De witte Dood

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Iesmoond 1999)

Lawienen dönnert in de Alpen rünner vun de Bargen un riet mit sik, wat jüm in 'n Weg steiht. Frankriek, de Schweiz un Östriek sünd bedropen. Hett al veel Dode geben. Ok in de Neegte vun Mittenwald, in uns düütschen Alpen, is een Lawien' rünnerdönnert. Wi hebbt Glück hatt; is nix Leget posseert. Liekers sünd ut Vörsorg Minschen evakuiert worrn. Galtuer! Dor is 't wull opslimmst utgohn. ,,Heinz, kumm gau mol her! In uns Ferseehschapp kummt een Sünnerbericht öber een sworet Lawienenunheel, wat Galtuer dropen het'', roop ik opgeregt mien Mann to. ,,Galtuer?'' froog he unglöövsch trüch. Wi kinnt Galtuer! Wo foken sünd wi op 'n Trüchweg vun Italien öber den Reschenpaß no Landeck un de Silvretta-Hoochalpenstroot no Galtuer führt. Ümmer hebbt wi Stotschoon in Galtuer mookt, een beten eten un drunken, ihr dat in Serpentinen wiedergüng bet no dat Hotel Silvrettasee. Dor harr een Kriegskamerood vun mien Heinz ut uns Tiet in Swinemünn dat Leit vun dat Hotel. Dat wüür ümmer de Utklang vun uns Reisen an den Gardasee. Geev veel to vertelln för uns Groten, un de Kinner hebbt sik de ganse Reis al op Unkel Erwin un Tant Nora freit. Foken leeg boben bi dat Hotel in'n Juli Snee. Majestätsch reck de Piz Buin mit sien 3312 m een witte Kroon in den Heben un begrött uns al vun Wieden. Em to Feuten liggt mit dat Spegelbild vun de Silvrettagrupp de grote Silvretta-Stausee. Mit sien Woter drifft he de Turbinen an, de Stroom lebert, de uns Minschen allns so licht un kommodig mookt. Uns Ratzeborger Achter hett op den Silvretta-Stausee al veele Johrn traineert. Wi hebbt jüm dor sogor mol beleevt.

Mien ierste Supp mit een rohet Eigeel hebb ik in Galtuer eten. Smeckt gans wunnerboor. Wenn mien Mann Smacht op een Supp mit een Eigeel hett, seggt he to mi: ,,Bitte koche mir ein Süppchen a la Galtuer.'' Kloor, dat seggt he nich ümsünst, eet ik sülbst to giern.

Nu steiht Galtuer, so as wi dat to Sommertiet in uns Besinn hebbt, vör uns Ogen. Een smucket Alpendörp seeh ik in blinkern Sünnenschien, blauen Heben, vergneugte Minschen mit blanke Ogen un frohet Lachen. Wo anners de Biller, de wi hüüt mit Grusen in 'n Nack in uns Fernseehschapp sehn hebbt. Kott för de Kark, de merden in 't Dörp steiht, schall de Lawien' to'n Stohn koom ween. Noch steiht de Tall vun de Doden nich fast. Warrt noch veel Minschen mißt, un veel sünd in de Sükenhüüs ünnerbröcht worrn.

De Hölpslüüd, Dokters, Psychologen un Flegers warkt bet an de Grenz vun jümehr Knööf. Neesnee hett hüüt dat Flegen unmeuglich mookt. Wüür nix mihr to sehn för de Piloten. Wüllt höpen, dat de Minschen morgen utflogen warrt un no Huus köönt. Dusende sitt noch fast in dat Sneechaos in de Alpen.

