Waltraud and Erich Kosak
At the beginning of World War II, two young people, Waltraud Sommer and Erich Kosak, meet at a commercial school in Eisleben. Erich Kosak comes from a mining family; even his Polish grandparents migrated to this area in Saxony-Anhalt for this work opportunity. It is somewhat by chance that the young man ends up at the commercial school. Waltraud Sommer’s path to the commercial school is also not predetermined. ‘That was by no means a given back then. My grandmother came from very poor circumstances. Every month was a struggle to raise 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 fulfills various work duties. When Erich Kosak finally returns from the Eastern Front, he is severely injured. He has great difficulty learning to walk again. A year after the war ends, the two marry in Eisleben. At that time, Erich Kosak works in a mining combine in Helbra. He criticizes the political increase in quotas as unfeasible, which makes him unpopular. As a punishment, he is transferred to the accounting department. Waltraud Kosak works as a secretary in the same company and does not face any professional issues. In 1951, their daughter Carola is born. Erich Kosak begins studying at the mining engineering school, where he eventually has a break with the state system: when he cannot participate in solidarity work in mining due to his war injury, he is first accused of having ulterior motives and is then expelled. Erich Kosak sees no economic future for himself and his family and wants to leave the GDR. Waltraud Kosak is shocked – she does not want to simply leave behind her existence and the house they are currently building. In the end, she is persuaded by her husband. Erich and Waltraud Kosak flee separately at the end of 1957. Erich travels more often as a business traveler to West Berlin, and Waltraud is supposed to follow with their daughter Carola. On the train to Berlin, their plan almost gets revealed. Waltraud Kosak is checked, and it seems strange that she has all of the child’s toys with her. Carola is questioned separately about their actual travel destination, but she reveals nothing. They both manage to get to West Berlin. At the Marienfelde refugee camp, the couple waits for their relocation to the Federal Republic of Germany. They have placed their daughter with relatives outside the camp. Only Bremen and Saarland have not yet fulfilled their intake quota for refugees with physical disabilities. The Kosaks find it too uncertain whether Saarland might eventually be reintegrated into 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 efforts, he cannot find anything else for his entire professional life. Waltraud Kosak takes over the secretarial tasks for him. The family stays in Bremerhaven, and Carola attends school here. Eventually, they build their own house. They spend their free time in the garden or traveling, often taking their granddaughter Bettina with them later. The Kosaks’ friends are spread throughout the Federal Republic of Germany, many of whom also fled from the GDR. Erich Kosak dies in 1997. Waltraud Kosak still lives in Bremerhaven today.
Waltraud and Erich Kosak are among the faces visible on the facade of the new Deutsches Auswandererhaus since June 2021. Before the opening of the museum’s extension with the artistically designed facade, the Nordsee-Zeitung introduced the individuals featured. You can watch the corresponding film portrait of Waltraud Kosak here.