Volume 59, Number 1
February / March 2011
St. Nikolaus Project Benefits Community Food Pantries By: Darlene Fuchs
By: Darlene Fuchs There are two main words used in German for Carnival or Mardi Gras, the pre-Lenten celebration that ends on Ash Wednesday (Aschermittwoch): the Germanic Fasching and the Latin-based Karneval. Fasching is the most common word used for Mardi Gras in southern Germany, Bavaria and Austria. This Germanic word dates from the 13th century and the Middle High German word vascganc or vastschnag (Fastenschank, “last [alcoholic] drink before fasting”). The word later joined other German words ending in -ing to become Fasching. Karneval, is a Latin-based term that comes from carnem levare (“to remove [give up] meat”). The former Roman settlements of Cologne, Bonn and Mainz celebrate Karneval and use that Latin word for the celebration. It is not just that the names are different, so are the customs. Some of Germany’s best known Karneval celebrations are held in Cologne (Köln), Mainz, Düsseldorf and Munich (München). But Cologne’s Karneval is not really the same as Munich’s Fasching. Germanic Carnival celebrations vary from region to region, with each community often having its own unique traditions. One Swiss city even has its Carnival at a different time than all the others! The Fasnacht event in Basel happens a week after most other Carnivals, starting at 4:00 a.m. on the Monday after Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday). The main event of Karneval in Mainz is the parade on Rosenmontag (Rose Monday). Farther south in Bavaria and Austria, the culmination of Fasching takes place on Shrove Tuesday (Faschingsdienstag), like Mardi Gras in New Orleans. These and other differences reflect the long history and
local traditions of the celebration, and they are also seen in the language. A very important regional distinction is the Carnival Salutation. Around Cologne this is ‘Alaaf’, and almost everywhere else it is ‘Helau’. Never shout ‘Helau’ in Cologne, or ‘Alaaf’ in Mainz! Did you know that the biggest Carnival celebration of all of Europe is held in Köln (Cologne), one of Germany’s oldest cities? It’s true! Not only is it the largest Carnival, but it is also one of the oldest; written records have been traced back to the year 1341. In the 15th and 16th centuries, amusing plays known as Fastnachtspiele were performed during the pre-Lenten season. Today there are elaborate parades (Umzüge) in the many large and small communities where Karneval is celebrated. The parade in Mainz Rosenmontagsumzug is an event broadcast each year on German television, similar to the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade in New York. It features colorful floats with caricatured figures mocking local, national and international politicians and other famous personalities or events.
DANK, German American National Congress, founded in 1959, launched a nationwide food drive, in honor of St. Nikolaus, the bearer of gifts. Despite a difficult economy, German-American organizations and companies are working together to fill community food pantries in desperate need of food and funds during this holiday season. DANK, along with the outpouring of help from the German American community, we collected 56,370 pounds of food nationwide. Just in time for St. Nikolaus Day on December 6th, and the upcoming holiday season. The St. Nikolaus Project is two-fold: it benefits local communities, and it brings awareness to the many positive contributions of German Americans nationwide. This project honors the spirit of giving to those less fortunate who have fallen on hard times. When the world is faced with a broken economic system, those less fortunate suffer most. Today, St. Nikolaus is still celebrated as a great giftgiver. In Germany, good children wake to find their shoes filled with sweets on St. Nikolaus Day. This is still the tradition among the Germanic communities throughout the United States. DANK, one the nation’s largest German American organization, seeks to preserve the German heritage, language and culture. In 2011 all organizations, businesses and individuals are welcome to participate in the St. Nikolaus project as we increase our goal to 200,000 pounds. Every person deserves to have enough food to eat. Help German Americans by participating in the campaign to end hunger. We invite and encourage German/Americans to join us, and be part of a national initiative where one person — YOU — can make a difference. Collection totals during 2011 can be emailed to Amelia@dank. org or call her at 773-275-1100
Another distinction must be made between ‘official’ events and ‘un-organized’ partying. The organized Carnival includes Pomp Conventions, parades, and fancy uniforms, whereas un-organized Carnival is just this: party, party and party. Whether the celebration is called Fasching, Fastnacht or Karneval, it is a time to let off steam and live it up before the Lenten period that traditionally called for fasting (die Fastenzeit) and sacrifice. It is this fasting tradition that gave the celebration its Fastnacht name (“night before fasting,” “fasting eve”).
