Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Fine Arts
Major
Creative Writing
Date of Defense
11-15-2024
Graduate Advisor
John Dalton
Committee
John Dalton
Shane Seely
Lauren Obermark
Abstract
It is 1940 in Würzburg, Germany. Sisters Ursula and Ilse, along with their parents Margarethe and Ernst Sauer, are seemingly untouched by the war in Europe. During the early years of German victory, carefree Ursula meets dashing Luftwaffe officer Karl Pfeiffer at a house concert. They dance the night away and begin a whirlwind romance, much to the disapproval of anxious Ilse, who prefers a more reliable man like her husband Wilhelm Stein. Eventually, the Sauers must relocate to escape the rationing and bombings in the cities. Amidst the chaos, Ursula and Ilse seek their own forms of shelter. Ilse tries to quiet her nerves and live in peace with her family, but she is up against a society that despises and culls the weak. Ursula envisions a perfect life with Karl, but the never-ending invasions shatter her dreams of romantic bliss. Once the dust of war settles, the remaining members of the family must sift through the rubble and attempt to rebuild their lives. Although they experience loss on all fronts, the Sauer women still yearn for love, happiness, and a future among the ruins. To get there, they’ll have to face formidable obstacles and confront the sins of their country.
WAR FRAU is historical fiction/women’s literature drawing upon true events to shed light on the hunger, disease, displacement, rape, and insanity that average German women experienced during and after World War II. The characters in WAR FRAU are not the typical, daring heroines of fiction who hide persecuted Jewish people or undermine the Nazis. Instead, like most Germans during those years, they are ordinary women who focus on keeping themselves and their families alive. And yet, their efforts are extraordinary.
Note: This thesis is under a author requested embargo until 2224, after which it will become available in accordance with end of expected copyright protection. This embargo year is intentional and not an error.
Recommended Citation
Hoeynck, Sarah, "War Frau" (2024). Theses. 479.
https://irl.umsl.edu/thesis/479