Evenings Past 2003 - 2004

Der Kaiserstuhl
The first evening of the new year was prepared by Sabina Schuster-Nussey and led members into the world of wine production. She went back millions of years to explain that the Rhine valleys used to be volcanic and the waters of the Rhine forged a way through it to become as it is today. The volcanic ash settled, its name is Loes, and it is the most fruitful subject to grow wine in its folds. In places it is as high as houses and paths have been worn through it, its sides are under protection and no building is allowed. The actual area she discussed has the Vosges Mountains in France, one side, and the Black Forest in Germany the other. 400 years before Christ, the Celts settled in the area and, 200 years before Christ, the Romans came and brought the first vines with them. In the Middle Ages, the next settlers were the Allemannen. The cones of the mountains were made into terraces to plant the vines. The town of Breisach is in the German part, and New Breisach in France. The traditions are that each village has its own name for their wine and its own vintners. A few wines are so good they never reach the shops! Once Germany was known for its sweet wines. The quality of the medium and dry wines has improved and wine buffs are usually pleasantly surprised by its taste. The region around the Kaiserstuhl is known for its climate, often called the German Tuscana. A lot of different fruit is also grown and a variety of wildlife. People from the surrounding towns go to their "vintner" every year for the grape harvest as a sacrifice to Bacchus, so he gives them another good harvest next year. The area is also protected against building of nuclear power. Some of the wines produced are Burgunder, Spat Burgunder Wissherbst and Pinot Blanc. The explanations, pictures and slides shown were fabulous, as was the tasting of the wine and the Zwiebelkuchen that went with it. The next meeting will be held on October 23rd at Moulsham Mill.

Donnerstag 25.September 2003

Trivialliterature in Deutschland
The speaker who was to have addressed members about trivia literature was unable to attend. The founder of the circle, Birgit Wilkinson, took it on herself and, as she is very knowledgeable about German literature, made the evening a great success. It was explained what in fact trivia in literature is, not necessarily a dumbing down but little books, snippets of very good information and books that lighten the sometimes very seriousness of life. These were written to be easily understood and it encouraged children to read and learn. They were called pocket books. When the appetite was awakened to reading, more serious books were attempted and enjoyed. After a coffee break, members were shown a video of BBC reporters asking people to say something uncomplimentary about living and working in Berlin. Trevor Wilson, who hosts a television and radio programme, found the Germans good planners, a great cosmopolitan mix and asked people to come and experience a different culture; don't fear the Germans' culture. They are like a coconut, a hard shell outside and soft and fluid inside. It was an informative sociable evening and everyone enjoyed it.
Donnerstag 23.Oktober 2003

Ein Filmabend
German films are a popular topic for members and at the November meeting there was a chance to discuss the prize-winning Goodbye Lenin directed by Wolfgang Becker now available on video, The film is set in Berlin during the heady days of 1989 and 1990. Alex, 21, lives with his mother and sister; but their lives are thrown into confusion when the mother suffers a heart attack. She falls into a comma which lasts for eight months, a time of intense activity in East Berlin and Germany as the Wall falls and borders are opened. When his mother awakes, Alex is determined to shield her from the knowledge that the DDR no longer exists. The intensity of the time is felt throughout the film. As Alex struggles with his life of duplicity, he also has to cope with a reunion with his estranged father, adding to the poignancy of his situation. However, the final scenes after the mother's death hint of a hopeful future, and members of the Circle agreed that this memorable film was a justifiable prize-winner.
Donnerstag 27.November 2003

Gesundheitswesen in Deutschland
This was supposed to be a comparison between the British and German National Health Service, a subject that is not easy to do. The lecturer was Mr Sabier, a German Journalist living in England.. The German NHS was introduced in 1921, and brought an affordable health service to all. Everyone had to contribute to a state-run health insurance, except civil servants, and the contributions also paid towards a pension. In the 30's one had to ask at the insurance for a form, which cost at that time, 25 Pfennigs and take it to the doctor of one's choice, and paid no more for either another visit or medication. One could also go to specialists, dentists , or someone practising homeopathy. Today this includes acupuncture and giropractice. The GP would decide which hospital you would attend. One could also insure privately, but could not evade the cost of the state insurance. The Nazis took over this practice in 1933 and after the war, the Bundesrepublik also employed the same methods. There is no appointment system, one appears at the praxis and, after waiting a short time, one sees the doctor. It was also the GP who sent you to convalescence at a Spa (Kur). As in most countries in Europe, finances became tight and a reform of the NHS in Germany was sought, and Chancellor Shroeder introduced this to the Bundestag. When you now go to the doctor you now have to pay 10 euros for every new visit. Regular prescriptions and chronic illnesses are exempt. Travel costs to the doctor have to be borne by the patient, as long as he is mobile. And, like in England, the cost of medicine per prescription has to be paid by the patient to a maximum of 10 euros. A sight test is paid by the insurance but not glasses. At the dentist, normal treatment is free, but crowns etc. are charged to the patient. Pregnancy and motherhood is paid by the state. Civil servants are still free, the last of which is going to change. The care of the elderly is financed only partly by the state. Family members are having to bear most of the cost. This includes children, and the wider part of the family. One has to be insured and provide proof. The elderly and disabled are assessed in levels and, when they stay in their own home, the state will pay part of the cost of care, which could be a family member, or a professional carer. The German Red Cross provides a larger group of carers. Times have certainly changed, and as people are living longer, looking after themselves for longer and wanting to stay in their own home, different methods of caring and affording it become ever more difficult. There is a glut of doctors in Germany, but not enough nurses.
Donnerstag 22.Januar

