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The Sandmaennchen Who Bridged a Nation

Monday, December 16th, 2024

For over 65 years, Sandmaennchen, a beloved little puppet, has been a symbol of bedtime magic for generations of German children. The tradition began in 1959 with the launch of two nearly identical shows—one in East Germany, the other in West Germany. Today, the puppet who continues to sprinkle his “dream sand” every night is an enduring part of German cultural history, and surprisingly, it’s the East German version that survived the reunification of the country.

The Birth of Two Sandmaennchens

The story of Sandmaennchen begins in 1959 when Dr. Ilse Obrig, a visionary television personality, sought to create a new bedtime show for German children. Having worked in radio since the 1920s and later in television, Obrig was a seasoned figure in German media. In 1950, she moved from East Berlin to West Berlin, taking her ideas with her. As West Germany prepared to launch Das Sandmaennchen on December 1, 1959, East Germany scrambled to create its own version, Unser Sandmaennchen, which premiered eight days earlier, on November 22, 1959.

The Sandmaennchen Puppet

Both versions of the Sandman were inspired by the Danish fairy tale character Ole Lukøje, a magical being who helps children fall asleep. The East German Sandmaennchen, often pictured in a soft red coat with a pointed hat and a goatee, was a figure of comfort and familiarity. His West German counterpart, though equally charming, appeared a little more contemporary in style. Both arrived in a variety of vehicles, such as a car, boat, airplane, or even a space capsule to the soothing sounds of a children’s choir singing “Sandmann, lieber Sandmann…” (Sandman, dear Sandman…), telling a brief bedtime story, sprinkling magical dream sand, and leaving with the comforting words, “Ich wuensch’ euch gute Nacht”) (I wish you good night.) https://www.youtube.com/user/sandmannshop

Das Sandmaennchen, the West German Sandman. walled-in-berlin.com

Das Sandmaennchen, the West German Sandman. walled-in-berlin.com

East vs. West: A Bedtime Rivalry

The two shows were almost identical in format, but the politics of the time created a clear divide. Both versions of Sandmaennchen aired nightly at 6:50 p.m. The shows quickly became an essential part of every child’s evening routine. But after German reunification in 1990, one Sandman continued to stand stood out: The East German version. Children on both sides of the former divide seemed to gravitate toward the more approachable, gentle Sandman of the East. This was a surprising turn of events, given the different political environments of the two countries.

By 1991, the West German version of Sandmaennchen was discontinued, and Unser Sandmaennchen continued to enchant children all across the newly reunified Germany. The East German puppet, beloved for his warmth and familiarity, won out over his West German counterpart.

Unser Sandmaennchen, the East German, Photo: pressefoto@rbb-online.de, walled-in-berlin.com

Unser Sandmaennchen, the East German, Photo: pressefoto@rbb-online.de, walled-in-berlin.com

A 65-Year Legacy

Today, Unser Sandmaennchen is still going strong, continuing to sprinkle his magical sand into the hearts of children every night. In fact, he just celebrated his 65th birthday, proving that even in a world where television has changed dramatically, there’s still room for the timeless magic of a friendly puppet who brings comfort and a sense of ritual. For many German families, Sandmaennchen remains a cherished tradition—a gentle reminder of childhood, no matter which side of the Wall you grew up on.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: Historical or current events, people, places or food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall, and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal

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Berlin’s Rotes Rathaus – Red City Hall

Monday, March 21st, 2022

 

Rotes Rathaus is located near the Alexanderplatz in Berlin’s Mitte district and occupies an entire city block. The moniker “red” was inspired by the town hall’s red brick facade and not by the political leanings of its occupants. Although during the Cold War, many associated East Berlin’s Red City Hall with Communism.

Pre-WWII History of Rotes Rathaus

Berlin’s Red City Hall was constructed in the second half of the nineteenth century. The neo-renaissance building was designed as a multi-winged complex with three inner courtyards and a just under 250-foot tower. The architecture of the tower is reminiscent of the cathedral tower of Notre Dame. The building was heavily damaged by Allied bombing in World War II. Until 1948, the Neues Stadthaus, which survived the bombing, served as a temporary city hall for the post-war city government for all four sectors of Berlin. After 1948, and until the completion of the reconstruction of the Rotes Rathaus, the Neues Stadthaus housed only the city government of the Soviet sector.

