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           Soatthebeginningof1947hefoundhimselfpennilessonthestreetsofAachen,readytopickupthepiecesofanexistenceheknewhewantedverybadly.

           Heandhissoulhadsurvived,butnottogobacktopovertyandobscurity.ForRainerwasmorethanaveryambitiousman;hewasalsosomethingofagenius.HewenttoworkforGrundig,andstudiedthefieldwhichhadfascinatedhimsincehefirstgotacquaintedwithradar:electronics.Ideasteemedinhisbrain,butherefusedtosellthemtoGrundigforamillionthpartoftheirvalue.Insteadhegaugedthemarketcarefully,thenmarriedthewidowofamanwhohadmanagedtokeepacoupleofsmallradiofactories,andwentintobusinessforhimself.Thathewasbarelyintohistwentiesdidn’tmatter.Hismindwascharacteristicofafarolderman,andthechaosofpostwarGermanycreatedopportunitiesforyoungmen.

           Sincehisweddinghadbeenacivilone,theChurchpermittedhimtodivorcehiswife;in1951hepaidAnneliseHartheimexactlytwicethecurrentvalueofherfirsthusband’stwofactories,anddidjustthat,divorcedher.However,hedidn’tremarry.

           WhathadhappenedtotheboyinthefrozenterrorofRussiadidnotproduceasoullesscaricatureofaman;ratheritarrestedthegrowthofsoftnessandsweetnessinhim,andthrewintohighreliefotherqualitieshepossessed—intelligence,ruthlessness,determination.Amanwhohasnothingtolosehaseverythingtogain,andamanwithoutfeelingscannotbehurt.Orsohetoldhimself.