Hebbt wi Minschen nich ok een groot Deel Verantwurten eenfach öbersehn? nich wohr hebben wullt? Wi boot Seilbohns, Skilifts un Skipisten ohn Tall. Kunstsnee warrt to Freuhjohrstiet op de Pisten mit Sneekononen schoten bloots dormit de Saison linger anhüllt. De Spegel vun dat Grundwoter sackt dordörch af, un de Bäum reckt mit jümehr Wutteln nich mihr ran an dat wat Leben för jüm bedüüdt. De Lawienen hebbt Freefohrten dörch den Roofboo an de Notuur, un de poor Bäum de noch stoht, de knickt se üm as Swebelsticken. Wat geiht nu vör? Ökologie or Ökonomie? Loot endlich mol dat Profitdinken ruut ut de Köpp; uns Notuur hett Vörrang. Ok wenn dat siet Johrteihnten nich so veel Snee as in de letzt Week in de Alpenlänner geben hett, de Minsch hett veel Verbreken op sien Geweten in Soken Notuur loodt. Mit een Opschree hett Mudder Notuur sik wehrt un leckt sik nu ehr Wunnen, de wi ehr sloon hebbt. Will höpen, dat disse Notuur-Opschree de Minschen wookröppt, de nu de Last un den Packen för dat swore Verantwuurten in Soken Notuurschuul op jümehr Schullern dreegt. Gott Voder ik beed di, wies jüm den rechten Weg.

White Death

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(February 1999)

Avalanches keep thundering down the mountain slopes in the Alps and bring down with them whatever stands in their way. Affected are France, Switzerland and Austria. There have been many deaths already. An avalanche came down near Mittenwald as well, in our German Alps. Luckily, nothing bad happened. Nevertheless, people were evacuated as a matter of precaution. Galtuer [in Austria]! That's where things seem to have turned out to be worst. "Heinz, come here quickly! They are about to show a special report about a bad avalanche disaster hitting Galtuer," I call over to my husband excitedly. "Galtuer?" he responds skeptically. We know Galtuer! How many times had we gone to Galtuer on our way back from Italy by way of Reschen Pass to Landeck and the Silvretta Upper Alps Road? We used to regularly stop over in Galtuer, have something to eat and to drink before we went farther along the serpentine road to Lake Silvretta Hotel. A war time comrade of my Heinz's is the manager of that hotel. That used to be the finale of all our trips to Lake Garda. The grown-ups would have a lot to talk about, and throughout every trip the children would look forward to seeing Uncle Erwin and Aunt Nora. Oftentimes there would be snow lying up around the hotel in July. Mount Piz Buin would greet us from afar with its 3,312 meters [10,866 feet] white crown majestically raised up into the sky. At its feet you see the dammed lake, Lake Silvretta, displaying the mirror image of the Silvretta group [of peaks]. Its water propels the turbines which create the electric power that makes our life easy and comfortable. Our Ratzeburg Eight [North German rowing team] has been training on Lake Silvretta for many years now. Once we even saw them there.

It was in Galtuer that I first had soup with a raw egg yolk in it. It is quite tasty. Whenever my husband feels like having soup with egg yolk he says to me, "Please make me a soup à la Galtuer." Sure! He does not waste his breath. I really enjoy it myself."

In front of my mind's eye there is Galtuer as we remember it from being there in the summertime. I see a pretty alpine village -- bright sunlight, blue skies, happy people with sparkling eyes and joyful laughter. Quite different are the horrifying television images that we saw today. The avalanche is supposed to have come to a halt a short distance away from the church that is situated in the middle of the village. Exactly how many people have perished is not yet known. Many people are still missing, and many are being kept in the hospitals.

Emergency personnel, physicians, psychologists and pilots have been working themselves close to exhaustion. Flying has been impossible due to new snow. I hope people will be able to fly out and get home tomorrow. Many are caught in the wintry chaos in the Alps.

Have we people not just been ignoring and denying a good deal of responsibility? We build countless cable carts, ski lifts and ski slopes. In the spring, we use spray canons to cover the slopes with artificial snow, just to make the season longer. As a result, the ground water level keeps dropping, and the trees cannot reach with their roots that upon which their lives depend. Avalanches enjoy free range because of the all the exploitation of nature, and the few trees that are left break like matches. What is more important? Ecology or economy? It is high time that we put aside profit-centered attitudes. Nature takes priority over everything. It is true that for decades there has not been so much snow in the Alpine Countries as there was last week. This does not detract from the fact that people have been committing countless crimes with regard to the environment. Mother Nature has defended herself with an outcry and now licks the wounds we have given her. I hope that this outcry of Nature will wake up those people who now bear the heavy burden of responsibility for environmental protection. Lord, I beg you. Guide them!