Post-WWII History of Rotes Rathaus

Between 1951 and 1956, the Rotes Rathaus was reconstructed to the original plans. Due to the division of Berlin, Red City Hall was located in the Soviet sector, and the East Berlin magistrate held its sessions there. Meanwhile, the Rathaus Schoeneberg, where John F. Kennedy spoke in 1963, served as the town hall for West Berlin, where the West Berlin senate met. Since the German Reunification, Rotes Rathaus is the seat of Berlin’s governing mayor and Berlin’s city government of the entire city of Berlin.

Berlin's Rotes Rathaus as seen from the television tower. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2019. www.walled-in-Berlin.com

Berlin’s Rotes Rathaus as seen from the television tower. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2019. www.walled-in-Berlin.com

Also Of Historic Interest

The Rotes Rathaus contains many rooms of historic interest. State visitors are generally received in the armorial hall, which is decorated with the emblems of Berlin’s districts. Equally impressive are the great ceremonial hall and the 30-foot high pillared hall with its orange rib-vaulted ceiling and busts of famous people. The gallery on the third floor holds the portraits of honorary citizens of Berlin.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic or current events, people, places or food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

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Pan-European Picnic and German Reunification

Monday, October 14th, 2019

 

The Pan-European Picnic was the first in a series of events that dealt fatal blows to the Berlin Wall, brought it down completely a few months later and set the stage for German Reunification. Heartfelt thanks must go to the courageous leaders and border guards of Hungary and Austria who, on 19 August 1989, allowed hundreds of East Germans to cross the border from communist Hungary into democratic Austria. Tens of thousands followed their path.

Purpose of the Pan-European Picnic

On 2 May 1989, Hungary began dismantling the electrified fence along its border with Austria. Eager to renew friendships across the Iron Curtain, the organizers of the Pan-European Picnic arranged for people on both sides of the border to gather for an afternoon of music and speeches. To allow participants to cross back and forth during the event, they temporarily opened the border for a few hours. Planned mainly to show support for open borders and a reunited Europe, the picnic ended up being far more than that.

What happened at the Pan-European Picnic?

About 100 dignitaries were invited to the friendship picnic, which was held in a meadow at the dividing line between the Communist bloc and the west. To everyone’s surprise, 600-900 East Germans also showed up at the appointed time. They had been vacationing in the region. But on 9 August 1989, they had more than holidays on their minds. Rumors had been circulating that the border with Austria was porous. To the vacationing East Germans, these whisperings were analogous to an invitation to make a break for the west.

Big Dilemma for the Border Guards

Apparently tipped off by unidentified diplomats working behind the scenes, the East Germans arrived en masse at the  border, catching the Hungarian guards by surprise. The sentries had no special orders. They unable to reach their superiors. The unexpected situation placed the border guards in a moral dilemma. It was their duty to stop the East Germans from crossing the border and to use force, if necessary. Allowing them to pass was a punishable dereliction of duty. A split-second decision with potentially far-reaching consequences had to be made. Since these run-away East Germans with their picnic baskets and strollers seemed to be peaceful, the guards decided to turn their backs on them. Instead, they focused on checking the Austrian picnic guests’ documents. This on-the-spot decision changed the world. Over the next few weeks, 70,000 East Germans exited East Germany through Hungary and Austria on their way to West Germany.

Who Orchestrated the Events?

Thirty years later, the question of who orchestrated the events of August 19, 1989, still remains unanswered. Many suspect behind the scenes efforts. Why did the Heads of State of Russia, Hungary and Austria chose not to interfere? Who distributed the sacks of leaflets, conveniently printed in German and Hungarian in advance of August 19? Was the West German Intelligence community involved? Whatever the case, the events surrounding the Pan-European Picnic opened the door to the Fall of the Berlin Wall three months later and to German reunification a year later.

