Story Me

Stories and More from the People of Kingston and Frontenac County

At that time after the war there was literally starvation and massive poverty. It was a bombed-out country: no food, everyone was going hungry.

Interview with Diana Wilhelm

November 9, 2012

Diana Wilhelm shows Jo Stanbridge a series of photos and drawings from the journal of her paternal grandfather, Werner Wilhelm.

Diana Wilhelm's paternal grandfather, Werner Wilhelm

She describes her parents' wartime experiences and how they emigrated from Germany in 1950 on one of the earliest German refugee ships allowed to come to Canada after WWII.

Listen to Diana Wilhelm talk about her parents' WWII experience in Germany and their emigration to Canada.

Werner Wilhelm (centre), beside brother (holding violin)
Sketch of damaged house drawn by Werner Wilhelm
Wilhelm, with civil defence group
Wilhelm, possibly standing with civil defence group
Wilhelm, standing front row, sixth from left
Picture of damaged buildings
Wolf-Lothar Friedrich Wilhelm, WWII [2]
Werner Wilhelm's mother holding his baby brother
Wedding photo of Werner Wilhelm and Frieda Marie Schroeder, married 25 April 1924
Wilhelm family, 1956, when Diana was 4 years old
Wilhelm with three men in World War 1 uniforms