De witte dood

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Iismaand 1999)

Lawinen doennert in de Alpen ruenner fun de bargen un riitt mit sik wat juem in 'n weg stait. Frankriik, de Schwaits un Oystriik suend bedrapen. Het al feel dode geven. Ouk in de neigde fun Mittenwald, in uns duytschen Alpen, is 'n Lawiin ruenner-doennerd. Wii hevt gluek hat; is niks leiget posseird. Likers suend uut foersorg minschen ewakueird worren. Galtuer! Daar is 't wul op slimsd uut-gaan. ,,Heinz, kum gau maal her! In uns Ferseehschapp kumt 'n suenner-bericht euver 'n swaret lawinen-unheil wat Galtuer drapen het'', roup ik opgeregt miin man tou. ,,Galtuer?'' fraag hei ungloyvsch trueg. Wii kint Galtuer! Wou faken suend wii op d'n truegweg fun Italien euver d'n Reschenpass naa Landeck un de Silvretta-Hoog-Alpenstraat naa Galtuer foyrd? Uemmer hevt wii Staatschoon in Galtuer maakd, 'n beten eten un drunken eir dat in Serpentinen wider-gueng bet naa dat Hotel Silvrettasee. Daar har 'n kriigs-kameraad' fun miin Heinz ut uns tiid in Swinemuend dat laid fun dat hotel. Dat woyr uemmer de uutklang fun uns raisen an d'n Gardasee. Geev feel tou fertellen foer uns groten, un de kinder hevt sik de gansse rais' al op Unkel Erwin un Tant Nora fraid. Faken leeg baven bii dat hotel in d'n Juli snei. Majesteetsch rek de Piz Buin mit siin 3312 m [drei dusend un twoelv meter] 'n witte kroon in d'n heven un begroett uns al fun widen. Em tou foyten ligt mit dat speigel-bild fun de Silvretta-grupp de grote Silvretta-Stausei. Mit siin water drivt hei de turbinen an dei stroom levert dei uns minschen allens soo licht un kommodig maakt. Uns Ratzeborger Achter hett op d'n Silvretta-Stausei al fele jaren treineirdt. Wii hevt juem daar sogaar maal beleevd.

Miin eirsde sup mit 'n rohet aigeel hev ik in Galtuer eten. Smekt ganss wunnerbaar. Wen miin man smacht op 'n sup mit 'n aigeel het segt hei tou mii: ,,Bitte koche mir ein Süppchen à la Galtuer.'' Klaar! Dat segt hei nich uem suenst; eet ik suelvst tou geirn.

Nuu stait Galtuer, soo as wii dat to sommer-tiid in uns besinnen hevt, foer uns ougen. 'n Smukket Alpen-doerp sei ik in blinkernen suennen-schiin, blauen heven, fergneugde minschen mit blanke ougen un frohet lachen. Wou anners de bilder dei wii huyt mit grusen in d'n nak in uns fernsee-schap seien hevt. Kot foer de kark, dei merden in 't doerp stait, schal de lawiin tou d'n staan kamen ween. Noch stait de tal fun de doden nich fast. Wardt noch feel minschen missd, un feel suend in de suykenhuys' uenner-broechd worren.

De hoelps-luyd', dokters, psuychologen un fleigers warkt bet an de grenss fun juem er kneuv. Nei-snei het huyt dat fleigen unmoyglich maakd. Woyr niks meir tou seien foer de piloten. Wuelt heupen dat de minschen morgen uut-flagen wardt un naa huus' keunt. Dusende sitt noch fast in dat snei-kaos in de Alpen.