Monument at the Pan-European Picnic site

Since 2009, a monument by Miklos Melocco commemorates the picnic site. It is named “Breakthrough” and its engraving reads, “On August 19th 1989 an enslaved people opened the gates of its prison so that another enslaved people could walk out into freedom”. http://turizmus.sopron.hu/en/info/sights/history-of-sopron/paneuropean-picnic.html

 

Monument by Miklos Melocco at the site of the Pan-European Picnic. It is named “Breakthrough.” The inscription reads, “On August 19th 1989 an enslaved people opened the gates of its prison so that another enslaved people could walk out into freedom.” www.walled-in-berlin.com

Monument by Miklos Melocco at the site of the Pan-European Picnic. It is named “Breakthrough.” The inscription reads, “On August 19th 1989 an enslaved people opened the gates of its prison so that another enslaved people could walk out into freedom.” www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

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Unter Den Linden – Berlin’s Grandest Boulevard

Monday, July 8th, 2019

 

Unter Den Linden (Under the Linden Trees) is Berlin’s grandest boulevard. It is located in the historic heart of the city and named for the 1,000 linden trees in its spacious pedestrian median and along both sidewalks. Friedrich Wilhelm I (Frederick William I), Elector of Brandenburg and later King of Prussia, originally planted the trees in the 17th century. But in the 1930s, Adolf Hitler had most of them cut down and replaced with Nazi flags. Following a public outcry, he had them replanted. Nonetheless, during World War II, the trees were either destroyed or cut down for firewood. The present-day linden were planted in the 1950s.

Under den Linden - Berlin's grandest boulevard with the Brandenburg Gate in the background. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2019. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Under den Linden – Berlin’s grandest boulevard with the Brandenburg Gate in the background. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2019. www.walled-in-berlin.com

History of Unter Den Linden

Unter den Linden stretches from the Brandenburg Gate to the Berlin City Palace (Berliner Stadtschloss). The famous boulevard began as an equestrian trail in the 16thcentury to allow prince-elector Johann Georg (John George) of the Margraviate of Brandenburg to reach his hunting grounds in the Tiergarten. In the middle of the 17th century, Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia replaced that equestrian trail with a stately tree-lined boulevard.

Unter den Linden anchors

The Brandenburg Gate stands at the western boundary of Unter den Linden. Of the original fourteen city gates it is the only one that survived the ravages of time. During the Cold War, the Brandenburg Gate became a symbol of freedom. At the eastern end of Unter den Linden stands the City Palace, currently under reconstruction and slated for completion in 2020.

Points of Interest along Unter den Linden

Located immediately east of the Brandenburg Gate is the Pariser Platz (Paris Square). It was heavily bombed during World War II and became a no-man’s-land during the Cold War. But since German reunification in 1990, its pre-WWII embassies, hotels and banks have returned, including the famous Hotel Adlon. Further down Unter den Linden you’ll see the restored Berlin State Library, the renowned Humboldt University, the Bebelplatz (site of the infamous Nazi book burning in 1933), the State Opera, the Catholic St. Hedwig’s Cathedral, the German History Museum, the Neue Wache (now the Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany for the Victims of War and Dictatorship) and the Berliner Dom.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic or current events, people, places or food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

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Forced Adoptions in Former East Germany

Monday, March 18th, 2019

During the 1970s and 1980s, Germany remained split into East and West. During that period, as many as 2,000 East German children fell victim to politically motivated forced adoptions. The state took minor children of politically undesirable parents and placed them permanently with regime-compliant families. Most of these children were of elementary school age; some were newborns, taken from their mothers in the hospital. In case of the latter, parents were told that their babies had died shortly after birth. Not until after the collapse of East Germany in 1989 did many of these forced adoption cases come to light.

About 2,000 children in former East Germany fell victim to politically motivated forced adoptions. www.walled-in-berlin.com

About 2,000 children in former East Germany fell victim to politically motivated forced adoptions. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Parental “Crimes” and Forced Adoptions

In socialist East Germany, the state expected parents to teach their offspring the principles of communism and the importance of loyalty to the state. To properly instill those values in their children, parents had to be dedicated to the system. If parents spoke out against the regime, or worse, attempted to escape to the West, the state deemed them unqualified to raise children. In that case, authorities withdrew parenting rights and permanently placed the children with approved families.

There were other, far more obscure, reasons that could result in a politically motivated forced adoptions. The Spiegel Online International Newsletter reports several such cases. In one instance, the state put the children of a single mother up for adoption. Out of work, she had chosen to stay home to care for her children rather than continue to work outside the home, as required by East Germany’s compulsory labor laws. When the mother rejected placing her children in the state’s child care, authorities initiated forced adoption. The state told another mother that she would not be allowed to raise two children because her apartment was too small (a larger apartment was not available) and permanently placed one of the children with a regime-approved family.

