The later years
from Hans-Joachim Weiß
After High school graduation, my parents decided I should start to work. That was better said than done. Although my father was a fantastic workman, I did not want to follow in his footsteps. I already noticed when I was younger that I was not talented at all regarding workman skills. I was rather interested in a businessman- training.
My working-career began in a long-established ship-gear-factory in fish-harbor in Bremerhaven with the goal to be a “great-trading-businessman”. This tree years were pretty tough. In this time there were no rights for apprentices, I just had a lot of things to do. The trainers were strict and very tough. What was my salary for all the work? A solid training and at the end of the month in my first year, 40 DM wage in a glassine-bag from my stressed out boss. It was pretty normal for me to say thank you for the noble ritual.
Many times I had the feeling of exploitation and I was the one who had to suffer. People told me that this is normal and I went through the years and so the next “adventure” was already waiting for me...
My homecountry wanted me. The military time began for me. A good thing about this acquittal was the “cutting the cord” of my parents home. My 3-month training I
did at a artillery-training-company in Lüneburg; I often cursed. The rest of the ¾ years I “served” as a soldier at the rocket-artillery in Dörverden. I still remember these two years, coined of camaraderie and learning of manifold social structures.
Also to next 3/2 years of my working life starting from 1966 had something with military to do. As a civil employee with American stationing armed forces in Bremerhaven I experienced the at the beginning of the container age. It was actually an activity as “ship-businessman“ in the logistics range of US. Army. Into this time also my entrance into the labor union (ÖTV) falls. Already soon after it my colleagues and colleague selected me into the coworker agency.
There was not only the occupation. Center of the sixties was in Bremerhaven so correctly which the matter. With friends and friends we formed a giant clique. The "opposite sex" became increasingly more interesting and more attractive. We had our master restaurant in Geestemünde (part of Bremerhaven). There was probably no weekend, on which we did not undertake somewhat together. Also in the week saw like us frequently. As usual is the case for young people so, were damp-merrily sometimes more damp than merry.
The year 1969 should live then for my further to become crucial. Already in recent years ships and above all airplanes did interest me. Also due to private circumstances, I found an employment at the “Deutsche Lufthansa AG” in Düsseldorf and worked there within the cargo range. Now I could "touch” the airplanes even day. To create with difficulty 1969 made for me however an accident. First time in my life my destiny did not care for me. With physical handicaps, developed by a rubble German type in the lumbar region, I must live today. Courage, will power and certainly also a due portion of luck helped me relatively fast again to continue my vocational activity. My next step at the “Lufthansa” was Hamburg. Again I was used as a business worker in the freight range at the airport. Finally I could fulfill myself also the dream of private air passage. My journeys led me apart from goals in Europe, to north and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.
From 1974 on, new tasks waited for me in the Lufthansa Head department "Revenue Accounting" in Norderstedt. Unionized confidence people and work council work were added. In the year 1975 my son Malte was born in Hamburg, a genuine ‘Hamburg Jung'. Starting from 1993 I refer a disability pension and separated thus at Lufthansa. I liked living and working in Hamburg. Many nice colleagues and colleagues I have still in my mind.
And again I moved away. 1994 I went back to Bremerhaven. From the “world-town” Hamburg into the little “provincial” Bremerhaven. Does something like that do any good?
The answer you will discover in part 3 of my biography...
