Response to Der Baader Meinhof Komplex

Personal Response

The Baader Meinhof Complex is one of the most striking and provocative movies I have seen in quite some time. It is definitely not a movie for the feint of heart and really makes you think about what is truly right and wrong, and who defines it. The movie goes straight at the idea of terrorism and asks if it can be justified in Germany's global situation in the late 1960's and 70's. In order to fight for equality across the world, including Iran and Vietnam, a group of college students starts to fight violently against the German governments light involvement and American 'imperialism'. They feel that the only way to make the world a more 'human' society is to employ bombings, kidnappings, and killings. The RAF (Red Army Faction, or Rote Armee Fraktion) believes that their actions will make a difference in the world by sending a strong message, and force Germany out of any involvement and even get the US out of Vietnam.

One could look at this in one of two ways: they are justified, or they aren't. If one believes that the death of a few for the life of the many is fair, and would stand behind and participate in RAF activities, then by today's laws they are nothing more than a common terrorist. At least in the US they would likely get shipped out to Guantanamo Bay or some other very secure facility. If one doesn't agree with their position, then by RAF standards that person is allowing 'fascism' to spread across Europe and the world.

Rote Armee Fraktion Research Questions

1. Causes

The end of World War II brought vast changes to both Europe, and it certainly didn't leave Germany behind. East and West Germans had to adjust to a change in power from the Nazi's to something new. However, many those that held political power during the Nazi reign did not go silently, and often again found themselves in positions of political power in West Germany's new government. Also, because of the greatly differing experiences that citizens went through during Nazi power compared to those who were born during or afterward there was a sort of divide between the youth and everyone else. Many youth felt that West Germany had become a fascist state being run by the same people who ran Nazi Germany, and some felt that violent action was justified in order to stop it.

2. The Three Generations

The first generation of the RAF, the founders, were considered to be Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin, Hort Mahler, and Ulrike Meinhof. Baader was the leader of the group, Mahler was Baader's girlfriend (and is considered to have had significant influence over the groups actions), and Meinhof was a well known journalist and wrote almost all of the groups publications. There were many others, but this was the core group. The second generation started forming in 1972 after many of the first generation had been killed or captured. Many of those who joined at this time had been part of other similar organizations that had fizzled out, such as the Social Patient's Collective (SPK), and Movement 2 June (M2J), and were of similar demographics of college age students. The third generation was active mostly during the 1980's and early 90's. According to Tom Vague, this group was "considered more viscous than their predecessors". Vague suggests that they also didn't have as much reason to rebel, as the former Nazi leaders aged and new political candidates slowly replaced them.

3. The End of the RAF

On April 20th, 1998, an eight page typewritten letter was sent to Reuters News Agency declaring the official end to the RAF. It concluded with this statement, "Almost 28 years ago, on 14 May 1970, the RAF arose in a campaign of liberation. Today we end this project. The urban guerrilla in the shape of the RAF is now history".

4. Similarities Between Today's Terrorists and the RAF

The RAF used very similar terror tactics as todays terrorists. Bombings, hijackings, kidnappings, and killings are all terroristic actions that both the RAF and modern terrorists used. This type of action is an attempt to force governments to listen to extremist demands in order to save the lives of its own people. However, the one being terrorized must weigh the cost of giving in, since the terrorists might be more eager to try another operation again if they feel they can leverage the same amount of power.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_army_faction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Members_of_the_Red_Army_Faction

20th Century German Technology and Industry

This week our group put together a presentation on 20th century German technology and industry. This topic is critical for Germany in today's global economy and is directly connected to their economic success. It can be viewed at this link. Hope you enjoy it!

19th Century German Music, Theater, and Dance

Tonight we are showing our presentation in class about 19th century German music, theater, and dance. Although a lot of the presentation is spoken and not written, it can be viewed at this link. I hope you enjoy it!

Germany and the European Union

12 reasons why the EU will continue to be a pivotal organization for Germany in the 21st century:

1. Peace - The European Union's number one goal is to keep the peace in Europe. War in Europe in the 21st century would destroy Germany's export based economy.

2. Free Trade - Free trade within the EU will continue to be as important for Germany as it has been in the past. Export economies are much stronger than import economies, since having more exports than imports means you're building wealth in your own country, not sending it elsewhere.

3. Natural Resources - As some of the world's most important natural resources begin to become scarce in the 21st century (oil, natural gas, fresh water), Germany and EU countries as a whole will be much better off than they would be without the EU. As a large organization rather than one of many small countries, the countries of the EU will benefit from the bargaining power of the EU.

