TABLE OF CONTENTS
 

Foreword

7

PART 1 – ENGLISH GIRL – TESSA’S STORY

Chapter 1:

My mother, Peggy

10

Chapter 2:

My Father, Jack

30

Chapter 3:

My Childhood

36

Chapter 4:

Growing up as a Child of War 1939-1945

42

Chapter 5:

My Father is Killed

58

Chapter 6:

Arrival of the Americans – 1942 

74

Chapter 7:

The End of the War – 1945   

86

Chapter 8:

War Brides

92

Chapter 9:

Leaving for Canada – 1947 

98

Chapter 10:

My Life in Canada 

108

PART 2 – GERMAN BOY – MARTIN’S STORY

Chapter 11:

Family History

119

Chapter 12:

My Childhood Before the War

126

Chapter 13:

Life During the War

136

Chapter 14:

The War Ends – 1945  

174

Chapter 15:

Back to Work – 1945-46

186

Chapter 16:

A New Life in Canada – 1951 

204

PART 3 – RETURN TO GERMANY

Chapter 17:

231

Chapter 18:

260

Kids Comments

On a recent trip to Toronto, we visited several classrooms to talk about our new book "English Girl, German Boy" - World War 2 from Both Sides - in which we write about our wartime experiences in Britain and Dresden, Germany. The book is an excellent supplementary teaching tool for history or  English classes. We were extremely impressed by the students' intelligent questions and genuine interest in World War 2. They had read the book and fully grasped why we wrote it. Following are some of the comments from a Toronto Grade 6 class (11 and 12 year olds):

"..I used to know only a little bit about the war and that only on the Allied side..."

"....sharing is caring....  ...hope you enjoyed your visit with us as much as we did having you..."

"...we learned a lot and got to hear about both sides of the war...."

"..you did a wonderful thing writing that book, it will make others see what it was like...."

"...I didn't know before that the German kids were told that the English had horns like monsters and ate children like devils..."

"..I think a lot of kids in my class were interested that is why you got so many questions..."

"..Not many classes get to hear first hand experiences about the war  from both sides...."

..." Personally I think it is better that you both married people from opposite sides. Because we are all people and we are all the same on the inside. I would also like to thank you for helping our country to be peaceful and free. You have done a lot.
Every person made a difference even the ones who cant be with us today.  You both taught me a lot. .....

“...My favorite thing that I learned was  that you should always trust your inner voice, because it might save your life....”.

…. “There are many other things I learned but I think the most important is  that it does not matter if you are German or an English person, we all live on one planet and should all be treated right.....”

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