Liselotte Futterman looked out the window at the passing countryside. The train sped through the wooded German countryside, from time to time passing small country villages and remote farms and hamlets. She was far from her home to the north in Berlin. This was not the first time she had traveled away from her family. It was however the first time she had done so totally on her own. It was all somewhat daunting for the young girl.

Lise had always striven to achieve excellence in all she undertook. Her activities in the BDM, the ‘Bund Deutscher Madel' took up most of her free time. Indeed it would have been a gross distortion to say that young Lise had any free time at all. Her life was strictly regimented at home, in school and in the German girls youth organization. At times it felt as if she did nothing but study, work hard and diligently put her energy into BDM activities.

It was all gratifying of course if somewhat rigorous. Thankfully Lise was a healthy and energetic German maiden, strong of body, mature and sound of mind, obedient and cheerful in all she undertook, whether it be organizing a harvest festival, marching in any of the numerous parades and pageants or lending a hand on a country farm along with other fellow BDM members.

A few days ago she had been summoned to the local BDM headquarters to receive praise from her superiors and a letter of recommendation. Because of her outstanding achievements she was to be rewarded and allowed to participate in a special program for German maidens. Somewhat unusually she was cautioned that she was under no obligation to accept the offer of participation, but if she did, she was then expected to cooperate wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. There would be no backing out or having second thoughts.

It went without saying that Lise hardly needed any time to think things over. Duty to Volk and Vaterland were foremost in her mind as she accepted the honor. There were smiles all round as she was congratulated and lauded for her dedication. Several days later she received more detailed instructions, travel vouchers and a generous stipend for travelling expenses. At the Berlin Hauptbahnhof she took leave of her family, friends and BDM comrades, all of them envious of her good fortune.

A conductor knocked on her compartment door. "Gnadiges Fraulein, we are approaching Schwanzenhausen, your halt."

"Danke…." Lise nodded thanks and prepared her luggage.

Soon the train slowed to a halt at Schwanzenhausen village. It was not much more than a country station. A few houses stood aside from the tracks. There were very few people waiting to board the train. As she stepped down to the platform a black uniformed man hurried up to her and nodded a greeting, politely clicking his heels together. "Fraulein Liselotte Futterman ?"

"Ja, das bin ich" she replied.

"Unterscharfuhrer Dietrich Freienwil, at your service. I am to take you to the Institute."

Lise blinked in surprise. The Institute ? In Berlin she had not been told much, only that she was to report to a special facility for ‘instruction and training'. It had been hinted that her stay would be enlightening and informative and not much of a hardship if she applied herself diligently. Beyond that she was not informed of much, only that is was a great honor to have been chosen.

The handsome young sergeant carried her bags to a motorcar and helped her in.

After a drive along country lanes and winding wooded valleys, the car pulled into a large walled estate. There was a guard at the gates. He checked their papers perfunctorily. Obviously on friendly terms with the Unterscharfuhrer he waved them through, giving Lise a large and friendly smile.

Several hundred meters further, hidden by trees and shrubs, stood a large manor house. It was old but well cared for. To the side she noticed that several newer buildings had been added on.

The car pulled to a halt at the main entrance. Lise did not have much time to gaze around before she was bustled inside. There she was shown to a lady sitting behind a large polished desk. The lady was wearing a uniform, nothing unusual at all in that time and age in Germany, but it was one that Lise was not familiar with.

"Fraulein Liselote Futterman ?" the lady asked.

"Zu befehl," Lise answered automatically, handing over her travelling papers.

The uniformed lady looked them over and nodded. "Good, you have been expected. Welcome to Schwanzenhausen. I trust you had a comfortable journey ?"

Lise nodded. "But of course. I hope I arrived on time ?"

"Excellent timing Fraulein. Just as planned. But even so, I suggest we show you to your room and get your baggage unpacked. Then you can have a meal and get settled in. You will have a busy day tomorrow."

On the way up to her room, Lise passed several large sitting rooms or lounges. There were a number of girls either sitting about talking or reading. She noticed that all were young and quite good looking, tall and blond, each the picture of health. Perhaps this was a special training center for BDM members after all ? She was curious to find out. But apparently there would be no answers forthcoming today.

The next day started out bright and early. At the crack of dawn she was awakened by a female orderly and told to assemble for morning calisthenics. Out in the hallway she followed several other chattering girls downstairs.

The lady in uniform was already at her post in the entrance hall. She signaled for Lise. "Fraulein Futterman, we begin with morning exercises of course. Just follow one of the girls to the locker rooms. You can leave your clothes there. Showers and breakfast follow. Afterwards I shall send someone to fetch you. Off you go now. We expect you to do your best."

"Selbsverstandlich, but of course…"

The changing room was clean and bright, with several benches and clothes hangers along the wall. Off to a side she saw the entrance to what was undoubtedly the shower area. Many girls were undressing and hanging up their garments. Several walked out a side door, still completely undressed.