TidBits
Associate Members
Education
Business & Tech
Auf Deutsch
Insider
Oskar & Atticus
Lifestyle
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February / March 2011
Check Us Out Online! WWW.DANK.ORG DANK Discussion Forum Official DANK Blog
Liebe Mitglieder und Freunde! Dear Members and Friends, The New Year is now upon us and we have already endured one heck of a winter. Not only in the US, but also in Germany, where snowfall amounts of this winter’s caliber have not been seen in half a century. Great for those that love winter sports! But I think that most of us are looking forward to Robin’s announcing the coming of spring and the resurgence of warmth and green vegetation that the season brings with it. This year I am also looking forward to a resurgence and growth DANK. Organizations, such ours, while not alone in both the US and Germany, have had a general decline of membership for various reasons. The ever-growing amount of activities available to families such as sports, TV, travel and video gaming have taken a tremendous toll on Social and Ethnic clubs everywhere. Ironically at the same time, interest in Germanic culture and associated festivals has been surging in the US and in Europe. There have never been so many Oktoberfests and Christmas Markets in the world as there are today. While DANK was organized in Chicago in 1959 to emphasize positive contributions that Germans have made to life in the US, as the organization grew we have also fostered the preservation of the Germanic culture and language for us to be able to share with future generations. DANK is uniquely positioned to provide leadership in this area due to our national and chapter organizational structure. We stand ready to work with all German-American organizations everywhere to continue the process of sharing this great culture, to continue education of the great contributions that Germans and German-Americans have made to our society and to help in teaching the German language. In this process we also see an exciting opportunity to help build a bridge of understanding between Germany and the United States. What can you as a DANK member do to help? If not already involved as a volunteer in DANK, become involved. Attend chapter meetings, participate in functions and volunteer to help. Feel free to give us a call at our national office at 1-866-USA-DANK, if you need help with this. We on the national level and our chapters are looking forward to hearing from you in our quest to make DANK an even better organization. It will take some of your time, but this time can be extremely rewarding and perhaps even educational. Another area that you can help in is financially. I cannot stress enough that DANK is a membership organization and we need to expand our membership to enable us in reaching our goals. Please encourage your friends, neighbors and relatives to join. Gifting a membership is also great present for those that you care about. If all of us would only gift one new membership this year we would double in size. Just think of the possibilities. We greatly appreciate the generous monetary donations that many of you have made towards the German-American Journal, German-American Day, the DANK Education and School Fund, the DANK National Database upgrade and all the other purposes of our organization. We hope that you will keep up this generosity and also encourage giving to DANK as part of your wills, inheritances and bequests. Without such donations DANK would not exist today. Feel free to call our national office for more information in any of the above areas. Together, helping each other, you and I will make a difference. Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
William Fuchs National President
DIE BRUECKE ZUR ALTEN HEIMAT “Building Bridges to Germany” Listen to LIVE radio from Germany on our website! Find ‘Radio Heimatmelodie’ along with a list of other live German radio stations that you can listen to for FREE.
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Der Deutsch-Amerikaner DANK seeks to bring together Americans of German descent in the pursuit of cultivating and presenting their heritage and interests on local, regional and national levels. These were the primary reasons that the German American National Congress was founded in 1959, and they are still among the organization’s primary objectives today.
DANK National Executive Board President William Fuchs 1. Vice President Erich Wittmann
2. Vice President Donna Lippert
Treasurer Bob Miske
Secretary Beverly Pochatko
Editorial Staff
The German Work Ethic How to apply it to your life
Germany is the largest economy in Europe, second in the world behind China, with the US following in third place. It’s products and services are well known to be of top quality. Such achievement is possible with the help of German work ethics throughout the country. Let’s see how we can apply the German work ethic to our own lives without sacrificing our American spontaneity. The Germans greet people with Alles in Ordnung? Which means is everything in order? Ordnung is an important value to the Germans. They believe that the lack of order will lead to chaos, so they make sure things are clearly defined, information is well documented and plans are carried out properly. You can try to bring order into your life by planning in advance and organizing things neatly. Sometimes it’s good to be flexible, breaking away from the order once in a while. After all, we are not robots who follow routine all the time. Americans thrive on the unknown and spontaneous. From time to time, the Germans ask Alles klar? Which means is everything clear? When things are clear and transparent, the Germans feel they are in control, decreasing the possibility for chaos. The Germans clarify things in great detail, leaving very little room for miscommunication. Private and work/school life is separated; friends and strangers are clearly labeled. These clear distinctions can be seen between the use of the formal Sie and the informal du use, during conversations, depending on whether the person is inside or outside their friendship circle. The Germans frequently say genau as their definite YES answer. It means exactly or precisely. One thing I admire about the Germans, is that they always give very strong, accurate remarks. They show confidence with such statements, leaving little room for misinterpretation.. Punctuality, Pünktlichkeit, is an essential value in German culture. The Germans always arrive on time for appointments, every time. Arriving too late or too early disturbs other people’s planning. Germans come to work on time and go home on time. Work and private time is clearly separated and they don’t sacrifice private time for work. A last minute invitation is rare because it might disturb other people’s scheduling. Their reply to an invitation will never be indecisive; “maybe I’ll come,” “if I have the time,” or “I’ll try to make it”. Thoroughness, Gründlichkeit, is a typical German work attitude. Do your work well, with regard to every detail; not superficially or partially. Cutting corners and substandard work is something very un-German. It’s about self satisfaction in producing quality work you are proud of, which benefits everyone. America has this wonderful freedom and openness and the ability to create yourself out of nothing. We’re just much more individualistic a country, believing that if given the right circumstances and opportunities, people can pursue their dreams.
