More snippets from the interviews:

I post this snippet from an interview because of the juxtaposition of the fear of losing one’s home, being killed by one’s own soldiers, and bedbugs.

B: Yea, yea, we were told, it was written [in the papers] that Ukraine was all destroyed, there was nothing.
A: And why did they do that?
B: Who knows why they did that.
A: And for what? Psychologically, it’s so important to know that there is a Ukraine to return to. Did you work better? Probably you didn’t work that well.
B: Well, they used to write [lies] in those newspapers. The Czechs used to tell us that in the newspapers it says that we are all volunteers, so when the Reds come, it would mean that they will kill us too. Ooohh, and [they said] there was no more Ukraine.
A: So they were trying to scare you that when the Reds come they will kill you [it was a crime to cooperate with the other side]?
B: They would kill us. Yes. And there was famine, there was cold.
A: And on top of all that, this frightened you.
B: And that too.
B2: And on top of that the bedbugs bit!
B: Yea, those bedbugs.

* * * * *

In another interview, I asked a Baba and a Did (man) why they thought the Germans raped (just trying to get at what their thoughts on motivation was), and the woman answered to me, “They didn’t explain.”

I thought that was actually quite humorous. I thought she probably considered this a really dumb question. My interpreter was excellent, though. He understood what I was trying to get at, and he followed with, “But do you have any thoughts on why?”

Wendy Gertjejanssen on ResearchGate

Some more bloopers/snippets from the oral interviews about WWII and sexual violence.

The dissertation for which I used these interviews, along with many other sources from archives around Europe and in Washington D.C.

September 26, 2017September 14, 2020

I’m not a football fan, but…yes, let’s take a stand against racism

I commend the football players who take a stand against racism. I have never supported the NFL, nor been a Vikings fan. When Croatians were excited that I was from Minnesota, I could barely remember what sport the Timberwolves played. The research revealing the high incidence of sexual violence and football players added to my dislike of football. I am saddened by how many ex-athletes have life-long physical and mental health issues. Their experiences either on the field or in the spotlight can have debilitating long-term effects. The issue of concussions is a travesty. It shows how greed and ambition trumped the welfare of players. Despite their wealth and fame, were still pawns in the great monetary game of sports.

I am opposed to how much money these athletes and their managers and owners make. Caretakers, teachers, essential workers, and other educated people in our society make so little. Working class people have to struggle so hard to get basic healthcare or schooling. It isn’t just that I don’t usually enjoy watching these popular sports. Once in a while I do enjoy a game if kind of forced to watch because of a situation. But I also oppose them for political and social reasons.

* * * * *

But what the NFL players and owners are doing now is worth commending. They are using their visibility to take a stand against racism. Our lousy president’s continued, childish Twitter responses reveal his racism and his inability to understand more than one side of an issue. The tweets also reveal how he doesn’t want us to think about his failing presidency. His rhetoric about peaceful protests against racism in juxtaposition to his tweets about some Nazis being nice people is shameful.

He is frustrated by the inability of the Republicans to repeal the ACA. Plus, he is on a dangerous path with North Korea because of his insistence to take things personally. This man is incapable of being a unifying, democratic, diplomatic, and conciliatory leader. In response to Trump’s horrific, racist rhetoric the NFL players and owners have bravely continued to peacefully exercise their right to protest racism in our country in an extremely visible setting.

* * * * *

I adjure the NFL players who have so much wealth and visibility to also use their power and influence to take a stand against racism. This is work toward a a more racially and economically just America. Some already have and currently do philanthropic work. I hope more of them follow suit. But members of the NFL kneel to protest racial injustice. They lock arms to show solidarity with those who choose to practice their right of free speech. These are brave moves that come from their hearts and probably after much personal consideration.

Their actions raise awareness about the racism of the White House, our president, and of institutions and far right groups across America. These actions of protest may spur others to action as well. Our flag and national anthem symbolize the freedoms we hold dear in this country. These are freedom of speech, of protest, and of the press. Unlike Trump, these players do not insult veterans or families of veterans. America is far from being a equitable country, and if this is how some want to make a statement about the very real injustice in our land, I commend them for it.

Victims, Heroes, Survivors: Sexual Violence on the Eastern Front During World War II. PhD dissertation.

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August 1, 2017September 8, 2020

Topographie des Terrors, Shame on You!