4. The Euro - As economies continue to globalize, the Euro will continue to greatly benefit Germany and EU countries as a whole. This is because the Euro is naturally going to be a much stronger currency than the Deutsch Mark ever could have been, and the same goes for any other EU countries' currency.

5. Global Trade - Being part of a larger organization makes it easier to find more and more trade partners. This is because if country A from Asia already trades with country B, a country in the EU, they'll be more apt to trade with country C, also a country in the EU, than country D, which is in Europe but not part of the EU.

6. Next Generation Automobiles - When the next generation engines starts to become more common, whether it be electric, hydrogen, etc, a large infrastructure will be needed to support it. In order to have seamless travel by car in Europe, all EU countries will need to adopt new fueling stations, and this would be very difficult to do in a timely and effective manner without the EU.

7. Reputation - Germany's membership in the EU has given them a better public image outside of Germany. Because of their export economy and their economically driven (as opposed to power hungry) membership activity, they have shown good intentions.

8. Safety of its Citizens - The EU's system of visa's helps prevent criminals from easily moving around Europe.

9. Common Values - The common values shared by EU countries helps prevent internal conflict.

10. Freedom of Travel - The ability of citizens of countries in the EU to freely move about is not only advantageous for those who simply want to travel, but opens economic doors as well.

11. Consumer Protection - Countries that once used to hold monopolies on certain resources and businesses can no longer do so in the EU, bringing down prices and allowing people a better quality of life.

12. Diversity - Diversity is strength, and the interconnectedness of the EU will build a stronger Germany and a stronger Europe.


Sources

Bundesregierung. 25 March 2007. http://www.bundesregierung.de/.

Sprecht-Jarvis, Roland. Class Lecture. 8 Nov, 2010.

http://besokapanadze.webs.com/european_union_map.jpg

19th Century German Rulers and Government

For this week our group created a presentation on 19th century German rulers and government. My job was to put together a time line of the century. I was able to make it interactive and embed it in my blog, so here it is:



The rest of the presentation can be seen here.

20th Century German Writers and Poets

Today our group will be doing our presentation on 20th century German writers and poets in class. Don't miss it! But if you do, it can be viewed at this link.

19th Century Male/Female Roles Presentation

Yesterday we did our groups presentation on 19th century male and female roles in Germany during the 19th century. To view it, please click this link. Bear in mind, however, that much of the presentation was verbal, and not written on the slides. Hope you enjoy(ed) it!

3 Best Blogs

1. Lexi Ball

1. Overall appearance: 30/30 - Simple, clean, and easy to read
2. Completeness: 20/20
3. Solid writing/blogging: 20/20 - Easy to jump into, clear, and interesting
4. Images and sources support the topic of the posts: 10/10
5. Your own criterion: 19/20 - Background gives the blog a warm and inviting feel, and pictures add an interesting aspect
99/100

2. Jessica Nikula

1. Overall appearance: 30/30 - Unique and interesting background gives a good simple appearance
2. Completeness: 20/20
3. Solid writing/blogging: 19/20 Thorough writing that is easy to read
4. Images and sources support the topic of the posts: 10/10
5. Your own criterion: 19/20 - Could use a few more pictures, otherwise an excellent blog
98/100

3. Shelby Gunderson

1. Overall appearance: 30/30 - Interesting but unobtrusive background and pictures
2. Completeness: 20/20
3. Solid writing/blogging: 18/20 - Changing font and size makes reading more difficult, otherwise very good
4. Images and sources support the topic of the posts: 10/10
5. Your own criterion: 19/20 - Overall interesting and inviting
97/100

"All Quiet On The Western Front" Discussion

On Monday, October 4th we discussed the book we just read, "All Quiet On The Western Front" by Erich Maria Remarque. A large part of our discussion, and one of the big themes of the book, is identity. As we've discussed in class in the past, Germany has gone through three empires that have risen and fallen, and this has caused big issues with Germans being able to have a solid identity. In Remarque's book, the narrator and the people around him struggle with their identity as soldiers, and with their previous childhood identity and what it will be after the war, since they can't imagine it as anything but a soldier.

