A Series of Mixed Emotions

Revenge, Defeat, Change, Vision, and Occupation were just only a few of the words that circled in the minds of Germans following World War II.  The country was in complete shambles with not a flicker of hope.  The curtains came down and Germany was left exposed.  The agendas of the Third Reich carried out in the war were coming to light as the Russians, British and the Americans came to liberate the concentration camps whose skeletons loomed for them to find.  There was an air of a revengeful spirit as those who Germany had hurt throughout the course of the war suddenly turned to seek revenge on what was left of this desolate country.



For many, Germany was the sole cause of the war and as such, responsible for all that had happened during the war. 
But imagine what it would be like to be Germany, for them to have lost everything and feel abandoned but their leaders.  In the here and now, we have the hindsight to see the devastation that existed and that maybe, it was not such a bad thing that Germany no longer had Hitler as chancellor.  But from their standpoint, they are waiting in ruins for whatever may come next.  And what Richard Bessel does in his Germany 1945, is to illustrate on many different fronts, exactly what was going in this devastated state.

 



For many Germans, according to Bessel, "Germany did indeed go to hell, and in 1945, began to come back; the peaceful half of the 20th century rested on the ashes of the first" (4).  Since Hitler's coming to power in 1933, this is exactly what Germany had become in the eyes of some was that state of hell.  Hitler had succeeded in his complete control as well as carrying out his Final Solution against the Jews, where, at the hand of the Nazis, six million people perished.  And because of what many came to associate with Hitler and the devastation that he caused, other countries viewed Germans as "guilty by association".  According to Bessel, "the violence which Germans now experienced, in their daily lives was a profound shock, which pushed into the background their memories of the earlier phases of the war when they had the upper hand and were more often the perpetrators of violence than its victims" (5).  And what this shows so poignantly, is that Germany was left in a state of ruin and rather than the perpetrators, that had lost any control they once had and were now victims of the Russians, Americans and other countries that sought revenge for the damage that Germany had caused. And as was true for many people, Germany had also been devastated by the war; "the loss of family, friends, homes, limbs and years of their lives, in service of a criminal and lost cause, left behind an ocean of bitterness" (7).  But yet, as a country, many viewed that Germany was responsible as a country for "[what] people had been complicit in, and profited from, the actions of a racist and murderous regime, and were in danger of being called to account by the victorious Allies, raised the question of guilt and the problem of having to deal with one's own often chequered past" (7). 

And so this was the state that Germany found itself in; facing that they were a defeated peeple...

Amid the sounds of bombs, terror, illegal activity, and crime, the Nazi state continued to crumble in the wake of 1945.  As Bessel writes, "under the circumstances which prevailed during the previous years of Nazi rule, the savagery let loose by the regime during the first four months of 1945 was not the product of its tight control of German society.  Instead it was an expression of the breakdown of order, which brought a willingness, and indeed a desire, to engage in violence and an utter disregard for the lives of individual human beings" (65).  At the same time, Bessel also states that thie terror carried out was a result of an "inability to deal with the consequences of collapse, or to respect the most basic human values" (65).  And with the loss of that control of the Third Reich, those human values were indeed lost as well.

As the months continued to pass in 1945, the Third Reich was reaching its "grotesque conclusion" (93).  For higher ranking Nazi officials, "Hitler and his immediate entourage had taken to living permanently underground; military orders were issued but only offered a fleeting relationship to reality" (94).   In April 1945, the Russians pursued Germany and as they continued to mount the offesnsive, orders came from underground to continue in this fighting.  But as Germany soon became crippled in defeat, it appears that a series of conflicting, as well as mixed emotions were swirling in the minds of the Third Reich's top leaders; they would not concede willingly but were instead forced to do so as they recognized this indeed present reality.

And as the year continued, Germany faced the presence of Communism within their country.  This cyclic pattern to their history only continued to perpetuate as they tried to rise from these ashes of devastation; that indeed this devastating war would bring peace. 

 

Discussion Questions

1) Bessel presents this idea of “unconscious self-conscience”.  What does this mean in light of our vantage point? And in a way, Bessel seems to connect this with a sense of identity and maybe how this was lost with the war?  Is it fair to collectively say that this was how it was for Germany as a country?

