Herta Mertens: 104 years full of love, war and wisdom!

Herta Mertens: 104 years full of love, war and wisdom!

In the tranquil Pritzwalk, Herta Mertens lives an impressive woman who celebrates her 104th birthday on July 12, 2025. Born in 1921, she looks at a life full of experiences that are shaped by war, love and hard work. Her story is not only that of an individual fate, but also reflects the challenges of that time. According to Nordkurier Herta has already tackled in the shops of her relatives in Berlin at the age of 10. An early life full of challenges began when her father decided at the age of 14 that she should train as a cook, since the search for an apprenticeship as a seller was not successful.

Herta started her cooking training in the Pritzwalker Bahnhofhotel in 1935 and made a name for itself in various restaurants in Berlin and Northern Germany. Her last stop during the war was the ArmyFlugplatz in Hagenow, where she was allowed to simmer for the soldiers stationed there. On this occasion she met a soldier with whom she had a very special connection - she had started everything with a borrowed spoon. In 1941 they got married and a few time later the first child was born.

family history in the shadow of war

The post -war years were shaped by uncertainty for Herta and her family. Her husband got into American captivity and not only fought against hunger, but also against the consequences of Diphtherie, who suffered him shortly after the end of the war. Herta, who in the meantime left her child with her parents, did everything to find him. When she finally met him, his return from captivity was a bright spot in a cloudy time. The family settled in Pritzwalk and expanded their circle by a total of four children.

The Mertens were almost self -catering: a garden with fruit trees and animals secured the basic needs of the family. Herta worked in the gear for 21 years and took care of the apprenticeship home, which offered her an additional perspective in the world of work. Unfortunately, her husband died in 1986 before he was able to reach the 70 - a difficult blow for the family.

live in the present

After the turnaround, Herta Merten's experience, which she describes as striking. The difference between East and West Germany could not be ignored, and while she noticed that a lot had changed, she blossomed. Travel became a new passion that enables her to discover the world even in old age. For eleven years now, she has been taking part in the DRK's day care twice a week, where she spends the days with other seniors and exchanges.

After a long life that is characterized by historical upheavals, Herta now leads a tranquil life in the security of her daughter of Marlies. Every day she devotes herself to her passion for romance novels that help her inspire the imagination and keep the memories of the past awake. In June 2025 she turns 104 and tells with a smile: "But we lived well."

shaped by the turbulent times of the Second World War, in which many soldiers, as in an article by BPB , often have to know, other experiences We the dark sides of life, which Herta met with courage. She has always demonstrated a good knack for the little things in life and her story shows us that despite all the adversities, confidence and love for each other are the most important.