Start becoming a human

Every Friday I looked forward to the weekend. Finally slip into a pair of jeans and a civilian sweater and forget about the barracks. House-clean and arrange everything like a charm. Around

The chicane was different every Friday afternoon. "Give me your beret," said the sergeant. I gave him my headgear and wondered what will happen next. The Uffz took my beret and threw it under my bed. Do it again, he said. Of course there was some dust on the beret. Clean up afterwards, said the harassment officer. Then he blew in the keyhole from the other side and showed us the dust print on the cloth. It was another chicane. Finally we could line up in front of the rooms. Then it was time to line up in front of the building. At the roll call we had to run again as usual. All groups stood in a row in the barracks yard in front of the company building. Some names have now been called. Hannemann to me right away. Friedrich to me at once. My name was there. Attitude and kicked away. What does the company commander want from me on Friday? The three of us went to the company commander's office. Paratroopers Friedrich and Hannemann? Yes, Lieutenant Colonel, we said. He continued: Next week they will be dressed in white. Report to the staff building in the office next Monday morning. Yes, lieutenant colonel! Next week we get a visit from the district administrator and the mayor of Calw. In addition, many civilian guests are expected. It is an honor for us to welcome the people of the Calw district in the Black Forest to our annual carnival ball in the Graf Zeppelin barracks. Both of you from the 1st Company and other soldiers from the 2nd and 3rd Company will serve our guests properly as an orderly. You will be instructed and have to be able to handle money! Roger that? Yes, Lieutenant Colonel! Step away! In our first perception, the special assignment didn't sound too bad. In fact, I was given white orderly clothes the following week. I was briefed with other orderly soldiers for our upcoming mission. Since the event took place on a Friday evening, we had to stay in the barracks over the weekend. The great hall was full.

Autorentext
The steam really fogged our little kitchen. Because the bath water was too hot at first, my grandma added cold water from the tap The faucet and the pouring were the only water point in the house. More water drinkers and taps could be found in the stable and in the yard When bathing, the temperature was often regulated by pouring hot or cold water At the end of the bathing process, washing your hair was always a special procedure The shampoo came out of a small plastic pillow. One tip of the pillow was cut off with scissors and then when the foam was pressed, it spilled not only onto my hair, but mostly onto my face. Most of all, I was always afraid for my eyes. Every time I shouted: give me a wash Often we were allowed to eat a piece of warm, freshly baked cake before going to bed.