IN BERLIN

Evening Star, Issue 23372, 15 September 1939, Page 10

IN BERLIN

DUNEDIN GIRLS EXPERIENCE UNEASINESS BEFORE THE CRISIS Some idea of the atmosphere in Berlin about two weeks before the outbreak of hostilities is given in a letter received by her parents from a Dunedin girl who made a trip to Berlin from England. Writing from Amsterdam on August 20 she stated I’m afraid this will bo only a short note, because 1 am much too worried to write, and long before you get this the miracle will have happened or not happened. . We duly left Copenhagen last Thursday, and drove to the southern part of Denmark to a town called Cedser before we got a ferry to Warnemunde, in Germany. 1 was very uneasy about going, but none of the others seemed to have any qualms. I felt that we had too little recent news. We eventually got into Germany—too long a story to tell here—and drove about 60 miles to where we’found bed and breakfast. “ On the surface it was all very friendly—people most anxious to assist us, but I didn’t like it. Not a sign of a man under 50 anywhere, and old men and women were working feverishly in the fields. “ On Friday we continued on to Berlin. I felt more and more uneasy—too many huge vans motoring past us; too many military men everywhere. We finally arrived about 3.30, and saw flags everywhere. “ We discussed the mater, and consulted other members of our party. They could feel no tension, and were enjoying it as much as we were hating it all, but we all agreed to go to the British Consul in the morning. First thing on Saturday we went to the Consul. He could give no- . definite news, bub he didn’t seem too keen. Our .companions were still determined to keep to their plans, but and 1 decided to leave them. We went to Cook’s, and they went for a bus ride round Berlin On. their return they were willing to alter their route somewhat, but could see no reason for leaving Germany at once. So we left. 1 can’t feel that we deserted them, ‘because they had no qualms of any kind and had reluctantly gone to the Consul. “ We caught a train at 2 o’clock and arrived here about 10.15. Here wo are staying for a couple of days, and if nothing happens we are to meet the others in Paris on Thursday. The story of our flight from Berlin will, we hope, one day be a matter for joking. To-night we feel much too anxious. We had very interesting travelling companions—a German Jew, who told us that the Germans did not think for one moment that Britain would fight, and had made no preparations on a large scale for the protection of the civilian population; a Dutchman, who said that Holland was in daily fear of invasion; a Chilian girl, who had no visa to enter Holland, and who was put off the train. Some day I hope to write it all —perhaps next week.” Writing again five days later, on August 25, the Dunedin girl sends the following to her parents:—“l’ll go back to the time of our arrival in Germany. . . . We caught a ferry,

about 10 cars in the whole train, and entered Germany. Our adventures began almost at once. The Nazi official at Cedser passed our passports, etc., but we knew that in addition we had to have a special form stating the amount of money in the different currencies we were bringing in with ns. It is not possible to take out more than the amount stated and any extra must bo forfeited. Wo drove off the ferry and along the wharf —no gates, and finally right into the town. However, knowing the importance of the paper, ■ we felt we must have it. We made inquiries for post office, police, Customs, etc., all without result. At last ’an English-speaking German took us hack to the wharf, and after a great deal of ‘ Hitlering ’ and saluting the portrait we were given the paper, but were made to understand that we had committed a serious crime, aiid should have got the precious form on the boat. They thought we might have given away money in the town. By this time it was about 4.30, and we drove about