2) This idea of being a “predictor of doom” and foreshadowing that something was coming, even as Roth pointed out in 1933 as Hitler was coming to power, what would the German response be to this foreshadowing as all of this evil of the Third Reich is being exposed; with their hindsight in the aftermath of the war?

3) As Bessel writes, "under the circumstances which prevailed during the previous years of Nazi rule, the savagery let loose by the regime during the first four months of 1945 was not the product of its tight control of German society. Instead it was an expression of the breakdown of order, which brought a willingness, and indeed a desire, to engage in violence and an utter disregard for the lives of individual human beings" (65).  From our perspective today, could one not argue that this had been the case since Hitler’s coming to power in 1933?

4) To draw from another literary perspective, in Harry Potter, Dolores Umbridge assumes authority within Hogwarts and always needs to have “order” within the constraints of her position.  However, anytime that this is threatened or otherwise challenged, she feels a need to maintain that grip.  But, when all falls apart, and order no longer exists, it is apparent that in a way this mirrors the same state of Germany without the control of the leader and how chaos ensues.  From the German perspective, how would this loss of control seem to have affected everyday life?  Does abandonment give license to violence in this case?

5) “Stripped of human decency” was a phrase mentioned earlier in our readings. This terror and savage nature of the Third Reich seems to manifest itself even greater in the early months of 1945.  In this “last stitch effort”, what implications does this terror have for the people?  Because of their disregard for these basic human rights, could one argue that the way that the Russians treated them, or even the British or Americans fair?

6) Bessel speaks to Hitler’s motto, “I can no longer go back”, as he details the Soviet offensive that took place in April 1945.  How is our understanding of his motto modified, if any, in light of what he did?  Does this signal defeat or is he alluding something deeper?

 

Resources

Bessel, Richard. Germany 1945: From War to Peace. Great Britain: Simon & Schuster, 2009. Print.

Fulbrook, Mary. A History of Germany: 1918-2008 The Divided Nation. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2009. Print.

 

 

 



Getting the Leftovers

Think to your childhood memories of when your mother or even your father announced that tonight for dinner was, yep, you guessed it; leftovers.  And to some, depending on if it was meatloaf and mashed potatoes, may have been excited or if it was not necessarily one of your favorites, it may have the opposite reaction.  But those associations are powerful things.  In The Invention of Curried Sausage, it was the thoughts of a favorite food with an associated memory that that led him in his search for the woman who used to make it for him.  Or in A Woman in Berlin, it was the leftovers as Germany appeared defeated and the Russians were left to plunder through Berlin.  And yet, each of these accounts shows how people wrestle with the aftermath; the leftovers.  Whether, if it is just for one person in the case of Hermann Bremer or several women in A Woman in Berlin, each of these characters is left to face the circumstances in the aftermath of war.  And for some, this means war associates with rape by Russian officers whereas others associate with an affair and certain culinary affinities.  Either way, these "leftovers" stand to leave an impact whether it is for better or worse.

The opportunities that each of us face stand to have a tremendous impact on our lives.  In reading each of these accounts, I found that this was especially with the case of the woman in Berlin.  Here she is, left in a state of turmoil as the Russians come in, advancing for Reichstag in April of 1945.  For the Russians, they have hardened and vengeful hearts for how Germany treated them and devastated their country throughout the war.  And yet, as a result, the use of women to someone satisfy their vengeful hearts proves only temporary as this act is repeated with several different Russian officers.  From the perspective of this woman, it seems that 1945 Berlin has become a "living hell" for her and fellow German citizens as they are each "put into their place" and associated with the greater Germany as a whole.

On the contrasting side of this woman's account of 1945 Berlin, Uwe Timm paints a portrait of Bremer through association with a beloved food.  The Invention of Curried Sausage chronicles the story of Hermann Bremer and Lena Brucker, who has invented this famous curried sausage.  Early on, it details their relationship as lovers together and how he faces the conflict between serving his country as well as his relationship with Brucker, which he details by saying, "Bremer was scared; scared to stay with Lena Brucker and scared to go to the front.  These were his options: to desert and possibly face a firing squad of his own people, or to go to the front and be torn to pieces by a British tank.  In either case only one thing mattered: to get through alive.  But which alternative offered the better chance" (41).  Bremer is faced with a decision of what it is that he is needing to do and though his choice, he finds himself in an interweaving of secrets between him and Brucker that appear to be concealed at times primarily for self preservation.

