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Our Picture Gallery (Click on each picture for a larger version.) |
Berlin
What a warm reception we had upon our midweek arrival in Berlin on a snowy wintry evening. Deiter Alberts (father of Dr. Heike Alberts) was waiting with chocolates and keys to PRIVATE rooms at the Seigmunds Hof dormatories! He even met us the next morning for a short walking tour to the Brandenburg Gate and then to our comfortable classroom which he had so graciously arranged. With the help of our travel passes, we all mastered the S Bahn and the U Bahn in no time. By the time Dr. Deegan arrived on Monday, everyone had had a few days of class and relaxation and was ready to begin the intensive course on... Germany: from Separation to Unification. |
As you will see from the following
pictures, Dr. Deegen's class literally met all over Berlin, in neighboring
Potsdam and even in the former East German city of Leipzig. The dramatic
subject focused on the devastation of Berlin during WW II, the Cold
War, and the division and ultimate unification of Germany. Guided visits
of the Ministry of State Security Headquarters (STASI) and its prison
provided a sobering view into a very secret and scary world. A highlight
was the interview with a former East German escapee, Hartmut Richter,
who was later imprisoned by the STASI for assisting others seeking freedom
in the West. The course culminated in contrasting visits to the Nikolai
Church in Leipzig, where repeated demonstrations in 1989-1990 grew into
a national unification movement, and to the Reichstag building of a
now unified and democratic Germany. |
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Berlin Classroom |
In the former STASI prison
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In the former STASI headquarters |
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At the Berlin Wall Museum |
Our guest speaker: Hartmut Richter as a young man |
Hearing a lecture in the snow at the Berlin Wall Museum |
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STASI hall takeover
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In the Reichstag, the Capital of the German Democratic Republic
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At the Leipzig Nikolai Church with Christain Führer, Minister and leader of the non-violent "Peoples' Movement" |
Some of our Berlin classrooms |
A Day in Potsdam
Our day in Potsdam, just outside West
Berlin but a world away in former East Germany, began with a visit to
the Cecilian Hof Palace. Vacated by the Hohenzollerns after WWI, the
palace is now a museum in remembrance of the Potsdam Conference which
was held here in 1945 for the purpose of determining allied occupation
of Germany. The famous Glienicke Bridge, connecting Potsdam with West
Berlin was the exchange point for political prisoners such as Gary Powers
(the captured U2 pilot) and Anatoly Scharadnazy (Soviet human rights
activist). Once again a lovely city, Potsdam also offers visitors the
sumptuous palace of Sans Souci of Frederick II "The Great."
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| Cecilian hof Palace
Site of the 1945 Potsdam Conference
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The Russische Kolonie in Potsdam
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"The Bridge of Unity"
The Potsdam Bridge (Glienicke Bridge) |
A Day in Leipzig
Two of Leipzig's oldest churches are
renouned for their history...the St. Thomas Church, the workplace of
Johann Sebastian Bach from 1722 until his death in 1750 (as well as
the site of Ricard Wagner's christening) and the Nikolai Church. Here
peaceful protests against the East German government began in 1989 and
ultimately grew into a massive "peoples'" movement which resulted
in national elections and a unified Germany in 1990. Time in Leipzig
was well spent visiting its cultural history museum, listening to and
questioning Christain Führer, the Nikolai Church's minister and
leader of the "Monday demonstrations." A visit to Bach's St.
Thomas Church, complete with organ music, completed the day and provided
a serene close to an otherwise provocative day. |
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Site of the 1989 Monday freedom demonstrations
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The Nikolai Church
Church interior |
Interior design of the church's pillars carried outside to the people as a memorial |
| Johann Sebastian Bach
At the foot of the master |
A Leipzig fireman entertains |
St. Thomas Kirche
J. S. Bach served here from 1722-1750 |
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After two weeks in Berlin and an intensive course dealing with Berlin's and Germany recent past, Dr. Deegen passed the gauntlet to Dr. Heike Alberts. The transition was smooth and interesting as Dr. Alberts and her father joined Dr. Deegen for her last class to discuss personal experiences and perspectives of the past and the future of a unified Germany and Berlin. Without missing a beat, the students stepped right into their study of the: Geography of Europe |
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A "History of Berlin" lecture on Museum Island, in the heart of Berlin |
Bosco joins the class and wins hearts |
Our guest lecturer, Nadia (longtime friend of Dr. Albert's), provided valuable perspectives. |
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Jewish Musuem |
The Television Tower "Fernsehturm" |
One of many Berlin "Walkabouts" |
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Nadia (and Bosco) hold forth |
The Tiergarten Victory Monument on a grey day |
The Pergamon Museum
Ishtar Gate of Ancient Babylon |
Additional Berlin sights
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The Allied Museum |
hmmm..... |
Art for Peace |
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The Reichstag...Capital of the Federal Republic of Germany |
Checkpoint Charlie |
A Berlin Airlift reminder |
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Memorial to WW II "Gedenkhalle"
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Sculpture representing the four WW II allies |
The animal liberationists demonstrate against hunting |
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The Holocaust Memorial
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Berlin Wall art |
One of the several remaining portions of the Berlin Wall
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Fun in Berlin |
Taco Tuesday |
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Berlin Bear and friends |
Birthday Princess |
Snow Wars with the local children |
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Callie has a Dali moment |
The Tiergarten Victory Column on a clear day |
Pancake Supper at the Siegmunds Hof Dorm |
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Robyn goes global...or...somewhere
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Finally....
A day with rays |
In Berlin, there are two moons. |
