Barbara F Adams

Tribute for Barbara Fischer Adams

Survival: World War II, Germany

Born on December 20, 1925, in Silesia, Germany to Theodore and Frieda Fisher, my mother was but a young girl ‘Junges Mädchen’ between the ages of 13 and 18 in the vortex of the violent maelstrom of World War II and the horrors of the Third Reich. There are many stories that she shared with us about this time of chaos, and it is certain she saw for herself a lifetime of suffering and death. She learned from her experiences that this world is not always a safe place in which to live. 

 By the end of the war, she had no home to go to because Germany was razed into a pile of rubble. Yet one thing that has really stayed with me is the story of her giving comfort and support to the elderly and the young German mothers with babies and small children who had nothing to eat or warm shelters in which to sleep. She scavenged daily to obtain scraps from garbage cans, and begged, borrowed or stole to keep those desperate souls alive. We must also honor Barbara Fisher Adams for her uncompromising Faith in saving many lives during the holocaust of German civilians. This is a miracle of grace and the mercies of Christ that amid the horrors of war, a young teenage girl was used to become HIS story, even during the fall of the Third Reich. Perhaps this is a story that Hollywood should consider making into a movie.

 It gives me great peace to know that Mama was raised in her Faith by solid and devout parents in spite of the political correctness of Nazi propaganda. To speak a word that was even thought to be anti-state was enough to have a person disappear from the village or town in which one lived. And to ask what happened to that person could also have one arrested too. My mother lived out her Faith by making herself available to those who simply were in Deutschland (the wrong side) when the bombs fell. We too must lament the fate of millions of families who died in the fire storms of a violent requital of opposing philosophies. 

Post War: Barbara Marries Corporal Lewis M. Adams

My mother met my dad in Regensburg, Germany near the end of the war. My father was stationed with General George S. Patton’s Third Army when the allied forces attacked war-torn Germany from the south. Herr Hitler had commanded that all citizens of the Fatherland be ready for total war in which every man, woman and child must fight and die before surrendering. He even had his generals to wire all major cities with explosives so that there would not be a Germany left for the allies to even recognize. That is why the allies attacked Germany in 1945 from every corner, in hope of saving as many German citizens as possible. 

My mother had ended up in southern Germany, for the civilian population had no place to go in the midst of their destroyed cities. Therefore, they could only go from town to town to beg for something to eat from the village folks. So, it was a day of liberation when the German officers refused Hitler’s direct order and capitulated to the American, English and Russian forces. Because my father was deployed in Regensburg, that is where, by Providence, my young mother met Corporal Lewis Adams of Mayflower, Arkansas. They fell in love and were married in Germany, and later my brother Frank was born there.

Move to America: Via New York to Little Rock, Arkansas

Barbara‘s four children, Frank, Margaret, Mike and Lewis, grew up in Rose City, a suburb of North Little Rock, Arkansas. There were many obstacles for my mother to endure, and for many years she braved the backlash of being a German war bride. She endured the resentment and ugliness of a history that had passed, but over the years much of that pain slowly subsided. Later in life, Barbara secured a very good position at teletype, which later became AT&T. She had the opportunity to meet Governor Bill Clinton in person while she was working there, and a photo was taken that was later personally signed by Governor Clinton. My mother was so proud of this photo and it was set in a place of honor in her home for all to see.

My Mother’s Great Love for People and Faith in Jesus Christ

When she was asked, “Mrs. Adams, what has been the most important thing in your life?” she would speak proudly of her children. She always treated her friends and neighbors with concrete evidence of kindness. She never turned away anyone who was in need, but did this in such a gracious way as to not shame the person. And when she was asked “Miss Barbara, why do you do these things?” she would answer, “because the Bible tells us to do this.” My mother’s faith in Jesus was weighed by the many people who loved her.

Memorial Service is 11:00 AM, Friday January 3, 2025 at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest with her late husband, Lewis M. Adams, at the AR State Veterans Cemetery, 1501 West Maryland Ave., North Little Rock, AR.

Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, AR 72114. 501-758-1170.