Language:
German
Pages:
148 pages :
,
bound typescript.
Year of publication:
2005
Keywords:
Alexan, Georg Friedrich,
;
Eisler, Hilde,
;
Eisler, Gerhard.
;
Mosse, Hilde L.
;
Mosse, George L.
;
Communists.
;
Emigration and immigration.
;
Jewish way of life
;
Jewish way of life
;
Germany History Late 20th century.
;
Germany (East) History Late 20th century.
;
Germany Politics and government Late 20th century.
;
Autobiographies
;
Biographical sources
;
Memoirs
Abstract:
Irene Runge’s 14th book was written on occasion of her 63rd birthday: instead of a speech, it was printed and delivered to 63 of her friends. The book is a memoir, and jumps back and forth in time. It consists mostly of personal memories and anecdotes, but there are also reflective passages and analyses. It is divided into many chapters, which resemble diary entries. Irene Runge was a member of the "second generation": She was born in the New York exile, but her parents moved back to Germany during a political climate in the USA, when it became very difficult for sympathizers with the communist party. Her memories give rich insight into the life as an emigrant in New York, but also as a re-emigrant in Germany. She writes about her disappointments with the evolving German Democratic Republic (GDR; experiences, which repeated again in 1989/1990, when the reunification with West Germany took place. The year 1989 had practical consequences for her private life when she lost her job at the university, because her past seemed not compatible. She discusses the PDS, the party which evolved from the communist party of Eastern Germany after the "Wende" (reunification), and life in Berlin after the reunification. At one point she asks whether the current Turkish-Muslim community in Berlin could be comparable to the living conditions of the Jewish community in the 1930. This is a rare memoir documenting many recent aspects of German-speaking Jewry.
Note:
German
URL:
http://digital.cjh.org/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=1051197&custom_att_2=simple_viewer
Permalink
