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Gertrude Kerschner
Gertrude Kerschner was a member of the Jungmädelbund – JM (League of German Girls) from April 20, 1938 until she attended Landjahr Lager (Country Service Camp), in March 1941. She was in Country Service Camp in Seidorf, Niederschlesien, Germany (Sosnόwka, Poland) until November 1941. By 1942, she returned to her hometown, Kleinzell, Austria, and joined the Bund Deutscher Mädel where she served as a Health Service Girl.
In 1946, she met PFC Robert Sandor who served in the 87th Infantry Division (Golden Acorn), 345th Infantry Regiment. They married on May 8, 1948 in Linz, Austria. With her husband, they traveled first class on the S.S. United States, and moved to prestigious Greenwich, Connecticut, where they built their home and raised a family.
Early Life
Born in Kleinzell, Austria, Gertrude was the fourth child of Emmerich and Josefa Kerschner. Her father died by the time Gertrude was four years old. Josefa raised Gertrude, and her four siblings, Emmerich, Hans, Anna, and Franzel alone on their family farm. On April 20, 1938, Gertrude was indoctrinated into the Jungmädelbund, Troop # 527, Region #28, and District #20.[1]
In order to be accepted at ten years of age into the Jungmädelbund (JM), Gertrude had to undergo a full medical examination, establish her lineage of German descendants back to the eighteen century, and participate in three JM challenges.[2] Gertrude attended the Preparatory Service lecture that informed her about her tasks, duties and responsibilities, the sports afternoon that tested her abilities, courage, and agility, and the formal social evening meeting that prepared her for the formal Induction Ceremony into the Hitler Youth. On April 20, 1938, Gertrude was formerly sworn into the Jungmädelbund and was presented with her new membership identification papers. Her certificate read:
“I promise to always do my duty with love and loyalty to our Führer and our flag. Commitment into the Hitler Youth – April 20, 1938 – Gertrude Kerschner was on this day committed by the Führer.”
While in the Jungmädelbund, she was educated for companionship, honor and faith. She was held accountable for all her actions, and live with integrity. She continually demonstrated her character, loyalty, dedication, and devotion to her country, learning and serving within the community.[3] The social meeting was held every Wednesday from 6:00 until 9:00 pm. The monthly curriculum changed to match the traditional and season events, such as the Führer’s birthday, Mothering Sunday, May Day, Summer Solstice, Harvest Thanksgiving Day, Advent, Winter Solstice, and Christmas. Otherwise, the course of study remained consisted with home economics, cooking, baking, hygiene, serving within the community, helping the mothers in their homes, marches, parades, arts and crafts, music, theatrical plays, and community performances, all while working towards their Leistungsabzeichen (Achievement Badge). Saturday afternoons were reserved for their three hour gymnastic program.
Leistungsabzeichen (Achievement Badge)
Gertrude received the highest honors in the JM when she received the Achievement Badge. The badge is in the shape of the letters JM with a plain red ribbon background within a sterling silver frame. To receive this award, Gertrude must have passed various tests within the span of one year. These tasks included first aid, nursing, political knowledge and the most important, physical and athletic exercises. Members of the JM can apply for this award starting on the day of the twelfth birthday.[4]
Landjahr Lager – Seidorf, Niederschlesien
In March 1941, at age 13, Gertrude was specifically chosen by the Reich’s Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, to participate in the elite Country Service Camp program entitled Landjahr Lager. She traveled by train over two days and 700 km (435 miles) to Seidorf, Niederschlesien, today, located in Sosnόwka, Poland near Jelenia Gόra.
Upon arriving at Landjahr Lager, she had to fill out her registration form which included her practical knowledge skills: homemaking, laundry, ironing, cooking, setting the table, washing the dishes, weaving, sewing, embroidery, arts and crafts, gardening, raising livestock, working with the farmers, hiking, marching. She included her musical aptitude, singing and playing the zither. She disclosed her first aid skills which include handling abrasions, wrapping bandages, tending to bee stings, blisters, broken bones, burns, cramps, dehydration, fractures, nosebleeds, scratches, splints, and sprained ankles. She also knows how to make a tourniquet and a stretcher.[5]
The disciplinary training started at 6:00 in the morning with the “Flag Greeting Ceremony,” whereupon, they would commence with their daily duties and responsibilities to the State. Two groups of 20 girls overseen by three camp directors would rotate their responsibilities every two weeks. These responsibilities included homemaking, gardening, and working with the farmers. In the afternoons, they would participate in gymnastics and sports, followed by a coffee break, and reading their mail. During the evening social hour, Gertrude and her companions would continue their learning.
