Ingrid Radke-Azvedo was born in February 1934 in Berlin, Germany. Her mother had a beautiful, soprano voice and was discovered in school. When her mother received an offer to be trained, Radke-Azvedo's grandmother said absolutely not. Her mother was heartbroken, but would sing at weddings and at coffee houses on weekends to earn some money to study what she wanted to. Radke-Azvedo's grandfather was in charge of the Berlin water works. [Annotator's Note: She describes underground tours in Berlin.] Her father was from Russia. She describes her grandfather taking his family to Russia due to Queen Catherine [Annotator's Note: presumably Catherine the Great, however, the timeline does not seem to work out] wanted German men to come work. Her grandfather did not like that work and became a traveling salesman of dry goods and supplies. Her grandfather came from Slavonia [Annotator's Note: one of the four historical regions of Croatia] where there were a lot of Bolsheviks and he decided to go to Berlin. Her grandparents had 14 children. Radke-Azvedo's parents met at a dance. Her father served in World War 1 so he could become a German citizen. Her father died from Yellow Fever when she was two-and-half years old. Her mother had four children. She only remembers her father laying outside when the weather was good, and his skin was very yellow. Radke-Azvedo's mother then went to work for the phone company and later remarried. Radke-Azvedo had a very tough childhood.

Ingrid Radke-Azvedo had to work very hard when she was very young. She grew up learning to follow orders and to not waste time. She loved to read and would hide in the bushes to do so. Being a widow was difficult for her mother. Her father had worked for the Berlin Police Department after returning from World War 1. After he died, there was a pension for her and her brother which did help. Her mother would do housework for the neighbors who were mostly Jewish, had large homes, and seemed to be wealthy. She started school at six years old. She did her chores after school which included washing and ironing clothes. Once the war began, the biggest change was that her mother told her not to talk to strangers. This was hard for Radke-Azvedo because she liked talking to groups of people. The war came suddenly. There was no war declared and no provocation from Poland [Annotator's Note: German Invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939]. Hitler [Annotator's Note: German dictator Adolf Hitler] just attacked. They were also no longer allowed to listen to foreign radio stations. Her mother would put blankets over her head and secretly listen to the radio. They could get a British station and they found out full news of the war in this manner. Her life became terrible. She was not allowed to go into Jewish households, and they had been her great friends. She could not even talk to them. There were set hours for Jews to go grocery shopping apart from anyone else. Suddenly, she and her friends were no longer children and were supposed to be as obedient as dogs. The young men had to wear uniforms and go to meetings. They no longer treated their mothers and families with respect. Her brother changed school and did not have to become a Hitler Youth [Annotator's Note: youth organization of the Nazi Party]. Radke-Azvedo wanted to be a Hitler girl because she wanted one of the sweaters they wore, but her mother would not allow it. No private clubs were allowed.

Ingrid Radke-Azvedo's father resented Hitler [Annotator's Note: German dictator Adolf Hitler] from the beginning. He was forewarned to use the Hitler salute [Annotator's Note: Sieg Heil, or Hail Victory, Nazi Salute] even when passing a stranger instead of saying hello. Hindenburg [Annotator's Note: German President Paul von Hindenburg] had been their last president and was very sick when Hitler joined Parliament. Since Hitler was a foreigner, he could not run for office, but he somehow figured out a way to do so. School became very strict and there was hardly any laughter once the war started. Everyone had to walk and stand in line and sing military songs. Kids under Hitler had to abuse each other to prove they were men. Her brother went into the Army at 17 and was sent to Stalingrad without having any boot camp. Radke-Azvedo and the girls went to Hitler Youth meetings. She actually thought it was kind of fun. They were tasked with making bandages for the soldiers. They would be spanked if they misbehaved or even if they giggled. Radke-Azvedo was beaten a lot because she was talkative. She avoided people, did not play outside, and did not show happiness. She felt like a dog. Foot soldiers were everywhere and if two or three people would gather to talk, they would be approached by the soldiers and asked questions. The citizens were watched very closely, and school was not fun any longer.