Hevt wii minschen nich ouk 'n groot deil ferantwourden einfach euverseien? nich waar hebben wuld? Wii bout sailbaans, schilifts un schii-pisten aan tal. Kunstsnei wardt tou froyjaars-tiid op de pisten mit snei-kanonen schaten bloots daarmit de sesong linger an-hueldt. De speigel fun dat grund-water sakt daar doerch af, un de boym rekt mit juem er wutteln nich meir ran an dat wat leven foer juem beduydt. De lawinen hevt frei-faarten doerch d'n rouvbou an de natuur, un de paar boym dei noch staat, dei knikt sei uem as swevel-stikken. Wat gait nuu foer? Eukologii or eukonomii? Laat endlich maal dat profit-dinken ruut uut de koep! Uns natuur het foerrang. Ouk wen dat siit jaartainden nich soo feel snei as in de letst week in de Alpen-lender geven het, dei minsch het feel ferbreken op siin geweten in saken natuur laadt. Mit 'n opschrei het Mudder Natuur sik weerd un lekt sik nuu er wunden dei wii er slaan hevt. Wil heupen dat disse natuur-opschree dei minschen waak roept dei nuu de last un d'n pakken foer dat sware ferantwourden in saken natuurschuul op juem er schuldern dreegt. Got Fader, ik beed di, wiis juem d'n rechten weg.

White Death

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(February 1999)

Avalanches keep thundering down the mountain slopes in the Alps and bring down with them whatever stands in their way. Affected are France, Switzerland and Austria. There have been many deaths already. An avalanche came down near Mittenwald as well, in our German Alps. Luckily, nothing bad happened. Nevertheless, people were evacuated as a matter of precaution. Galtuer [in Austria]! That's where things seem to have turned out to be worst. "Heinz, come here quickly! They are about to show a special report about a bad avalanche disaster hitting Galtuer," I call over to my husband excitedly. "Galtuer?" he responds skeptically. We know Galtuer! How many times had we gone to Galtuer on our way back from Italy by way of Reschen Pass to Landeck and the Silvretta Upper Alps Road? We used to regularly stop over in Galtuer, have something to eat and to drink before we went farther along the serpentine road to Lake Silvretta Hotel. A war time comrade of my Heinz's is the manager of that hotel. That used to be the finale of all our trips to Lake Garda. The grown-ups would have a lot to talk about, and throughout every trip the children would look forward to seeing Uncle Erwin and Aunt Nora. Oftentimes there would be snow lying up around the hotel in July. Mount Piz Buin would greet us from afar with its 3,312 meters [10,866 feet] white crown majestically raised up into the sky. At its feet you see the dammed lake, Lake Silvretta, displaying the mirror image of the Silvretta group [of peaks]. Its water propels the turbines which create the electric power that makes our life easy and comfortable. Our Ratzeburg Eight [North German rowing team] has been training on Lake Silvretta for many years now. Once we even saw them there.

It was in Galtuer that I first had soup with a raw egg yolk in it. It is quite tasty. Whenever my husband feels like having soup with egg yolk he says to me, "Please make me a soup à la Galtuer." Sure! He does not waste his breath. I really enjoy it myself."

In front of my mind's eye there is Galtuer as we remember it from being there in the summertime. I see a pretty alpine village -- bright sunlight, blue skies, happy people with sparkling eyes and joyful laughter. Quite different are the horrifying television images that we saw today. The avalanche is supposed to have come to a halt a short distance away from the church that is situated in the middle of the village. Exactly how many people have perished is not yet known. Many people are still missing, and many are being kept in the hospitals.

Emergency personnel, physicians, psychologists and pilots have been working themselves close to exhaustion. Flying has been impossible due to new snow. I hope people will be able to fly out and get home tomorrow. Many are caught in the wintry chaos in the Alps.

Have we people not just been ignoring and denying a good deal of responsibility? We build countless cable carts, ski lifts and ski slopes. In the spring, we use spray canons to cover the slopes with artificial snow, just to make the season longer. As a result, the ground water level keeps dropping, and the trees cannot reach with their roots that upon which their lives depend. Avalanches enjoy free range because of the all the exploitation of nature, and the few trees that are left break like matches. What is more important? Ecology or economy? It is high time that we put aside profit-centered attitudes. Nature takes priority over everything. It is true that for decades there has not been so much snow in the Alpine Countries as there was last week. This does not detract from the fact that people have been committing countless crimes with regard to the environment. Mother Nature has defended herself with an outcry and now licks the wounds we have given her. I hope that this outcry of Nature will wake up those people who now bear the heavy burden of responsibility for environmental protection. Lord, I beg you. Guide them!

