utes I knew I was becoming no- ticeable and left. Since I still had two hours until the train left, I ventured into the streets and walked with some deliberation up one street and down the next. I was surprised at the amount of consumer's goods in the stores. I could remember the stories of WWI and I did not expect to see anything in the shops. I re- turned to the station at 8:10. My feet hurt me for the shoes were not a good fit and the heels were to high for walking. I went out on the platform to wait for my train and was watching a- nother woman when a railroad policeman walked up to me and asked where I was going. I almost fainted from fright but quickly realized it might just be a check against loiterers. I told him and showed him my ticket. He look- ed at the ticket, then returned it to me and went to checking other people. I watched him un- til he found an elderly lady with- out a ticket. He ran her out of the station.

I was afraid my beard might be showing so I hid my face as best I could. I went to the rest room in the train as soon as pos- sible. To my surprise I could hardly see the beard under the makeup. I shaved and madeup my face again. I returned to my seat and feel asleep in about 20 minutes.

About 2 p.m. the man next to me woke me. I could not under- stand him but learned from a- nother passenger that custom's inspectors were coming through the train. I knew I would need to cross the French-German border, but since France was occupied, I did not think about customs. Since I had no papers, I decided to play the part of a dumb dame.

When the inspectors arrived, (there were two, one French and one German) I told them I was traveling to Strasbourg to see an Aunt. They asked a lot of ques- tions, name, where born, address, occupation, etc. The French in- spector wrote everything down. The two inspectors talked to- gether and then the German wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to me. When they left, I read the paper. It said "Marie Vogel has our permission to travel to Strasbourg, H.P. Reicher, Custom's Inspector." I had passed the supreme test, I was officially a woman in the eyes of the Third Reich.

The train arrived in Strasbourg a little after 4 p.m.; and as I stepped from the train, I was greeted by a French policeman. He escorted me through the station to a small office. As I entered, I realized that it was a Gestapo office. A small man be- hind the desk shouted at me about leaving Germany without travel papers. After about 5 min- utes of the monologue he order- ed me to stand against the wall and took my picture. He then asked a lot of questions which he entered on a long form. When he was finished, he announced that I was to return at exactly 12 noon the next day for my papers I looked astonished and before I could say anything the little man ordered me out of his office The French policeman held the door open for me. I thanked him and left the station.

This was an unexpected turn of events. If I returned to the sta- tion, the police might arrest me. However, if I returned the next day, I would have papers to take me anywhere. I decided to stay in Strasbourg that night. I slowly

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walked away from the station and about 5 blocks from the station found a small hotel. A fat man sat behind the desk read- ing a newspaper. I asked in Ger- man for a room and the man answered, "50 pfennings," with- out looking up from his paper announced, "First door on the right at the top of the stairs." The room was small but con- tained a bed, an overstuffed chair and a lamp nothing else. A common bathroom was located at the end of the hall; there was no lock on the door and a bath- tub was located in a closet. A tea kettle and gas burner provided the hot water.

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I went back downstairs and asked about a place to eat. The fat clerk looked up and announ- ced, "Denise's is in the next block, but she doesn't speak any German." I assumed I was dis- missed for he went back to read- ing his paper. I found Denise's and ate two bowls of stew in a very unladylike manner. I re- turned to the hotel and immedi- ately went to bed.

When I awoke the sun was shining and a clock had just started to strike. It was 8 a.m. I had slept 12 hours. I carefully surveyed the hall. No one was around so I gathered my clothes, took a bath, shaved, and dressed. When I was finished, I surveyed myself. I no longer looked like a prostitute, I looked like a clean- ing lady with too much makeup. I decided to use some of the money I had to buy new clothing

I rented the room for a second night and searched for a shop where I could buy a complete set of woman's clothing. I also bought a new pair of shoes. Some of the new clothing was of a poorer quality than what I