Show The other side of the wall Kathy Dzierzon Contributing Writer HE first pictures of the Berlin Wall came cameon cameon cameon THE on TV and my eyes filled with tears I watched people chipping large holes in the wall and a bulldozer lifting the top off I was touched at the joy of freedom because my husband and his family escaped East Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many in 1956 The stories my law in related to me made me able to realize the true significance of the dismantling of the wall but also made me realize that caution must still be used in dealing with communist governments Arno Dzierzon his wife and his three children Elke Uta and Holger lived in inthe inthe inthe the small town of Annaberg near the boarder of Czechoslovakia Arno along with many other German citizens was forced to serve Hitler's regime Arno was trained as an accountant accountant accountant ac ac- ac- ac countant and spent many hours working for a government he didn't believe in He was forced to do things that were against his beliefs the fear of death or imprisonment were held over his head The end of World War II didn't change the situation much Arno began working for the Russians that came into his town Arno said They were always looking for honest people to work for them but they didn't trust anyone Even the most common person was checked check check- ed on Arno told me that one day he went to work and his supervisor approached him and said I know where you went yesterday Arno said II They kept track of you every step They knew everything even how much you donated to your church After 10 years of subjection Arno and his wife decided that the only way to have freedom was to get out of the country The borders had been closed and travel was difficult difficult difficult dif dif- dif dif- if not impossible You had to have a permit to go from city to city said Arno Since he was working for the Russians he had a permit which allowed him to travel more than most people Every month he would mail mall a package of family belongings to the west from froma a different location so that they couldn't be traced With the decision made to leave all plans were kept secret Furniture was sold only to those who could be trusted We were really scared that someone would find out out Mar Mar- related One day a lady who I didn't know came to our door She said I hear you are going to America 1 I just said that she must be thinking of someone else and quickly closed the door Fear almost made me call off our plans The time came for them to make the trip to the west They applied for a temporary visa saying they wanted to attend a wedding in West Germany If they knew that we were not going to return we would not have had a chance said I sewed our money into our clothing because they would allow us to take very little out of the country Arno and his family successfully crossed the border They lived in West Germany for a year and then emigrated to the US U.S. We now enjoy freedom in the government and of religion said Arno but we still watch what happens in East Germany Watching the wall open Arno shared the same joy that I experienced but he also expressed expressed expressed ex ex- ex- ex pressed skepticism He said They will never change the politics of communism He believes that the borders have been opened because the economy of communist countries will allow is so depressed The government western dollars to flow into the eastern block until their economy recovers and then the borders will be closed again Russia will never give back what they already have Arno also fears that communism will spread if free countries reduce their military support of European countries He feels that the threat of communism will always be present We must always be careful when the comm communists offer som something ething They will give a little and make some changes as long as they profit in the end he said |