De witte Dood

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Iesmoond 1999)

Lawienen dönnert in de Alpen rünner vun de Bargen un riet mit sik, wat jüm in 'n Weg steiht. Frankriek, de Schweiz un Östriek sünd bedropen. Hett al veel Dode geben. Ok in de Neegte vun Mittenwald, in uns düütschen Alpen, is een Lawien' rünnerdönnert. Wi hebbt Glück hatt; is nix Leget posseert. Liekers sünd ut Vörsorg Minschen evakuiert worrn. Galtuer! Dor is 't wull opslimmst utgohn. ,,Heinz, kumm gau mol her! In uns Ferseehschapp kummt een Sünnerbericht öber een sworet Lawienenunheel, wat Galtuer dropen het'', roop ik opgeregt mien Mann to. ,,Galtuer?'' froog he unglöövsch trüch. Wi kinnt Galtuer! Wo foken sünd wi op 'n Trüchweg vun Italien öber den Reschenpaß no Landeck un de Silvretta-Hoochalpenstroot no Galtuer führt. Ümmer hebbt wi Stotschoon in Galtuer mookt, een beten eten un drunken, ihr dat in Serpentinen wiedergüng bet no dat Hotel Silvrettasee. Dor harr een Kriegskamerood vun mien Heinz ut uns Tiet in Swinemünn dat Leit vun dat Hotel. Dat wüür ümmer de Utklang vun uns Reisen an den Gardasee. Geev veel to vertelln för uns Groten, un de Kinner hebbt sik de ganse Reis al op Unkel Erwin un Tant Nora freit. Foken leeg boben bi dat Hotel in'n Juli Snee. Majestätsch reck de Piz Buin mit sien 3312 m een witte Kroon in den Heben un begrött uns al vun Wieden. Em to Feuten liggt mit dat Spegelbild vun de Silvrettagrupp de grote Silvretta-Stausee. Mit sien Woter drifft he de Turbinen an, de Stroom lebert, de uns Minschen allns so licht un kommodig mookt. Uns Ratzeborger Achter hett op den Silvretta-Stausee al veele Johrn traineert. Wi hebbt jüm dor sogor mol beleevt.

Mien ierste Supp mit een rohet Eigeel hebb ik in Galtuer eten. Smeckt gans wunnerboor. Wenn mien Mann Smacht op een Supp mit een Eigeel hett, seggt he to mi: ,,Bitte koche mir ein Süppchen a la Galtuer.'' Kloor, dat seggt he nich ümsünst, eet ik sülbst to giern.

Nu steiht Galtuer, so as wi dat to Sommertiet in uns Besinn hebbt, vör uns Ogen. Een smucket Alpendörp seeh ik in blinkern Sünnenschien, blauen Heben, vergneugte Minschen mit blanke Ogen un frohet Lachen. Wo anners de Biller, de wi hüüt mit Grusen in 'n Nack in uns Fernseehschapp sehn hebbt. Kott för de Kark, de merden in 't Dörp steiht, schall de Lawien' to'n Stohn koom ween. Noch steiht de Tall vun de Doden nich fast. Warrt noch veel Minschen mißt, un veel sünd in de Sükenhüüs ünnerbröcht worrn.

De Hölpslüüd, Dokters, Psychologen un Flegers warkt bet an de Grenz vun jümehr Knööf. Neesnee hett hüüt dat Flegen unmeuglich mookt. Wüür nix mihr to sehn för de Piloten. Wüllt höpen, dat de Minschen morgen utflogen warrt un no Huus köönt. Dusende sitt noch fast in dat Sneechaos in de Alpen.

