Achtung!

Our next stop was Munich in West Germany. In June 1989, Germany was still divided since the end of World War 2 between East and West. The East was Communist because the Russians had defeated Nazi Germany from the East. The West was Democratic because the Allies had defeated Nazi Germany from the West. The dividing line along the country was the "Iron Curtain" and it was impossible for the Eastern Germans to leave. If they tried to escape they would be shot. Even though the West was free, it was a strange feeling to be entering what 45 years before had been enemy territory. As the train pulled into the Munich station, I remember observing the black railway signs and the rigid lines of the railway tracks and thinking this is exactly what it would have looked like during the War.

We found our way about 45 minutes out of town to the hostel which was a castle in a beautiful but remote forest location. It was something like the setting for the Brothers Grimm story Hansel and Gretel. Those disturbing German Fairy Stories from our childhood tucked away in some locked room of our minds were quickly recalled. It was not too hard to imagine a trail of breadcrumbs and a Witch's Broomstick resting outside the back door with the ravens circling around the castle turrets!

The next day we went for a tour of Munich. After a week of travelling with our limited wardrobe, we decided to take the dirty washing with us! Carrying that heavy load around all day as we visited the Munich Stadium, the Glockenspiel, various Churches and other sights proved to be a waste of time finally because we couldn't figure out how to use the washing machines at the laundrette. We abandoned the idea to go to Dachau Concentration Camp because there wasn't enough time. By the time we got back to the hostel it was getting dark. We certainly did not want to miss the hostel curfew, not in the dark forest, not in Germany  ; )

Dad used to tell us stories of growing up in London during World War 2. The family had an Anderson Shelter built in the back garden where they could go during bombing raids. An Anderson Shelter was like a garden shed but buried about 1 metre into the ground with a layer of thick soil on top.

My Grandad spent a lot of the War as a sergeant in West Africa. Sometimes Grandad sent gifts home from Africa for my Dad and his brother, once some bananas another time some coconuts. The bananas had turned to mush during the long journey home. They gave a coconut to a friend but he complained the next day that he didn't like the hairy hard shell much. Mum's Dad was a fireman in London during the war. This was also very dangerous and brave work especially during the Blitz.

When we were boys we used to play with toy soldiers and read Commando war comics. You could recognise the German soldiers by their helmet shapes. They were always called Fritz or Hans in the comics. Their spies would give themselves away by saying "Achtung!!" under pressure. It was easy to spot the enemy. I used to think that it was only the Nazi's who could have committed such horrific crimes against humanity. I did not know that anti-semitism is prevalent throughout Europe and that the Church has cooperated with it and indeed in some cases were responsible. How do you explain this evil?

There is something very important to understand about our World. All of us are born into captivity to an evil system which we cannot escape from on our own. Like the East Germans, it's not our fault, we have all inherited a situation from the past, from our ancestors choices. The Bible says we are all born sinners and are captives. Ephesians 6:12 tells us "For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world." This is the true reason for all the evil in this world in case you ever questioned "Why?"

Are we doomed to captivity? Not at all!! We are set free by our Liberator Jesus Christ the King who has crushed the Iron Curtain!

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