First of all I very much enjoyed the pod and I am looking forward to further episodes. I knew about the expression sonderweg but didn’t really understand it, so thank you for clarifying that. As a Brit my understanding of German history was fairly superficial and almost entirely understood in relation to conflict with the United Kingdom. Clearly that is no longer the case. I think German history’s biggest problem is whataboutery and the giant black hole of the SWW and its attendant horrors. For example as you have said the instant you try to discuss the quotidian life of ordinary East Germans someone will always mention the Stasi. Lately I have been reading about the displacement of millions of Germans from their homes and ancestral lands. Try discussing that in a rational manner. Good read on a Sunday morning Katja.
One issue is how well one can translate some German terms, albeit m command of the language is poor. Ordnungspolitik is another term that has been given me difficulties over the years.
Looking forward to listening to your new podcast Katja. Not that I find time to listen to all my favourite podcasts but I’m sure I’ll find a way to listen to this one. Having enjoyed your “Beyond the Wall” I’m sure I’ll enjoy listening to “Reichs and Republics”. Oh and thanks for telling me about Sonderweg. Every day’s a school day.
I must find time each week for the podcast. Mea culpa, I use the Sonderweg concept in my book on Political Football to look at the German 50+1 model, albeit rather critically. A persistent view in Britain is that somehow Modell Deutschland can be exported to the UK. I had many arguments with my colleagues at the WZB in Berlin back in the 1980s, arguing that the two histories and cultures were quite different.
I listened to the pilot episode this week, it took my mind of the monotony of pizza leaflets and brown envelopes, so bravo that's my Tuesday sorted .
First of all I very much enjoyed the pod and I am looking forward to further episodes. I knew about the expression sonderweg but didn’t really understand it, so thank you for clarifying that. As a Brit my understanding of German history was fairly superficial and almost entirely understood in relation to conflict with the United Kingdom. Clearly that is no longer the case. I think German history’s biggest problem is whataboutery and the giant black hole of the SWW and its attendant horrors. For example as you have said the instant you try to discuss the quotidian life of ordinary East Germans someone will always mention the Stasi. Lately I have been reading about the displacement of millions of Germans from their homes and ancestral lands. Try discussing that in a rational manner. Good read on a Sunday morning Katja.
One issue is how well one can translate some German terms, albeit m command of the language is poor. Ordnungspolitik is another term that has been given me difficulties over the years.
Looking forward to listening to your new podcast Katja. Not that I find time to listen to all my favourite podcasts but I’m sure I’ll find a way to listen to this one. Having enjoyed your “Beyond the Wall” I’m sure I’ll enjoy listening to “Reichs and Republics”. Oh and thanks for telling me about Sonderweg. Every day’s a school day.
I must find time each week for the podcast. Mea culpa, I use the Sonderweg concept in my book on Political Football to look at the German 50+1 model, albeit rather critically. A persistent view in Britain is that somehow Modell Deutschland can be exported to the UK. I had many arguments with my colleagues at the WZB in Berlin back in the 1980s, arguing that the two histories and cultures were quite different.