Christmas in Hinterpommern

The Dolls in the Wardrobe

My sister Annelie was two years older than me, and neither of us had started school yet. We lived in a small village in Hinterpommern (Farther Pomerania). Since our parents always had a lot of work to do, we were often left to our own devices—which did nothing to spoil our imaginative, happy childhood; quite the opposite. The weeks leading up to Christmas were especially lovely, mysterious and full of anticipation.

One day, Annelie beckoned me into the formal sitting room, which we otherwise entered only on special occasions. The tall wardrobe where our parents kept their Sunday best stood open. “Come on, Gila, just look!” she whispered, holding a finger to her lips. I peered into the wardrobe and spotted two beautiful doll faces behind the dark coats. “Oh! Ah!”

We stood quite still, thrilled and startled, and didn’t dare touch them, let alone take them out. How had the dolls got in there? Could they be for us? Had Father Christmas already come by and asked Mama to hide the dolls?

Feeling a little guilty about our discovery, we crept back to our play corner in the dining room. The next day, we were drawn to the wardrobe again. The key was in the lock, and once more we stood gazing reverently at our dolls behind the coats. “My” doll—the one with the blonde bob I had chosen—gave me a mischievous smile with her bright blue eyes. Oh, how happy I was! In my thoughts, I christened her Susi.

On the third day, we found the wardrobe locked, with no key. We searched eagerly for it, but in vain. Could it be lying on top of the wardrobe? Annelie couldn’t check, even when she pulled over a chair and stretched as far as she could—she still couldn’t reach. Disappointed, we gave up. Of course, we didn’t dare talk about it.

At last, it was Christmas Eve. When we came out of church, we ran ahead of our parents. The snow crunched beneath our boots. But hurrying did no good; we had to wait. Father Christmas still needed a little more time in the sitting room. At long last, Mama opened the door!

The brightly burning Christmas tree, decorated with colorful ornaments, reached from floor to ceiling. Beneath it lay parcels and packages wrapped in shiny paper. But I hardly noticed them. I searched under the tree for the dolls, but couldn’t see them. A deep sense of alarm seized me. I could barely manage to recite my little poem. Then we were allowed to unwrap the presents. Tucked well out of sight beneath the colorful paper, I found what I had been longing for so fervently. I hugged my Susi and didn’t let her go for the rest of the evening.

Our parents watched us with smiles. Now I think they were paying close attention to see whether we were truly surprised. Our accidental discovery of the dolls in the wardrobe remained our secret.


A Christmas story by Gisela Schoon
Konikow (Konikowo), near Köslin (Koszalin), Hinterpommern (now Poland)
December 1930


Published in the book
Unforgettable Christmases, Volume 3
Memories from good years and bad, 1914–1961
192 pages with many illustrations and an index of places.
Zeitgut Verlag, Berlin.
ISBN: 3-86614-122-X
€4.90

Text and cover © reproduced with the kind permission of Zeitgut Verlag, Berlin
Photos © Gisela Schoon