It is 2017 and Germany still has not owned up to its widespread sexual violence during World War II, committed by German soldiers, members of both the Wehrmacht and the SS. The myth that only the Soviet soldiers in Berlin who committed mass rape continues to be in so many people’s thinking.

I was apprehensive after I read the sentence about how Red Army soldiers harrassed German women in Berlin as they entered Berlin. We entered the open air museum at the end of the exhibition and read chronologically backward. I could only suspect that they wouldn’t mention that German soldiers had also committed massive sexual crimes during the war.

Because we began reading at the end of the exhibition, it made sense the Red Army rapes would be mentioned first. But I had little hope the exhibition would mention the vast German system of sexual slavery. I had even less hope that the many German rapes of Jews, Slavs, and others during the war would be mentioned.

The Germans were as sexually bestial as were the Soviets

And sure enough, unless I missed it, I did not see any mention of German sexual crimes during the war. As usual, those behind the making of this museum only thought to include the crimes of the Slavs. They helped to further the stereotype that for some reason the Slavic men are more beastly than the Germans.

Of course, it mentioned other crimes the Germans committed, but not sexual crimes. If the authors thought to mention sexual crimes of one army, then they should also mention the sexual crimes of the other. The SS, Wehrmacht, and other Germans in the east were not innocent of sexual criminality.

The evidence is out there even from before my dissertation in 2004! And I clearly documented widespread rape and system sexual slavery committed and established by the Germans. In the years since my published research, other scholars have documented additional German sexual violence during the war.

Topographie des Terrors, Shame on You!

Come on, Germany! Own up to your sexual crimes as well! Stop pretending only the Soviet Army committed these on the eastern front.

If I am wrong and missed something and the historians and those responsible for the text of this exhibition did include something of the sexual crimes the Germans committed, let me know. We were unable to spend as much time as I would have liked at this outdoor museum, so it is possible I missed something. I actually hope that I have.

I do commend Berlin for having the open air museums it does have. Many of the stories and photographs are available to the general public. This is especially important to students and young persons who do not always have the financial means to enter the more expensive museums housed inside buildings.

Still, the general public deserves to know that the Germans forced thousands and thousands of women of all races to work in brothels. The SS, Wehrmacht, other soldiers, and concentration camp inmates visited the brothels to engage in sexual intercourse, in effect raping a woman each time. No woman chose to work in one of these brothels. If the choice is between starvation and the slight chance of living, that is not a choice. Each man who visited the brothel is in effect a rapist.

German soldiers also raped before they murdered, outside of brothels. Scholars have documented this time and again. So why not, in Berlin, do the scholars in charge of this open air museum mention this and pretend the Germans committed no such crimes? The Germans even raped Jews, which was categorically and falsely denied for decades.

Links

Victims, Heroes, Survivors: Sexual Violence on the Eastern Front During World War II. PhD dissertation.

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July 30, 2017September 8, 2020

Single Lane Cornish Hedgerow Streets

Driving in the UK is actually not as scary as I had imagined. By the third day, I skillfully and cheerfully manipulated the single-lane hedgerow streets. These really should be called paths. As my daughter said, these are as wide as the bike paths we use in Minnesota.

But everyone was friendly and smiling, and we never had any incident. I knew when to break and wait, and also took charge when it seemed it was I who needed to go first. After the pass, there was always this friendly wave from driver to driver.

Still, the second day driving from Port Isaac to Padstow where we were staying, we had lost track of the handwritten map our hostess had written for us, so we temporarily were relying on Google offline maps. Of course, Google wanted us to get to Padstow as fast as we could. This meant driving these single car-width hedgerow streets. My daughter instructed me to turn left, and at first it seemed to be a fairly wide lane, in English terms. But having driven fifty yards or more the road turned and we saw it was tall hedges on either side and only room for one car.

* * * * *

I panicked. The adrenaline soared through my body, and I said, “I cannot do this.” A car appeared heading toward us. It was a Beamer. Veering to the left as far as possible, and sure enough, the lady was waving and smiling, and she made it past us without incident. I couldn’t believe it – there was absolutely no room!

I immediately started backing up. We reached the turn, which wasn’t far and I backed around the turn. I noticed a wider part of this street and thought I could turn around there.

As soon as I started turning a car appeared. Cora yelled out. Although I also panicked for a second, I figured they would just have to wait, which they did. I cheerfully waved them on and turned onto the main road.

