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Post by rednight94 on Aug 8, 2011 22:54:05 GMT -5
Do you ever wonder what would have happened to you if had survived the war? This is obviously directed to those who didn't. Especially for survivors, but to anyone else, too. I wrote this fake letter today: i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll73/titanic_charlie/Scan_Pic0001.jpgFor those who can't read my handwriting, it says: 'My Dearest Rachael, I am trying my very best to make the arrangements to be together after all this time. It is not easy though, my dear sister. The entire continent is still in shambles. You must be patient; we should count our blessing that not only we are both alive, but we have found one another so fast! When I received your letter this afternoon I cried with joy and read your words over and over again. It gives me hope that maybe Mamma + Papa are still alive... I have so much to tell and discuss with you, but it will have to wait. How are you? Your health? State of mind? My health is good, and my state of mind is much better now that I know I'll soon hold you in my arms... What camp(s) were you at? I stayed in Dachau until the summer of '43, then I was transported to Auschwitz. I hope to God you did not have to experience the horrors of the camps in the East. Love, Mordie P.S. Write in English, it's faster that way.' I though I'd share. And I wonder if not only is this healthy, but do others do this? Should I be doing this, or is it too much like I'm living in the past? Thanks to everyone for their time...!  |
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Post by eiszeit on Aug 9, 2011 0:06:22 GMT -5
I don't think it's too much living in the past. I've done it myself, even gone and written letters to people I knew back then. I honestly think it's a coping mechanism. It only becomes a problem if you let it consume you, I think. I let it consume me for a long time. I've only recently snapped out of it and trying to look at the bright side... something I'm not particularly gifted at, but I'm working on. I've thought about what it would be like if I had survived the war, best and worst case scenarios. Best case scenario: Lover would have come back, I would have avoided the KZ, we would've been hurt and understandably scared but still together, we would've left Germany and lived out the rest of our lives in relative obscurity in France. Wishful thinking? Yes. I don't think the best case scenario would've ever happened. Worst case scenario: I heard that some pink triangles were kept in the KZs long after the war had ended. Homosexuality in Germany was outlawed until 1992, so they were still considered prisoners. I have a feeling that this would have been my fate, even if I survived the experimentation and 'escaped' the Black Wall. If I had to spend more years in there, still considered a prisoner? I think I would've killed myself. Dragged myself through barbed wire or electrocuted myself. Maybe it was better I died. Certainly the less of two evils. All in all, though? I do think it's a healthy coping mechanism. Keep it in check, make sure you don't get too obsessed with wanting to go back and fix things, and it can really help you. It's even a little reassuring to write letters back 'home'! By the way, not to sound creepy, but you have very nice handwriting |
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Post by rednight94 on Aug 9, 2011 0:49:40 GMT -5
Thank you for your input, and the compliment! It wasn't creepy at all. haha. That would be terrible to be kept as a prisoner even after the war ended. I don't know what I would do in a situation like that...  I really have no idea what would have happened to me if I had survived. I would have gone to America, I know that much. There was nothing left for me in Europe, though ironically I would like to live there now, and I'm American in this life! Life would have been difficult for both me and my sister and I think I would have had to work pretty hard in the beginning. I doubt I would have gone back to school, not when me and my sister would have to support each other. It's a bit scary to think about what would have become of my life, but I think it would have turned out alright in the long run. Or, so I hope. |
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Post by rednight94 on Aug 9, 2011 15:22:29 GMT -5
Thank you SS3 and Iseke |
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Post by doctorwhat on Aug 10, 2011 9:06:31 GMT -5
you have really nice handwriting i never thought of doing anything like this before. it's a nice idea. and it's a nice letter too |
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Post by rednight94 on Aug 10, 2011 10:11:49 GMT -5
Aw, thanks so much! It really is fun to do. Geez, I wasn't expecting all these compliments... lol
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Post by rednight94 on Aug 10, 2011 13:00:56 GMT -5
I am extremely jealous of your handwriting, my angular chicken scratch is so ugly! And I really think writing letters sounds like such good therapy; I'm going to try it out! I'm glad I could help! I really like. It can be a bit of a time warp at times. All of a sudden, it's 1945 again. That entire period feels like just yesterday to me though. 66 years ago doesn't seem like a lot of time to me at all. Neither does 100, though. I'm strange like that haha. My supposedly nice handwriting just comes for me writing as much as I do. It takes practice. I also use a fountain pen now, which, in my opinion, is the greatest to write with! |
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Post by Miss Bothmann on Aug 10, 2011 17:58:27 GMT -5
This is an easy one for me. Had I lived through the war, I would have married Hans (since he wouldn't be stuck out in Poland for most of the year), had our babies and would have had a perfect family (to me anyways). My luck would have been that I would have lived through the war, but Hans still would have been executed for war crimes.. So, I guess fate would have had to be cheated twice for me to be truly happy. By the way rednight, you are not crazy at all. In fact, I feel that it can be very therapeutic as long as healthy introspection doesn't blend into a fantasy world of a ending that never was. I agree with everyone else..your handwriting is very pretty. |
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Post by Laurasia on Aug 11, 2011 17:03:43 GMT -5
Hi Rednight94.
First I need to ask that you either downsize the image of your letter or simply post a link to the image...even though your hadnwriting is very pretty. ;D
What a wonderful idea though? I honestly think that it would be a rather difficult process though. At least for me/Hans anyway. Technically I did survive the war when I was Hans, I just didn't survive myself afterwards. I really don't know what would have happened to me if I had not killed myself back then. Apparently some of my campmen at Chelmno were given relatively short prison terms. but, having been the Commandant, I don't think that would have been the case for me.
My ideal outcome would have been the same as Miss Bothmann mentioned for us...being out of Poland & working as a regular detective again, raising our children & living a quiet life together.
Sincerely,
Laurasia
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Post by rednight94 on Aug 11, 2011 18:31:49 GMT -5
Hi Rednight94. First I need to ask that you either downsize the image of your letter or simply post a link to the image...even though your hadnwriting is very pretty. ;D What a wonderful idea though? I honestly think that it would be a rather difficult process though. At least for me/Hans anyway. Technically I did survive the war when I was Hans, I just didn't survive myself afterwards. I really don't know what would have happened to me if I had not killed myself back then. Apparently some of my campmen at Chelmno were given relatively short prison terms. but, having been the Commandant, I don't think that would have been the case for me. My ideal outcome would have been the same as Miss Bothmann mentioned for us...being out of Poland & working as a regular detective again, raising our children & living a quiet life together. Sincerely, Laurasia No problem, I just made it a link! And I'm sorry to hear the circumstance of your last life |
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