Opa's Biography
Opa as a young boy
Opa* was born in January 1916 in Berlin, Germany. His mother was Martha Böttcher, but he was raised by his Uncle Otto and Aunt Elise. Otto was a court bailiff and the couple adopted him and raised him as their own. For the next sixteen years the Böttcher family lived on Fontanestrasse in the Neukölln district of Berlin (now near the Boddinstrasse U-Bahn subway station). [*Opa is not named here.]
After Opa graduated from high school, he attended a one-year college and secured a business degree. In 1933, he clerked in the import and export department of a large furniture company, taking care of the bookkeeping and handling the correspondence. However, the company went bankrupt in the summer of 1936.
In March of 1936, under the pretext of needing more Lebensraum (living-space), Hitler sent troops into the demilitarized Rhineland zone (Rheinland), and by October all young German men had to enlist of join the civilian work force. Opa enlisted in the Luftwaffe (German Air Force), and in November went north to Stettin for six months of basic training. There he marveled at the vast ship-building yards and U-boat (submarine) factory.
After Opa graduated from high school, he attended a one-year college and secured a business degree. In 1933, he clerked in the import and export department of a large furniture company, taking care of the bookkeeping and handling the correspondence. However, the company went bankrupt in the summer of 1936.
In March of 1936, under the pretext of needing more Lebensraum (living-space), Hitler sent troops into the demilitarized Rhineland zone (Rheinland), and by October all young German men had to enlist of join the civilian work force. Opa enlisted in the Luftwaffe (German Air Force), and in November went north to Stettin for six months of basic training. There he marveled at the vast ship-building yards and U-boat (submarine) factory.
In April 1937, he was transferred to Bart (or Barth) in Pommern (Pomerania) on the Baltic Sea, and worked as a Personnel Clerk (taking care of leave orders, etc.) until June 1939. He was promoted in 1939 and transferred to Peenemünde where he edited technical reports. Peenemünde was where they tested Starthilfe, the rockets Germany later fired at England.
In 1939 Opa met and fell in love with Omi. On Sept. 1, 1939, World War II officially began. On Nov. 12 Opa was transferred to Gibelstad near Würzburg. Soon afterward he took Omi to live with his adopted parents in Tegelort, Berlin, until he could rejoin her. They were married August 2, 1940.
In 1939 Opa met and fell in love with Omi. On Sept. 1, 1939, World War II officially began. On Nov. 12 Opa was transferred to Gibelstad near Würzburg. Soon afterward he took Omi to live with his adopted parents in Tegelort, Berlin, until he could rejoin her. They were married August 2, 1940.
Omi visited Opa at his unit when she could. When he was transferred to Brest, France, Omi returned to the Böttcher's Berlin apartment. Opa stayed a half year in Brest, then was transferred to Leipheim, Schwaben (Swabia). Then he was transferred to Obertraubing near Regensburg, where he stayed for a half year.
In February 1943, Opa's unit was transferred to Russia's Krim Peninsula (the Crimea, now in the Ukraine). Their main job was to ready the wounded soldiers to be taken back home. The food was terrible and frequently unavailable. Their stay lasted four months. Opa was then transferred back to Obertraubing, where Omi visited him for a short while. Opa was again sent to southern France to a point where Hitler planned to start his invasion of England with the Luftwaffe's Lastenseglern (transport planes). However, most of the planes were destroyed by English bombers. The food in southern France was scarce, but during his half year there, Opa visited the French Riviera. In the spring of 1943 he was transferred to Ostpreussen (East Prussia) to the V-1 Versuchsgelände -- the experimental training center for the V-1 rocket. Christmas of 1943 found Opa and his unit again en route to France with the V-1 and fifteen battalions.
On April 20, 1944, Opa received the Kriegsverdiensstkreuz II Klasse mit Schwerten -- the Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords -- a medal for a job well done in France. In June of 1944, the American and English landed on the coast. Opa's unit marched to Holland where the V-1 was used against Antwerp. Then they moved back to Germany as the Americans and British pushed on from the opposite side.
In February 1943, Opa's unit was transferred to Russia's Krim Peninsula (the Crimea, now in the Ukraine). Their main job was to ready the wounded soldiers to be taken back home. The food was terrible and frequently unavailable. Their stay lasted four months. Opa was then transferred back to Obertraubing, where Omi visited him for a short while. Opa was again sent to southern France to a point where Hitler planned to start his invasion of England with the Luftwaffe's Lastenseglern (transport planes). However, most of the planes were destroyed by English bombers. The food in southern France was scarce, but during his half year there, Opa visited the French Riviera. In the spring of 1943 he was transferred to Ostpreussen (East Prussia) to the V-1 Versuchsgelände -- the experimental training center for the V-1 rocket. Christmas of 1943 found Opa and his unit again en route to France with the V-1 and fifteen battalions.
On April 20, 1944, Opa received the Kriegsverdiensstkreuz II Klasse mit Schwerten -- the Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords -- a medal for a job well done in France. In June of 1944, the American and English landed on the coast. Opa's unit marched to Holland where the V-1 was used against Antwerp. Then they moved back to Germany as the Americans and British pushed on from the opposite side.
Prisoner of War
In 1945, the Allies reached the Rheinland near Beutzenburg on the Elbe River. In April 1945, they hit Lübeck, and on May 2, 1945, the English engaged Opa's unit near the Ratzeburg/Bad Oldesloh autobahn. He and the rest of his unit became prisoners of war.