Hebbt wi Minschen nich ok een groot Deel Verantwurten eenfach öbersehn? nich wohr hebben wullt? Wi boot Seilbohns, Skilifts un Skipisten ohn Tall. Kunstsnee warrt to Freuhjohrstiet op de Pisten mit Sneekononen schoten bloots dormit de Saison linger anhüllt. De Spegel vun dat Grundwoter sackt dordörch af, un de Bäum reckt mit jümehr Wutteln nich mihr ran an dat wat Leben för jüm bedüüdt. De Lawienen hebbt Freefohrten dörch den Roofboo an de Notuur, un de poor Bäum de noch stoht, de knickt se üm as Swebelsticken. Wat geiht nu vör? Ökologie or Ökonomie? Loot endlich mol dat Profitdinken ruut ut de Köpp; uns Notuur hett Vörrang. Ok wenn dat siet Johrteihnten nich so veel Snee as in de letzt Week in de Alpenlänner geben hett, de Minsch hett veel Verbreken op sien Geweten in Soken Notuur loodt. Mit een Opschree hett Mudder Notuur sik wehrt un leckt sik nu ehr Wunnen, de wi ehr sloon hebbt. Will höpen, dat disse Notuur-Opschree de Minschen wookröppt, de nu de Last un den Packen för dat swore Verantwuurten in Soken Notuurschuul op jümehr Schullern dreegt. Gott Voder ik beed di, wies jüm den rechten Weg.

White Death

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(February 1999)

Avalanches keep thundering down the mountain slopes in the Alps and bring down with them whatever stands in their way. Affected are France, Switzerland and Austria. There have been many deaths already. An avalanche came down near Mittenwald as well, in our German Alps. Luckily, nothing bad happened. Nevertheless, people were evacuated as a matter of precaution. Galtuer [in Austria]! That's where things seem to have turned out to be worst. "Heinz, come here quickly! They are about to show a special report about a bad avalanche disaster hitting Galtuer," I call over to my husband excitedly. "Galtuer?" he responds skeptically. We know Galtuer! How many times had we gone to Galtuer on our way back from Italy by way of Reschen Pass to Landeck and the Silvretta Upper Alps Road? We used to regularly stop over in Galtuer, have something to eat and to drink before we went farther along the serpentine road to Lake Silvretta Hotel. A war time comrade of my Heinz's is the manager of that hotel. That used to be the finale of all our trips to Lake Garda. The grown-ups would have a lot to talk about, and throughout every trip the children would look forward to seeing Uncle Erwin and Aunt Nora. Oftentimes there would be snow lying up around the hotel in July. Mount Piz Buin would greet us from afar with its 3,312 meters [10,866 feet] white crown majestically raised up into the sky. At its feet you see the dammed lake, Lake Silvretta, displaying the mirror image of the Silvretta group [of peaks]. Its water propels the turbines which create the electric power that makes our life easy and comfortable. Our Ratzeburg Eight [North German rowing team] has been training on Lake Silvretta for many years now. Once we even saw them there.

It was in Galtuer that I first had soup with a raw egg yolk in it. It is quite tasty. Whenever my husband feels like having soup with egg yolk he says to me, "Please make me a soup à la Galtuer." Sure! He does not waste his breath. I really enjoy it myself."

In front of my mind's eye there is Galtuer as we remember it from being there in the summertime. I see a pretty alpine village -- bright sunlight, blue skies, happy people with sparkling eyes and joyful laughter. Quite different are the horrifying television images that we saw today. The avalanche is supposed to have come to a halt a short distance away from the church that is situated in the middle of the village. Exactly how many people have perished is not yet known. Many people are still missing, and many are being kept in the hospitals.

Emergency personnel, physicians, psychologists and pilots have been working themselves close to exhaustion. Flying has been impossible due to new snow. I hope people will be able to fly out and get home tomorrow. Many are caught in the wintry chaos in the Alps.

Have we people not just been ignoring and denying a good deal of responsibility? We build countless cable carts, ski lifts and ski slopes. In the spring, we use spray canons to cover the slopes with artificial snow, just to make the season longer. As a result, the ground water level keeps dropping, and the trees cannot reach with their roots that upon which their lives depend. Avalanches enjoy free range because of the all the exploitation of nature, and the few trees that are left break like matches. What is more important? Ecology or economy? It is high time that we put aside profit-centered attitudes. Nature takes priority over everything. It is true that for decades there has not been so much snow in the Alpine Countries as there was last week. This does not detract from the fact that people have been committing countless crimes with regard to the environment. Mother Nature has defended herself with an outcry and now licks the wounds we have given her. I hope that this outcry of Nature will wake up those people who now bear the heavy burden of responsibility for environmental protection. Lord, I beg you. Guide them!

