German-English Lessons
from the Davoser Zeitung


A series of conversational German language lessons started appearing July 1, 1944. German and English versions were listed side by side. Only the English is reproduced here, misspellings and typo's included!
The first lesson on July 1 was a not very subtle suggestion for the new arrivals to learn German. Note the references to ration 'cards' and 'coupons'; the Swiss had been rationing food long before the Americans arrived. Sampson and Garcia must have read the July 8 lesson; they met their girlfriends at the top of the Schatzalp funicular, conveniently located next door to the Palace Hotel. The sanitarium was one of many in Davos, which was famous for treating tuberculosis. Both Klosters and Landquart are on the route that Parramore and Steichen took for their escape, but they didn't use the train until Sargans. If the Americans took their newspaper lessons seriously, they would come in handy during escapes.
 
July 1, 1944

In the Street

1. Good morning! How do you do?

2. I am pleased to meet you again.

3. How are you getting on?

4. Quite well, thank you.

5. Do you like to stay at Davos?

6. Oh yes, I like this place; Switzerland is a fine country.

7. Where are you going to?

8. I want to go to a library. Will you come with me?

9. You might help me to buy a Manual of Conversation.

10. All right, I shall show you to a library. Let's go this way.
 
 

July 4, 1944

At a Restaurant

1. I'm awfully thirsty, let's go and have a drink.

2. All right, let's go into a Restaurant. Here we are.

3. Let's sit on the terrace. Let's go into the tea-room.

4. Now, what may I order for you?

5. Would you like to have tea, coffee, a cold drink, some beer, or some ice-cream and cakes?

6. I should like to have some tea first and then some ice-cream.

7. All right! Fraulein, please tea for two persons.

8. I shall get some cakes at the counter.

9. Could you spare some cards?

10. What kind of ice do you prefer?

11. Vanilla and strawberry mixed.
 
 

July 6, 1944

Luncheon

1. Will you tell me the name of a restaurant where I can find decend food?

2. Let's have lunch in here.

3. The waiter charges two coupons for each person before we get augthing to eat.

4. What can we have for lunch to-day?

5. It is a meat-less day, you know!

6. What a pity! I am so fond of meat.

7. You may have trout, potatoes, a salad and a cherry-tart.

8. Or would you prefer scrambled eggs on toast instead of fish?

9. Well, let's take blue trout.

10. As alcoholic drinks are prohibited during day-time, please bring cider and a small bottle of mineral water!
 
 

July 8, 1944

Going for a Walk

1. Shall we take a walk?

2. With pleasure. Let's go to the Schatzalp.

3. Do you want to go by funicular-railway?

4. I prefer to go by foot; it's a pleasant walk through the wood.

5. All right, we take the path along the brook, and then turn to the right.

6. Let's stop on the bridge to see the little red car climb up the slope.

7. Look at the doe, grazing near the fir-tree! Doesn't it look pretty!

8. To-day, it's a perfect summer's day. They are very scarce up here, you know!

9. Now, you can see the big sanatorium with all its balconies. It makes me think of a huge cupboard with the drawers pulled out.

10. Aren't we lucky to be in good health and Able to enjoy our walk!
 
 

July 10, 1944

Having Dinner

1. When shall we go and have dinner (supper)?

2. Well, I think, about half past seven.

3. What can we get? To-day meat is allowed.

4. You may have some vegetable-soup or some broth, a lamb-chop or a veal cutlet, green peas with mashed potatoes, and some stewed fruit.

5. There is no bread on the table.

6. Do you want brown or white bread?

7. Brown bread tastes better than white bread when it is stale.

8. Let me switch on the little lamp; night comes down very quickly in the mountains.

9. Waiter, show me the wine-list, please! I want to taste a good redwine of the country.

10. I advise you to try "Malanser". It's very good, but will not prevent you from finding your way home.
 
 

July 12, 1944

Travelling

1. Our train leaves to-night at 7:30 (seven thirty), and we arrive at our destination to-morrow morning at eight o'clock.

2. We'll travel second class, and take sleeping accomodations.

3. It is a local train as far as Landquart, and from there on it is an express with very few stops.

4. There is also a diner (dining-car) on the train so we can have our dinner there.

5. Do you advise me to have dinner on the train?

6. Yes, the food is always good.

7. The train stops here for twenty minutes, so let us go outside.

8. We can go to the restaurant at the station and have some coffee.

9. Now, let's get into the express and find a seat.

10. Conductor, please tell me where the dining-car is.
It is at the end of this carriage.
 
 

July 14, 1944

In the Train

1. We must hurry. The train leaves in ten minutes.

2. You go ahead and get the tickets.

3. Please give me two return tickets to Klosters, 3rd class.

4. The seats in these coaches are rather hard, so it is a good thing we aren't going very far.

5. It is a pity, we did not get the nice red train.

6. Isn't the scenery around the lake pretty! Everything is so green and fresh looking.

7. This part of the wood must be beautiful in winter too, when all the fir-trees are covered with snow.

8. Look at the pretty village down there, and see all the nice Swiss chalets.

9. Here we are. Now you have a view upon the Silvretta glacier.

10. Be careful when you get out of the train as the step is rather high!




Copyright © 2001 by Ed Rathje, 1944 Davoser Zeitung


Web page created by Ed Rathje - last updated December 8, 2001.