A Child's Home
her time managing. Adina ended up raising her younger siblings and by the time her children came along, she had her own ideas on parenting. She didn't like young men in uniforms coming around telling her that her boys had to attend the compulsory Hitler Youth meetings that would indoctrinate them with principles she opposed. So she threw them out of her house.
Traute's father, Willi, worked for the income tax department of the German government. Willi managed to avoid the war by making the most of a knee injury, always walking with a cane. This tactic worked for most of the war, but towards the end, he was drafted. The fate of army deserters was no secret. Willi didn't want to leave his family fatherless. He had no choice but to join the ranks. He wasn't nimble enough to work on the front line, so he was assigned as a supervisor for a POW camp several hours away from home. He treated the prisoners at this camp with compassion. When he looked at them, he didn't see ethnic or religious affiliation. He saw fathers, brothers, and sons. The army didn't allow him any leave. He was separated from his wife and children for some time. He missed the gatherings of his family, the rituals that drew them together.
One of these rituals was making music. Traute's father was a church organist, choir director and band leader. He was a great entertainer and a popular choice for MC at wedding receptions. His passion for music flowed out to his family. Traute's mother taught the women at her church how to play guitar. She joined in with her stringed choir, enhancing the church services with their special music. The family gathered together every Sunday afternoon, forming their own family band. Traute's father pushed the pedals on the harmonium, an old-fashioned organ. Traute's siblings joined in with violins, cellos, and accordions. Traute's instrument of choice was her voice. She sang and sang, learning to sing before she could talk.
The Wollenberg's had to leave their musical instruments behind on that day in February when fire consumed their city. Adina's will wasn't strong enough to fend off the invading Russians and she prepared her family to leave. She dressed them in several layers of their Sunday best and herded the little ones on a small handcart. She placed their Bible and family photographs with the small pile of belongings she could fit on the cart. She didn't expect her husband to join them from his job at the camp several hours away. All communications had been
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