Kultur 11- John Fuerst

Reading this chapter's Kultur texte, I felt I learned a great deal about a part of Germany history (division and reunification), that in my education, has often been overshadowed by a slightly more distant history (World Wars I and II). The time period stretching from 1945 to 1990 was undoubtedly one of the most turbulent time periods in a given European country's history, with extensive violence and political-idealogical struggle dividing a once strongly nationalistic people. While I had always been familiar with the basic happenings in European post-world war history, particularly the plight of Soviet-controlled nations, I had never known of the numerous struggles faced by West Germany is solidifying a truly free democracy. These points, covered in der Spiegel's "The Germans Timeline" came as a surprise to me.

The second major point of interest in this chapter's Kultur texte for me was the articles discussing the remaining and even developing, nostalgia for the part of history in which Germany was divided and prevalence of disunity in the German Republic today. "Breaking Down the Wall in the Head" from Deutsche Welle and "Ostalgie" from Wikipedia did not surprise me with their discussion, but rather concretized or extended some of the notions I had regarding East-West tensions in present day Germany. I can fully understand the malaise felt between the two, as there is an extended history unshared by the sides, which in overcoming the differences stemming from it, could cause some "big brother-little brother" resentment. The German disunity that came as a surprise to me however was that discussed in "Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners: Germany's Real Divide". As I have accepted internship position in Munich for this upcoming summer, the sentiments felt by northerners towards Bavarians and vice versa was of particular interest to me. I have been told, "Bavaria is the Texas of Germany", and in all honesty, this does not paint the Bavarians in a good light for me. However, having family who come from a rural part of the United States, I know how the other side of that sentiment can be, feeling that the more industrialized peoples of the urban world can be snooty and conceited. Regardless of what stereotypes are true of Germany's northern and southern peoples, I am excited to get the chance to witness them first hand.

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