Although this book revolves around war, and my copy even says "The Classic War Novel of All Time" right on the front cover, it is not a book about a war, but of the people who were part of it. The story does not revolve around what is going on in the war, how the Germans are holding up against the Allied forces, or the strategies being used. Paul, the narrator, along with his friends Katczinsky, Kropp, Müller, Tjaden, Kemmerich, Detering, and Behm, many from a high school class in Germany, discusses their fight to not only survive, but to maintain their mental sanity.

Nordhein Westfallen Presentation

Sion and I put together another presentation, this time on the German state of Nordhein Westfallen. Visit this link to view it. Enjoy!

German Trivia Questions

Life in Germany

1. When and where did German scientists recently discover a new species of ape?
Answer: In Asia on Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Source: http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-world/german-scientists-discover-rare-ape-species-in-asia-20100921-15lkn.html

2. What city is known as the salt capital of Germany? When did the salt production end?
Answer: Lüneburg, a German city in the state of Lower Saxony, is known as the salt capital of Germany. It was not until 1980 that the production of salt in the Lüneburg Saline finally closed.
Source: http://worthgem.blogspot.com/2010/09/german-salt-museum-at-luneburg.html

3. What type of schooling is forbidden?
Answer: Homeschooling
Source: www.german-way.com/educ.html

German History

1. What was the difference in population in Germany from 1939 to 1946?
Answer: 4 million less people from 1939 to 1946

2. In the early and middle eleventh century the Saxon kings were able to defeat which Germanic tribes thus strengthening the Elbe Saale frontier?
Answer: The Magyars and the Slavs

3. What Germanic tribe held onto their tradition of worshiping heathen gods the longest?
Answer: The Saxons

German Media

1. What date did the "television contract" (Fernsehvertrag) get signed?
Answer: March 27, 1953
Source: pg 91 of "The Mass Media of the German Speaking Country" by John Sandford

2. The Deutsche Welle first began broadcasting is what year?
Answer: 1953
Source: pg 39 of "The Mass Media of the German Speaking Country" by John Sandford

3. What German newsmagazine is on the rise while its predecessor is on the decline?
Answer: The Focus is on the rise while Der Spiegel is on the decline.
Source: http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/facts/bl_newspapers.htm

German States: Bavaria

1. Who are the three primary Germanic tribes to inhabit Bavaria in history?
Answer: Bavarians, Franks, and Nordgau

2. Pope Benedict was born in town of Marktl Bavaria. Where did he live his adolescence?
Answer: Traunstein
Source: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/biography/documents/hf_ben-xvi_bio_20050419_short-biography_en.html

3. The Hofbrauhaus is a famous beer hall in Munich Bavaria. What family still owns and operates this historic site?
Answer: The Gerdas
Source: http://www.aviewoncities.com/munich/hofbrauhaus.htm

German States: Schleswig-Holstein

1. Where was the chief base for the Third Reich's navy operations?
Answer: Kiel
Source: pg 259-260 of “Discover Germany” by Jack Altman

2. Schleswig-Holstein was part of Denmark until what year?
Answer: 1866
Source: pg 259-260 of “Discover Germany” by Jack Altman

3. What is the world famous annual rock fest that takes place in Schleswig-Holstein?
Answer: Wacken Open Air
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Rhine-Westphalia

German States: Westphalia

1. The Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia convenes to which city in Westphalia?
Answer: Dusseldorf
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schleswig-Holstein

2. Where can the best soil in North Rhine-Westphalia be found? (specific place)
Answer: The fertile, deep loessial soil of the Köln Bay.
Source: pg 12 of “North Rhine-Westphalia” by J. A. Hellen

3. What are the names of the two broad trails, one a road the other a trading route in North Rhine-Westphalia that can be traced back to prehistoric times?
Answer: Rhine (Road) and Hellway (Trade Route)
Source: pg 18 of “North Rhine-Westphalia” by J. A. Hellen

Berlin

1. What animal infestation did the U.S. Army eradicate in Berlin?
Answer: Rats
Source: “The Berlin Wall: How it Rose and Why it Fell” by Doris M. Epler

2. What is this and what does it stand for? (Picture Link: http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/berlin-d1434.jpg)
Answer: The Soviet War Memorial; it was built in memory of all the Soviet soldiers who died in the battle of the conquest of Berlin. (WWII)
Source: “The Berlin Wall: How it Rose and Why it Fell” by Doris M. Epler

3. What was the full birth name of the mayor of West Berlin who was in office during JFK’s “Ich bin ein Berliner Speech?”
Answer: Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm

