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German Tale​
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Transcript
SFX: Music
PERCY: Attention. Flight Lieutenant Percy here.
ANTIS: And Woof Commander Antis! What’s this story about, Percy?
PERCY: This story I have for you is a bit different. It is a German tale. Did you know that during World War II, volunteers from other countries served in the Royal Air Force?
ANTIS: Really?
PERCY: As well as our own British servicemen and women, there were also volunteers from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Australia, the Caribbean to name a few - and even from Germany.
ANTIS: Germany! But weren’t they our enemies?
PERCY: You’re not wrong, Antis. Our main enemy in World War II was the Nazi forces in Germany, but there were some Germans who would have been in great danger if they had stayed in their own country. Some German families fled to Britain to find safety - just like Klaus Adam and his family.
SFX: Children Playing
Klaus grew up in Berlin. He loved playing with his younger brother Dieter, going to the theatre and learning all about aeroplanes. But Klaus and his family were Jewish, so when the Nazis came to power, Berlin was no longer safe for them. They were forced to leave their home. It was a difficult journey…
ANTIS: I can imagine it now! They didn’t sleep for days, they had to crawl through mud and eats bugs to survive and fight off evil robots with their bare hands!!
SFX: Nighttime Ambience.
PERCY: Ahem. Not quite, Percy. The family left in the dark to avoid the soldiers. They took nothing with them apart from the clothes they wore and some food for the journey. Klaus’s mother did manage to sneak out some gold coins by sewing them secretly into her coat.
ANTIS: I don’t know what I’d do if I had to leave all my favourite toys behind! I wonder how many I could sneak into my mouth…
PERCY: Klaus and his family travelled by foot…
SFX: Foosteps.
By car…
SFX: Engine.
By train…
SFX: Train whistle.
And by boat…
SFX: Waves.
Before they finally made it to Britain to start their new life.
ANTIS: Phew! They deserve some serious treats.
SFX: Outside Ambience. City Park. Birdsong.
PERCY: Klaus dreamed of flying as a real pilot one day and spent his afternoon flying his model aircrafts in Regents Park. When the war began, Klaus wanted to do his bit and he knew this was his chance to join the Royal Air Force. It was hard at first, because even though he had fled from his country to be safe, people didn’t trust him because he was German.
ANTIS: Oh no, poor Klaus.
PERCY: But Klaus didn’t give up - he kept trying and was finally accepted into the Royal Air Force.
ANTIS: Woohoo! Go Klaus!
SFX: Aircraft Ambience.
PERCY: He had to work extra hard to prove himself and to make everyone trust him. It was hard for Klaus feeling like he didn’t quite fit in. But when he finally took his first flight as pilot in the RAF, it was all worth it. Soaring through the skies and leaving the world behind, it not longer mattered what other people thought of him. He just had to be good at his job - and he was. As he flew higher and faster, swooping through clouds, it was the best feeling ever.
And it was even better when he was posted to the 609 Squadron. This squadron was filled with pilots form all around the world and Klaus felt at home at last.
SFX: Aircraft Movement.
He flew aircrafts that he had only ever dreamed of flying - like the Hurricane and the Typhoon and carried out many important and dangerous operations during World War II. And his biggest dream came true when his excellent pilot skills were rewarded and he was made an Officer of he Royal Air Force.
SFX: Outside Ambience. Birdsong.
ANTIS: Wow and I can’t believe he was German!
PERCY: Well, you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, Antis.
ANTIS: I don’t read, Percy…
PERCY: No, Antis. It means you should get to know someone before making up your mind about them.
ANTIS: Aww, just like I did with you, Percy! I thought you were really grumpy, but now we’re best friends!
PERCY: Uh-huh….
SFX: Fade All.