Dispatches from Berlin

It is the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. A good time to exlore different memories and different ways to remember across the generations and, eventually, borders and former enemy lines. In today's episode I am talking to Steffen Rudolph, a former German diplomat, about his experiences on that day, the years after and how his generation got to learn about the Nazi's crimes. Only 5 years old at the time, we will learn about how he grew up during the war in Chemnitz and how, then, his family escaped from the Soviet occupation zone. How do individuals experience the years following that day and how do some Germans move from a focus on everyday and present struggles to a more conscientious look at their country's past. I find it worthwhile considering when talking about memory today that the atmosphere in which Steffen Rudolph and my parents grew up differs profoundly from the one I was born into 35 years after the war. In our conversation I mention a book about the generation of "Kriegskinder" (war children) born between 1930 and 1945. You can find a shortened English introduction and excerpts online. The full title in German is: Bode, Sabine: Die vergessene Generation. Die Kriegskinder brechen ihr Schweigen, Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta, 2004.

If this was a year like any other, I would start getting out onto the road by now. But in March 2020 I hardly have a job any more. At least for the time being. It is a fate many people across Europe in and outside the travel industry share. More and more people are facing growingly severe measures restricting movement and public life. Everywhere people find themselves at varying degrees of isolation. So I reached out to colleagues and friends from across Europe to get a sense of how their everyday life currently looks like. Music by Airtone - Common Ground Shownotes: A big thanks and shoutout to Apostolos in Greece, Francisco in Spain, John in the Netherlands, Liz in the UK and Tina in Slovenia! Here are some weblinks by which you can learn more about the great guides and colleagues featured in this episode: Check out the educational videos and status updates Anna shares from Siena : https://www.sienaitalytours.com/ Get to know David, his guitar skills and smooth, beautiful voice in his band, the guitar trio Bartender: https://www.bartendersound.com/en/bio/ Pay a visit to Pal in Oslo: https://www.facebook.com/johansentravel/ Dive into the incredible variety of fotos, impressions and insights Veronique has gathered on her wonderful blog: http://frenchgirlinseattle.com/