Final Category – Poetry & Cars

1. “At Bacharach on the Rhine, Lorelei is lingering” is the English translation of the first line of whose poem?
Answer: Hans Rudolf Hilty – poem’s title Lorelei
Source: pg 131 of Contemporary Germany Poetry: An Anthology

2. “I greet Berlin as three times
I band my head, three times
against one of the walls” is the English translation of whose stanza?
Answer: Günter Grass – poem’s title Brandmauern
Source: pg 147 of Contemporary Germany Poetry: An Anthology

3. How does the BMW logo represent the company’s history?
Answer: Originally, the Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW or “Bavarian Motor Works”) was a German airplane engine manufacturer, which later came to focus on making sweet cars. The BMW Logo is supposed to represent a white airplane-propeller against the blue sky; a reflection of the company’s beginnings in the early days of flight.

German Print Media Reviewed

Looking at the online German newspapers, if the title said CNN and everything was in English, I wouldn't think twice about doubting its authenticity. Not only do the online newspapers look basically the same as German newspapers, so do the paper newspapers that we looked at in class today. The subject matter is very similar, as is the layout. One could argue this is because of mass media assimilation, but as we discussed today it has much to do with how limited the space is on print media, and the same argument can be made online, since they need to optimize the space for simplicity purposes. The subject matter being similar also makes sense, since politics, sports, entertainment, and general news is going to be relatively universally important. Overall, however, their print media goes to show how similar our cultures are, since in some government situation politics aren't talked about as much, sports sometimes is or isn't as big of a deal, etc.

German Radio Stations

Listening to a couple German radio stations today was very interesting, as their music is not very different from ours, with similar beats, rhythms and styles, just in a different language. Some songs even sounded nearly identical to ones I've heard here, but like they took the song and adapted it to the German language. Also, the way the radio stations are run by the DJ's is very similar to ours, along with the wide variety of music available on the radio. Driving through different parts of the US you will see different genres come and go, and the radio stations vary based on location in Germany as well.

I have no idea how German radio stations were in the past compared to ours, but mass media has assimilated much of our entertainment throughout the world in our modern day. This could be because of large, powerful corporations, or simply because a single system of running radio stations work best. With such large assimilation of our media throughout the world, many cultural traditions will inevitably disappear. If a tradition is truly rooted in their traditions, it could very well still live on, but if the media doesn't embrace it, it will wither sooner or later.

Schwabische Alb Presentation

Sion Owen and I put together a presentation on the Schwabische Alb, a large plateau in southern Germany that contains many beautiful and stunning sights. Click this link to download the PowerPoint presentation. Hope you enjoy it!

Note: you'll need to actually be in class to really see the presenation as there is no written explanations in the PowerPoint.

Classmates' Berlin Presentations

Prioritized list of topics by classmates in my level of interest (some topics condensed due to repitition):

1. Berlin's Nightlife
2. Berlin During WWII
3. Tourism Attractions in Berlin
4. Berlin Structures
5. Life in Berlin: Then and Now
6. Now and In the Past U-Bahn and S-Bahn
7. Berlin Music In the Past vs Today
8. Berlin Sports and Nightlife
9. The Reichstag
10. Art and Culture in the 1920's

The Reichstag

Sion Owen and I put together a PowerPoint presentation about the Reichstag in Germany. It is basically like Germany's equivalent of the US capitol building. Click this link to view the PowerPoint. Enjoy!

World Heritage Sites: The Upper Middle Rhine Valley AND The Sixteen German States

When perusing the World Heritage sites about various historical places in Germany, one stood out to me as both very historical and intriguing at the same time: the upper middle Rhine valley. The Rhine River is to Germany what the Mississippi is the United States. It is a very large river that has been used for centuries for transporting goods, people, culture, and has been the key for a significant amount of trade in the area. Medieval leaders saw the advantages of positioning themselves along the Rhine River, and built castles along the river in order to impose taxes on those who wanted to pass. This led to nearly sixty castles or tollhouses along this section of the river at its height.

One would greatly enjoy taking a boat down the Mississippi or any other great river in the United States, as there is much scenery to enjoy. But this section of the Rhine tops all of them. As you go along the river, you are in a large green valley surrounded by medieval styled towns that bring you back to an age no longer able to be seen almost anywhere else in the world. But as you go around a bend, you might even be lucky enough to spy a medieval castle that might be on a sandbar in the middle of the river, or built into the valley walls. Many of these castles are exquisite examples of medieval castles and many are well maintained, giving you a perfect opportunity to get off your boat and take a look at one of these historical monuments that once housed knights and lords. At least in this section of the World Heritage protected area of the Rhine, there isn’t even any bridges that cross the river, only ferries. This only helps to contribute to the truly historical section of the river.

