Several of Dad’s older brothers had been drafted. Hans, Paul and Siegfried gone to fight Hitler’
s war. Tante Traute was drafter as a nurse. As the war went on the older men were not enough
to keep the army going so they started to draft young boys. If you were 13 you were a man now.
My father was drafted at the age of 14. He received his orders of where and when to report.
He was not allowed to bring anything except for his toothbrush and the clothes on his back.
Dad tucked several photos into his pockets that he carried through the war. He also wore his
scapular but when captured it was torn off his neck. Opa Franz wanted to walk my dad to the
pick-up site, but my dad said he could and would go alone. I assume it was so Opa Franz
could comfort Oma Anna. Dad said his goodbyes and walked away. His little sister, Irene and
little brother Ernst, ran to catch up with Dad.
They walked together until he could no longer see his family watching him. Then Dad told his
siblings they must go home and said goodbye to them. This was very hard for my Father to
even talk about. He did not know he would never see his family ever again. The innocent child
went to war. It was the last time he would see Danzig, his home the way he remembered it.
These two photos show my Dad in his uniform coat. The first picture is age 14, just drafted – a
young child, I’m sure scared to death. The second picture is just two months after being in the
war. He aged in the picture very much. These are the only pictures my father has of himself as
a child. There are no others in existence.
While in the army, stationed in Danzig for the first 2 months, Dad witnessed the major air raid
on his homeland. The city was being destroyed before their young eyes the young soldiers
watched from their barracks. The beautiful, ancient city of Danzig was on fire. The bombing
destroyed 95% of the city. Dad didn’t know anything about his family who lived just blocks
away. In fact he could see the area he lived in. This must have been very hard to watch and not
know the fate of your loved ones.
s war. Tante Traute was drafter as a nurse. As the war went on the older men were not enough
to keep the army going so they started to draft young boys. If you were 13 you were a man now.
My father was drafted at the age of 14. He received his orders of where and when to report.
He was not allowed to bring anything except for his toothbrush and the clothes on his back.
Dad tucked several photos into his pockets that he carried through the war. He also wore his
scapular but when captured it was torn off his neck. Opa Franz wanted to walk my dad to the
pick-up site, but my dad said he could and would go alone. I assume it was so Opa Franz
could comfort Oma Anna. Dad said his goodbyes and walked away. His little sister, Irene and
little brother Ernst, ran to catch up with Dad.
They walked together until he could no longer see his family watching him. Then Dad told his
siblings they must go home and said goodbye to them. This was very hard for my Father to
even talk about. He did not know he would never see his family ever again. The innocent child
went to war. It was the last time he would see Danzig, his home the way he remembered it.
These two photos show my Dad in his uniform coat. The first picture is age 14, just drafted – a
young child, I’m sure scared to death. The second picture is just two months after being in the
war. He aged in the picture very much. These are the only pictures my father has of himself as
a child. There are no others in existence.
While in the army, stationed in Danzig for the first 2 months, Dad witnessed the major air raid
on his homeland. The city was being destroyed before their young eyes the young soldiers
watched from their barracks. The beautiful, ancient city of Danzig was on fire. The bombing
destroyed 95% of the city. Dad didn’t know anything about his family who lived just blocks
away. In fact he could see the area he lived in. This must have been very hard to watch and not
know the fate of your loved ones.
| Hubert Franz Sirotzki |
| My Dad was born on December 4, 1929 in Langfuhr, Danzig to Franz and Anna Sirotzki Geb.Noetzel. Franz and Anna were my grandparents. Oma and Opa Sirotzki. Dad is one of thirteen children born at home. They lived at Number 10 Labesweg- Langfuhr, Danzig. |
Opa was caretaker of the Soldier’s cemetery, “The
Hussein” were the army of Danzig. They protected the
city. Oma was a homemaker. German was the household
language, 95% of Danzigers spoke German, and 5%
spoke polish.
At a very young age, Dad and his brothers were playing in
front of the school, having fun like all children do. Then
there was an accident. His brother Clemens, age five, fell
backwards onto a board with a spike sticking out of it.
Clemens head hit the spike and he was seriously injured.
The boys got him home to Opa and Oma. The doctor
came and said make him comfortable until his end.
Dad stayed by his side, helping with what ever he could.
