My Mom was born Marta Brüning. November 1,1932 in
Findorff-Bremen, Germany.
She was a twin but her twin sister was still born.
Mom was very tiny when she was born and was not expected to live
which is why she was not given a middle name. The doctors told Opa
and Oma to take her home where she was sure to die. Oma made sure
mom would not die. Oma told mom she used to warm up the oven and
place mom on the door of it to keep her warm, like an incubator would
do today. Oma nursed mom to a healthy little baby that would survive.
This led to a very close relationship with mom and her mom, plus mom
was the baby.
Findorff-Bremen, Germany.
She was a twin but her twin sister was still born.
Mom was very tiny when she was born and was not expected to live
which is why she was not given a middle name. The doctors told Opa
and Oma to take her home where she was sure to die. Oma made sure
mom would not die. Oma told mom she used to warm up the oven and
place mom on the door of it to keep her warm, like an incubator would
do today. Oma nursed mom to a healthy little baby that would survive.
This led to a very close relationship with mom and her mom, plus mom
was the baby.
| Click photos to enlarge - Fotos anklicken um sie zu vergrößern |
Oma Else & Mom prior to her TB
In 1939 WWII had begun. Mom was 7 years old. Since Bremen was a port city it was first to be attacked. The
bombing was very heavy. Mom was sent to the country (Meining)to live with a family that took in children from cities
to protect them from the war. Mom said she loved it there. She was there for 2 years. There were no bombs there,
it was peaceful. The 3 pictures above are of the safe house and some of the other kids. When it was safe to return
home Oma and Opa came to get her. Bremen surrendered to spare their city and their people. The USA controlled
Bremen by this time, This didn't mean the was over for Bremen. There was still bombing. The Family never went to
the bomb shelters, they had a cellar where they went to during air raids. Mom said the US soldiers were very nice
to all the people of her city. When the US soldiers captured the boys in the German army they would cut there
pants off and make them into shorts, smack on the butt and say go home and be a child. The US also opened a
hall with dancing,bowling and music for the kids in the city. It gave the kids something to do and kept them off the
streets. Mom went to this hall where she met Seigfreid Sirotzki. They became friends. One day he said he had to
go away for a few days but would return soon. The next time mom saw him he was walking down the street with a
man she had never seen. That man was my father, brother of Seigfreid, Hubert Sirotzki.
Photos of my mom as a little girl.
bombing was very heavy. Mom was sent to the country (Meining)to live with a family that took in children from cities
to protect them from the war. Mom said she loved it there. She was there for 2 years. There were no bombs there,
it was peaceful. The 3 pictures above are of the safe house and some of the other kids. When it was safe to return
home Oma and Opa came to get her. Bremen surrendered to spare their city and their people. The USA controlled
Bremen by this time, This didn't mean the was over for Bremen. There was still bombing. The Family never went to
the bomb shelters, they had a cellar where they went to during air raids. Mom said the US soldiers were very nice
to all the people of her city. When the US soldiers captured the boys in the German army they would cut there
pants off and make them into shorts, smack on the butt and say go home and be a child. The US also opened a
hall with dancing,bowling and music for the kids in the city. It gave the kids something to do and kept them off the
streets. Mom went to this hall where she met Seigfreid Sirotzki. They became friends. One day he said he had to
go away for a few days but would return soon. The next time mom saw him he was walking down the street with a
man she had never seen. That man was my father, brother of Seigfreid, Hubert Sirotzki.
Photos of my mom as a little girl.
| Copyright (C) 2006 WWW.Sirotzki.org Use with permission only. Please email me with questions at Monica@Sirotzki.org |
| "MOM" Marta Sirotzki Geb. Brüning |
Baby Mom
Mom went through a lot during her
early years. In 1937 at age 5 she
was diagnosed with Tuberculosis
(TB). She became very ill. Again
they said she was not going to live
through it. Since Oma and Opa
were not poor, nor were they rich
they could afford to send mom to a
children's hospital. The best
hospital during that time. This
photo is of mom and the others in
her ward. She stayed in the
hospital for a year. I am not sure
where the hospital was but mom
said Oma and Opa would drive to
visit her there. It took 1 year for
mom to get better. Her lungs are
still scared but she lived through it.
early years. In 1937 at age 5 she
was diagnosed with Tuberculosis
(TB). She became very ill. Again
they said she was not going to live
through it. Since Oma and Opa
were not poor, nor were they rich
they could afford to send mom to a
children's hospital. The best
hospital during that time. This
photo is of mom and the others in
her ward. She stayed in the
hospital for a year. I am not sure
where the hospital was but mom
said Oma and Opa would drive to
visit her there. It took 1 year for
mom to get better. Her lungs are
still scared but she lived through it.
| Mom is 2nd from the left in the bottom row. This is the only photo of mom while in the hospital |
Age 15
Age 21
 | |  | |  |