History
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Why did the GDR build the Berlin Wall?
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall – an important date in German history. But while this year’s focus is on the events leading…
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The Leo House: a refuge for German immigrants
When German immigrants came to the United States in the late 19th century, many of them entered through New York, seeking a new life in a world that promised endless…
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Celebrating St. Martin’s Day on November 11
On the eve of November 11, you might come across groups of smiling German children carrying home-made lanterns through towns and cities in Germany. These lantern processions are a tradition…
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The unlikely history of the GDR’s “Ferrari of the East”
When you think of East German cars, you probably visualize the colorful but cheaply-made Trabants (“Trabis”), which is what most people drove in the German Democratic Republic. But the GDR…
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10 creative ways people crossed the inner German border
Some went over, others went under and some went right through it! In a hot air balloon In 1979, eight people soared over the Berlin Wall in a home-made hot…
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Need a place to celebrate Halloween? Head over to Frankenstein Castle in Germany!
With Halloween just around the corner, let’s take a look at one of Germany’s creepiest places: Frankenstein Castle. Frankenstein Castle sits on a hilltop overlooking the city of Darmstadt. It…
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“The future needs remembrance.”
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, which was often described as the “war to end all wars.” Remembering the Great War is of…
