This Thursday in class in PLP we had a very special opportunity to meet and talk to a German World War 2 veteran Helmut Lemke. Helmut Lemke lived through the Hitler period and was drafted to fight on the Russian front. He experienced the occupation of Russian, British and American soldiers. Helmut Lemke was forced from his home and was a refugee in a camp in east Germany. Then he fled to west Germany then immigrated to Vancouver Canada 60 years ago (1957).

Today in class we reflected on Helmut Lemke’s story and everyone had to come up with a concept word for the whole story that Helmut told us. The concept word that I came up with is determination. But how did Helmut Lemke’s determination keep him going and surviving the war and living life after it?

As Helmut Lemke was living in Germany he was drafted to fight on the Russian front at an age of 16 and started fighting at the age of 18. After that Helmut was forced away from home and lived in a refugee camp in eastern Germany. After living in a refugee camp Helmut Lemke fled to western Germany to find his mother that he found alive back home. Through all of this he finally immigrated to Vancouver Canada 60 years ago. After hearing this story I can clearly see why Helmut Lemke had determination to live and get through the war and it was to save his mother that was in his need.
After listening to Helmut Lemke’s life story I have never met another person so honoured and brave in my life, it was an honer to meet Helmut Lemke.