Anette Isaacs—let’s talk about Germany! www.anetteisaacs.com
Let yourself and your audiences be enlightened, educated, and enchanted by my fascinating and thought-provoking presentations! Here is a selection of programs that will be relevant and timely in 2014. Please visit www.anetteisaacs.com for a list of all available programs.
Programs pertaining to the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989-2014):
The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall
It has
been 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, that insurmountable icon of
the Cold War. With its rise on August 13th 1961, the course of
Germany’s and especially of Berlin’s history took a tragic turn. It would take
28 years, until the 9th of November 1989, to tear down this cruel
and inhuman symbol of Germany´s division, thus giving birth to yet another
period in this European nation’s evolution. Join German historian Anette
Isaacs, M.A. as she presents you with a historical and political overview of
this very painful but also almost miraculous period in Berlin’s captivating
history.
Everyday Life in East Germany: a look across the border
Since the fall of
the Berlin Wall 25 years ago, Historians have dedicated themselves mostly to
East Germany’s political system and its oppressive instruments such as the
secret police STASI. But although East Germany was a totalitarian state, there
were still 16 Million people who were living a more or less normal life. Join German Historian Anette Isaacs for a
compelling exploration of daily life in East Germany, its food and
culture, education, consumerism (or the lack thereof!) and everyday items that
were giving the GDR its identity and made it so different from its big
capitalist sister, the Federal Republic (West Germany).
JFK, Reagan, and Obama: American Presidents in Berlin
This year’s 25th
anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall presents us with the perfect
opportunity to look back at the history making visits of American presidents to
this German metropolis that, for almost 45 years, was synonymous with the Cold
War in Europe. Join German Historian Anette Isaacs as she relates the
intriguing background stories of why President Kennedy emphatically proclaimed
that he was a Berliner and what inspired President Reagan to encourage the
Soviets to “tear down that Wall”! (Please
note: this program will be available from early fall of 2014)
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Operation Freedom – The Berlin Airlift: 65th Anniversary Lecture! (1949-2013)
It was perhaps one of
the greatest adventures in American military history: the Berlin airlift of
1948/49! When Soviet troops closed all access routes to West- Berlin by land,
sea, and rail, thus threatening the lives of 2.5 million people and provoking
the first major international crisis of the Cold War. American General Lucius
D. Clay did not hesitate, and proceeded to build a bold and fantastic bridge
across the sky, involving 700 planes and 250 000 flights over a period of 14
months! Join German Historian Anette Isaacs for a fascinating discussion of
this exciting time in her country’s postwar history.
Programs relating to the 75th anniversary of the beginning of World War II (1939-2014):
Between Normality and Terror: Everyday Life in Nazi Germany
Seventy-five years after the
beginning of World War II, most of today’s research on Nazi Germany is focused
on its system of terror that ultimately led to the death and destruction of millions
of people. While we will discuss the role of governmental surveillance and
brutality, we want to first and foremost explore what daily life was like for
ordinary citizens in 1930s Germany. By looking at various societal paradigms,
such as education, employment, and cultural expression, we will gain insights
into how the German people were oscillating between normality and terror and
how the Nazis were able to turn Germany into a brutal and horrific dictatorship.
The Women of the Third Reich
“The mission of women is to be beautiful and to bring children into the
world.” These words, auspiciously written by Hitler’s mouthpiece Joseph
Goebbels in 1929, laid out the simple but essential role German women were
expected to play in the prospective Third Reich. By examining both the general
situation of women in Nazi Germany and the individual lives of wives and
girlfriends of the Nazi elite, such as Magda Goebbels, Emmi Goering, Leni
Riefenstahl, and the infamous Eva Braun, German Historian Anette Isaacs will
reveal in how far this lofty expectation was met by reality in a racially
motivated totalitarian system.
Hitler and the Germans: Insights into a mutual obsession
Addressing a huge and
adoring audience at the Party Convention in Nuremberg in 1936, Adolf Hitler
stated: “That you have found me among so
many millions is the miracle of our time! And the fact that I found you—that is
Germany’s good fortune!” Join German Historian Anette Isaacs for an
exploration of how this consummate symbiosis of Volk and Führer (People and Leader) came into existence and how it
changed and evolved during the course –and especially- the demise of the Third Reich. (Please note: this program will be available from early summer of 2014.)
The Land of the Perpetrators: The Question of German Guilt
It has been eight decades since Adolf Hitler rose to power and lured millions of willing Germans on to a path of violence and destruction that led to the ultimate break with civilization. Even today, generations of Germans, born after World War II, are still grappling with their country's - and, in many cases, their own family's - horrible legacy. Join German Historian Anette Isaacs, M.A., for a thought-provoking discussion of how the German nation has, over the last seven decades, attempted to cope with the guilt of causing the Holocaust.