Responsibility for Forced Adoption

Forced Adoptions were the responsibility of the East German Ministry of Education. Margot Honecker headed the Ministry of Education from 1963 to 1989. She was the wife of former East German head of state, Erich Honecker. Mrs. Honecker, whose agency created the forced adoption policies, allegedly also enforced them. However, allegations were never proven. Following German reunification in 1990, Mrs. Honecker left Germany and moved to Chile where she lived in exile for the rest of her life, collecting a German state pension. She was never charged and died in 2016.

Thirty Years Later

Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, many families, separated by forced adoptions, are still in search of each other. Reunions are difficult because adoption records are often hard to trace or are missing altogether. On top of that, unified Germany’s Child Protective Services cannot release names and addresses for 50 years because of data protection laws. In the meantime, some victims have formed their own search organizations and websites to help children and parents reconnect. So far, at least 600 families have been reunited.

Reunions of Forced Adoption Victims

Unfortunately, not all reunions of forced adoption victims have ended happily. Many of the children were never told that they were adopted. Others had long forgotten what their natural parents looked like because photographs were confiscated at the time of adoption. When a natural parent knocked on the door, the children – by now adults – were often unprepared to handle the revelation and cut all contact with natural and adoptive parents. While expectations run high, reality often proves disappointing. Grief and sorrow remain.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic or current events, people, places or food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

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Hagen Koch marked off the Berlin Wall

Monday, October 30th, 2017

 

Hagen Koch, just 21 years old at the time, was a little known, yet important, player in the construction of the Berlin Wall. It was Koch who researched the exact location of the boundary between East and West Berlin. And it was Koch who painted the white line that would mark off the border. Hagen Koch walked 30 miles in a single day in August of 1961 of, hunched over to paint that line. Once finished, construction of the Berlin Wall began.

 

Hagen Koch researched the exact location of the boundary between East and West Berlin and then, in August of 1961, painted the white line that demarcated that border. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Hagen Koch researched the exact location of the boundary between East and West Berlin and then, in August of 1961, painted the white line that demarcated that border. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

How did the Berlin Wall come about?

Since earliest times, man built walls to keep others out. However, the Berlin Wall was a rare example of a wall built to keep people in. It was constructed to keep East Germans from defecting to the West because between 1949 (the creation of East Germany) and 1961 (the construction of the Berlin Wall) over two million East Germans had done just that. They had left East Germany and fled to the West. For years, East German leader Walter Ulbricht http://www.walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/image-challenged-walter-ulbricht/ pleaded with the Soviets to let him close the border to put an end to the workforce drain. By August 1961, the Soviets agreed, and Ulbricht proceeded with his plan.

Berliners awoke on 13 August 1961, a beautiful Sunday morning, to find Operation Rose (Ulbricht’s code name for the construction of the Berlin Wall) in full swing. By the wee hours of the morning, most of the border between East and West Berlin was already primitively closed. Barbed wire and concrete posts severed streets. The underground and elevated trains terminated at the border. Armed soldiers stood guard. Within a few days, a block-and-mortar wall replaced the barbed wire fence. The Berlin Wall stood for 28 years. It split the city and separated families and friends. It became a symbol of the Cold War.

Hagen Koch’s Rise to Fame

Having graduated a technical draftsman, Hagen Koch joined the Ministerium fuer Staatssicherheit (Ministry for State Security) – better known as Stasi – as a cartographer. http://www.walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/the-stasi-and-how-it-worked/ Upon joining the Stasi in 1960, Koch made a speech, which quickly propelled him up the Stasi ladder. In his speech, Hagen Koch denounced “American imperialism” and emphasized his pride in East German socialism. Upon hearing Koch talk, Erich Mielke, head of the Stasi, remarked, “He’s the man of our future.” http://www.walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/erich-mielke-master-of-fear/ Soon thereafter, Hagen Koch was promoted to Head of Cartography.

Hagen Koch’s transformation

One hundred percent committed to East German-style socialism at the beginning of his career, Hagen Koch’s conviction began to fade when the Stasi insisted that he divorce his wife on account of her ties to the West. His commitment to East German ideology took a further plunge when Hagen’s father lost his job for protesting the expulsion of his Dutch father, Hagen’s grandfather.

