I grew up with family stories about the German refugees from World War 2. Both of my parents came from the east, Mama from Silesia, Dad from Brandenburg, and both lost their homes. I had heard about Donau Schwaben and stories about staying ahead of the Soviet Army. About being expelled from homes and villages. About leaving houses, friends,…
Category: Book and Movie Reviews
Oliver Pötzsch The Ludwig Conspiracy Book Review
The Ludwig Conspiracy Because of a recommendation, I recently read Oliver Pötzsch, The Ludwig Conspiracy Book. It really was a fun romp of a mystery. The story reminded me a bit of Dan Brown’s works (The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons) … but since it all came with a German accent…. it felt much closer to home. Oliver Pötzsch’s…
Is Deutschland 83 on DVD… YES! My Review and Where to Buy it!
Deutschland 83: Season 1 It’s an important question, especially since Deutschland 86 is set to be released (and you might want to catch up!)….Is Deutschland 83 on DVD? There are many of us don’t get the Sundance channel, but we have heard so much about this groundbreaking TV Series from Germany and want to see it. Finally! Deutschland 83…
The Hangman’s Daughter Book Review- A Mystery Set in Medieval Germany
The Hangman’s Daughter (Hangman’s Daughter Tales) (A Hangman’s Daughter Tale) I finally have the chance to write a The Hangman’s Daughter book review. I stumbled across the book by Oliver Pötzsch a while ago, and put it on my shelf. I’m always intrigued by the books from Germany that get translated and become bestsellers in the US. On my way to the airport…
German Easter Story Books For Kids- Perfect for Easter Baskets!
Cute German Easter Story Books for kids are a nice (non-edible and non-messy) addition to the Easter Basket. The stories can be read over and over, long after the chocolate and candies have been eaten. Most of these Easter Stories are in German, and a few are bilingual. They are perfect for young children learning German… and are great for…
Escape from GDR / Flucht aus der DDR- The History of the Berlin Wall
On August 13, 1961, construction began on the Berlin Wall. For too many years East and West were divided by a Wall that surrounded East Berlin. The Wall separated families and friends, and kept people essentially locked up. Granted, not everyone hated being in the East, but many wanted to escape what they considered to be a prison. The…
Windstärke 8 or Wind Force 8 TV Series
Windstärke 8 [Import allemand] Windstärke 8 or Wind Force 8 is a multi part documentary/ reality series from Germany on ARD that attempts to show conditions on emigrant ships headed to America in the 1800s. Although over 5000 people tried out to be on the program, only 14 passengers, 5 children and 18 sailors were chosen to take part in this…
The Elves of Cologne -The story of the Heinzelmännchen of Köln
Once upon a time, as the legend goes, the city of Cologne was helped by a little race of creatures called Heinzelmännchen. It began simply enough; when the humans went to bed, the Heinzelmännchen came along and finished all the work left undone. The idea of Elves or Gnomes doing work while humans sleep has a long history in German…
Spoonfuls of Germany Cookbook Review- German Cooking in an American Kitchen
Spoonfuls of Germany: German Regional Cuisine To me, the title of Nadia Hassani’s cookbook, “Spoonfuls of Germany”, has two meanings. When I think of food that you eat with a spoon, I imagine comfort foods, foods your mother or Oma would make to nourish you with love; foods that fill you up and keep you warm and safe. But…