It is a radical change to go from discussing the Holocaust one week to reading about post war Germany another.  However, when you truly examine these differences and see the devastation that occurred within Germany following World War II, you'd see that the German people were made to be victims just like the Jews.  And yet, one word appears as a common theme both of Alter's story as well as though of Timm and the anonymous writer, which is that of survival.  While these individuals are stripped of themselves, both literally and metaphorically and left with facing the choice of continuing to fight in the German cause, it becomes simply a fight for survival.  And yes, it is easy to see how in the case of the Holocaust, that for these individuals who were being exterminated, survival seems like a natural thought process.  However, the perspective change of post war Germany presents a different vantage point.  Whether these individuals were being raped on a continual basis for Russian pleasure or facing uncertainty in serving his country, survival seems to emanate from these pages, despite these separate accounts.

So in the aftermath of World War II in 1945 Germany, things look as they seem.  The country is in ruins and at one point, the woman believes that God is the only one that can help us.  Each of these accounts presents a profound perspective as they seek to explain the places that German citizens found themselves in.  And yes, while Jews were victims of the Holocaust, the Germans were simply victims of being German and therefore punished by the Russians because of it.  And yet, in the midst of turmoil, the "leftovers" seem to prevail, the survival lives on and hope continues...

Discussion Questions
1) Over the semester, we have noticed consistencies or at least taken note of the purpose in sharing these various accounts of German history.  In terms of the anonymous woman, why do you think it was necessary to remain anonymous? Did she have something in particular that she was needing to protect?  At that point, what else is left in need of protection? And in contrast, why did Timm narrate his telling of curried sausage?
2) To be in Bremer's position, how do you face being AWOL and not following the German cause that you sought to fight for? What prompted him to stay with Brucker? Discuss further the implications of being AWOL to the German army; implications for soldier, etc.

3) I have found it interesting in the past week to notice the element of film of the portrayal of history.  As I was reading this book, I could not help but find that both of these novels were made into movies (the trailer for A Woman in Berlin is attached above).  Of all the novels to become movies, why these two?  What is it about these accounts that you may find impacting when seeing it on a movie screen?  And another piece to note in the use of these films is accuracy.  How can you watch one or both of these movies and feel as though it matches the accounts from the novels themselves?
4) In comparing and contrasting these two representations, would you say that one is better than another?  Do you see the same themes and ideas consistent with the book to movie adaptations?
5) Put yourself in the position of the woman.  With all of the rape that is continually committed, how do you wrestle with the issue of survival?  Does it soon become something that is routine and then disregard the thoughts of your husband?  How do you rationalize this behavior?  Do you claim it as "war/ social injustices" or is it more from the motives of the Russians?
6) In thinking of the framework that these authors provide in detailing post World War II Germany, are the Russians truly out for revenge?  How does this compare to their liberation of the concentration camps in 1945?

Resources
Anonymous. A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City. Frankfurt: Eichborn AG, 2003. Print.
Fulbrook, Mary. A History of Germany: 1918-2008 The Divided Nation. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2009. Print.
Timm, Uwe. The Invention of Curried Sausage. New York: New Directions Publishing Co., 1995. Print.

Stripped of Human Decency

There are certain words from last week's interview that continue to reverberate in my memory.  I will forever be changed by the way that Alter Wiener so poignantly shared his experiences within the Holocaust as those that followed. I asked Alter several questions, to which he all thoughtfully answered.  However, there was one in particular where I asked him at what point he may have felt stripped of human decency.  There was absolutely no pride in being Jewish, let alone a human being; the only word that seemed to echo throughout every fiber of being was that of survival.
Imagine for a second what it would be like to have nothing.  None of your possessions, no family, friends, children, nutrition or even a place to go to the bathroom.  All of these aspects to our daily lives seem so second nature, but imagine what it would be like if suddenly all of this was stripped away and you were left with next to nothing. There were guards, who may have at one time been prisoners, who caused pain or bodily harm just for their pure enjoyment.  There were people who forced you to witness atrocity merely for spectacle.  I reflect on the words of Alter now and think about all that continues to haunt him today.  How he was stripped of his decency and in an instant became less than human because of one person's influence about the "perfect race".  In an instant, he was persecuted for his faith and lost his mother, father, brothers, and other extended family in the Holocaust.  What would it be like to be in his shoes?  To be treated as less than a human being.

