Final Part A & B

1. Thomas D. - German Cuisine

2. Thomas’ blog post on German Cuisine is actually written and not a copy directly from Wikipedia or another website.  The blog is smaller, but has good details.

3. Thomas actually took the time to write a majority of this blog.  It is not a long blog, but the information presented was thought out and understood.  It could have been longer with more details.  Looks like a blog that took roughly 30-45 minutes to write.

4. The information was decent, I’d give it a 4.

5. The content is fairly dry; however it is a short read, so readability is a 4.

6.In the same week I had written about the FKK (free body movement).  My content is drier and have a greater amount of detail and longer.  So the informative quality is higher whereas the readability may be smaller.

1. Kyle K. - Lubeck

2, This blog did not draw my interest, it was very short, succinct and fairly boring.

3. There was little thought and little detail added to this blog post.  It was extremely short and not many details.

4. As far as information it could be easily a 2

5. Readability was short 3.

6. This blog was short had very little detail. My blog was larger with much more content.  My blog again may have been a little harder to read however the detail provided allows someone to learn more from it.

1. Jessica L - AQOTWF Chapter 11

2. Jessica’s blog for her chapter review is actually well thought out and the character development is detailed nicely.  Makes an easy read.

3. Although the blog is read easily, the quality of detail is very minimal and the blog is very short on quantity.

4. 2

5. 3

6. This blog did have some thought given to it; however it was a short cheap attempt to get a blog post out there.  The blog is shorter than the group blog we had posted the same week.

I have learned quite a bit in this class.  I had an understanding of the German culture from 8 years ago, and to learn about the development of the culture and how it got to be the way it was 8 years ago. The information that we got about the Hanseatic League was definitely something new to me.  The information and detail given to how much the military affected the German people was definitely something I was unaware of.  The largest detail that was almost ignored in my brain that I recalled was the fact that Germany as a whole is a very young country as is and is ever evolving.

  I did find it difficult to learn from many of the people in class due to their limited grasp on the English language, and the volume of their voice.  You add those factors to the limited details from poor blog posts make for a difficult learning environment.    I did enjoy the free learning and the ability to do my own research however to ensure that vital details are provided and that those details are correct are necessary.  To ensure that people are listening to presentation I might do small quizzes the next class period covering material presented last week.  Just small 5-10 point quizzes that would get people more involved and care for about the material.

Der Baader Meinhof Komplex

Der Baader Meinhof Komplex

“The Baader Meinhof Complex” is a film directed by Uli Edel.  It was written and produced by Bernd Eichinger, and it retells the story of the West German far-left militant group the RAF (Red Army Faction) from 1967 to 1977.  The RAF described itself as a communist and anti-imperialist "urban guerrilla" group engaged in armed resistance against what they deemed to be a fascist state. As such, members of the RAF generally used the Marxist–Leninist term "Faction" when they wrote in English.  The West German government considered the Red Army Faction to be a terrorist organization.

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlqPco9s2_o8GUvvy1DsFQN5Qzf0_oI4a1oP7kvyXR1MlzyAqBAJN-2A

Here is a short plotline: Germany in the 1970s: Murderous bomb attacks, the threat of terrorism and the fear of the enemy inside are rocking the very foundations of the yet fragile German democracy. The radicalized children of the Nazi generation lead by Andreas Baader, Ulrike Meinhof and Gudrun Ensslin are fighting a violent war against what they perceive as the new face of fascism: American imperialism supported by the German establishment, many of whom have a Nazi past. Their aim is to create a more human society but by employing inhuman means they not only spread terror and bloodshed, they also lose their own humanity. The man who understands them is also their hunter: the head of the German police force Horst Herold. And while he succeeds in his relentless pursuit of the young terrorists, he knows he's only dealing with the tip of the iceberg.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7e/Baader_meinhof_komplex.jpg

The role of Military in Germany during the 18th and 19th century

At the beginning of the 18th century Germany was in the War of the Spanish Succession.  Germany fought with the English and the Dutch against the French.  In the early part of the war the French were victorious in the Palatinate.  In 1706 Germany took back their land with the help of the Dutch and the English.  The German states that participated in that war were Austria, Prussia, and Hanover.
During the reign of Frederick William I (1713–40), the military power of Prussia was significantly improved. He organized the government around the needs of his army, and produced an efficient, highly disciplined instrument of war. The Prussian Army was expanded to 80,000 men, about 4% of the total population. Peasants were drafted into the military and trained for duty, but were sent home for ten months out of each year.