By November 1941, Gertrude returned to her hometown and registered as a Gesundheitsdienst (Health/Medical Service Girl) of the BDM. In 1942, she left Kleinzell and walked over 30 miles to Mariazell where she began her career as a waitress serving on such prominent members of the SS including Erwin Rommel and his family with her friend, Hedwig Kraushofer, and sister, Anita.
By 1945, the 2nd SS Panzer Division has taken over the little village and during the middle of the night Gertrude and her best friend, Hedwig Kraushofer, ran away, leaving her sister Anita, behind. In the middle of the night, they walked back to Kleinzell. Within a few short weeks, word came that the Red Army was approaching Kleinzell, and racing against charging bullets, Gertrude and her mother, Josefa, fled for the American Zone in Linz, leaving her 15 year old brother, Franz, behind to fight the enemy. Her sister, Anita, was by this time, serving as a ‘Luftwaffenhelferinnen’ in Bamberg, Germany.
With hundreds of civilians, Gertrude and her mother sought shelter in the partially bombed out tunnel near the Danube River. By May 8, 1945, WWII ended and Gertrude and her family struggled to rebuild their beloved country.
In 1946, Gertrude met PFC Robert Sandor from the 87th Infantry Division (Golden Acorn) 345th Infantry Regiment, Headquarters Co., 1st Battalion. Private Sandor fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Later, he was stationed on the American side of the Nibelungenbrücke in Linz, Austria. For two years, PFC Sandor used his war rations to feed Gertrude and her family. On May 8, 1948, Robert and Gertrude were married in the partially bombed Neu Dom Cathedral and by 1956, Gertrude and her husband Robert, returned to America on the S.S. United States.
Living in America:
Gertrude was determined to be an American. Her first job was on the assembly line at Homlite in Norwalk, Ct. During this time, she saved all her money and together with her husband, they purchased 7 acres in the back country of Greenwich, Ct. By 1960, they started developing their land and building their dream home. On Dec. 31, 1964, they moved from their tiny apartment and into their 3000 sq. ft home and when the New Year rung in, their life began in prestigious Greenwich, Ct.
Gertrude was known in the neighborhood by her upbeat personality, and her dedication to her husband, children, and community. She would share the vegetables from her organic garden with her neighbors, and tend to the livestock of her many ducks, geese, chickens, ginny hens, and swans. The family would fish for bass in their private backyard lake, and share their bounty with their friends and neighbors. On every religious holiday, Gertrude would invite her elderly widowed friends to her home and cook the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Every summer, Robert and Gertrude would host the annual “Improved Order of Red Men – Mayn Mayano Tribe No. 46” BBQ and clam bake. Gertrude continually encouraged her children and was with them every step of the way; from piano lessons and recitals, to attending Brownies, Girl Scout and Civil Air Patrol meetings.
In the ’70’s, Gertrude secured a position as a waitress in the cafeteria at American Can Company. Her outstanding work ethics were noticed by CEO William May who personally handled her promotion to working exclusively as the Head Waitress in the Executive Dining Room and during the private Board of Director’s meetings with May, his second in command, William Woodside, and Vice Chairman, Gerald Tsai, among others.
At the age of 45, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and 15 years later, her cancer metastasized into bone cancer.
On November 20, 1989, Gertrude died peacefully in her sleep at the Greenwich Hospital Hospice wing. She is buried in the family grave with her mother, and husband, in Rohrbach an der Gölsen, near Kleinzell. A 12-piece brass band played at the head of the funeral processions while over 300 villagers followed the family, and paid their final tribute to this beloved and inspiring woman.
[1] Through Innocent Eyes – pg. 31
[2] Through Innocent Eyes – pg 21
[3] Through Innocent Eyes – pg 33
[4] Chris Crawford – Bund Deutscher Mädel
[5] Through Innocent Eyes – pg. 219