Das Familienfoto ist schwarz-weiß. Die Eltern stehen hinten. Sie halten die Kinder an der Hand. Christa steht links vor ihrer Mutter. Der Vater trägt eine grobe zweireihige Jacke. Die Mutter ein Kleid mit Muster und hellem Kragen. Die Kindern sind hell gekleidet. In der Mitte der Familie steht ein Schäferhund.

The parents with their children Christa and Friedrich Jordan, summer 1936.

Das Foto ist sepia und leicht verschwommen. Christa steht vor ihrer Großmutter und wird von dieser an beiden Händen gehalten. Beide tragen dunkle langärmelige Kittelkleider. Und dunkle Strümpfe. Sie stehen im Schnee. Im Hintergrund sind landwirtschaftliche Gebäude zu erkennen.

Minna with her granddaughter Christa Jordan, winter 1942.

Private property of Margret Schulze.

CHRISTA JORDAN (1933 – 1942)

Christa Jordan was the first child of forest workers Fritz and Anna Jordan (b. Gades) from Knesebeck near Gifhorn. In addition to forestry work, they ran a farm with a few cows and pigs, a field and a large garden. Christa’s grandmother Minna Jordan also lived on the farm. Christa had a brother, Friedrich, who was three years younger, and a sister, Margret, who was seven years younger. Christa was her grandmother’s favourite grandchild, and her grandmother took great care of her.

Because Christa did not attend school, the head of the community took notice and reported her to the »Reich Committee«. On 11 February 1942, she was admitted to the »children’s ward« in Lüneburg. Her parents refused to accept her admission to Lüneburg and tried in vain to place Christa in the Bodelschwingh institutions in Bethel near Bielefeld. They knew Bethel through Fritz Jordan’s cousin, who had placed his daughter there.

The parents wrote letters and sent things and food so that their daughter would be well and stay strong. They hoped that Christa would receive support in Lüneburg. But the doctor, Willi Baumert, disappointed the parents.

Christa’s mother, Anna Jordan, travelled to Lüneburg twice. Even that could not prevent her daughter from being murdered. Christa Jordan died on 31 May 1942, just three months after her admission.

Her body was transported to Knesebeck in a galvanised coffin. The grandmother ignored the note saying »Do not open«. When she saw her dead granddaughter, she was certain that her death had been caused by violence. She severely reproached her son Fritz for not having taken Christa to Bethel.

A few months later, Christa’s brother fell ill with appendicitis. The family doctor did not recognise the seriousness of the situation and sent the mother and her terminally ill child by train to the hospital in Braunschweig. Christa’s brother Friedrich died. Shortly afterwards, her grandmother also died.

In October 1946, Christa’s father Fritz Jordan disappeared. Months later, his body was found in a field. Whether he died violently or was broken by the death of his children and committed suicide is unknown. From then on, Anna raised her only remaining daughter Margret alone.