After having fulfilled his service requirement, Koch left the Stasi in 1985. Four years later, the Berlin Wall fell. http://www.walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/the-day-the-berlin-wall-fell/ Thereafter, Hagen Koch began to talk openly about his part in creating the hated barrier. He had had a change of heart in the preceding years relative to East Germany’s political system. In 1990, Koch became Cultural Heritage Officer at East Germany’s Institute for the Preservation of Historical Monuments and was appointed Minister of Culture, responsible for the demolition of the Wall. After German reunification the same year, http://www.walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/germanys-unite-through-treuhandanstalt/ Hagen Koch began creating an extensive Wall Archive at his home and welcomed visitors to view his collection. Visiting dignitaries included the Queen of Sweden and the artist Christo. Over time, Koch turned self-styled chronicler of the Wall and became a sought-after speaker. As part of a Historical Witness Project, the Wende Museum in Los Angeles, California, invited Hagen Koch to tell his story. Click http://www.wendemuseum.org/participate/historical-witness-hagen-koch to watch the interview.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic or current events, people, places or food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

 

 

 

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Berlin’s “Citizens in Motion” memorial

Monday, October 2nd, 2017

 

Berlin’s impending “Citizens in Motion” – Buerger in Bewegung – memorial will commemorate the protest movement that toppled the East German communist regime and led to the reunification of Germany in 1990. In June 2017, more than a quarter of a century later, a memorial to freedom and unity received final approval by the Bundestag (lower House of the German Parliament). The monument is expected to open in 2019, the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

What the Citizens in Motion memorial will look like

Citizens in Motion will consist of a steel bowl-shaped structure, 180 feet in length and 60 feet across. Inscribed with Wir sind das Volk (We are the people) and Wir sind ein Volk (We are one people), the memorial honors the men and women who caused the Berlin Wall to fall in 1989 and led to the German reunification one year later. The structure will hold up to 1400 people. When at least 20 more people stand on one half of the structure as opposed to the other half, the bowl will gently tip to one side, similar to a teeter-totter. The visitors themselves then become an active part of the monument.

 

Berlin's planned "Citizens in Motion memorial to commemorate the men and women who who caused the Berlin Wall to fall in 1989 and led to the German reunification one year later. Rendering: Milla & Partner. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Berlin’s impending “Citizens in Motion” memorial, which commemorates the men and women who caused the Berlin Wall to fall in 1989 and led to the German reunification one year later. Rendering: Milla & Partner. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Concept of Citizens in Motion

Memorials are normally passive objects of contemplation. Citizens in Motion will be interactive. The monument will come to life when people gather on it. Designed by Stuttgart-based architect Johannes Milla & Partner and Berlin choreographer Sasha Waltz, Citizens in Motion is designed to illustrate how people have to act in concert to effect change.

As the East German economy crumbled and people fled to the West, the East German people began to hold gigantic, non-violent, pro-democracy demonstrations, which led to the fall of Berlin Wall and the socialist government. Then another enormous task faced the German people: Bringing together two Germanys, which, despite a common language, had experienced dramatically different political and economic realities for over 40 years. The road to a German memorial to commemorate freedom and unity was equally difficult. Everything from design, location and cost was controversial. The ensuing debates demonstrated that freedom and unity require participation and interaction. http://www.dw.com/en/bundestag-gives-green-light-to-controversial-german-reunification-monument/a-39093773

Where will the Citizens in Motion memorial be located?

Citizens in Motion will be positioned in front of the Berliner Stadtschloss (Berlin City Palace) in the city’s historic center. The Berlin City Palace is currently undergoing reconstruction and will house the Humboldt Forum when completed. Read: Berliner Stadtschloss to Humboldt Forum The original Berliner Stadtschloss was demolished by the East German regime in 1950 to make way for the Palast der Republik (Palace of the Republic), the East German parliament. Read: The Palace of the Republic lives on In 1989, the square in front of the Palace of the Republic was a site of mass demonstrations, which contributed to the collapse of the Berlin Wall.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

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Has German Ostalgie run its course?

Monday, February 1st, 2016

German Ostalgie has largely run its course according to a recent poll commissioned by Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international broadcaster. Deutsche Welle aims at audiences outside of Germany and is available via television, radio and the Internet.

What is Ostalgie?

“Ostalgie” is a hybrid word that popped up following German reunification in 1990. It implies nostalgia for the former east and a longing for a prior way of life. After having been absorbed by, but not totally integrated into, West Germany, many former East Germans began to fondly recall the “bad” old days. They felt nostalgic toward certain aspects of their former lives that had suddenly disappeared: They felt a loss of community and equality; they missed certain foods that were no longer stocked; GDR-themed (East German) items became popular http://www.walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/ampelmaennchen-former-east-berliners/and http://www.walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/ampelmann-to-marry-ampelfrau/; memoirs of growing up Ossi (Eastern) began to fill bookstore shelves, they missed familiar television shows; and a general yearning for the lost socialist system of government developed.