He watched his brother Clemens slowly and painfully
slipped away in five days. Clemens was laid to rest at the
cemetery where Opa worked. Dad said it was horrible
and that Clemens had suffered a great deal.
The look on my Dads face while he told me this was
anguished. He is still very deeply saddened by Clemens
death. He said he’ll never forget it. Seeing the photo of
the school brought back this memory.
| Unserer Eltern's Str. #10 Labes Weg Lanfuhr Danzig und Pestalozzi Schule |
Pestalozzi School and the red arrow is their
home. The front right of this photo is the place
where Clemens was fatally injured
home. The front right of this photo is the place
where Clemens was fatally injured
During the day, Dad went to Pestalozzi School. After school he would walk to the cemetery to see Opa.
They would always tend to Clemens grave. It was well groomed with shrubs, tree, and flowers.
Dad said he would help Opa whenever he could. Dad loved to spend time with his father, and together they
kept the cemetery looking beautiful. This must be where my dad got his green thumb. He always has the most
beautiful gardens.
Unfortunately there are no photos left of Clemens. Or at least that we know of right now. I'm not giving up.
They would always tend to Clemens grave. It was well groomed with shrubs, tree, and flowers.
Dad said he would help Opa whenever he could. Dad loved to spend time with his father, and together they
kept the cemetery looking beautiful. This must be where my dad got his green thumb. He always has the most
beautiful gardens.
Unfortunately there are no photos left of Clemens. Or at least that we know of right now. I'm not giving up.
Dad’s family went to church every Sunday. They
were strict Roman Catholics, hence the thirteen
children. On the walk to their church Opa would
smoke a cigar every day. Before entering the
church he would place his partially smoked cigar on
a ledge by the entrance. After the service, Opa
would retrieve his cigar and relight it for the walk
home. The family attended services three times a
week. Oma was very religious.
were strict Roman Catholics, hence the thirteen
children. On the walk to their church Opa would
smoke a cigar every day. Before entering the
church he would place his partially smoked cigar on
a ledge by the entrance. After the service, Opa
would retrieve his cigar and relight it for the walk
home. The family attended services three times a
week. Oma was very religious.
By the age of seven Dad was drawing and painting on everything, including
wallpaper in their home. Opa had to replace a sheet that Dad had ruined.
Opa Franz got dad some paper to draw on instead. Since WW2 had
already begun, paper was not easy to get. Dad would go to places and just
sit and draw landscapes, churches, and buildings, anything he could. His
eyes were hungry for creation. He had the ability to draw everything he saw.
The older street artists that would sit and draw at some of these places
noticed the young artist was quite good. The offered him some supplies.
They kept him supplied with paints and brushes so he could continue to
practice his skills.
.
By the age of 12, Dad’s family moved to the big city of Danzig. They moved
because Opa Franz was promoted by the Hussein to another very large
cemetery.
Opa Franz was not part of the Hussein, just a common worker. He had a
large family to support. So he did what he had to do.
By now their oldest son Hans had enlisted into the army under his own will
and was in Russia. Oma was not happy that he enlisted.
My Oma Anna woke up one evening and said Hans is outside. She woke up
everyone in the house. Everyone went outside to see. There was no Hans,
there was no one. Tante Traute checked the time and date. Within a few
days the Commanding Officer arrived at dad’s home to inform them that
Hans was killed in the line of duty. He was shot in the leg so badly that it
removed the lower part and he bled to death. Hans, the oldest, was dead.
The time and date matched Oma’s cries that night.
Oma Anna knew her baby was gone. Sadly Hans’ body was never returned
home and he is laid to rest in a soldier’s cemetery in Russia.
There are no photos of Hans or his grave.
The Bay Of Danzig
My Oma Anna received the Mother’s Cross from the Nazi Party for having more than ten boys. She
tucked that away where it was not seen. Nevertheless, along with the cross came other bonuses, if
the boys were injured or killed, someone would notify the family, and the body returned if possible.
This cross was a symbol of great honor according to Hitler and if you saw a woman wearing one you
were to salute her. Other families with no cross might never know the fate of their sons. This was the
Parties way of saying they cared. What they were really saying was thank you for producing so many
sons to carry on the Aryan Race and more soldiers to send to war. Oma never displayed hers. No one
knows where it is today. It is simply gone. It was gold with a diamond in the center and it hung from a
ribbon. Although it was a reminder of Hitlers reign, I wish we had it.
