The Hellers eventually moved to the western occupation zone of Germany, before the end of 1948, and settled in Bayreuth, where they could finally start living a normal life. Herbert delivered groceries to customers of the Julius Meinl store, earning enough money so that Hilda did not have to work.
In the photo, Herbert and Hilda celebrate Herbert's seventieth birthday, Bayreuth, 1972. Herbert died not long after the photo was taken. Hilda survived him by many years.