Ostalgie turned into cash - Ampelmann Shop in Berlin-Mitte with the beloved East German traffic light man as a theme. photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015

Ostalgie turned into cash – Ampelmann Shop in Berlin-Mitte with the beloved East German traffic light man as a theme. photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015

An example of Ostalgie was the 2003 German blockbuster movie, “Good- Bye Lenin.” In this fictional story, a young man tries to keep political reality from his mother after she suffered a serious heart attack and coma. His mother, a dedicated socialist, experienced the coronary event just before the fall of the Wall. When her doctor suggests that the slightest upset might cause another, possibly fatal, heart attack, the son invents elaborate schemes to sustain his mother’s illusion that the German Democratic Republic still exists. When the mother unexpectedly wanders outside while the son is asleep, she sees the giant statue of Lenin being helicoptered away (to read about the real-life fate of the Lenin statue, visit http://walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/comrade-lenin-is-back/)

Has Ostalgie run its course?

Twenty-six years later, the answer is – Mostly. The use of terms like “Ossis” for East Germans and “Wessis” for West Germans – so common after reunification – has greatly decreased. In September 2015, Deutsche Welle commissioned a survey to find out how Germans see their society 25 years after reunification. http://www.dw.com/en/dw-poll-united-but-not-yet-one/a-18740932 The pollsters questioned more than 1,000 Germans aged 18 and older about their attitude toward reunification. They found the younger generation to be more positive about the reunification than their parents and grandparents. The 45-59-age-group is the least satisfied. Seventy-nine percent of 18-29 year olds (born just before or after reunification) think that German reunification was an overall success while 69% of 45-59 year olds (in their twenties and thirties when the wall came down) agreed. When asked whether German reunification brought them personal advantages or disadvantages, 65% of 18-29-year-olds saw mainly advantages while 14% saw chiefly disadvantages. In the 45-59-age-group, 53% perceived primarily advantages while 21% saw predominantly disadvantages.

Overall, 90% of the 18-29-age-group felt that Germany’s reunification set a good example for other countries, while 77% in the 45-59-group felt that way. Differences between responses from the former East and West had decreased. It appears that the former East/West divide no longer shapes people’s identity and that Ostalgie is largely a thing of the past.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

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Mandatory Church Tax Debate

Monday, January 25th, 2016

How would you like your government to collect a mandatory Church Tax from you every year? German taxpayers have no choice in the matter.

German citizens must indicate their religious affiliation on their tax return. Based on affiliation they will most likely be obligated to pay a compulsory, annual Kirchensteuer, a Church Tax. The two largest religious communities in Germany — Catholics and Protestants — are required to pay the tax, but smaller denominations — such as Unitarians and Jewish communities — participate in the compulsory Church Tax assessment as well. The state collects the tax and passes it on to the appropriate religious community. The mandatory Church Tax amounts to 8% or 9% of income and includes a 3% collection fee that goes to the government. Should the tax be mandatory? Should it be collected by the state? These are questions that have been the subject of an ongoing debate in Germany.

How did Church Tax collection start?

With the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss (Principal Decree of the Imperial Deputation) of 1803, churches lost their constitutional role in Germany. The financial support from kings and princes who had formerly ruled the land had suddenly evaporated. Larger German states were forced to annex smaller ones, and church possessions were given to princes in need. To compensate the churches for their loss of income and to afford them new means of meeting expenditures, the government instituted a Church Tax. http://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/germany/religion-in-germany/ The first community to introduce the Church tax was the former German state of Lippe-Detmold. It did so in 1827. In 1887, the former state of Wuerttemberg followed suit. Prussia followed in 1905/06 and Bavaria in 1912. In 1919, Church Tax collection by the state became law. In 1949, West Germany anchored the provision in its new Constitution. Since then, the state-collected Church Tax has been mandatory in Germany with one exception: East Germany ceased to collect it between 1956 and the reunification. At that time, however, the Church Tax was reintroduced in East Germany. Needless to say, the reinstatement still irritates the people in the former eastern states.

How does anyone become subject to Church Tax?

