War Girls Complete Collection Chapter 361

Chapter 28

Bonn, September 1955

L

otte waited at the airport for Chancellor Adenauer’s return from Moscow. The announced press conference had drawn thousands of visitors, eager to hear the official announcement about the fate of the German prisoners of war.

For her, though, it wasn’t an abstract wish for the missing men to return home. She wanted Johann. Ten years had passed and not a day went by that she didn’t miss him. On the surface, she was a modern, successful and happy woman. She worked as a lawyer, earned enough money to afford a nice apartment and fancy clothes and had saved up enough to buy a VW Beetle earlier that year.

Only one ingredient was missing for her to be completely happy: her man. Her friends and family had long ago given up trying to pair her off with eligible bachelors, for she stubbornly remained loyal to Johann.

Month after month she sent him letters and care packages, always hoping that he survived whatever the Soviets threw at him. That he’d one day return to her side.

A murmur rumbled through the crowd, “He’s coming.”

Moments later the Chancellor appeared with his entourage and spoke into the microphones. He announced that the Soviet Union had agreed to return the last ten thousand remaining POWs.

“He’ll come home,” Lotte whispered, completely overwhelmed by her emotions. Her eyes filled with tears and she barely noticed the scene unfolding in front of the crowd.

“Who’s that?” someone asked.

Lotte looked up and saw an old woman, dressed in a black coat and black hat, approach Adenauer. She took his hand and sank onto her knees in front of him.

“What’s she doing?” someone murmured.

The Chancellor, who was about the same age as the old woman, helped her up, but she refused and kissed his hands instead. The entire scene lasted only for a few seconds, but it made a lasting impression not only on everyone present, but also on those who saw it on television.

Lotte herself could only stare at the back of the retreating woman. She knew exactly what the other woman felt. Gratitude. Joy. Elation. Tears rolled down her face as her own emotions overwhelmed her.

A few weeks later the arrival of the first transports of former POWs was announced. Lotte asked her boss for leave and the next morning she and her trusted Beetle were on the Autobahn to the release camp in Friedland.

Nobody knew who would arrive when, but she didn’t care. She’d be there every single time a transport arrived until she found Johann.

She’d waited ten years; a few more weeks didn’t scare her.