Germany Blog #4

Germany Blog #4

By watching the BBC’s documentary film on Berlin, there were so many interesting historical moments in time that I was able to learn more about that I did not know before.  I really found Fredrick the Great and East Germany’s building of the Berlin Wall to be very fascinating.

Fredrick II was born on January 24^th, 1712 in Berlin.  Later in life he was hailed as a military genius and given the name Fredrick the Great.  He extended his empire by conducting a series of vicious wars.  In commemoration of Fredrick the Great’s successes on the battle field, the statue, Quadriga was placed on top of the Brandenburg Gate in 1791.  The statue is of the goddess of victory riding a chariot that is pulled by four horses.  The Brandenburg Gate was once the main entrance to the gated city and is not an icon that tells the story of Berlin.  This building demonstrates the clash of ideas that define Berlin such as militarism, idealism, oppression, and liberation.  I find it so interesting that since he won so many wars, they built a statue on top of the Brandenburg Gate to commemorate everything he had accomplished in war. 

Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

Fredrick the Great

 







On August 31^st, 1961, Germany was divided into East Germany and West Germany by the Berlin Wall.  This division would last until November 9^th, 1989.  The Berlin Wall stood as a dividing point for the Communist East Berlin and the Capitalist West Berlin.  The wall was built by East Germany to keep West Germany from being able to leave after three million individuals had fled the city.  West Berlin citizens were basically imprisoned in their territory by the Berlin Wall.  This separated families and people from jobs and opportunities between the sides.  The wall served the State but chattered the City by creating a dividing line between ideologies.  The East side was the Soviet Union and the West side was made up of the United States, Great Britain, and later on, France.  The night the Berlin Wall finally came down that changed the world forever, was actually just an accident that was unplanned and unanticipated.  The head of East Germany’s Communist Party announced that citizens of the German Democratic Republic, otherwise known as East Germany, could cross the border freely.  People celebrated that night by crossing the border and knocking away pieces of the wall.  The Berlin Wall will always be a symbol for the Cold War but the fall of the wall marks the end of the war. 

I find the division between East and West Germany to be very interesting.  I had never known that the fall of the Berlin Wall was an accident and not intended to happen that way.  It makes me wonder if it would have taken a lot longer for the wall to fall.  My Grandpa was stationed in Germany during the Cold War.  Since he was in the United States army, he would have been on the West side.  At the time my Grandpa was deployed my Dad was just born so he lived in Germany for the first three years of his life.  By learning a little bit about the Cold War, I was able to better understand what my Grandpa was fighting in and for at the time.  Although my Grandpa never told me a lot about the war, there were many stories he had told me about his time in Germany and the places he had traveled to.  Later in his life, my Grandpa and Grandma traveled back to Germany but so many things had changed since the last time they were there.  One thing I will always remember is how they explained to me that Berlin looked so different to them when they saw it without the Berlin Wall for the first time.  I am looking forward to seeing this part of Germany so I can see it for myself and tell my Grandma all about my own experience.

Berlin Wall

Celebrating the Berlin Wall coming down

Germany Blog #3

Germany Blog #3

Martin Luther: “Reluctant Revolutionary”

Martin Luther is viewed as one of the most influential as well as controversial figures in the Reformation movement.  On October 31^st, 1517, Martin Luther nailed the Ninety-Five Theses to the chapel door to point out critiques.  The Ninety-Five Theses spread like wildfire throughout Germany, followed by the rest of Europe with the aid of the printing press.  After Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church and was in hiding, he translated the Bible into the German language to allow ordinary individuals the opportunity and ability to read it as well.  He began organizing a new church called Lutheranism and in doing so gained numerous followers as well as the support from a couple German princes.  After Luther’s ideals spread, Protestantism swept across Germany, France, Netherlands, and Belgium. The results of Martin Luther’s actions hurt the Roman Catholic Church by splitting Europe religiously from Catholicism to Protestant. 

Portrait of Martin Luther

By writing the Ninety-Five Theses, Martin Luther was standing up for his beliefs, and when the revolution grew he continued to fight for what he believed in.  Over time, people backed Luther up and also stood up for him and what he created.  While writing the theses he never realized the impact it would have on all of Europe.  I think Martin Luther was extremely intelligent for using the printing press to spread his ideas throughout Europe.  This was a clever way to continue to get his message across to everyone who may never have been able to hear it otherwise.  Without the Ninety-Five Theses having been written and Protestantism not being created, many things in the world would have turned out differently.  Also without the help of Fredrick the Wise, Martin Luther would have most likely died at a much younger age and been unable to continue writing and spreading is beliefs.

Martin Luther nailing the Ninety-Five Theses

 



This was a very important time culturally by providing people with religious options and the freedom to follow their own beliefs.  At this time Catholic was the main form of religion in Europe but thanks to Luther another option was provided, Christianity.  I think he was extraordinarily brave and outspoken to point out flaws and the wrongness of the indulgences to make others further question things they never thought to before.  Martin Luther took a huge risk by speaking out and going against what everyone else believed in at the time.  Luther was also important to German-speaking lands because he translated the bible into German language, making it available to the common individual.  As well as everything else Luther was beyond intelligent and caring.  Although he was just one man, he created a change that impacted the entire world for the rest of time.

Bible translated in German by Martin Luther





Word count: 470

Germany Blog #2

Germany Blog #2

After traveling abroad this summer throughout different countries in Europe and studying the European economy, I learned an abundant amount of information about the present as well as the history that created the Germany we know today.  Since Germany was a main topic in our studies, one of the places we traveled to was Munich, Germany.  During this time we learned about different aspects of German history as well as went to visit numerous historical places.  Due to this trip I felt like I learned a lot more about Germany and their history but after reading the first two chapters of Hagen Schulze novel, Germany. A New History. I continued to learn more about the past. 

Since I studied the German economy I learned that The European Union is the largest market as well as the biggest exporter in the world.  So when I think of Germany I think of an established country with money and power.  It was interesting to learn how Germany actually took longer to develop and grow to become its own country compared to other countries.  In the fifteenth century, Germany was behind on its state and rulers compared to France, England, and Spain who had developed their governments.

Map of Germany and surrounding land

 

The discovery of the Germania that was written around 100 B.C. for Emperor Trajan, described Germans as distinct people that were worthy of one’s interest.  Before this document was unearthed, German scholars were actually lagging in the international competition for national glory.  I found it interesting that this lost text helped cast a light on German’s that was not there prior.  It makes me wonder if humanist scholars of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were not trying to strengthen the identity of nations, would they ever have found this document.  If not, then I wonder if Germany would be as strong as it is today or if there would be a different outcome of how the country turned out. 

Text on Germania

 

Germany’s struggle to become a country and power makes me think of the United States split from Great Britain.  The United States was originally not its own country and fought to become what it is today just like Germany.  Both countries have grown so far as to surpass all odds and expectations others have set for them.

Since Germany was absolutely breath taking, I am looking forward to being able to spend an extended period of time just traveling around Germany to see more cities as well as learn more about the history of the country.  Although you may have traveled somewhere, you will always see something new and have new experiences each time you go.  The few days that I was able to travel in Germany this summer was not nearly enough.  I find it interesting to see how Germany developed as a country over time and has continued to change.  I cannot believe the trip is already in three months and I cannot wait to start the adventure!

Word count: 505