My family was not in favor of Hitler and the “Party” by any means. They either did what they were told
or they were shot, or sent to camp. Not much of a choice.
Most people these days assume if you were in the army in Germany you were a Nazi. My dad’s family
was not even from Germany They were from The Free State of Danzig; it did not belong to Germany. It
was invaded and taken over by Hitler.
They were hostages in their own country and made to do Hitlers work or DIE !
| This is a Mother's Cross, but it is not the same kind my Oma recieved, This one is gold but it was for 6-8 children. I have yet to find a photo of the one she had |
Paul Sirotzki
Ernst Sirotzki
| Some photos of Dad's Brother's in their uniforms |
| This is Ernst, my Dad's little brother and this photo went though WW2 in his pocket and still survives today |
Just Drafted
| 2 months after the draft and after seeing his hometown destroyed |
| These 2 photos were also in my dad's pocket all through the war |
From Danzig, my Dad’s platoon of mostly children, like himself, were sent by ship from the bay
of Danzig into the Baltic Sea to the Copenhagen Denmark. In Denmark many battles were
fought. The General noticed that Dad could draw. The Officers would ask dad to draw their
girlfriends or their portrait to send back to their families. They actually gave Dad his own little
room and supplies to draw. This was unheard of. From that time on he did not go to the battle
fields anymore. This saved my fathers life. The rest of the boys my dad knew from his platoon
never returned. My dad knew he had to keep drawing to save himself.
Within two months, Dad’s platoon was captured by the English Army, which is England, not
USA. This happened in Denmark. They were now prisoners of war and were being sent to a
camp in Germany. From Demark the soldiers were made to walk a very long distance. There
are many islands that make up Demark; they marched over what is now the Oresund Bridge to
the great bridge into Sweden then into Flensburg, Germany where a POW camp was awaiting
them. The walk took six weeks. Many did not even make that trip.
My father’s sister, Traute whom was captured also was just there the day before. He missed her
by one damn day. If she would have been there they would have sent my father home to Danzig
with her. When the boys reached the camp they were put to work. They either went to help the
farmers or work in the city helping to clean it up after the bombings. Dad was sent to help the
farmers. The farmers did not like the POW’s. They were treated horribly. There also was not
much food for the POW’s. The farm worker’s stole enough to bring back to help out the city
workers. They were not being paid. They were slaves. At night Dad said they would steal eggs
and potatoes from the farmers.
Apparently these POW’s were pretty crafty. They stole fruit and made wine which they would
trade the farmers for meat. Mind you, the fruit came from the farmers, so they were buying their
own fruit back in the form of wine for pigs and chickens. Nice job guys. Dad didn’t talk to anyone
other than the boys. He remained quite for a long time. My Dad spent 5 years in that camp.
Dad would write home and one day the post master noticed another Sirotzki on a letter post
marked from Bremen, Germany. He asked Dad if this was a relation. It sure was it was Dad’s
brother Siegfried. Both letters were going to Danzig. The post master gave dad the address
and he wrote Siegfried. I am sure Siegfried was shocked to receive it. The war split the entire
family into pieces. Siegfried immediately contacted the POW camp. If a prisoner had a sponsor
to provide a home and work they were allowed to leave freely. Dad told his brother that in his
letter. Siegfried wrote back and had papers stating he got Dad a job and St. Josephs Church
and that he would live there to.
of Danzig into the Baltic Sea to the Copenhagen Denmark. In Denmark many battles were
fought. The General noticed that Dad could draw. The Officers would ask dad to draw their
girlfriends or their portrait to send back to their families. They actually gave Dad his own little
room and supplies to draw. This was unheard of. From that time on he did not go to the battle
fields anymore. This saved my fathers life. The rest of the boys my dad knew from his platoon
never returned. My dad knew he had to keep drawing to save himself.
Within two months, Dad’s platoon was captured by the English Army, which is England, not
USA. This happened in Denmark. They were now prisoners of war and were being sent to a
camp in Germany. From Demark the soldiers were made to walk a very long distance. There
are many islands that make up Demark; they marched over what is now the Oresund Bridge to
the great bridge into Sweden then into Flensburg, Germany where a POW camp was awaiting
them. The walk took six weeks. Many did not even make that trip.
