Our coach was a former successful heavyweight wrestler. Tough and unyielding in training, but he loved his boys like a concerned father. When he heard that I wanted to become a lab technician, he shook his head.
He bluntly told me that a man with this profession would not be able to support a family later on and advised me to become a welder. He would get me an apprenticeship. At that time, I knew nothing about this profession and trusted my trainer. Nevertheless, I continued to attend the course.
A few months before the skilled worker exam, I didn’t want to take any risks. But after only two weeks I received written confirmation that I could start immediately as a retrainee in the training welding shop. However, I needed a leave of absence from my current job to do so. My concerns were therefore founded. With trepidation, I thought of the pilot plant and the jovial Swabian, who, however, could become extremely uncomfortable if things didn’t go his way.
The next day, I reported to my boss’s office. I was prepared for the worst and slid the release across the desk. The Swabian read it and went on a rampage: ‘You want to go, Bübele, and who’s going to drive the pilot plant – hey? You can put that out of your mind, Bübele – it’s not going to happen!’ He puffed angrily and pushed the note away from him gruffly. A few seconds of icy silence, then the bird of paradise intervened.
Calming down, he interjected, ‘But Herbert,’ she addressed her boss with his first name, ‘you can’t ruin the boy’s future!’ I knew immediately that I would get the exemption. The Swabian paused, thought for a moment, took the slip of paper back and signed it. With a very friendly smile, I thanked the bird of paradise. When I left the office, they both wished me every success for the future.
The training welding shop was new and equipped with the latest technology. The instructors had exceptionally good theoretical and technical knowledge. The head of the welding shop, a small, lively man, was very keen on personal authority and was my first supervisor who was not from Swabia. In the Prussian-German manner, he ran a strict regimen. He made it unmistakably clear to every apprentice that, after passing the examination, everyone had to defend a good reputation outside in the practice.
My instructor came from the Sudetengau and was calmness personified. With the patience of a saint, he taught me the basics of arc welding. When a weld failed, he used to remark, ‘Welding is like music – practice makes perfect.’ After six weeks, I passed the basic exam. I gained my first practical experience in a building fitter’s shop. From now on, I was paid according to the skilled worker rate. My trainer had advised me well, and I was so grateful to him.
While still working in the construction locksmith’s shop, considerable sociopolitical tensions in the GDR reached their peak. In Berlin, construction workers went on strike because of the arbitrary increase in their work standards. In the end, this was only the cause, but not the real cause of the strike. In addition to many shortcomings, the main issue was the SED’s claim to sole leadership. Under the leadership of the unloved ‘Spitzbart’ Walter Ulbricht, the party suppressed any democratic development. 𝓣𝓸 𝓑𝓮 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓮𝓭…
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