Programs focusing on Jewish Life and Remembrance in Germany:
Never Forget: Remembering the Holocaust in Berlin and Germany
Eight decades after Adolf Hitler's rise to power, Germany has evolved into a country with a varied and fascinating Remembrance culture, reminding Germans and visitors alike of the nation's horrible past and legacy. Join German Historian Anette Isaacs as she takes you on a photographic journey which explores and discusses a multitude of memorials to the victims of the Holocaust, thus shedding light on the various intriguing artistic representations of the concepts of Remembrance and Guilt in the "land of the perpetrators."
The Long Road "Home": Returning to Germany after the Holocaust.
Much has been
written in recent years about the renaissance of Jewish Life in Germany which
was primarily caused by a major wave of immigration on part of Jews from the
former Soviet Union. While our lecture will explore this particular phenomenon
and its consequences as well, we first and foremost want to attempt to find an
answer to the question why Jews were coming back to Germany after World War II.
What motives could they have had to return to the "land of the
perpetrators"? Join German Historian Anette Isaacs, M.A. as she traces
back the long road home that led to a rebirth of Jewish Life in her native
country.
Jews in Germany today
This year marks the 75th anniversary
of the beginning of World War II which culminated in Nazi Germany's horrendous
policies of Genocide! Astonishingly, today’s Jewish Community in Germany is the
third largest in all of Europe and Jewish Life is flourishing. Join German
Historian Anette Isaacs as she explores various facets of Jewish Life in her native
country and, via video, introduces you to a very successful young German-Jewish
singer who promotes “New Yiddishkeit” in her music.
Germany and Israel—a story of Guilt and an unlikely Friendship
It is
quite obvious that throughout the last almost seven decades Israel and Germany
have been connected through the Holocaust and its aftermath. What at first
glance seems to be a rather unlikely relationship has evolved over time into a
blossoming friendship and successful economic bond. In order for this to happen
Germany had to face its Nazi legacy and subsequent collective guilt. Join
German Historian Anette Isaacs as she discusses how her native country has
attempted to cope with the guilt of causing the Holocaust and how this painful
but necessary process heralded a new era in German- Israeli relations.
Coming in the summer of 2014:
From Survivors to DPs: Jews in Post- War Germany
It is a little known
fact that right after the end of World War II, over 200 000 Jewish Refugees and
Holocaust Survivors found temporary asylum in Germany, of all places. The occupying
forces created the so called DP Camps for these Displaced Persons and helped them to prepare for a future life in
the United States and Israel, for example with the creation of training Kibbutzim
on German territory. Join German
Historian Anette Isaacs and gain fascinating insights into Jewish Life in immediate
Post-War Germany.
Programs pertaining to the 150th anniversary of “Mad” King Ludwig’s ascension to the Bavarian Throne:
“Mad” Ludwig II of Bavaria: Inside the Life and Mind of Germany’s Fairy-tale
King!
Although he once famously said: “I wish to remain an eternal enigma to myself and to others”, King Ludwig II, who ascended the Bavarian throne in 1864, --150 years ago-- is perhaps the most illustrious of all Germans. Best known as an eccentric whose love for art (especially the music of Richard Wagner) and architecture is legendary, the young King had a charmed but also tragic existence. Join German Historian Anette Isaacs, M.A., as she unravels this “eternal enigma” and presents you with mesmerizing insights into the Fairy-tale King’s amazing life!
Richard Wagner and King Ludwig of Bavaria—Between Music and Madness!
The storied
relationship between the brilliant and controversial composer Richard Wagner
and his devoted patron, the extravagant, tragic – and mad—King Ludwig of
Bavaria is legendary. Join German Historian Anette Isaacs and delve into a most
interesting friendship that was defined by music, money, and a deep affection
between two exceptional German cultural icons!
Always wonderful for the Fall:
Culinaria Germania—the delicious dish on German Food
When thinking about
German food bratwurst, sauerkraut, beer, and all kinds of breads are the first
things that come to mind. German food and drink are well-known and popular all
over the world. But there is so much more to German cuisine, especially when
one takes the regional differences into consideration. Join German Historian
Anette Isaacs, M.A. as she takes you on a fascinating, fun --and delicious--
journey through the culinary wonders of her native country, highlighted by an
authentic Kaffeeklatsch with typical German desserts such as the mysterious,
yet delectable Bienenstich.
Perfect program for Women’s History month and a fun Summer topic:
The amazing Adventure of Bertha Benz and the History of the German Automobile
The superb reputation
of German cars is legendary: Porsche,
BMW, AUDI, and Mercedes Benz have millions of fans all over the world and are
synonymous with the quality and success of German engineering. But hardly anyone
knows that the history of the automobile's origin is, to a great extent, due to
Bertha Benz, a young mother of five, who, in August of 1888, - in a secret
attempt to visit her mother - became the first human being ever to drive an
automobile over a long distance. Join German Historian Anette Isaacs as she
relates this exciting and history making adventure and introduces you to the
major German Car companies’ histories of origin!
I am looking forward to hearing from and working with you!
Anette Isaacs -- let’s talk about Germany! www.anetteisaacs.com