For full page - Please click here - Audio following
Hermine Diwald - Survival and Escape
The Second World War had just finished. Peace had returned across Europe. But, not for the German families living in the Banat. They had all been rounded up and interned. German families were no longer welcome. And, the Diwald Family were amongst those being kept in a camp. Life for the Diwalds was all about staying alive. They had to escape. Staying in internment in Werschetz meant certain death in the communist east.
And, for their escape to succeed, they would have to use all that they had. Their eyes, ears, noses, and all the cunning they had. When to lie low, when to go on, and, when to risk all. And, so, having prepared themselves as best as they could, this small family of four, Hermine - still only 13, her sister of 10, and their parents joined another small group and stepped out through a hole in the fence. Into an unknown darkness. The camp and Werschetz were now firmly behind them, There was no going back. They had to go on and be quick. The search dogs would be busy at daybreak! Capture would mean certain death.
And, although the war was now over, it was still very dangerous. Europe had now become two. One east and one west. And, getting through was not going to be easy. Vienna was a long way-a-way. Moving through this part of Europe was packed full of danger. People were ready to kill.
And, their way to Vienna was stealing and begging for food, sleeping in pig sties and barns during daylight, and moving by night. Creeping through villages and past lonely houses. And, hungry and tired and in need of a bath they got through. Peace was a wonderful thing and Vienna a wonderful place.
The Diwalds successfully established themselves in Vienna - and their travelling companions went on to Hamburg.
But people don’t run from places, it's people they flee from. And, the place that they fled from will always be home. And home needs keeping alive.
Until her recent death, Hermine Diwald and a small group of friends in Vienna kept Werschetz alive in the Werschetzer Zeitung - a journal of essential reading for Werschetzers now all over the world.
And, there's more. The Werschetzer Zeitung became a tradition in its own right. It was not only read by those who'd escaped, but, their children and grandchildren, too. Thanks to Hermine Diwald and friends, Werschetz became somewhere to visit.
Cities are stronger than people – they stay the same – it's the people who change. And, as Hermine Diwald knew only too well, it was only a question of timing. And, be it peace time or war, one has to be strong to survive. This was her message, and - this will always be true.
Hermine Diwald – A lady of strength who grew wings and flew – and that was a long time ago. Hermine Diwald – She was a woman of courage
