Tilli's Story: An East German Child's Life Under Hitler and Stalin, Q/A, Part One of Three

Tilli Horn Schulze spoke in Rockford, IL, in spring 2009, about her childhood in eastern Germany during and after World War II -- which she recounts in her memoir, "Tilli's Story: My Thoughts Are Free." The book shows what life was like for ordinary, rural German children and families under two dictators: Hitler and Stalin; how even very young girls -- such as 11-year-old Tilli -- were raped by Russian soldiers as retribution for Nazi actions; and how important freedom becomes when you don't have it. Tilli was able to tell her story after the Berlin wall fell, and she was able -- for the first time in 40 years -- to travel from the U.S. to her home village in East Germany. After her talk, Tilli took audience questions. This clip is part one of three showing that question and answer period. For more information about Tilli and her remarkable and inspiring story, go to http://www.mythoughtsarefree.com.

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News & Politics

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• fall of berlin wall
• rape of East German women
• child in war
• growing up under Hitler
• escaping East Germany
• life under the Iron Curtain
• escape the Iron Curtain
• importance of freedom
• escaping to America
• World War II
• Germany