My father’s sister, Traute whom was captured also was just there the day before. He missed her
by one damn day. If she would have been there they would have sent my father home to Danzig
with her. When the boys reached the camp they were put to work. They either went to help the
farmers or work in the city helping to clean it up after the bombings. Dad was sent to help the
farmers. The farmers did not like the POW’s. They were treated horribly. There also was not
much food for the POW’s. The farm worker’s stole enough to bring back to help out the city
workers. They were not being paid. They were slaves. At night Dad said they would steal eggs
and potatoes from the farmers.
Apparently these POW’s were pretty crafty. They stole fruit and made wine which they would
trade the farmers for meat. Mind you, the fruit came from the farmers, so they were buying their
own fruit back in the form of wine for pigs and chickens. Nice job guys. Dad didn’t talk to anyone
other than the boys. He remained quite for a long time. My Dad spent 5 years in that camp.
Dad would write home and one day the post master noticed another Sirotzki on a letter post
marked from Bremen, Germany. He asked Dad if this was a relation. It sure was it was Dad’s
brother Siegfried. Both letters were going to Danzig. The post master gave dad the address
and he wrote Siegfried. I am sure Siegfried was shocked to receive it. The war split the entire
family into pieces. Siegfried immediately contacted the POW camp. If a prisoner had a sponsor
to provide a home and work they were allowed to leave freely. Dad told his brother that in his
letter. Siegfried wrote back and had papers stating he got Dad a job and St. Josephs Church
and that he would live there to.
Here is where something very interesting comes in…………………
My Uncle Siegfried was in the air division stationed in Bremen. That’s how he got there. Bremen
was by then a surrendered city and my uncle was living his life as anyone would. He knew a girl
named Marta whom he saw at the hall that kids would go to bowl or dance and have fun. One day
he told Marta he was going away for a few days.
He never told her where he was going. But, he was going to Flensburg by train to get my Dad out of
that POW camp. He traveled by a very slow train to the city where he met my dad. He gave the
camp all the correct paperwork and they released my Dad. He was a free man, but very hardened.
He was overjoyed to see his older brother, whom he had not seen in over 7 years. They traveled
back on the same slow train to Bremen.
The girl, Marta was on the tram in Bremen when see saw Siegfried walking with a very handsome
and well dressed man. She set out to meet this guy. This girl is my mother, her full name then was
Marta Brüning. Soon after that she had Siegfried introduce her to my Dad. But my Father was not
interested, Marta was only 15 he was 19. He thought she was too young. But obviously he got over
that. That is how my parent's met and this is what they looked like.
They were married February 21 1953
My Uncle Siegfried was in the air division stationed in Bremen. That’s how he got there. Bremen
was by then a surrendered city and my uncle was living his life as anyone would. He knew a girl
named Marta whom he saw at the hall that kids would go to bowl or dance and have fun. One day
he told Marta he was going away for a few days.
He never told her where he was going. But, he was going to Flensburg by train to get my Dad out of
that POW camp. He traveled by a very slow train to the city where he met my dad. He gave the
camp all the correct paperwork and they released my Dad. He was a free man, but very hardened.
He was overjoyed to see his older brother, whom he had not seen in over 7 years. They traveled
back on the same slow train to Bremen.
The girl, Marta was on the tram in Bremen when see saw Siegfried walking with a very handsome
and well dressed man. She set out to meet this guy. This girl is my mother, her full name then was
Marta Brüning. Soon after that she had Siegfried introduce her to my Dad. But my Father was not
interested, Marta was only 15 he was 19. He thought she was too young. But obviously he got over
that. That is how my parent's met and this is what they looked like.
They were married February 21 1953
| The line above shows the route my Father took during the war. Through the sea was on a ship. Once the line hits Copenhagen it was all walking to Flensburg. The picture below shows the train ride to Bremen |
| Above is Dad with his boss in the gardens of St. Joseph This is when dad arrived in Bremen with Uncle Siegfried |
| Click photos to enlarge - Fotos anklicken um sie zu vergrößern |
www.Sirotzki.org 2006
Some Photos of Dad
Some Photos of Dad
| Copyright (C) 2006 WWW.Sirotzki.org Use with permission only. Please email me with questions at Monica@Sirotzki.org |