 Napoleon I of France reorganized many of the smaller German-speaking states into the Confederation of the Rhine following the battle of Austerlitz in 1805. Essentially this enlarged the more powerful states of the region by absorbing the smaller ones, creating a set of buffer states for France and a source of army conscripts. Neither of the two largest German-speaking states were part of this confederation: the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire remained outside it. King Frederick William III of Prussia viewed the Confederation of the Rhine as a threat to Prussian interests and allied against Napoleon. At this time the reputation of the Prussian army remained high from the period of the Seven Years' War. Unfortunately they retained the tactics of that period and still relied heavily on foreign mercenaries. The lack of military reforms would prove disastrous. Prussian defeats at Jena and Auerstedt led to a humiliating settlement that reduced the size of the country by half.

By 1815 there were 39 separate German-speaking states, loosely joined (for free trade purposes) in the German Confederation, under the leadership of Prussia and Austria. Under the leadership of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Prussia united the German states and defeated both Austria and France, 1866 to 1871, allowing the formation of a powerful German Empire, which lasted until 1918. Bismarck after 1871 dominated European diplomacy, and set up a complex system of balances that the peace. He was replaced in 1890 by the young Kaiser Wilhelm II, who built up a powerful Navy to challenge the British, and engaged in reckless diplomacy.

Bismarck wanted a war with France to unify the German peoples, and French Emperor Napoleon III, unaware of his military weakness, provided the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, expecting support from Prussia's recent enemies. Unlike in the war only a few years ago, the Germans turned not against each other, with the first emergence of a strong German national sentiment in the background. Instead, the southern German monarchs of Baden, Württemberg and Bavaria honoured their secretly negotiated treaties of mutual defence with Berlin, while Austria remained neutral.

The Germans, led by King William I of Prussia and Moltke the Elder, mobilized a mass conscript army of 1.2 million men ( 300,000 regulars and 900.000 reserves and Landwehr) which faced 492,585 experienced regular French soldiers under Napoleon III of France + 420.000 Garde Mobile. Within the first month of war the German army encircled big French armies, at Gravelotte, Metz and Sedan and destroyed them . The war culminated with the defeat of the French army during the siege of Paris, and was followed by the proclamation of the German Empire in 1871.

German inventions of the 20th and 21st Centuries

During WWII in 1938 German chemist Otto Hahn was experimenting and discovered Nuclear Fission. Nuclear Fission can be explained as either a nuclear reaction or a radioactive decay process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts (lighter nuclei). The fission process often produces free neutrons and photons (in the form of gamma rays), and releases a very large amount of energy even by the energetic standards of radioactive decay. [1]  Nuclear Fission in short is a sustainable form of energy that was the energy source behind the Atomic Bomb.  Hahn is widely regarded as the father of nuclear chemistry.  In 1944 Hahn won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of nuclear fission.

http://conserve-energy-future.com/Images/Nuclear_Power.jpg

Shortly after that the V-2 rocket was created by Wernher Von Braun in 1942.  This was the first long range ballistic missile.  The propulsion unit behind the rocket was later a base for NASA's Saturn project.  The liquid-propellant rocket was developed during the Second World War in Germany as a "vengeance weapon", designed to attack Allied cities as retaliation for the ever-increasing Allied bombings against German cities. The V-2 rocket was also the first man-made object to enter the fringes of space. [2]

http://www.constable.ca/caah/v2b.jpg

When it comes to the Automotive Industry Mercedes Benz first used the Airbag in their S-class early in 1981. In 1997 Otto Bock cam up with the first microprocessor-controlled knee joint.  This invention became very helpful for those who live with physical disabilities. In 1936 German engineer Heinrich Focke demonstrated  his first fully controllable helicopter.

