Kapitel 11 Kultur

These kultur articles focused on the period of German history I find most interesting.  The timeline is really interesting because its focus on not just political events, but cultural events. I decided to research Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel whose surrender marked the end of the war.  I knew he wasn't the first Field Marshal to surrender (Paulus was), but what happened after his surrender is fascinating.  He was arrested, tried for war-crimes, and sentenced to death. However, Keitel's request to get shot by a firing squad was denied and he was hung.  He seemed somewhat fanatical to me and I wondered if he would have surrendered knowing he would be hung shortly after.  I didn't realize Germany had record unemployment in 2005; it's hard to believe things were worse then than after WWI.  The article about the "Mauer im kopf" was also interesting. I believe the tension and negativity between East and West Germany will eventually subside just as it did between the North and South United States, but then again some of those old prejudices still exist.  Ostalgie made me think of Americans who buy Confederate flags.  The animosity between North and South Germany also reminded me of the Yankees, Confederates, and all their stereotypes. One thing I learned from Vorsprung was that the Berlin Blockade was a response to currency reform.