Familie James

"I grew up thinking that I had no family. My parents never talked about my family and I never asked them what had happened during the war. I wanted to spare them the pain. I don't think my parents ever found out what had happened to my brother. My mother was always very anxious and mistrustful of everything German. We avoided everything that came from Germany. Later I went to Germany for work, but being there always felt strange and scary. Although I was born in Germany, I wanted to leave as soon as possible. But the trip to the memorial service changed everything. On that trip, I met family members I had never known. We were impressed by how many people in Hamburg still remember the children from Bullenhuser Damm. I learned a lot about my brother, including his exact date of birth. It was a trip I will never forget for the rest of my life. And I will be back." - Mark James