Operetten - die Musicals von damals
The last programme was about operettas, their composers and their origins. It seems that the Italians started with plays that also incorporated some music and singing called Singspiel, around 1580. The evening was started off with Alfred Coldrey giving a rendering from Lehar's The Merry Widow "Jetzt geh ins Maxim" and Sabina Schuster-Nussey followed with the "Vilja" song. At the time that Operettas became popular, to visit the opera was very expensive; operetta songs were very melodic and became famous for their mainly happy contents. Their music was waltzes, polkas, czardasc, and singing. In Vienna, Paris, New York, London, and Berlin Lehar Offenbach, Emmerich Kalmann, Strauss, Waldteufel , Milloecker, Franz von Suppee became well known and liked. The Merry Widow, The County of Luxemburg, A Night in Venice, Peganini and many more. One of Johann Strauss's famous ones is the Fledermaus. Milloeckers Bettlestudent and Karl Zeller's The Bird Seller were performed during the golden era of operetta. Johann Strauss the elder did not want his sons to follow in his musical footsteps, he was the Waltzerkoenig, Waltzking, and he had his own orchestra. His son, Johann, the younger, took over at his father's death in 1871, Today the musicals seem to be the natural progression and they are as popular today as the operettas were in their time.
Donnerstag 26.Februar 2004

Viermal der 9. November im 20.Jahrhundert
The speaker was Walter Drews whose lectures are always fully attended. This time it was part of the German history after the First World War. November 9 seemed to play a part in different years, whether it was planned or accidental is unexplained. In 1918 on November 9, the German Monarchy was abolished and the Weimar Republic declared under Friedrich Ebert. At the same time, Lenin wanted to lead a revolution in Germany as in Russia but was not successful in his aim. Someone gave the order for the German fleet, that was anchored in Kiel, to sail and attack England. The German sailors went on strike and refused to obey. This rebellion spread to the German ports of Hamburg, Luebeck and Bremen. The then Kaiser refused to abdicate as most German soldiers were in foreign countries, but finally did so and lived in Holland for the rest of his life.
Free votes became the law in Germany in 1919. On November 9, 1923, Hitler organised a march to the Feldherren Halle in Munich where a meeting was held and he protested against the reparation cost to Germany which was supposed to last 70 years. He realised that he had the gift of oration and started his political career. He was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison at Landsberg where he wrote his book "Mein Kampf".
After his release, it was the time of inflation in Germany, poverty and misery and his speeches made him popular with his promises of work and money for the ordinary people. On November 7, 1938, Herschel Gruenspan shot and killed the German ambassador in Paris. Goebbels took revenge and on November 9, was the beginning of the Kristallnacht, with destruction of Jewish properties and burning of synagogues. As the world looked on as Hitler made Germany prosperous and strong, no-one reported the happenings.

After the war, the wall was erected from Luebeck down to the Czechoslovakian border. The Iron Curtain. The country was cut in half and there was a protest by the people in Berlin, to no avail.
More than two million people fled across the border to the west, mainly well educated citizens. In 1953 there was a revolt against communism by the workers but this was suppressed by the regime with the help of Russia. One of the better November 9ths came in 1989 when the wall was demolished by the people and, at last, they were free and reunited with some of their families.
It takes time to overcome 40 years of mismanagement to get to the same standard as the west, but it's getting there, and the democratic process is par excellent.
The day of the Wiedervereinigung (reunification) was on October 3, 1990.

Donnerstag 25.März 2004

Erinnerungen an Deutschland.
Everyone was invited to relate some of their experiences in either England or Germany. The first speaker was Diana who went to live in Cologne in 1970 and had to get a work permit to start in an upmarket leather goods shop. David went on a study trip in 1996 to Chemnitz, Eisenach where Martin Luther's bible is exhibited. Doris had a guest for four weeks here in Chelmsford in August 1992. Janet always went to Nüremberg for a Christmas market. Birgit's first visit was a cycling tour. She returned at a later date as an au pair to a seven month-old baby. Margaret showed some overhead pictures of Berlin, from the time of Checkpoint Charlie in 1989. She recalled trying to photograph the checkpoint, the wall and the feeling of doing something illegal. Now, of course, one does not need to get a stamp in the passport to get anywhere in Berlin.
Angie was on a study tour. She told of many diversion signs on the roads. Barbara did not speak a lot of German, but booked herself into a hotel in Garmisch Parten Kirchen, in Bavaria. Margaret works in Havering, whose twin town is Ludwigshaven on the Weinstrasse, While she was at a reception on the television tower it was time to go home and, as they were in a lift, there was a power cut. She was in the lift with a young man who spoke very little English and her German was not as good as it is now.
Frank and his wife noticed the difference in allotments. The Germans do not have just a shed for their tools; they have little summerhouses, with sleeping accommodation, a kitchen-cum-dining room, and a terrace for when the weather is good. They have lawns and flower beds but very few vegetables. Heike came as an au pair at 19. She had never held a baby, did not know how to iron, clean, etc. The family in London was very kind to her and she has only praise for them. Hilde came over in 1949 after an appeal on the German radio for 20,000 German girls to come over for cleaning, mainly in hospitals. Her reminiscence is of working together with a lot of Irish girls and they made good friends.

Donnerstag 20. Mai 2004