On the heels of my conversation with Mr. Wiener, I came across a video that my cousin posted about human rights.  Take a look...
When a group of people were interviewed, at first, they had no idea what these were.  But, as this video continues, it demonstrates how throughout our world's history, certain historical events have challenged human rights, which in the case of the Holocaust, completely annihilated them.
If nothing else from my conversation with Alter, it is the words of "hope".  That judgment not cloud our views and attitudes towards others, that approach each individual relationship without  prejudice, bigotry or hatred.  I am simply in awe of how someone after such a horrific tragedy can hold these beliefs about people.  But in the face of all that he has endured, if nothing else, hope spurs on.

Honoring His Story

It is a rare honor these days to get the opportunity to read a firsthand account, let alone get the opportunity to personally have an interview with one. According to Israel National News, the projections of remaining Holocaust survivors will total approximately 145,000 by 2015.  This means that the historical significance of these accounts as well as the opportunity to speak with a living Holocaust survivor is not something to be taken lightly, but rather something to be valued and treasured for these experiences.

I will never forget a couple of weeks ago when I began to receive a series of emails.  The first email that came simply introduced the idea of getting to meet with this Holocaust survivor, Alter Wiener, whose autobiography was one of the reading materials selected for this class.  The second stated that he would be interested in doing an interview and the third and last email said that their was an interview set up with the confirmed date and time.  Mind you, all of this happened within a thirty minute time span and I walked away from my class really excited in anticipation of this interview.  And now that it is here, I cannot help but feel different emotions.  After reading Alter Wiener's From a Name to a Number, one cannot help but to truly get a sense of the impact of the Holocaust.  The way that he presents his story is one that truly strips any prejudices or barriers and simply shares a series of stories throughout his novel.

As part of what Wiener details in his autobiography, he feels a need to share his story with those people today who know of the Holocaust but maybe not in the way that Alter shares his story.

One of the most poignant parts to this autobiography is truly the way that he approaches his experiences of the Holocaust.  To be such a young man at the time of the Holocaust and then have the perspective that he does is truly amazing. He approaches the Holocaust in a way that appears to be full of grace and humility.  He honors those that risked so much to save him but painting portraits of these unsung heroes.  And while in this short clip, Wiener details exactly his reasons for writing this book, I would say that part of this reason is to honor these people around him in those years that made his survival possible.  Whether a cheese sandwich, clothes to wear, human touch or even shelter, he does not fail to say how their stories have made his richer.  They are the reason that he is allowed to speak and educate and help us to remember all those who lost their lives and endured the horrors of the Holocaust.

One of the themes that has been dominant throughout the readings of this semester has been the purpose of these authors in writing their novels or various accounts of German history.  Whether a simple fascination or even a true and very personal story, each serves to lay a brick in a foundation of German history.  Some may ask, why did Joseph Roth detail what he saw in Berlin or what was Erik Larsen's fascination with William Dodd?  But yet, in each of these books, there is a purpose.  There is a reason that these stories need to be told.  In each account, a different vantage point is presented that allows for me personally to view Germany in a total different capacity than I had previously.

And so to each one of you, I thank you.  I thank you for your willingness to be open and vulnerable in your writing.  To use your gifts of oratory and the written word to communicate to a generation more than a preconceived idea that Nazi Germany is all that Germany has to show for itself.  And while to a degree this is true, thank you for having the courage to challenge us as readers and listeners to look beyond narrow minded views and expand us to a deeper appreciation of history and understanding.

Tomorrow will be a wonderful opportunity to do just this.  To gain a deeper understanding straight from the mouth of Alter Wiener.  I am so looking forward to having this opportunity.  And so it is with great honor and respect for this individual, that I must allow him to do the rest of the talking for this week as my understanding only goes so far.

"I bow my head for all righteous people of all nations, who risked death to preserve human freedom and human dignity. We must honor them by carrying on their struggle to defend life, liberty and justice for all people". - Alter Wiener (51).

