Facade Portrait: Waltraud & Erich Kosak

Waltraud & Erich Kosak

* 1926 in Ahlsdorf (Waltraud Kosak, née Sommer)

* 1925 in Eisleben (Erich Kosak)

Arrival in Bremerhaven: 1958

At the beginning of World War II, the two young people, Waltraud Sommer and Erich Kosak, meet in a commercial school in Eisleben. Erich Kosak comes from a mining family; his Polish grandparents had already migrated to this area in Saxony-Anhalt due to this employment opportunity. By coincidence, the young man ends up at the commercial school. Waltraud Sommer’s path to the commercial school was not predetermined either. ‘It was by no means a matter of course back then. My grandmother came from very poor circumstances. Every month was a struggle to pay the school fees, even though she had very good grades and received a scholarship,’ says granddaughter Bettina Gerken.

During World War II, Erich Kosak is drafted, while Waltraud Sommer performs various labor services. When Erich Kosak finally returns from the Eastern Front, he is severely injured. He struggles to learn to walk again. A year after the end of the war, they marry in Eisleben.

Waltraud & Erich Kosak

At that time, Erich Kosak works in a mining conglomerate in Helbra. He criticizes the increase of the target plans by the politics as unfulfillable and becomes unpopular as a result. As punishment, he is transferred to the accounting department. Waltraud Kosak works as a secretary in the same company, and she doesn’t have any professional issues.

In 1951, their daughter Carola is born. Erich Kosak begins studying at the School of Mining Engineering, where he ultimately breaks away from the state system: due to his war injury, he cannot participate in solidarity work in mining, leading to unfounded accusations of ulterior motives, and he is eventually expelled. Erich Kosak sees no economic future for himself and his family and wants to leave the GDR. Waltraud Kosak is shocked – she doesn’t want to simply abandon her livelihood and the house currently under construction. Eventually, she is convinced by her husband.

Just over the inner-German border

Erich and Waltraud Kosak flee separately at the end of 1957. Erich often travels as a businessman to West Berlin, while Waltraud is to follow with daughter Carola. On the train to Berlin, their plan nearly falls apart. Waltraud Kosak is checked and it seems strange that she has all of the child’s toys with her. Carola is questioned separately about the actual travel destination, but she reveals nothing. Thus, the two manage to reach West Berlin. At the Marienfelde refugee camp, the couple awaits their relocation to the FRG. Their daughter is staying with relatives outside the camp.

Only Bremen and the Saarland have not yet fulfilled their intake quota for refugees with physical disabilities. The Kosaks feel uncertain that the Saarland won’t eventually be reverted back to France, so they decide on Bremen. They are assigned to the camp on Barkhausenstrasse in Bremerhaven.

Due to his injury, Erich Kosak finds it difficult to find work. Eventually, he becomes an insurance representative – not a dream job, but despite his efforts, he is unable to find anything else throughout his entire career. Waltraud Kosak takes over the secretarial duties for him. The family stays in Bremerhaven, and Carola attends school here. Eventually, they build their own house. They spend much of their free time in the garden or traveling, taking their granddaughter Bettina with them on trips later on. The Kosaks’ friends are scattered throughout the whole of West Germany, many of whom also fled from East Germany. Erich Kosak passed away in 1997. Waltraud Kosak still lives in Bremerhaven today.