Lieke's+Personal+History+Project

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= Introduction = = = Thirty years ago I had had an awful experience. I was only 10 years old when it started. It lasted for about 6 years and a lot of horrible things happened during that time. It was World War II. Before this awful thing started my life was just great. I played with my brothers and sisters in the forest from day light to sun fall. We had seven people in my family, my mom, my dad, my 3 brothers my sister and of course me. I was the oldest, which I thought was great. It was like I was in charge of everyone. VIDEO CLIP

Ever since the war started I hated being in charge of everyone. I was scared, even though I was already 10. My mom said I was a grown up girl. Now my brothers and sisters, and I are afraid to go outside and play in the forest. I hated staying inside the house. During the day it was so boring all we did was sit. Every day we did the same routine sit, sit and sit even more.

In 1942 the scariest thing till now happened I think it was about 6:30 p.m, when we all started panicking, my dad who was brave looked out the window, and then he saw it, it was the Nazi’s. We got all our belongings that we could take, and we ran, we ran as far as we could hoping the planes above wouldn’t see. After running for quite a bit. We finally arrived at a field full of grass. I had no clue what my dad was doing. He started digging and digging, finally I understood, and I started digging. It started pouring. We all got soaking, but it was better than getting caught. After a while the whole we dug was big enough for all seven of us to sleep in.

Luckily the soldiers still haven’t discovered our little secret hole, but my father said that soon it would be time to leave. I did not want to. I’ve actually gotten used to sleeping in here. I think we now have almost slept in this whole for a year. It was already 1943, and the Nazi’s were getting fiercer by the second. I kept peeking out of the hole. I now saw the Nazi’s carrying dead bodies. I mean what is that all about. Why would someone carry a dead body? What if the Nazi’s kill me and they will carry me on their backs like that. But I’m only 13 years old so I hope it won’t happen, I’ll keep my figures crossed.

Now and then I see all this smoke coming from the chimneys, black smoke. Heaps and heaps coming out and once. It is not just one chimney, there are about 6 chimneys all at ones. It is disgusting. Papa saw it too, and said that it is too dangerous to stay here. I am wondering why, there is nothing wrong here except for all that smoke, then that must be the reason we are moving

Today mama and I almost got caught by the Nazi’s. We were walking on the train rail to get any belongings from our old house in Rhenen. Our house got bombed last week by those Ugly looking Nazi’s. But I’m afraid we didn’t get to our house. We were walking, when all of a sudden their stood one those Nazi’s in front of us. I thought this is the end of our life, I started trembling. I thought I was going to fall back any minute. I noticed mama was scared too. I thought I had to do something about this, maybe beat him up or something. But then decided not to do anything, it might cause harm. Mama said they were deciding if they were gonna kill us or not… After waiting for about 3 hours, the Nazi’s finally let us go. I was relieved and so was mama. But most of all I wanted to get to our house. All our things had gotten bombed, all of the letters I got, everything. I just wanted to see if any of it was left over. But sadly our question couldn’t get answered, we got sent home.

Now a days since I am scared to walk outside, but I enjoy walking around our hole that we dug. When I walk near it, I feel like I am safe, no matter what happened. The breeze around our area is nice and cool. Sometimes I wish I could just be home, better if this war never started. If this never started, everything would be normal, we wouldn’t starve, we wouldn’t stink, we wouldn’t be so skinny. I HATE IT. I have a feeling that soon all of this will be over, and we can go back home, oh yea we don’t have a home anymore, but I’m sure we’ll get one as soon as all of these horrible things are over.

Today is the August 2, 1944 I can’t believe it’s only been 4 years of WWII. It seems so long, it seems like 10 years. Probably cause everyday has been so boring, but I also had some great adventures. Like when I almost got caught by the Nazi’s with my mama, and when we had to dig a hole or we would have gone to the concentration camps. Luckily we’re still all together, that is the most important thing: FAMILY. Hopefully this year will fly by, but then how much longer will this war continue. My wish for now is: That this war will be over before 1948. But how will the war end? Who will stop this war? I have so many questions spinning in my head. I had such a wonderful day today. Today was the first day of the year 1945. Even though we didn’t have a great and fun day like we always did in Rhenen, it was still fun. We got a little more food than usual which sure made me happy. We also couldn’t be to loud or the Nazi’s might hear us. Today we also moved holes. Our hole now is tiny, we have to lay on top of eachother. But at least we’re still all together.

Today is May 8, 1945 and this is a day I will never forget, the Germans have surrendered. YEPPEE. We are finally free, everyone in my family cried of joy, so did I, and I was already 15. I can’t believe that when the war started I was only 10 and now I am already 15. The first thing we did when we heard the news was celebrate with people we didn’t even know, but they were also overjoyed just like us! Then we went looking for our house. When I saw it I started crying, but this time not because of joy, because of sadness. Our whole house was burned down, and nothing was left, nothing. All my dolls, all my pictures of my friends, all our letters, everything. It was horrible. My sisters and brothers were also sad. But there was no need to cry, the war was over and my wish came true!! The war has ended before 1948. YEAH!! .