Our Hidden Lives: Food for a "little gray cells"

Friday, 10 January 1947

This afternoon I had a very interesting talk with two German POWs and I bought them a few cigarettes. Now that it is permitted for civilians to talk to them I always take every opportunity to chat.
They are so polite and well mannered. One of these fellows told me he had been in the USA for quite a while during the war. I told him I thought it was hard luck being used for slave labour, whereupon he replied, “Oh! We lost the war”, which I thought had a sad sound. He abd his friend are working in the Scottish Command, in the kitchens.
He attends to the boilers and his friend washes up. It seems if they are invited they can visit civilians, and I gave them my address and said I should like them to come and se me when I am settled in my house.
They said will be delighted to do so. I think it will be years and years before they are all sent back to Germany, as we can’t afford to lose their help.

Sunday, 2 February

This Afternoon the two POWs arrived as arranged. They are quite nice. One is Heinz Sue and other Helmut Wiegers. Sue comes from Hamburg and Wiegers from quite near.
I was rather surprised to learn that Hitler was never popular in Hamburg. Goering, according to Wiegers, was very popular over Germany. Both seemed to have no doubt at all that Hitler is dead. Sue told me the American soldiers robbed prisoners of watches, rings and all other jewellery they could lay their hands on, and destroyed all papers and photographs found on all prisoners.

Sunday, 23 February

Both the POWs are longing to get back to Germany and say they will never return to Great Britain. Heinz made an interesting remark. I asked him what he thought of the Nurnberg Trial. He thought it so extraordinary, and so wrong to hang the German generals instead of shooting them, as they were entitled to expect, as they were soldiers.
I fancy this hanging of generals will have “shocked” the German nation very much. And they will never forgive us for having done this. It is this sort of stupid blundering on our part that sowing the seeds for the next world war. It is huge mistake to humiliate a nation in the way we are humiliating Germany.

Sunday, 6 April

Heinz and Heinrich arrived on time and we went to the exhibition of “Germany under Control” which I found interesting.
The POWs seemed most interesting in it.
Heinz is the more patriotic of the two, I think. I was interesting to hear him lament the fact that only the worst of the German uniforms were exhibited this afternoon, none of the best ones. The Germans love uniform. As we going to the exhibition there was a processions of the Lad’s Brigade going to the meeting at the Usher Hall. The two POWs were extremely interested to watch the procession go by and said how very like the Hitler Jugend it was.

Wednesday, 21 May

Heinz and Heinrich came this afternoon and they have waxed and oiled the beech chair in the drawing room and they look highly pleasing. I never thought they would look so well as they do. I shall miss these two lads tremendously. They are coming for the last time on Saturday.

Monday, 26 May

Heinz and Heinrich came to say goodbye this afternoon. I had got them a packet of cigarettes for the journey tomorrow. Heinz was very sorry, I could see, to say goodbye. He hopes they may return sometime here but I should think it doubtful. Both hope, if I to Germany, that I shall pay them a visit, as I certainly shall. They are good fellows.

Monday, 9 June

A very nice, long letter from Heinz. He has now been sent to a small hostel in, or near Motherwell.

Friday, 23 January 1948

This morning several interesting letters. There was one from Heinz. I was very glad to hear from him.

Monday, 5 April

This Monday brought a letter and a birthday card from Heinz. He asks me if I can sent some insulin for is mother. I have phoned Boots and have written him to ask if it is forty or eighty units cc he needs. It is sad ti think he can’t get the thing in Hamburg.

Friday, 25 June

I had a letter from Heinz. Things seem to be moving to some sort of climax in Germany. He writes that as he is young he can make a fresh start, but “it will be terrible for the old people”. It is hard, indeed, to predict what happen in Germany. It looks as if the Allies will be obliged to clear out of Berlin and leave it to the Russians.