I come across this picture as I walk through my grandfather's living room. This is a picture of him at the age of 10 on a motorcycle outside the building of his school. Every time I pass it I look at his expression. I notice how happy he is. I see the look of innocence every child normally has on his face. The clothes, the old bike just take me to that time around 1938. But each time I come across that photograph it starts a whole conversation. My grandfather sits me down on the couch besides this photograph and goes into detail about what his life was like during this time. Not too long after this photograph was the beginning of World War 2 and a whole change of his life.
This disastrous time was World War 2. In the book Rotterdam Invasion of
As my grandfather is telling me this history, I notice tension in his eyes. Tension which gave me a feeling of sorrow because I knew it was hard for him to tell me. He always told me after this part that this was the time in which I never forgot one single moment. He then goes into telling me that to call off the attack by the bombers, red flares would be sent up to show the Dutch surrender. However, the first formation of bombers was in the air and couldn't be called back. This destroyed the inner city of Rotterdam. My heart was pounding, and it always seems to every time I hear this story. Learning this from my grandfather I always get a better connection with him. He enjoys telling his story but not to many. He only tells a few who are close to his heart this epic beginning of a new life for him. His unfailing spirit becomes part of me. I then always ask myself and then further ask him, what did my grandfather do to keep himself safe?
1. Aftermath of Rotterdam after attack
2. Another view of Rotterdam after attack