Escondido Couple Share Living History of WWII in Germany

Every day, memories of World War II disappear with the men and women who served throughout the world. Inside Redwood Terrace senior living community, you’ll find veterans of the war, sharing their stories of survival. For Willie and Margarete Kleemeier, their story is a unique one, as Willie served in the German military, and Margarete dodged bombs inside her German home.

The two have lived at the Escondido community for nearly nine years. During that time, they’ve enjoyed a life of daily activities, amenities and freedom. These benefits are what they enjoy most about living in America.

Margarete was only 8 years old when the Nazis came into power. Now at 92, she still has the lasting scars from the debris caused by bombs going off around her.

Although he had no affiliation with the Nazi party, Willie was drafted as a teenager, and was later captured and taken to Canada as a prisoner of the British forces. After the war he was released, and he found his home country of Germany in turmoil. The two say the years following the war were some of the hardest, as people starved to death on the streets in front of them.

The two moved to California in 1960, and have enjoyed all America has to offer, and what many of us take for granted. Inside their Redwood Terrace cottage, you’ll find photos from their lives in Germany, a simple reminder of where they were, and how far they’ve come.