Grew up in Paderborn in the 1940s and 50s

Double the protection, double the protection: As children of Paderborn, we were baptized twice, first with a cold sprinkling of holy water and then with the equally cool spring water of the Pader River. War, hunger, air raids – we knew no other way. Our games among the ruins and bomb craters were so exciting that we almost forgot about the hunger and cold. Breathlessly, we watched the rapid reconstruction of the city. As we grew older, we met at the Kolpinghaus for the "Coca Ball" and at the Cheruskerhof, where the "Ragtime Band" performed. We spent our learning money on Bickhoff's horse goulash, drank cold lemonade at Favretti's, and rode the caterpillar train to the Libori festival. Then came the economic miracle, and we were right in the middle of it!