In 2002 German structural engineer Jorg Schlaich invented the Solar Tower also known as the SUT (Solar Updraft Tower).  The SUT is a renewable-energy power plant for generating electricity from solar power. Sunshine heats the air beneath a very wide greenhouse-like roofed collector structure surrounding the central base of a very tall chimney tower. The resulting convection causes a hot air updraft in the tower by the chimney effect. This airflow drives wind turbines placed in the chimney updraft or around the chimney base to produce electricity. [3]

1. Nuclear Fission description; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fission
2. V-2 Rocket explanation; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-2_rocket
3. SUT description; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_tower

Berlin Calling

Berlin Calling

1. Drugs are an everyday part of life to Ickarus.  He finds it to help him create better music, finding that it gives him an artistic release. The usage of cocaine helps him to remain awake for a longer period of time, so he can stay up and alert throughout his performances.
2. The techno party crowd usually take some form of Ecstasy or hallucinogenic drug. However, the usage of synthetic drugs and cocaine are also prevalent.  Rampant usage of these drugs during the performance makes them feel more in tune to the music and they can feel the notes. The cocaine helps them to stay awake and keep dancing through the night.
3. This culture focuses on drugs because this gives them the ability to do things that they think they can't do without. After the initial usage it becomes a part of life and an everyday occurrence to them.  This is in part a chemical dependency.
4. I come from what was to be considered a standard american midwestern family, mother, father, and sibling. We support each other however live under strict rule.  If I were to have fallen into drugs, or any "deviant" behavior I would be disowned and cast from the family.  The support would not be there for me as it was from his father and girlfriend.  Through all of Ickarus' downfall his family was there to be there for him.
5. The youth as depicted will not cripple the industries of Germany.  Although they are seen as a drug influenced society, the need for work and monetary support still remains prevalent.  The dedication to work shown by Ickarus and his girlfriend show the necessity and the strong industry that wwill continue to thrive.
6. Easy Rider, and even to a smaller extent American History X was a similar cult movie styling to the Berlin calling film.

At this point of the film I can understand the drug usage and the connection of Techno/Rave parties and the inner city culture.  These are common practices I believe today even in American societies.  This shows the down fall of urban culture and the dependencies of synthetics and some form of a chemical to survive and live.  Unfortunately today's society has become far too dependent on chemicals and prescription drugs.

In American society you will still find all the things we have seen so far in the film.  However, most of which are hidden to most of the people, and these acts only effect a small portion of the american culture.  In looking at this it makes sense, due to the fact that we as American's are decedents of a culmination of all cultures and societies.

As the film had progressed  and finished it became apparent that the hard work ethic put in by Ickarus to get his album together and finalized to a "rockin, and kick ass jams" album.  The full circle of character development by Ickarus and the doctor was excellently laid out, and satisfaction given to the people watching however "real" the film may have come across.  The second half of the film told a great story and showed how deep the love for his work ran in him.  Music was Ickarus' calming aspect that truly brought him closer to the people around him and helped him fit in as lonely as he was portrayed throughout a majority of the film.

Freikorperkultur, also known as FKK, is a German movement whose name translates to Free Body Culture.  [1] This is a form of naturism.  Naturism is defined as a cultural and political movement practicing, advocating, and defending social nudity, most of which takes place on a private property. The term may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism. [2] 

                The FKK German movement was the first worldwide and marked as the start of an increased acceptance of public nudity in Germany.  In 1898 the first Freikörperkultur club was founded in Essen. In 1900 more and more Swedish baths arose in rooms in Berlin and on the North and Baltic seas and a naturist movement began in France.  This movement was based on the ideals that the human body was NOT a source of shame. Also, it does not involve sexuality.  With political liberalization, conservative circles challenged the nude baths which had become popular among urban intellectuals, seeing them as a corruption of morality.

                The first nude beach in Germany was established in 1920 on the island of Sylt.  In 1933 when Hitler took power, nudist organizations were banned or integrated into Nazi organizations.  The first naturist Olympic Games took place in Thielle, Swtizerland in 1939. In 1942 the first documented nude wedding was celebrated in Elysian Fields, California.  InGermany during this time the ban against nude swimming was softened by allowing nud swimming in remote areas  One popular form of Freikörperkultur is Nacktwanderung, literally translated as Naked rambling, where a walking group will collectively hike through the open countryside, which is possible in Germany due to the liberal laws on non-sexual public nudity. This attitude does not extend to German speaking Austria or Switzerland.