The bombings of Berlin [Annotator's Note: Berlin was bombed 363 times between 1940 and 1945] were awful for Ingrid Radke-Azvedo. Every evening her mother and other women would get together and knit socks for the soldiers in the field. They also would make bags and put food and essentials in them. Radke-Azvedo and her family did not know what had happened to all of the Jewish people in the neighborhood except that they were slowly leaving. The bags these women were making were for the neighbors who were escaping to Switzerland. Other Jews were disappearing, but you could not ask about them for fear of being taken away or killed. She says dogs learn to mind. [Annotator's Note: Radke-Azvedo speaks of her book and starts to get up]. Radke-Azvedo's mother was gone almost every night and would leave her alone in a large, dark house. There were three types of air raid alarms. One as a warning, one almost too late, and one when the raid was over. Radke-Azvedo would do her homework, clean, and then go to bed. They had a dachshund who was terrified of the bombings and the alarms. They kept two suitcases by the door. One with valuables, and one with important papers. When she left the house during an air raid, she would have to run a city block wearing a gas mask and helmet, carrying the suitcases to the shelter. They had seating assignments. She would close her ears tightly, but you could still feel the bombs explode. Sometimes the alarm would not sound before the bombs started falling and she would get caught outside. They had to wear the mask and helmet even while inside the shelter. She could also hear the guns firing at the planes. The fire bombs were awful. There were guards who would not let them out even to use the bathroom. If your house had been bombed, you would have to find someone who was willing to take you in. There was no place to hide.

Ingrid Radke-Azvedo could tell who was bombing Berlin at night by the sounds of the planes [Annotator's Note: Berlin was bombed 363 times between 1940 and 1945]. The Americans were nice because they tried not to bomb the civilians. They would drop flares - red for fire, green for explosion, yellow for timed bombs. After the raid was over, they could go back to their houses if they still had one. The shelters they were in were not actual bunkers but just the strongest house on the block. The Germans did enhance the protection of the building. Sometimes she would just get home and then another raid would start. There was no place to hide. Lately, she sees what is being said and done in America with a renewed interest in Socialism. This is not good. She became involved in politics in America, which she could not do in Germany. In American politics now, she sees a little bit of the beginning of World War 2. We do not work together any more. She hopes the American people are preparing for the event of war, including stockpiling water. It is worse to be thirsty than hungry. During World War 2, they ate dandelions, rabbits they raised, and eggs from their chickens. Radke-Azvedo would have to take on tablespoon of cod liver oil every day to protect her from illness, which was awful. They ate a lot of potatoes. Everyone had ration cards but there was nothing to get. They would stand in line once a month to receive six shots. War and pestilence produces a lot of sick people. They got what they could from the black market. Radke-Azvedo was a good trader and started her own business.

Once it was captured by the Russian Army, Berlin was divided into four sectors [Annotator's Note: the Soviets took control of Berlin in April 1945]. The Russian zone was awful for Ingrid Radke-Azvedo. Women were raped and killed and there was no regard for the age of the girl. There would be as many as 12 to 15 men raping one woman. Many of them died or were shot. Her future stepfather found a bombed-out house and made a bed off the ground so they would not freeze. Radke-Azvedo and her mother never came out when the Russians came in. German papers told the women to beware of the Mongols, which is what they called the Russians. They did not really know when the war was over. They had tried to organize supplies as they could. They had no heat and their bedding was wet. Her mother had pneumonia and they were surrounded by rats. Radke-Azvedo realized the rats must have been going for food so she followed them and found piles of paper bags, but the rats had cleaned it all out. She did find canned fruit and jam. Her mother was so ill that she did not think she would live through the night. She took them back to her mother who had a fever and was crying. [Annotator's Note: Radke-Azvedo breaks down.] Her mother started screaming with joy and then they ate every bit of it. They both belched. They lived on that for three days and her mother got better. Her future stepfather said to not leave that room until he came for them. One day she heard German voices and laughter without hearing any Russians and there were no women screaming. She says many women drank vinegar or jumped off of buildings to kill themselves they were so ashamed to have been raped by the Russians. But now the Americans had arrived into their sector and they could go outside for the first time. [Annotator.s Note: The Americans took possession of their sector on 4 July 1945.]

