Elfriede Wojaczek-Steffke: Vom geliebten zum gelobten Land - Erinnerungen an die mährische Heimat

Elfriede Wojaczek-Steffke: Vom geliebten zum gelobten Land - Erinnerungen an die mährische Heimat. St.Benno-Verlag 2001. 184 S., ISBN 978-3746214924. Für AH-Mitglieder zum Vorzugspreis von 7 Euro erhältlich.

Dr. Elfriede Wojaczek-Steffke wurde 1931 geboren und wuchs im nordmährischen Stachenwald (Stachovice) auf. Sie schildert ihre Erinnerungen aus dem Blickwinkel einer Jugendlichen. Das alltägliche Leben in dem Gebirgsdörfchen, die Kriegsereignisse und die spätere Vertreibung ihrer Familie nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg sind ebenso Gegenstand der Erzählung wie der schwere Neuanfang in der sowjetischen Besatzungszone, der späteren DDR. Das Buch endet im Jahr 1952.

Die Autorin weist in ihrem Buch keine Schuld zu, sie erzählt zwar mit Wehmut, aber ohne Bitterkeit. Und sie möchte mit ihrer eigenen Lebensgeschichte den großen Strategen der Geschichte Antwort geben. Ihr Buch erschien inzwischen auch in tschechischer Sprache.

Elfriede Wojaczek-Steffke studierte Tiermedizin und arbeitete bis 1972 als Tierärztin. Sie ist verheiratet, hat zwei Kinder und lebt in Berlin.

A reader from Australia wrote:

"... Mrs. Wojaczek-Steffke, being a young German girl of about 15 when the 2nd World War finished in 1945, fills the pages with her many thoughts and feelings as well as facts based on memories of her old Moravian home (between 1930 and 1946) - and her new home in East Germany (as from 1946).
The book is a heart-warming, impressive, well-written moving story about the Steffke family and their fight with life's twists as well as their enjoyment of life's little niceties. It is a poignant reminder of the family in crisis' perspective. It speaks of frustration, family relationships, and of their walk with the Lord.
The book tells a dramatic, spell-binding true story that will indeed move you. At times I had difficulties to hold my tears back, at times I felt an overwhelming love. The story progresses quickly. Chapter after chapter moves directly toward the book's memorable conclusion. The biggest reward is to understand the love and hope, fight and determination the family had and how it led to their ultimate peace of mind.

It gave me a glimpse into the hearts of people who were battered and bruised by the impersonal State's system and the destructive European nationalism. It reminded me of the confusion, fear and helplessness which accompany families facing life threatening situations.

This is a must read for those of us who are committed to the friendship and understanding between the Czechs and the Germans.

I see myself as a European and a Czech, though I think that I struck a firm root in Australia, my adopted country where I now lived for most of my life. I have a deep feeling for a certain Germany. German (and Austrian) literature, history, philosophy, technology, science, music, and my travelling in the German speaking countries, had a very strong influence on me. It is impossible to imagine the Czech history and development without the contribution of Germany. I have a frictionless, friendly and indeed wholly uncomplicated attitude to the German people and to the united Germany. I am strongly in favour of a deep and enduring conciliation and friendship between Czech and German postwar generations."