I WONDER.....

ReNae and I currently reside on the outskirts of Darmstadt, Germany next to a forest. We try to go for a daily walk to fulfill our mission assignment to “Exercise at least 30 minutes a day.” Sometimes I wander off the beaten path and go exploring. As I walk through the denser parts of the forest, I notice several large crater-like holes in the ground, which seem to be there for no apparent purpose. As I consider what the reason might be, I believe they may be remains from 70 years ago when Darmstadt was bombed by the Allied Forces.

I have read about the history of Darmstadt during the war and discovered that this city had been bombed several times. There wasn't a lot of industry going on here, but it was bombed mainly as a distraction. When bombs started dropping here, enemy planes would fly from other cities to intercept the bombers, leaving their own cities vulnerable for a second wave to come in and bomb more important facilities. Ironically, the most devastating raid took place 9-11-1944.

As I wander through the trees, I visualize the 110,00 inhabitants fleeing from their roofless, burning homes into the forest to get away from the bombings. Because most of the air raids were done at night time, I assume some of the bombs missed their targets and landed in the forest. Thus, the big holes in the ground. I find a half-broken, red crayon void of its paper wrapping in the middle of nowhere, and wonder if it had belonged to a frightened child hiding, and trying to distract herself from the terrible destruction. I find an old shovel and wonder if it might have been used to dig roots for food or to dig graves for the 13,500 villagers who died during the raids. I see a herd of wild pigs suddenly explode from the undergrowth, and wonder if they might have been a source of food for the starving, fleeing, refugees, who maybe found a rifle from a dead soldier and hunted game with it. I look up at the towering, patriarchal pines and wonder how many trees caught and still hold the festering shrapnel from exploding bombs and artillery. I wonder what other war-time relics, and even perhaps bodies, still lie buried beneath the 70 years of fallen leaves, who, like giant forgiving snow flakes, attempt to cover the scars of the past...

The Bombing of Darmstadt - September 11, 1944

                               

The same area of Darmstadt today

It is a German Tradition to hang (not hide) colored eggs
from the trees at Easter Time

Michelstadt  - about 30 minutes from our Apartment
Elder Christenson and Elder Tripp with ReNae