The Leader Newspaper // Special Features ANZAC Day 2019 Supplement | Seite 2

COMMEMORATING ANZAC
Lissy missed out on
her best years
By Ella Pryor
What was meant to be the best years of her
life being in her late teens, Lissy Amtsberg now
remembers them as some of the worst.
Lissy, who has been a resident at Barossa Village,
Nuriootpa for 20 years, was born in Berlin and was
just 16 years old when World War II began.
“I was just a little child then,” said Lissy.
Lissy recalls the war starting in 1939 and the
air raids beginning instantly both during the day
and at night.
She was an apprentice in an office, working
mainly doing book keeping and typing.
Spending many hours in the basement, Lissy
can’t even describe the fear knowing what was
going on overhead.
She explained you couldn’t ever go to sleep,
because you’d try to sleep for 10 minutes then
have to rush down to the basement.
“You never had a good sleep for six years, when
you woke up you were like a zombie. Yet people
expected you to do your job properly but you
couldn’t open your eyes,” said Lissy.
Lissy and her family spent the six years of war
lining up for food, such as 50 grams of meat or
sugar and watching everyone just suffer, rather
than just being able to live their lives.
She also recalls many women having 10 to 12
children, which made them seem more superior
as Hitler needed more and more people to follow
him.
Reflecting back on the war, Lissy explained she’s
tried to forget the horrible things she’s seen, but
they really never fade away.
Moving to Australia in 1955 with her late
husband, Heinz and three children, Lissy believes
the past 60 odd years have truly been the best
time of her life.
Heinz was a German soldier who was one of
Hitler’s guards.
Lissy believes that in Australia, everything is so
different and there’s freedom of speech, and even
food in the supermarkets.
“When you’re young you don’t care much about
politics you just try to do your thing and live your
life,” said Lissy.
“I was 16 when the war started and 21 when
it finished. You’re meant to have fun, party and
go travelling with all the young people. Instead
we sat in basements and had bombs thrown over
our heads.
“I could never forgive Hitler, he took my best
years away. But now, I am happy.”
Late last month Lissy spent time at Faith Lutheran
College, Tanunda sharing her story.
She closed her time with the students by urging
them to value their freedom and to appreciate all
they have been given for a comfortable life full of
opportunity.
OUR COVER: Angaston couple, Mr Doug Mansfield, WWI and Gallipoli
Campaign veteran with his first wife, Beatrice, nee Mitchell.
Mrs Lissy Amtsberg of Nuriootpa with a photograph of herself and her late husband,
Heinz, who was a German soldier. The image holds many fond memories to her.
ANGASTON
CONSTRUCTIONS
Penrice
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Mineral
8564 3578
278 Penrice Road,
Angaston 8564 2579
or 0417 808 623
Stockwell Road, Angaston 8563 8823
256 Penrice Road,
Penrice
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Barossa Glass
Barossa Funerals
8563 0900
1 Petras Street,
Tanunda 8567 3180
angastonmotors.bapnet.com.au 0429 040 206
www.barossaglass.com.au
With the kind assistance of the participating businesses, The Leader has been able to provide a generous donation to the local RSL sub branches
2 - “The Leader”, Commemorating ANZAC, Wednesday, April 17 2019
Lest We Forget
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