Here is a section of the upper middle Rhine valley:

One castle along the river, Reichenstein castle, was once a home for a band of knight thieves that would stop ships and boats, only to steal whatever they pleased from them from their position of power. This led to an attack on the castle in the thirteenth century to rid the castle of these corrupts knights.

Here is the Reichenstein castle:

Marksburg castle is another perfect example of a well preserved medieval castle from the thirteenth century. The castle was armed with cannons, like most, were used to prevent ships to pass that did not pay their tolls.

Here is the Marksburg castle:

When I spend fall semester next year abroad (either in England or Germany), I most certainly hope to have the time to see this World Heritage site, as there is nowhere else in the world one could see anything else like this.

The Sixteen German States

Baden-Württemberg: Located in the southwest corner of Germany, this state borders France, Switzerland, and two other German States. This state is famous for it's historical architecture and cities that are wound into the mountains in southern Germany.

Bavaria: Located in the Southeast corner of Germany, this state is the single largest state in Germany and borders Austria, the Czech Republic, and Austria, as well as four other German states. Munich is the largest city in Bavaria and doubl es as it's capitol, and it is also one of the largest train hubs in Europe.

Berlin: A city that is also a state, Berlin is Germany's capitol and is landlocked by the state Brandenburg. Berlin is considered to be the cultural capitol of Germany as well as political, and contains many historic buildings.

Brandenburg: Located in the east central section of Germany, it borders Poland and five other German states. It is by far the newest member of the German states, as it was created in 1990 with the fall of Soviet Russia.

Bremen: By far the smallest German state in terms of size, it is located towards the northwest corner of Germany. Bremen is often referred to as the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen.

Hamburg: Like Berlin and Bremen, it is also a city-state, and is located in north central Germany. It is the eighth largest city in the European Union, and has been a center for maritime trade for centuries.

Hesse (Hessen): Located in the west central part of Germany, it borders six other German states. It houses the city of Frankfurt, which is a very modern city and an economic hub in Germany.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Located in the north

east corner of Germany, this state borders three other states, but most importantly is along the sea. Its location has led it to be one of the cente

rs of maritime trade in Germany.

Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen): Located in the northwest of Germany, this state borders seven other German States and the Netherlands. This state is home to the worlds (currently) third largest automaker, Volkswagen, who also owns Porsche, Audi, Bugatti, Suzuki, Lamborghini, and sever other smaller manufacturers.

North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordhein-Westfalen): Located on the western border of Germany, it borders Belgium, the Netherlands, and three other German states. It is the largest state in Germany in terms of population, and wields the most economic power through Dusseldorf and Cologne.

Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz): Located in the southwest of Germany, this state borders France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and four other German states. This state contains many historical regions.

Saarland: Located in the southwest of Germany, this state borders France, Luxembourg, and one other German state. It was the other state to join the Federal Republic of Germany between 1949 and 1990.

Saxony (Sachsen): Located in the southeast of Germany this state borders four other states as well as the Czech Republic and Poland. It has one of the longest histories in Germany, and has gone from a medieval duchy, to a part of the Holy Roman Empires, to a kingdom, to a republic in 1918.

Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt): Located in central Germany, this state borders four other states. This state contains the best soil in Germany, which has led to significant farming.

Schleswig-Holstein: The farthest north state in Germany, it borders three other states as well as the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Its culture and economy have revolved around its water borders, and it is home to the largest heavy metal rock festival in the world, the Wacken Open Air festival, which sees both European and American bands such as Slayer, Arch Enemy, Ill Nino, Motley Crue, and Iron Maiden. For 2009 all 7

0,000 tickets sold out by December 2008.

Thuringia (Thuringen): Located in central Germany, it borders five other states. It is heavily forested by the Thuringian Forest, and is known as the Green Heart of Germany.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_Germany
http://beatcrave.frsucrave.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/01020125823700.jpg
http://www.musikreviews.de/static/images/common/live/2008/february/woa_2007_teil3_1.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2050/2108134105_8091687fd4.jpg?v=0

Famous Germans

Our group of four put together a power point presentation about eight different famous German's in history. Each of us did some research on a male and a female German, two politicians/military leaders, two sports people, two royalty, and two actors/actresses. To view the powerpoint, visit this link.

Hope you enjoy it!