Book presentation
The most difficult days of the city of Ahaus
by Margret Löhr née Griesbrock †
A contemporary witness describes the air and bombing raids on the city of Ahaus, the flight of the residents to the surrounding area, the devastating destruction of the city, finally the invasion of the Allies, the first contact with the "enemy" soldiers, and the attacks by departing former foreign or forced laborers.
Ahaus, Marktstrasse 1938
What relief, despite all the hardship, was felt in the subsequent “breakout” period of peace, when reconstruction could begin, the family’s first grandchild was born, and finally the 16-year-old brother returned home from captivity.
Ahaus, Marktstrasse 1945
In January 1945
My mother's sister, my aunt Margret Löhr, then still Margret Griesbrock, began writing down her experiences in the town of Ahaus, within her family, and at her workplace when she was 20 years old. Initially, she used various scraps of paper, whatever was available.
She experienced the air and bombing raids on the city, the flight of the inhabitants to the surrounding countryside, the devastating destruction of the city, finally the invasion of the Allies, the first contact with the “enemy” soldiers, and the attacks by departing former foreign or forced laborers.
For me personally, what is exciting about the accounts is that they describe the events at the time of my birth, the problems and hasty moves of my parents while my mother was heavily pregnant.
What relief was felt then, despite all the hardship in the subsequent “breakout” period of peace, when reconstruction could begin and the 16-year-old brother finally returned home from captivity.
Many years later, Margret Löhr neatly compiled her notes from 1945 into a school notebook, which we have here, and which gives me a completely different understanding of the local environment that I perceived as "normal" during my childhood: rubble-strewn lots everywhere in the city, war veterans with crutches or antiquated mobility vehicles, people living in cramped basement apartments. And yet, everywhere we encountered neighbors, relatives, and business owners, there was such kindness and helpfulness towards us children that, for us, the world was perfectly alright.
The fears, hardships and losses of that time will not be forgotten by those affected even 80 years later, and they will suffer from the memory until the end of their lives.
Mindful of our ancestors who had to endure all of this, I have tried to illustrate the people and the surroundings described with photos and images.
Many thanks for this account go to my aunt Margret, who allowed me to share these personal notes, as well as to everyone who supported this account with images and suggestions.
In May 2025 Josef Wilkes
The local history society of Ahaus supported the creation of the book with photographic material.
The publication is for the benefit of
"VDK Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e. V."
Support the work of the German War Graves Commission.
Every donation counts!
IBAN: DE23 5204 0021 0322 2999 00
The book is available from the Ahaus local history society and in Ahaus bookstores.
The price is 20.00 euros including a donation of 4.00 euros for the "VDK".
(Softcover, cover 4 pages,
Contents: 88 pages, DIN A4 landscape format)
First reader reviews of Margret Löhr's 1945 diary
As a reader, you feel the despair of war and admire the resourcefulness of the families, who, amidst the chaos and under the most difficult conditions, are there for each other. You also experience the end of the war, right up to the final sigh of relief – it's over – only to immediately begin thinking about a new beginning.
Your illustrations and personal explanations make it even more gripping. A piece of contemporary history presented in an outstanding way. And the fact that this happened right in my hometown, the terrible destruction of Ahaus and the surrounding area, was something I was quite unaware of until then, but it fascinated me. MR from L.
From the very first sentences, you're plunged into a very strange mood. On the one hand, it's deeply distressing and almost unbearable to think of the incredible suffering people had to endure just 80 years ago. Here. In Ahaus. On this very ground. On the other hand, the content, as well as the writing style and the unadorned, precise language, are absolutely stunning. You actually get goosebumps while reading. I can't remember ever experiencing anything like it before. Certainly, it's partly because everything is so geographically close. But also because the language is so refined. TG from A.
I couldn't stop reading. That all of this happened in Ahaus was unimaginable to me. The photos made me realize the tragedy that occurred at the savings bank, what lies behind the names on the memorial plaques at the town hall. That's where my grandfather died. Now I finally understand why my parents never wanted to talk about that time. UG from O.
…it's so gripping to read, even the bureaucratic list of air raids and their victims. The old aerial photographs of Ahaus alone are worth the price of admission… MH from A.
It was a surprise to receive this diary, and I read it in no time. I could relate to so much of it, also from my father's stories. But in this format, it looks absolutely fantastic! AG from B.
The pictures, perfectly matching Aunt Margret's texts, and the accompanying comments round everything off beautifully. The layout is also fantastic; I'm absolutely thrilled. Last night, two long-time residents of Ahaus came by and practically snatched the book out of my hands. MW from N.
I read your book, or rather your aunt's, the other day and was absolutely thrilled and impressed by the painstaking work you put into it, as well as by the content. Where else can you find such firsthand information about the final days of the war and the time that followed, especially from Ahaus and from within your own family circle? It's fascinating both from a historical perspective, as a witness to history, and also from a family perspective. Fantastic... I was delighted. HT from M.