German history

Are you sure that’s what that sign means?

Signs are there for the express purpose of helping you find your way. They tell....

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Look here, U.S. election deniers – Berlin bungled it big time 

The press and social media are still abuzz with deniers of the U.S. elections in....

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The 100 meters between fascism and democracy in Munich

On just a 10-minute walk through Munich, I passed a murder scene leading to the....

50 years later – Triumph and tragedy of the Munich Olympics. Part II: Tragedy

The 1972 Munich Olympic Games brought many long-lasting improvements to the city, but they were....

50 years later: The triumph and tragedy of the Munich Olympics – Part I: Triumph

It’s been 50 years since the Munich Olympics were held, but their impact lives on....

Bombs away! The WWII gift that keeps on giving

30 July 2022 One of the punctuality challenges to the Munich train system, as noted....

Kraut and about – what are all those Germans doing abroad?

German immigrants used to flock to the U.S. They still go there in droves, but....

Think digital technology is a cure-all? Don’t bet your life on it

A WWII air raid siren startled me once while I waited for a train. Such....

Karl Marx’s penguin and Richard Wagner’s design for Madonna’s corset

1 May 2022 Karl Marx and Richard Wagner are featured in joint exhibits at the....

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The ladies, the rest home and the bombs

The oldest residents of a rest home suddenly developed mild illnesses. They all shared a....

The distant agony of past wars is suddenly revived by the attack on Ukraine

The five German cities I visited on a college tour with my daughter were all....

The library, the monk and the sandals

14 September 2021 “Take their books! They’re useless propaganda. Get rid of them!” This actually....

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The 400-year-old Marketing Flop You’ve Never Heard of

26 August 2021 They told me in college that marketing was invented in the U.S.....

The Prussian Rock Star in my Wardrobe

18 July 2021 Many people have been using their downtime from the pandemic to tackle....

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Grave Thoughts Indeed – Part 4 – The Oktoberfest

26 May 2021  (Click here for parts 1, 2 and 3) Munich is known first....

Grave Thoughts Indeed – Part 3 – Royal rollicking and frolicking

The Alter Südfriedhof dates to the 14th century, but most of its graves tell the....

How war shaped the Alter Südfriedhof

Grave Thoughts Indeed – Part 2 Small German towns have monuments to the dead of....

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Grave Thoughts Indeed

The Alter Südfriedhof in Munich is more of an open air museum reflecting the history....

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Berlin, lost and sometimes found

Berlin's history spans three eras and each one has some surprises in store ....

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Count Tree Music

The Berlin Wall is long gone, but its impact can still be felt everywhere, on....

30 after the Wall

Many people did not expect Germany to be reunified. Thirty years later, it is still....

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Footprints from World War II

WWII has long since ended, but the involvement of the U.S. has left indelible traces....