When a person is babtized, he or she automatically becomes a member of that church. No membership application is required. Only individuals who have formally left the church are exempt from paying Church Tax. Until 1965, even a non-denominational husband was obligated to pay Church Tax for his wife if she belonged to a church. He was compelled to pay the tax even if his wife did not work outside the home. My father so resented this requirement that he left the church altogether. (Read “A Matter of Faith” in my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom).

How much Church Tax is collected?

In 2011 the income from Church Tax amounted to 4.9 billion euros for the Catholic Church and 4.4 billion euros for the Protestant Church. http://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/germany/religion-in-germany/ In 2013 this figure increased to 5.5 billion euros for the Catholic Church and 4.8 billion euros for the Protestant Church.

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How is the Church Tax spent?

Although the largest portion of the churches’ income is derived from Church Tax, the houses of God also receive income from investments, leases, rents, government grants, donations and inheritances. In addition, the German state pays a combined half a billion euros to Catholic and Protestant churches to compensate them for the expropriations in 1803. Nearly three-quarters of all church income pays for personnel costs (pastors, deacons, parish helpers, clerks, educators, social workers, and the management and administrative staff). Most of the remainder pays for the construction and maintenance of buildings, pensions and reserves. http://www.sueddeutsche.de/geld/kirchensteuer-der-weg-von-gottes-geld-1.2207208 Should churches use less of their income to meet personnel costs and more to help the poor? Yes, says Pope Francis. He wants the church to care less about the preservation of the institution and more about the people who are marginalized.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic or current events, people, places or food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

 

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Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen Prison – Part 2

Monday, November 16th, 2015

 

Last week I wrote about the history of the dreaded Stasi prison Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen http://walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/berlin-hohenschoenhausen-prison-part-1 Today I will share my personal impressions after touring the former prison buildings.

My impressions of Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to take one of these guided tours of the Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen Memorial. Our guide was a West German woman who had been incarcerated here because of a romantic involvement with an East German man. Her account of the psychological intimidation methods employed by the Stasi was truly chilling. We were told that the overall goal of the Stasi was to destabilize prisoners and to make them feel powerless. To that end, prisoners were completely sealed off from the outside world and never even told where they were being held. They were strictly isolated from their fellow prisoners, and interrogations and manipulation to extract information were harsh. They involved isolation, sleep deprivation, water torture and threats to friends and family members.

Typical Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen prison interrogation room, photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015

Typical Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen prison interrogation room, photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015

Walking through the prison, we came to realize that the cells had no windows. The only air exchange occurred through a few small holes in the bottom of the cell doors. These doors had a small, latched openings through which the guards observed the prisoners. Even the cell toilets could be viewed through these openings. We also visited a padded room that had neither windows nor corners. Its purpose was to play havoc with the prisoners’ sense of orientation.

Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen observation window into prison cell, photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015

Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen observation window into prison cell, photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015

The average prison stay at Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen was six months, although some prisoners were held captive without trial for years. Interrogators were trained psychologists who had been briefed on the prisoners and their families and used sophisticated methods to break down defenses. Their methods were so successful that a third of all Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen prisoners were informants by the 1980s.

From personal recollections our guide added that lights were turned on and off at regular intervals throughout the night and that the guards awakened prisoners who did not maintain the “approved” sleep position. All prisoners were expected to sleep on their backs with their hands on top of the blanket. The Stasi did not allow any kind of contact between inmates. If a prisoner was lead through the corridor to an interrogation room and his path crossed that of another inmate, both were required to turn to the wall so that they could not get even a brief glimpse of each other. To reduce the chance of such encounters in the first place, a red and green signal on the ceiling indicated whether a prisoner was allowed to walk on or not.

Signal light at Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen prison indicating whether or not a prisoner was allowed to walk, photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015

Signal light at Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen prison indicating whether not a prisoner was allowed to walk, photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015

The closing of Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen

Unlike many other government and military institutions in East Germany, demonstrators did not storm the Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen prison after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. In fact, prison authorities had time to destroy numerous pieces of evidence of the prison’s history. Therefore, today’s understanding of the methods employed at Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen comes mainly from eyewitness accounts and documents maintained by other East German institutions. It is estimated that more than 91,000 full-time Stasi employees and 189,000 unofficial collaborators maintained close, repressive surveillance over the East German populace until the Berlin Wall fell.

http://www.wired.com/2010/10/phillip-lohoefener/

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

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