Ingrid Radke-Azvedo survived the bombings of Berlin, Germany [Annotator's Note: Berlin was bombed 363 times between 1940 and 1945] and was living in the American Sector [Annotator's Note: the Americans took possession of their sector on 4 July 1945]. The Americans could not maneuver their vehicles due to the rubble of the destroyed city. There were a lot of people from East Prussia and eastern Germany that had no homes, food, or clothing. Many of them would be dead on the sidewalks when she and her mother would come out of hiding in the mornings. Radke-Azvedo was trading on the black market and then her mother told her she did not want her to do this as much as she appreciated it. She says that some of the meat was actually human beings. Radke-Azvedo does not think the Russians had anything to keep clean with, but the Americans always were clean and did not smell. The Americans gave out whatever they had to the people to eat. [Annotator's Note: The interviewer asks about her treatment by the Russians]. "Frau, Komm!" [Annotator's Note: "Woman, come here!" in English] was the only German the Russians knew according to Radke-Azvedo. The Russians just came in and started to assault and rape the women. There was no way to get rid of the stench of dirty humans. The population started using the canal for getting water, as the bridges had all been destroyed. The water was very contaminated. The Americans tested the water and told them not drink it or cook with it. Radke-Azvedo saw a large ball floating down the canal and realized it was a bloated body. She never touched that water again. She went to the American kitchen and offered to help. They asked her to help them with the laundry in exchange for potato and carrot peelings. Her mother realized the potato starch would help with the uniforms and they made it into a pretty good business. She loved the American soldiers and did not know how they stayed clean and never smelled. After their first delivery of laundry back, the soldiers were so happy that the next load included more and better food, sometimes a jar of peanut butter or jam and bread.

Ingrid Radke-Azvedo was living in Berlin, Germany when the city was divided by the Allies. The Russians wanted all of Berlin for themselves and decided to starve out the Germans as well as the occupying Americans. [Annotator's Note: The Soviet Union blocked Western Allies access to Western controled sectors from 24 June 1948 to 12 May 1949. This event was known as the Berlin Blockade.] She would go into the eastern part of Germany on the trains and trade the people there their possessions for food. The Russians had cut-off the railroads, highways, and waterways to traffic. This started the Berlin Airlift [Annotator's Note: Western Allies' operation to supply the blockaded city of West Berlin from 26 June 1948 to 30 September 1949] and the Allies flew in rations and supplies. The Russians had cut all electrical power to that part of Berlin as well. She and some friends scavenged coal from where they could find it. Before the airlift started, Radke-Azvedo and her family lived in their house which had not been hit in the bombing raids. They had no power, running water, or heat. They would put their own clothes in with the laundry they did for the American soldiers who paid them in food. From her house, the airport [Annotator's Note: Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, Germany] was far away. One streetcar track was repaired from her part of town to the airport. She had some change and she was able to get tickets for her and some friends and they took a trip to the airport. They climbed an embankment with some other kids to watch the planes come in. One time a plane stopped nearby, and a tall, skinny American [Annotator's Note: Colonel Gail Seymour "Hal" Halvorsen, also known as the "Berlin Candy Bomber" or "Uncle Wiggly Wings" was famed for dropping candy to German children during the Berlin Airlift] came out and smiled. This terrified the kids. [Annotator's Note: Radke-Azvedo gets wistful]. He took some sticks of chewing gum and tore them into pieces and gave them to the kids. Radke-Azvedo put it in her pocket and took it home. That was her first experience with chewing gum. The kids and their condition really moved the American. The next time they went to watch, a plane separated out and wiggled its wings. The soldiers had made parachutes from their handkerchiefs to carry packages of candy to the kids. When the women in the United States found out about this, they started making parachutes and Hershey Candy [Annotator's Note: The Hershey Company in Hershey, Pennsylvania] donated tons of chocolate to give the kids.

Ingrid Radke-Azvedo was a child in Berlin, Germany during the Berlin Blockade. [Annotator's Note: The Soviet Union blocked Western Allies access to Western controled sectors from 24 June 1948 to 12 May 1949. This event was known as the Berlin Blockade.] She was not allowed to eat the chocolate given to her by the American pilots once per week and she had to give it all to her father. During the Berlin Airlift [Annotator's Note: Western Allies' operation to supply the blockaded city of West Berlin from 26 June 1948 to 30 September 1949] chocolate was delivered on Friday. [Annotator's Note: Radke-Azvedo gets very emotional.] Every day, Radke-Azvedo helped her uncle distribute soup to the children in the city schools. Most kids did not eat the soup but took it home to the rest of their family. She asked her uncle what chocolate tasted like and he did not answer. He told her she would just crap it out anyway. One nice man in the American kitchen asked her if she liked her chocolate and she told him the story. He made her eat the candy and she said it was just like heaven. [Annotator's Note: Radke-Azvedo gets very emotional.] Little by little she got smart. She opened a cabinet where her uncle's car was parked, and she saw it was loaded with American goods that he was using to deal on the black market. After that, she did not take the weekly candy bar from the Americans and told her parents that there was not anymore. She became very good at working the black markets herself.