We found the little handwritten map under my bum and made it home without having to drive these hedge streets until the next day when I felt ready.

After driving these, I felt like the other streets were wide highways.

Click here to see a video of one of our hedgerow drives. And here is one more.

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July 28, 2017September 29, 2020

My First Driving Experience in the UK

“Now I have tomorrow behind me,” I said, now having driven in the UK.

I was extremely exhausted after our harrowing eight-hour trip (supposed to be 5-1/4) from London. We drove in an hour-long traffic jam. We drove through roundabouts. Maybe only three times did I slam on the breaks so hard because cars came up so suddenly. This sent, of course, everything in the car to the floor. I drove over curbs (once definitely causing damage to the underside of the “carriage”). Only one time did I completely panic, screaming an untruth, “I am on the wrong side of the road!!!!” Luckily, I was able to immediately pull into a “petrol” station, saving us from the peril we never were in.

Adding to our stress, we had no cash despite repeated attempts. We were dehydrated and starving (ok I am exaggerating). Through all of this I always stayed positive. I didn’t want to stress out my young daughter who was calmly and continuously selecting music from her playlist for us to listen. But I’m kidding also. She definitely picked up on the fact that I couldn’t not keep the car in the middle of the road and always wanted to drive on the wrong side…I wonder how why she knew? 🙂

That was my first driving experience in the UK. I’m not sure I will ever do it again.

I did not feel any perspective for the first hours of my driving in the UK. Ha! — Driving in the UK did get a little easier as the days passed. We even managed to drive the hedgerows!

* * *
http://www.victimsheroessurvivors.info/VictimsHeroesSurvivors.pdf
Sexual Violence in War, Police Custody, Civilian Life
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July 27, 2017September 28, 2020

Getting to London with my Daughter

I never foresaw how getting to London would cause such stress in our morning. Having left the cozy bakery where we had filled up on coffee and bread, we walked the block and a half to the U Bahn station. Unfortunately, we were supposed to take the S Bahn. I had forgotten to think this step through, and I automatically headed us down the stairs to the U Bahn station we mostly had been using while living on Mueggelstrasse. When we reached the bottom of the stairs, I remembered that the S Bahn didn’t go there. We had to turn around and go up the stairs again. Already my muscles were excited from the exercise of rapidly walking and then lifting the suitcases up the stairs.

First hurdle getting to London passed

Since there were no signs, we followed a crowd, hoping and assuming it was for the S Bahn station. Our pace had already quickened because I could feel myself start to worry. I asked a lady halfway up the hill to be sure we were following the right crowd. Getting to London was going to take many more steps than I had anticipated.

Arriving at the S Bahn station, I only knew that we needed train number nine. That one had just left. A new one did not light up on the sign that showed the next two arriving trains. I looked for a time table, but of course there wasn’t one anywhere to be found, at least for the S9.

Looking at the map, I realized we could take another train and then change. Still, it wasn’t yet entirely clear to me. One lady told us just as a train was leaving, “you should have taken that one.” This German repeated that fact three times during our subsequent conversation. To shut down the repetition, I finally said, “well, we can’t do anything about that now.” She then finally confirmed that I should get on either such and such or such and such number train.

Getting to London got me exhausted!

I looked at my watch and thought we should be okay still, but really I wasn’t entirely sure. We got on the next train where I immediately asked another woman for directions to the next train. Of course, I could see this on the map, but the Berlin U/S Bahn map is so complicated I wanted to be sure. I felt sure I couldn’t make a mistake. It looked like we would transfer in Adlens-something so the S46.

We had two small roll suitcases and a super heavy backpack that I could already feel in my shoulders. We were also carrying coffees, a fruit cup we had purchased last night, two sandwiches, a sweet baked good, and who knows what else.

When we got out of the first train, and I quickly realized the next train would come on the same track. We sat and waited up to two minutes before our final train came. That ride to the airport was maybe ten or fifteen minutes long. When we got out, the walkway was completely packed with people, which made me worry because of the crowds and because our flight was in just over an hour.

* * * * *

As we walked this wide corridor I saw signs for Terminals A, B, C and D, but I had no idea which one we needed. I stopped, checked my ticket and couldn’t see where it stated which terminal. We just kept walking/running, and finally, as we came out of the corridor, I saw a sign and quickly checked and saw which terminal we needed. Of course it was D, the one that was the furthest away. Still almost running, we headed toward that one. I was waffling between feeling like we would make it and also just hoping that we would. The flight was so cheap, so that wouldn’t have been the loss – but trying to find a new one, messing up our plans, having to either sleep again somewhere in Berlin or somewhere new in London – I didn’t want to even go there in my mind.