In the later decades of the 20th century, naturism became very popular outside Germany. Beach culture was often intermixed - nude and dressed people would swim together and nudity was widely tolerated.  Today, there are only few legal restrictions on public nudity in Germany.In Austria local regulatory authorities punished public nudity with fines, which many naked ramblers refused to pay.  Many naked ramblers filed a group lawsuit, pleading for legalized nudity, but the case was dismissed in 2011. One naked rambler had to pay a fine after passing through a Christian rehab centre.  In 2012, a naturist from Austria overflew Innerrhoden by parachute, but was caught by local authorities.

1.     1.   FKK definition; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freik%C3%B6rperkultur

2. Naturism definition; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturism

Denise Bechtold

Jeff Foster

Maria Mueller

Chapter 5

Talk about the War End

The men talked out what they would each do after or if the war ended. They called it, “Peace – Time.” The first comment made to this was, “There won’t be any peace-time.” You have got to remember the mindset they must be in, they are enduring some much during the war.  Some of the other ideas they mention include; getting drunk, take a train elsewhere, go home and visit family, basically going to see prostitutes, wearing real clothes, and sleeping in a nice bed. This moment of thought lasted a short time before one said, “What silly questions you do ask.” They all thought it was ridiculous and won’t happen.        

The rumors that the men have been hearing are true; Himmelstoss has been brought to the front lines.  As he approaches the men ignore him and disobey rank.   They do not rise and click they’re heels together to him.  Himmelstoss is infuriated by this and demands that Tjaden address his higher rank.  Tjaden does, but in an insubordinate way by mooning him.  Himmelstoss returns to the barracks for the MP’s, as he does Tjaden escapes and hides as he knows this means lock up.  This stand by Tjaden is in response to the degradation that the men endured under Himmelstoss’ reign during training.

                Muller continues with his questioning about what will happen during “peace time”.  They calculate that only 12 men remain from their class of 20 men, 4 are dead, 1 insane, and 7 wounded.  They mock Kantorek and ask questions from school.  This is showing that all that they had “learned” in school means nothing here, and that it is forgotten during these difficult times.  The learning that they had been taught in school as normal “kids” will not be used in their lifetime.  Kropp closes this in stating how the war has destroyed everything for them and that there is no going back to normal, they can believe in nothing but war now.  

                Himmelstoss returns with the sergeant major and demands to know the whereabouts of Tjaden, but the troop refuses to disclose this information.  The sergeant major declares that Tjaden must report within 10 minutes.  With every sentence that Himmelstoss delivers the men torment him.  Himmelstoss returns once more and demands Tjaden, Kropp insults him yet again with harsh words and Himmelstoss storms away.  That evening Kropp and Tjaden are brought to trial for insubordination, Tjaden receives 3 days open arrest and Kropp one after the men from the troop tell the court about the torment and abuse that Himmelstoss put them under during training.  The sergeant major scolds Himmelstoss for his actions in training as well.  Later Paul and the others visit Kropp and Tjaden in lockup and play cards and speak again.

Towards the end of the chapter Kat says to Paul, “What do you say to some roast goose?” after Paul agrees they catch a ride on a munition-wagon which cost them two cigarettes to the spot that Kat has marked. During their little adventure Paul agrees to get the goose and climbs over the wall and goes to the shed to open the door. After Paul sees the geese the attempt to stun them doesn’t go as fast as he had hoped it would. He fights desperately claiming, “What a kick a goose has!” This illustrates the struggle he has with stunning the geese. His situation becomes more stressful when he spots a bulldog from outside that growls at every move he makes. After what seems like forever Paul is able to jerk his revolver up and escapes the dog with one goose. Kat quickly kills the goose and he and Paul make their way to the lean-to to cook it. While the two take turns sleeping and cooking Paul hears the sound of gun-fire from the front and thoughts begin to consume his mind. Paul describes his feelings as, “We are two men, two minute sparks of life; outside is the night and the circle of death.” At this point in the chapter Paul realizes he is now in unison with someone whom he should never have had anything in common with. As he continues to think he sees two soldiers with big boots, and a shut heart who have forgotten all else but marching. After they feast on the goose they take the rest back to Tjaden and Kropp. The chapter ends with Paul describing himself as, “A soldier with big boots and a full belly, a little soldier in the morning—but by my side, stooping and angular, goes Kat, my comrade.” This chapter shows how Paul and his friends continue to form close knit unit and how the bond between soldiers is one like no other.