the trains and traveled all over the countryside.
In 1943 both of her Tillman grandparents died. The same year Omi's in-laws decided to move to Kreuzberg, however, Omi had to live elsewhere. Her shelter was cold and drafty and she developed jaundice that damaged her liver. Ironically a few days after the Böttcher's left, a bomb fell on their original house and it burned to the ground. When Omi was well again her in-laws asked her to come live with them.
Omi saw many terrible faces of the war. She remembers the Russians storming into Berlin, stealing, murdering, and raping; she saw houses and people burning; and people starving -- eating horses and dogs. In order to survive she and her friends took small valuables and walked far out into the countryside to trade with farmers for potatoes and vegetables. It was a dangerous adventure, because no one was supposed to leave the city. Near the end of the war, she was assigned to pull dead bodies out of the water near the flooded subway stations. In 1945 the war finally ended and Opa returned home from a British prison camp in Eutin. In 1955 with their three young girls, they moved to Lefèvrestraße (map) in Friedenau, Berlin.
In 1943 both of her Tillman grandparents died. The same year Omi's in-laws decided to move to Kreuzberg, however, Omi had to live elsewhere. Her shelter was cold and drafty and she developed jaundice that damaged her liver. Ironically a few days after the Böttcher's left, a bomb fell on their original house and it burned to the ground. When Omi was well again her in-laws asked her to come live with them.
Omi saw many terrible faces of the war. She remembers the Russians storming into Berlin, stealing, murdering, and raping; she saw houses and people burning; and people starving -- eating horses and dogs. In order to survive she and her friends took small valuables and walked far out into the countryside to trade with farmers for potatoes and vegetables. It was a dangerous adventure, because no one was supposed to leave the city. Near the end of the war, she was assigned to pull dead bodies out of the water near the flooded subway stations. In 1945 the war finally ended and Opa returned home from a British prison camp in Eutin. In 1955 with their three young girls, they moved to Lefèvrestraße (map) in Friedenau, Berlin.