De witte dood

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Iismaand 1999)

Lawinen doennert in de Alpen ruenner fun de bargen un riitt mit sik wat juem in 'n weg stait. Frankriik, de Schwaits un Oystriik suend bedrapen. Het al feel dode geven. Ouk in de neigde fun Mittenwald, in uns duytschen Alpen, is 'n Lawiin ruenner-doennerd. Wii hevt gluek hat; is niks leiget posseird. Likers suend uut foersorg minschen ewakueird worren. Galtuer! Daar is 't wul op slimsd uut-gaan. ,,Heinz, kum gau maal her! In uns Ferseehschapp kumt 'n suenner-bericht euver 'n swaret lawinen-unheil wat Galtuer drapen het'', roup ik opgeregt miin man tou. ,,Galtuer?'' fraag hei ungloyvsch trueg. Wii kint Galtuer! Wou faken suend wii op d'n truegweg fun Italien euver d'n Reschenpass naa Landeck un de Silvretta-Hoog-Alpenstraat naa Galtuer foyrd? Uemmer hevt wii Staatschoon in Galtuer maakd, 'n beten eten un drunken eir dat in Serpentinen wider-gueng bet naa dat Hotel Silvrettasee. Daar har 'n kriigs-kameraad' fun miin Heinz ut uns tiid in Swinemuend dat laid fun dat hotel. Dat woyr uemmer de uutklang fun uns raisen an d'n Gardasee. Geev feel tou fertellen foer uns groten, un de kinder hevt sik de gansse rais' al op Unkel Erwin un Tant Nora fraid. Faken leeg baven bii dat hotel in d'n Juli snei. Majesteetsch rek de Piz Buin mit siin 3312 m [drei dusend un twoelv meter] 'n witte kroon in d'n heven un begroett uns al fun widen. Em tou foyten ligt mit dat speigel-bild fun de Silvretta-grupp de grote Silvretta-Stausei. Mit siin water drivt hei de turbinen an dei stroom levert dei uns minschen allens soo licht un kommodig maakt. Uns Ratzeborger Achter hett op d'n Silvretta-Stausei al fele jaren treineirdt. Wii hevt juem daar sogaar maal beleevd.

Miin eirsde sup mit 'n rohet aigeel hev ik in Galtuer eten. Smekt ganss wunnerbaar. Wen miin man smacht op 'n sup mit 'n aigeel het segt hei tou mii: ,,Bitte koche mir ein Süppchen à la Galtuer.'' Klaar! Dat segt hei nich uem suenst; eet ik suelvst tou geirn.

Nuu stait Galtuer, soo as wii dat to sommer-tiid in uns besinnen hevt, foer uns ougen. 'n Smukket Alpen-doerp sei ik in blinkernen suennen-schiin, blauen heven, fergneugde minschen mit blanke ougen un frohet lachen. Wou anners de bilder dei wii huyt mit grusen in d'n nak in uns fernsee-schap seien hevt. Kot foer de kark, dei merden in 't doerp stait, schal de lawiin tou d'n staan kamen ween. Noch stait de tal fun de doden nich fast. Wardt noch feel minschen missd, un feel suend in de suykenhuys' uenner-broechd worren.

De hoelps-luyd', dokters, psuychologen un fleigers warkt bet an de grenss fun juem er kneuv. Nei-snei het huyt dat fleigen unmoyglich maakd. Woyr niks meir tou seien foer de piloten. Wuelt heupen dat de minschen morgen uut-flagen wardt un naa huus' keunt. Dusende sitt noch fast in dat snei-kaos in de Alpen.

