Frau Wagner, a much beloved former teacher, returned to King’s on Wednesday evening to address the Academic Scholars about growing up in Görlitz in the Deutsche Demokratische Republik, Communist East Germany, during the Cold War.
The talk commemorated the 35th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall on 9th November 1989, which signalled the collapse of Communism.
Mapping her upbringing against the backdrop of a society dominated by the Communist Party, this was a fascinating presentation. With a collection of personal memorabilia, including a much-prized denim jacket manufactured in the West, Birgit showed how Marxist-Leninist orthodoxy framed life. Pioneers Camps were designed to indoctrinate the youth with prescribed values and the Stasi, the Security Police, was ever-present, although the reality was not always austere, even for the daughter of an “intellectual”.
At the close of the discussion, Nick Rogers, on behalf of the Zetountes Society, thanked Frau Wagner for her valuable and entertaining insights.
Related Posts
King's Model UN delegates enjoyed a highly successful day at the Tonbridge School MUN conference, winning four awards. This time around, topics included human rights in armed conflicts, weapons in outer space, and the Iran crisis, with King's providing delegations for Mexico, Germany, and Iran itself. All MUN delegates are thrown into the deep [...]
Saturday marked the formal Declaration Service for the new High Sheriff of Kent, Martin Luckhurst (OR) at Rochester Cathedral. As the King’s judicial representative in the county, Martin took his declaration to support the Crown, the judiciary and the local community for the upcoming year. This 1,000-year-old tradition was a proud moment for the School [...]
A dedicated dancer for years, Rosanna recently represented England at the Dance World Cup in Spain, winning Gold for 'Essence of Ireland' and two Bronze medals for 'Feet of Flames' and 'Celtic Fusion.' In recognition of these outstanding achievements, she was awarded a prestigious Velvet Cap at this week’s Whole School Service. Well done Rosanna.
