The stories they told me

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In this heartfelt memoir, Maria Wallisfurth shares the experiences of her deaf parents in Germany from the early twentieth century through the 1930s. Her mother, Maria Giefer, born in 1897, and father, Wilhelm Sistermann, born in 1896, navigate a life filled with both hardship and love. Maria's youth unfolds in rural Germany, characterized by seasonal rhythms and family dynamics. As she matures, she moves to Aachen to attend a school for deaf children, where she learns to lipread and speak. After finishing her education, she returns to the family farm, enduring the challenges of World War I. Eventually, she returns to Aachen, joins a deaf club, and falls in love with Wilhelm, a painter and photographer from the city. Their marriage in 1925 occurs amid economic turmoil, including high unemployment and food shortages. Two years later, Maria is born. Under the Nazi regime, her parents face forced sterilization despite their protests, as their deafness is not hereditary. Through the trials of their differing backgrounds and the oppressive political climate, the couple's deep love for each other and their daughter shines through. This memoir provides a richly detailed account of a unique time and offers a rare perspective on deaf lives during this era.