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.

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