Growing Up a Nazi

The article that follows comes from True to Both My Selves, Katrin Fitzherbert's prize-winning history of her Anglo-German family. Spanning a century and two world wars, the book centres on three generations of women who each lived part of their lives as Germans and part as Britons, depending on the state of politics between the two countries.

Grandmother Ethel, a spirited London hairdresser speaking not a word of German, had to follow her husband to Germany when he was deported from his adopted British homeland after World War I. Their eight-year-old London-born daughter then grew up in Weimar Germany and was to marry an enthusiastic Hitler supporter and minor Nazi party official. Their daughter Katrin, grew up in World War ll as a normal German - and Nazi - child .

However, at the end of the war the whole family - save only Papa - was to be 'repatriated' to England; and, in an extraordinary mirror-image replay of her mother's experience, 10-year-old Katrin had to accept her former enemy as her new homeland.

At Home and School

It is well known that war can do wonders for a nation's mental health; the threat of a common enemy gives a sense of purpose and participation to even the most isolated and depressed. Growing up in wartime Berlin, I clearly recall the atmosphere of unity all around and also the feeling of well-being it gave me.

To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive.

Buy Online Access  Buy Print & Archive Subscription

If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.

Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.