Since they had given up with little resistance, few were wounded. Opa his fellow soldiers had to walk to Lübeck and build shelter. They used old clothes, and everything available to make tents, etc. Then they walked to Mölln where the British provided them with quarters. They were carefully guarded and there was little food. Some German soldiers had to work for the English, mainly as drivers. After Mölln, they were driven to Eutin / Schleswig to a huge prison camp. The people of the former small village had been evacuated. They slept in barns, and the British lived in the houses. The prisoners were allowed a 10 kilometer zone to walk and move around in. This camp was Opa's "home" until the fall of 1945. When the British asked for volunteers for the prisoner's hospital, Opa volunteered and got an office job. The food was much better there and before long he was put in charge of the office.
In January of 1946, all prisoners of war who had worked as volunteers were officially released by the British. On March 26, Opa and a friend gathered as much food as they could, got their papers, and went by train to Goslar. From there they wanted to try to walk to Berlin over 100 miles away, however, they were picked up and returned to Goslar. Then they were able to get a train from Nordhausen to Fürstenwalde (about 30 miles east of Berlin), where Opa's friend got off. Opa finally managed to get a train to Berlin and in the end of April 1946, reached Berlin and rejoined his wife. They continued to live with Opa's parents on Bergfriedstrasse in Kreuzberg (near the present Prinzenstr. U-Bahn station), and in late 1947 Opa and Omi took in their 15 month old niece.
Opa, as well as other soldiers, had seen many horrible things during the war. One of the most terrifying moments in his life was when the British dropped phosphor bombs, and it seemed like the sky was raining fire. He thought that the bombs the Americans dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were originally German inventions.
Since they had given up with little resistance, few were wounded. Opa his fellow soldiers had to walk to Lübeck and build shelter. They used old clothes, and everything available to make tents, etc. Then they walked to Mölln where the British provided them with quarters. They were carefully guarded and there was little food. Some German soldiers had to work for the English, mainly as drivers. After Mölln, they were driven to Eutin / Schleswig to a huge prison camp. The people of the former small village had been evacuated. They slept in barns, and the British lived in the houses. The prisoners were allowed a 10 kilometer zone to walk and move around in. This camp was Opa's "home" until the fall of 1945. When the British asked for volunteers for the prisoner's hospital, Opa volunteered and got an office job. The food was much better there and before long he was put in charge of the office.
In January of 1946, all prisoners of war who had worked as volunteers were officially released by the British. On March 26, Opa and a friend gathered as much food as they could, got their papers, and went by train to Goslar. From there they wanted to try to walk to Berlin over 100 miles away, however, they were picked up and returned to Goslar. Then they were able to get a train from Nordhausen to Fürstenwalde (about 30 miles east of Berlin), where Opa's friend got off. Opa finally managed to get a train to Berlin and in the end of April 1946, reached Berlin and rejoined his wife. They continued to live with Opa's parents on Bergfriedstrasse in Kreuzberg (near the present Prinzenstr. U-Bahn station), and in late 1947 Opa and Omi took in their 15 month old niece.
Opa, as well as other soldiers, had seen many horrible things during the war. One of the most terrifying moments in his life was when the British dropped phosphor bombs, and it seemed like the sky was raining fire. He thought that the bombs the Americans dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were originally German inventions.
Our dear Omi and Opa
Omi & Opa, 1973, Oregon
Putting the war years behind him, Opa found employment as a clerk with a leather company in Kreuzberg. He often went on business trips to western Germany. In June of 1948 while he was in Hamburg, the allies Währungsreform (currency reform) took place.* With the subsequent Soviet Blockade of Berlin, Opa had great difficulty returning home to what had now officially become a split West and East Berlin.
At the end of 1949, Opa applied for a position with the West Berlin Police Force. He worked with them for fourteen years. In 1951 Opa and Omi's first child was born—a daughter, and in 1955 their second daughter was born. Four months later the family moved into their own apartment on Lefèvrestraße in Friedenau, and lived there contentedly until all three girls had grown. (Opa related the above to his daughter in 1973.)
Opa worked several more years in an administrative position at AEG in Berlin. In 1976, he had a heart attack and crashed his Opel into a building. He died a week later. Opa's tombstone reads "Ruhestätte Böttcher" (Resting Place, Böttcher). The grave is located in Friedenau.
At the end of 1949, Opa applied for a position with the West Berlin Police Force. He worked with them for fourteen years. In 1951 Opa and Omi's first child was born—a daughter, and in 1955 their second daughter was born. Four months later the family moved into their own apartment on Lefèvrestraße in Friedenau, and lived there contentedly until all three girls had grown. (Opa related the above to his daughter in 1973.)
Opa worked several more years in an administrative position at AEG in Berlin. In 1976, he had a heart attack and crashed his Opel into a building. He died a week later. Opa's tombstone reads "Ruhestätte Böttcher" (Resting Place, Böttcher). The grave is located in Friedenau.
*Währungsreform - As the war ended the German Reichsmark, which had been the currency since 1924, quickly dwindled in value. The allies issued 'occupation currency,' but in many places the most reliable currency was cigarettes, usually traded on the black market. The 1948 reform made the new German Mark the sole legal tender.