When we got to the first door of D, I quickly looked around and found the Easyjet counter we needed. But what I saw made me even more anxious. In front of the counter was one of those zig zag lines that crossed back and forth at least ten times. The crowd was huge, with hundreds of people. We got in line right away, but my heart sank. It didn’t seem possible that we could get through in time.

* * * * *

I went to the bathroom where there also was a line, so I immediately came back out. I was just too nervous to stay in a small, smelly room with a line. An EasyJet employee was standing near my path back to Cora. I asked him what he thought we should do. He said to just get back in line, that we would make it. The long line was moving fast. But since it was now less than an hour before takeoff and we also needed to get through security, part of me still worried. Another part of me thought they would have to take care of us since they want their passengers on their flights.

* * * * *

Sure enough, suddenly the large man I had asked ten to fifteen minutes prior suddenly yelled out “London Luton? London Luton? Here number 28 and 29,” and he started opening up the gates to let us out of the long line. I told Cora, “go, go.” So we got into the next line and waited there. Finally having checked our bag, we got into the next long line for security. That was stressful trying to unpack things. Cora also temporarily panicked that we left her bathroom bag in the hotel, not realizing it was in the suitcase we had just checked. But we finally got through.

Then again I checked what gate number since it wasn’t on my phone, and we walked/ran to the bathroom and then the gate. We made it with hearts racing, only to stand and wait fifteen minutes to board. They checked the second wheelie bag for free because the flight was so crowded. That was fine with me. I just grabbed my book and papers out of it.

* * * * *

Waiting to board, I just kept breathing. It had been a stressful morning. I keep my mood up, but the stress was still there. I didn’t feel like missing our flight and probably paying much more for another one. This also could mean we would have to drive in the dark to arrive in Padstow. Or it could mean we would have to stay overnight in London because it was too late. I sat in the plane, and my body felt shaky from the early-morning exercise we had, walking up and down stairs, lifting the suitcases and carrying the heavy backpack. For an international two and a half week trip, we packed very lightly, but still…and then I got to drive in the UK on the left side of the road for the first time.

Links

Victims, Heroes, Survivors: Sexual Violence on the Eastern Front During World War II. PhD dissertation.

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Getting to London made for an exciting morning for us!

July 8, 2017September 28, 2020

Out with the old-fashioned, patriarchal Mrs. title!

I recently made it onto a BBC News page because I submitted comments after reading an article about the woman who coined the term Ms. The Mrs. title is patriarchal and should be eliminated from our language. Patriarchy and the title Mrs. go hand in hand. The BBC edited my comments and included my picture along with comments and photos of a few other women. What fun! It is an important issue, and young women should not voluntarily and knowingly be using the term Mrs. any longer. That is only continuing the linguistic prison we find ourselves in much of the time. Language matters!

* * *

I wrote:

Thank you for the article.

This issue is one of my pet peeves and has been for decades. Several men have told me I am “too sensitive” and am “expecting too much of others” because of my opinions on these words and titles.

I only ever use Ms. and have used it since I was my early twenties. I am now fifty. It is insulting to me that I would be considered a possession of my husband while he is an individual, being a Mr.

I have been frustrated in Europe where Ms. isn’t used so much, so, for example, in Germany, I am Mrs. Gertjejanssen or even Dr. Mrs. Gertjejanssen. “Frau” gets translated as Mrs. instead of Ms. Also, when purchasing an airline ticket there is no Ms. choice on some European airlines.

It is also disappointing how many young American women use the possessive Mrs. Perhaps they don’t understand the meaning behind it and use it because it is traditional. Perhaps they view Ms. as too feminist instead of as an equivalent to Mr.

Thank you again for the article.

Wendy

* * *

Patriarchy is upheld by sexist language, and patriarchy and the title Mrs. go hand in hand. Females are not the property of men and therefore need to reflect this in their names. They need to keep their first names and use an equivalent, non-hierarchical title. Ms. reflects equity, independence, and doesn’t insinuate old-fashioned patriarchal subjugation.

* * *

http://www.victimsheroessurvivors.info/VictimsHeroesSurvivors.pdf

Sexual Violence in War, Police Custody, Civilian Life

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