Hevt wii minschen nich ouk 'n groot deil ferantwourden einfach euverseien? nich waar hebben wuld? Wii bout sailbaans, schilifts un schii-pisten aan tal. Kunstsnei wardt tou froyjaars-tiid op de pisten mit snei-kanonen schaten bloots daarmit de sesong linger an-hueldt. De speigel fun dat grund-water sakt daar doerch af, un de boym rekt mit juem er wutteln nich meir ran an dat wat leven foer juem beduydt. De lawinen hevt frei-faarten doerch d'n rouvbou an de natuur, un de paar boym dei noch staat, dei knikt sei uem as swevel-stikken. Wat gait nuu foer? Eukologii or eukonomii? Laat endlich maal dat profit-dinken ruut uut de koep! Uns natuur het foerrang. Ouk wen dat siit jaartainden nich soo feel snei as in de letst week in de Alpen-lender geven het, dei minsch het feel ferbreken op siin geweten in saken natuur laadt. Mit 'n opschrei het Mudder Natuur sik weerd un lekt sik nuu er wunden dei wii er slaan hevt. Wil heupen dat disse natuur-opschree dei minschen waak roept dei nuu de last un d'n pakken foer dat sware ferantwourden in saken natuurschuul op juem er schuldern dreegt. Got Fader, ik beed di, wiis juem d'n rechten weg.

White Death

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(February 1999)

Avalanches keep thundering down the mountain slopes in the Alps and bring down with them whatever stands in their way. Affected are France, Switzerland and Austria. There have been many deaths already. An avalanche came down near Mittenwald as well, in our German Alps. Luckily, nothing bad happened. Nevertheless, people were evacuated as a matter of precaution. Galtuer [in Austria]! That's where things seem to have turned out to be worst. "Heinz, come here quickly! They are about to show a special report about a bad avalanche disaster hitting Galtuer," I call over to my husband excitedly. "Galtuer?" he responds skeptically. We know Galtuer! How many times had we gone to Galtuer on our way back from Italy by way of Reschen Pass to Landeck and the Silvretta Upper Alps Road? We used to regularly stop over in Galtuer, have something to eat and to drink before we went farther along the serpentine road to Lake Silvretta Hotel. A war time comrade of my Heinz's is the manager of that hotel. That used to be the finale of all our trips to Lake Garda. The grown-ups would have a lot to talk about, and throughout every trip the children would look forward to seeing Uncle Erwin and Aunt Nora. Oftentimes there would be snow lying up around the hotel in July. Mount Piz Buin would greet us from afar with its 3,312 meters [10,866 feet] white crown majestically raised up into the sky. At its feet you see the dammed lake, Lake Silvretta, displaying the mirror image of the Silvretta group [of peaks]. Its water propels the turbines which create the electric power that makes our life easy and comfortable. Our Ratzeburg Eight [North German rowing team] has been training on Lake Silvretta for many years now. Once we even saw them there.

It was in Galtuer that I first had soup with a raw egg yolk in it. It is quite tasty. Whenever my husband feels like having soup with egg yolk he says to me, "Please make me a soup à la Galtuer." Sure! He does not waste his breath. I really enjoy it myself."

In front of my mind's eye there is Galtuer as we remember it from being there in the summertime. I see a pretty alpine village -- bright sunlight, blue skies, happy people with sparkling eyes and joyful laughter. Quite different are the horrifying television images that we saw today. The avalanche is supposed to have come to a halt a short distance away from the church that is situated in the middle of the village. Exactly how many people have perished is not yet known. Many people are still missing, and many are being kept in the hospitals.

Emergency personnel, physicians, psychologists and pilots have been working themselves close to exhaustion. Flying has been impossible due to new snow. I hope people will be able to fly out and get home tomorrow. Many are caught in the wintry chaos in the Alps.

Have we people not just been ignoring and denying a good deal of responsibility? We build countless cable carts, ski lifts and ski slopes. In the spring, we use spray canons to cover the slopes with artificial snow, just to make the season longer. As a result, the ground water level keeps dropping, and the trees cannot reach with their roots that upon which their lives depend. Avalanches enjoy free range because of the all the exploitation of nature, and the few trees that are left break like matches. What is more important? Ecology or economy? It is high time that we put aside profit-centered attitudes. Nature takes priority over everything. It is true that for decades there has not been so much snow in the Alpine Countries as there was last week. This does not detract from the fact that people have been committing countless crimes with regard to the environment. Mother Nature has defended herself with an outcry and now licks the wounds we have given her. I hope that this outcry of Nature will wake up those people who now bear the heavy burden of responsibility for environmental protection. Lord, I beg you. Guide them!