Interview Questions for Alter Wiener: 
1) In the preface, you mention the phrase "somewhat healed".  What do you mean by this phrase?  What brings you healing in the aftermath of the Holocaust?
2) What impact do you feel that your story has on audiences today?  What does it mean for you to get a letter from an audience member that details the impact that you have made by telling your story?
3) You mention that your story is one that is "difficult and painful to tell".  Do you find that speaking to audiences or sharing your autobiography was an easier medium for you to communicate your story?
4) Do you feel the need to "perpetuate the Holocaust's legacy"?
5) You mention that the "Holocaust legacy" has intrinsic value as a warning for the future.  What is this warning that you believe the Holocaust is for the human race?
6) You had mentioned that "if the seeds of genocide ever begin to appear, they can be identified and eradicated before they ripen".  What do you say in response to the genocide in Serbia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur? As a survivor, how do you wrestle with this notion of "never again"?
7) Beyond the guard that you met in Waldeburg, have you ever come into contact with a Nazi officer who survived the war?  If so, what was your conversation like?
8) The day that you were in the graveyard with the tombstones following your mother's death, why did you feel that one of those tombstones would soon bear your name?  Was there a sense of urgency you felt towards your death at that time? (***Joseph Roth and the predictor of doom)
9) The phrase, "we were given two ears, but only one tongue- to teach us that we should listen twice as much as we speak. The key to all good human relations is listening.  When your loved ones are talking, listen to them as if it were the last time hearing them."  In lieu of sharing your story, what does this phrase mean to you?
10) You mention your stepmother Rachel and create this beautiful portrait of her as your "torch in life; full of forgiveness, humility, meekness, steadfastness and moral principles."  How does Rachel's influence impact your attitudes towards the Holocaust, if at all?
11) "Never abandon your dreams; dwell on positive thoughts; you lose nothing by keeping your hopes alive! The adversities we face are passing phases that will be followed by fortunate events".  I really appreciated this quote of Rachel's.  What are your dreams now and then?  How do these words impact you today?
12) One of your father's quotes mentioned was "idleness is the killer of the soul.  If you have time, don't waste it because every moment is precious".  In lieu of your survival and the impact that you make with the time you had, do you believe that your father has made this lasting impact on your life? And in what way specifically?
13) Do family values that were instilled in you as a child translate to your honoring of their memory today?
14) The phrase, "Love the sinner. Hate the sin." In the midst of your experience, do you truly feel that you are able to love your oppressors despite all that they did to you?
15) When Hitler invaded Poland in 1939, what was it like for you to truly be so close and have that point in history so prominent in your own personal history despite of all the ensuing chaos around you?
16) Rachel seemed to have this unwavering faith with the invasion of Poland and the presence of the Germans.  Did you find that her faith strengthened yours simply by her presence?
17) When the Jewish men and women were being hung, what was your feelings about the Germans view of this as something as a "spectacle" of death?
18)  What was it like for you when you learned that your brother, Shmuel was in the camp with you?  Did you find that despite being in the camps, that you still had a presence in each other's lives?
19) In regards to hygiene, did you literally feel stripped of human decency?  Or what point in the transition to Blechhammer did you reach this point?
20) Did the Germans still give you a Sabbath so that you could observe a day of rest?
21) When wearing the star of David in the camps, was it a feeling of pride or a feeling of humiliation that you carried with you?
22) You include one of Arthur Ashe's quotes, "True heroism is not dramatic.  It is not the urge to surpasss all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."  You highlight several heroes in this account.  One of the more prominent ones is the woman in the factory that brings you a cheese sandwich.  Why do you believe that she risked so much for you?
23) What did it feel like when you were taken to Waldenburg and went nameless and replaced by a five digit number? How did it feel to now just be one of many?
24)  When the camps were first liberated, what emotions did you feel? How did you cope with this new freedom? How did you transition to life outside of the camps?
25) Knowing today that there were those who knew of the camps, what do you say to them? How do you face them even when they know that the Holocaust was taking place?
26) Following liberation, you mention the phrase "renewal of life".  What does this phrase mean to you?
27) "My frame of mind was not for revenge.  No matter how I was hurting, I let it go and did not try to get even"? Was this a perspective/ attitude that was innate to you based on your faith or did something else drive you when others sought revenge?
28) What purpose do you ultimately find in sharing your stories? Do you feel that you are truly helping to educate a generation on this "never forget. never again" mentality?

And with that, we shall wait in expectation of what lies ahead. I am truly left speechless. What an honor...

Resources:
Fulbrook, Mary. A History of Germany: 1918-2008 The Divided Nation. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2009. Print.
Wiener, Alter. From a Name to a Number: A Holocaust Survivor's Autobiography. Bloomington: Author House Publishing, 2008. Print.