Lise asked a neighboring girl where the gym suits were kept. This caused a small bout of laughter. "You're a new arrival I suppose ?"

Lise nodded.

"I thought so. They always ask. Well, we don't wear anything for gymnastics. A birthday suit will do fine…."

"Oh…. I didn't know…" Lise blushed.

"Don't worry. You'll get used to it. The staff are very keen on FKK, Freie Korper Kultur. You know : ‘mens sana in corpere sana' and all that Naturalism stuff."

"I see …." Lise answered, her eyes widening. Of course in the BDM, her chapter had from time to time gone for a spot of nude swimming on the Baltic shore, the cold climate notwithstanding. It was considered a healthy German thing to do. Her parents hadn't said much about it one way or the other, even though she knew her father had once been a member of the Wandervogel and must have been acquainted with the practice in some manner or other. Even so she could tell they were not particularly enthusiastic about the idea. In any case as a family they had never followed the practice of nude sunbathing or swimming, neither indoors nor outdoors.

Somewhat self-consciously Lise undressed and hung her garments away. Outside on the athletic field there was still a layer of sparkling bright chilly dew. Once the exercises started she warmed up quite rapidly.

Afterwards the hot showers were a heaven of delights. The breakfast buffet was just as wonderful : dark breads, cheeses, sausages and smoked hams, jelly, marmalade and fresh fruits and cream, all accompanied by pots of steaming coffee or tea. It looked like they were being served the best the Reich had to offer.

As they filed out of the dining hall, an orderly came up to Lise with her schedule for the day. Lise was asked to accompany her.

They went through several long hallways and up a flight of stairs. The orderly knocked on a numbered door.

"Herein …" a voice answered from within.

"You can go in Fraulein, the doctor is waiting for you…" the orderly told Lise.

"Fraulein, welcome to Schwanzenhausen. Please take a seat."

"Danke…. Herr Doktor ?" Lise was not sure she had heard correctly. To be sure there were many people in Germany who were entitled to be called ‘Herr Doktor', some even just graduates in philosophy. This man however, with his white medical coat looked every bit a physician.

"Doktor Spaltenstecher. At your service." He smiled and took a bundle of papers from his desk. He pursed his lips and arched his eyebrows as he ran over the papers. "Hmmmm…. Ausgezeignet, ja ja….. an outstanding record Fraulein Futterman, wirklich ausgezeignet."

Lise blushed and looked down. "Thank you Herr Doktor, but I do not know why I have been chosen to come here…"

The Doctor put the papers down and clasped his hands together, leaning forward. "Fraulein…. Or rather, it is Liselotte I take it ?"

"Actually, at home my parents call me Lise, Herr Doktor. But whatever you prefer."

"Nonsense, Lise. A sonorous German name, but yet short, strong, vigorous. Very apt for a Jungmadel such as yourself. You do not object ?"

Lise shook her head. "Of course not …."

"Very well, then Lise it shall be." Doktor Spaltenstecher leaned back in his high backed chair and nodded to no one in particular. "So, Lise. Here you are. I take it you are eager to get on with your assignment ?"

The young girl still had no idea what was expected of her. It seemed as if everyone was referring to something only she knew nothing about. But she knew enough not to be too inquisitive. Obedience to those in higher authority was almost instinctive to her. "But of course Herr Doktor.'

"Good, good. We are going to prepare you for your task, both in mind as in body. But step by step. One thing at a time. Agreed ?"

Still none the wiser, Lise nodded. What else could she do ?

"Fine. Then we shall start with a physical examination. You look the picture of health of course Fraulein Lise, but there are many things we must check and verify. Agreed ?"

"Ja, I suppose so. You are the Herr Doktor."

"Indeed so, gnadiges Fraulein, indeed so." The doctor stood up and beckoned for Lise to accompany him. They went into the hallway, the doctor holding the door to his office open for Lise to pass through first. He guided her by the elbow into another room.

The doctor turned on the overhead lights, revealing a white tiled medical room. There was a large desk upon which Doktor Spaltenstecher placed his papers.

The room was brightly lit and well equipped. There were several glass and metal cabinets placed against the walls. Lise could make out a multitude of shiny polished metal instruments, most looking very ominous to her youthful eyes. There was also a table, padded and covered with a crisp linen cloth. Furthermore she made out a scale and measuring device, an enamel sink and basin and other devices and apparatuses. She also noticed a sanitary convenience in one of the corners of the room. Much to her consternation there was no partition or even a modesty screen to block it off from the rest of the room.

Ever so slightly so noticed a fluttering in her body, a tingling in her belly and lower regions. She had of course been ill from time to time and had a doctor attend to her, but somehow it seemed as if this situation promised to turn into something quite out of the ordinary, into something unusual. Doktor Spaltenstecher did not seem like a typical family doctor to Lise.

Indeed, he confirmed that impression almost immediately. "Now Fraulein Lise, if you would be so kind as to undress, then we can proceed."