At ul. Klonowica 6 in Jelenia Góra, formerly Contessastrasse 6 in Hirschberg, there was a bakery owned by Paul Betterman—but he isn’t the focus of today’s story. On July 11th, 1942, at 8:30 AM, 54-year-old Paul passed away. The cause of death was clearly detailed in his death certificate: heart muscle damage, arteriosclerosis, and liver disease. Originally from Bolków (Bolkenhain), he was the son of Wilhelm and Pauline, and he left behind his widow, Berta Minna.
Paul Bettermann’s death certificate / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch
That same year, the John family took over the business. Reinhold John, the son of Fritz and Martha, wrote in his memoirs that in the late 1930s, they moved to Jelenia Góra from Neustädtel, now known as Nowe Miasteczko in the Lubusz Voivodeship. They first settled at Äussere Burgstrasse 31(now Podwale), where they ran a small wood-fired bakery. Reinhold remembers that the conditions were difficult—the leaky attic of their home, where they kept a galvanized bathtub, doubled as both a bathroom and laundry room.
Reinhold John in front of Paul Betterman’s bakery building, circa 1942 / Source: Reinhold John’s memoirs
In 1944, 10-year-old Reinhold, like other kids his age, was required to join the Hitler Youth. Meetings were held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He recalls that in May and June, they collected potato beetles that had been dropped on Jelenia Góra and burned them in the school basement. They also took part in field games, one of which involved putting a brick in a student’s bag and having the others chase him.
One of the most memorable moments in Reinhold’s life was when the Red Army entered the city on May 8th, 1945. In his memoirs, he describes how his family, along with other residents, tried to flee toward the mountains, taking only the essentials. During their escape, they saw houses on fire and gunfire broke out, forcing them to take cover in a roadside ditch.
After reaching Stonsdorf (now Staniszów), the family found temporary shelter with relatives, which allowed them to spend the night in relatively safer conditions. The next day, they decided to return to Hirschberg and were surprised to find the bakery still intact.
When the region officially came under Polish control, the John family, like many others, faced forced relocation.
Children in Hitler Youth uniforms, with an Italian worker on the right
In 1946, the John family received a deportation order. Reinhold, his parents, and two grandmothers set off with their few belongings on a long trip to the transit camp in Hartau. On June 27th at 3:00 PM, they left in cattle cars, and a local artist drew Rübezahl, the Spirit of the Mountains, on the front car to accompany them on their journey.
After arriving in West Germany, Reinhold’s life started to stabilize. Despite numerous challenges, his family worked hard to rebuild their lives. Reinhold became a carpenter, got married, and raised three sons, all of whom, he notes, went on to achieve success in their own lives.
Contemporary view of the building at ul. Klonowica 6 in Jelenia Góra / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak
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