Ingrid Radke-Azvedo could not fathom seeing a child starving and then sit down and smoke cigarettes and eat the child's candy as her father [Annotator's Note: her stepfather] did to her during the Berlin Blockade. [Annotator's Note: The Soviet Union blocked Western Allies access to Western controled sectors from 24 June 1948 to 12 May 1949. This event was known as the Berlin Blockade.] She was running for political office in America many years later. One week before the final election, her mother became very sick, so Radke-Azvedo threw her election and went to her mother. Her mother had died before she got to there. Her father had taken her on a trip with him instead of taking her to a hospital. She went to see her father later, at a time when he was very sick. She moved him into a nice hospital where he told her that she was the last one he expected to have with him when he was dying, and he apologized for how he had treated her. Then he died while she held his hand. She feels that everyone suffered from Germany's death in their own way. Her father had served under Frederick the Great and he hated Hitler [Annotator's Note: German dictator Adolf Hitler]. Her father had also worked with Werner von Braun [Annotator's Note: Wernher Magnus Maximillian Freiherr von Braun was a German, and later American, aerospace engineer and space architect] and she did not know how he could have worked with him unless von Braun hated Hitler as well.

Ingrid Radke-Azvedo was on extended leave from school during the Bombing of Berlin, Germany [Annotator's Note: Berlin was bombed 363 times between 1940 and 1945]. When the war was declared over, she and her family moved back into what remained of their house. She returned to school and decided she wanted to go to England. She had a wonderful teacher who helped her a lot. She says she has a problem with what happened to the Jewish people because she did not know where they went to. They did not see the trains. When she saw the news of the concentration camps after the war, she could not believe it. She had no idea that it was happening. She took a book on it home to her mother and asked her why she never told her about it. Her mother said she did not know how bad it was. She thought they were going to jails. Her mother screamed and beat her with the book and said for her to never look at something like that again. At that moment, Radke-Azvedo felt so betrayed. She had so many nice, Jewish friends and she could not understand why there was no one who did something about that. She was even angry at God. At her age, with a poor home life, and nothing to look forward to, she just wanted to get away. Her teacher told her that more than half of Germany felt the way she did. Where was the world? [Annotator's Note: She describes the movie, Ship of Fools, 1965.] Radke-Azvedo was ashamed to be German.

After surviving the bombing of Berlin [Annotator's Note: Berlin was bombed 363 times between 1940 and 1945] as a child, Ingrid Radke-Azvedo was given a book by a friend that showed what Germany had done during the Holocaust. She was so ashamed to be German she wanted to leave and never go back. She had a good teacher who helped her go to England where life got better. She later came to America and for years was called a Jew-hater and a Jew-killer. She applied for jobs but was called a Nazi. Now, so many years later, she calls the "Candy Man" [Annotator's Note: Colonel Gail Seymour "Hal" Halvorsen, also known as "The Berlin Candy Bomber" or "Uncle Wiggly Wings" was famed for dropping candy to German children during the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and 1949] on the phone four or five times a week and they talk. After she left England, she got a job at Tempelhof Air Force Base [Annotator's Note: now Berlin Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, Germany]. She became the Head of the Department for supplies for all of Europe. [Annotator's Note: She describes a failed relationship in detail.] She met the Director of the California Wine Institute, Mr. Gibson [Annotator's Note: Robert H. Gibson, Gibson Wine Company, Sanger, California], in Germany. The women with him and Radke-Azvedo got along well and then they invited her to America. She felt wonderful to finally leave Berlin for America. Everything she ever heard about America was good and the soldiers were nice and clean. She stayed in New Jersey for a time and then she went to California to meet with Mr. Gibson. After a while, he proposed to her and she turned him down. Six months later he died of cancer. She named her oldest son after him.

After surviving the bombing of Berlin [Annotator's Note: Berlin was bombed 363 times between 1940 and 1945] as a child, Ingrid Radke-Azvedo was horrified when the Berlin Wall went up [Annotator's Note: on 13 August 1961]. She wanted to go home and kill all of those people. When the wall came down [Annotator's Note: on 9 November 1989], Radke-Azvedo was interviewed about it. She owes her life to the Berlin Airlift [Annotator's Note: Western Allies' operation to supply the blockaded city of West Berlin, 26 June 1948- 30 September 1949]. She would not have had her children or create the life that she created for herself in America. The Airlift is her life. Her family and life are worth all the pain and all the hunger and all the agony. Every one of the men and women who worked so hard and sacrificed so much to save 20.5 million Berliners who had been killing them just weeks prior represents the America she loves and makes her proud to be one. Radke-Azvedo says that World War 2 was a killing field even for America and she prays to God that we have learned our lessons. She sees some similarities of the beginning of World War 2 and what is happening in America now. The history of the war is important to teach so that the newer generations know what we stand to lose.