Editor-in-Chief Darlene Fuchs darlene@dank.org Correspondents Corinna Bienger Amelia Cotter Stephen Fuchs Christa Garcia Audrey L. Hess-Eberle Matthias Knobloch Editorial Staff Margita Mandel Amanda Pedersen Beth L. Casey Chapter News Editor Beverly Pochatko erieoma@verizon.net Membership Erik Wittmann erik25@comcast.net Layout & Design Stephen Fuchs Stephen@FoxTaleEdit.com Advertising & Classifieds Amelia Cotter amelia@dank.org
Office Staff DANK National Executive Office
4740 N. Western Ave Chicago, Il 60625-2013 Call (773) 275-1100 Toll Free (866) 926-1109 Fax (773) 275-4010 Office Hours:
9 AM to 5 PM / Monday-Friday Executive Secretary Eva Timmerhaus Office@dank.org
Office Manager Amelia Cotter Amelia@dank.org
General Information German-American Journal - ISSN 1086-8070 - is published bi-monthly and is the official publication of the German American National Congress. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, Illinois and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: German-American Journal 4740 N. Western Ave., Suite 206 Chicago, IL 60625-2013
Annual Subscription - Rate: $15.00 Darlene Fuchs Editor-in-Chief
Submission Deadline For The Apr./May. 2011 Issue:
February 25, 2011
www.dank.org/news.html
DANK does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information published herein. DANK reserves the right to change or amend submissions for any reason without prior notice. ©2011 DANK. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher.
February / March 2011
German-American Journal
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Over 300 bunkers built during the Naziera still remain under the city of Berlin - although mostly inaccessible due to crumbling & floods from water tables
Do You Live To Work Or Work To Live? Hard work never killed anyone, but why take the chance? By: Darlene Fuchs
“How hard Americans work compared to the rest of the world.” Of course I am comparing Americans to a certain variety of Western Europeans. My point is that we, as a nation, need to learn how to relax more, take more vacation time and stop being in such a rush. Am I suggesting we take lessons from the Japanese or the South Koreans? Not likely. The hard work ethic has conditioned us to see happiness as something that must be earned. In effect, this is saying you have to endure hardship in order to get happiness, or to paraphrase it, you must be unhappy to be happy. There is no doubt that in American society (as well as around the globe), there is a focus upon “what you do”. When asked “What do you do?”, one automatically assumes you are referring to their profession. However, around the world this question has different meanings. “What do you do?” can mean what you do for “fun”, something that might never enter an American’s mind when asked. The real question we must ask ourselves is; do you live to work or work to live? It is the American work ethic that very often causes us to forfeit all, or some of, our vacation. Companies even recognize fewer holidays in America than they do in European communities. I think you’ll find the American work force tends to want to, and need to, work as much
as possible. Our fast-paced society pushes us to be more project-driven than leisure time-driven. We tend to work until we get the work done, even at the sacrifice of our free time. People in Germany tend not to work long hours, and those who work in the public sector often finish their working day at 4PM. Americans, on average, work 350 hours more each year than Europeans. This number is large, but it is not the numbers that matter; it is the value that lies behind the number of hours. Working has become the way to prove your worth, make a life for yourself and to gain more belongings. In doing so, the quality of life has decreased.
Here are some pieces of advice for Americans who choose to move to Europe: Don’t brag to others about how hard you work. If you tell your coworker, “I work 10 hours a day, six days a week and only take one week vacation a year.” you’ll get the same reaction you would get in the US if you said, “I wash my hands exactly 154 times a day. Look how clean they are! Look!” Don’t expect much to get done in Germany during August, and don’t expect a quick response to your emails. If you try to get in touch with someone while they are on vacation, or on the weekend, think again, odds are you won’t be able to. Don’t be offended when a German complains about
being overworked after a 40 hour work week, accept it. By their standards, they are already working long hours. But the most important lesson is: enjoy your free time! Pay attention to the truly happy people you are with, and you’ll notice that they enjoy their free time. Germans spend lots of time with their friends and family, they pursue hobbies much more complex than catching up on all the episodes of Dancing with the Stars, they visit museums, fairs and craft shows, attend concerts, read books, throw parties, go to parties and take lots of vacations. Since the start of the recession, the number of unemployed in the U.S. has doubled. Those who are fortunate enough to still have jobs are often working longer hours for less pay, with the ever-present threat of losing being laid off. But even before the recession, American workers were already clocking in the most hours in the West. Compared to our German cousins across the pond, we work 1,804 hours versus their 1,436 hours – the equivalent of nine extra 40hour workweeks per year. In comparison to the U.S., the Germans live in a socialist idyll. They have six weeks of federally mandated vacation, free university tuition, nursing care, and childcare. Germany’s workers have higher productivity, shorter hours and greater quality of life. How did we get it so wrong?
Saving the Wealth of Nature
In Germany there are around 70,000 different species of animals, plants and micro-organisms. This great diversity of living things should not be taken for granted. Numerous projects are working to save endangered species. By: Johannes Göbel magazine-deutschland.de Germany is gaining new animal life. Wolves, lynxes and moose have all returned. Only a few years ago it was impossible to find any of these large mammals in the country. But now their numbers are increasing again in Germany, slowly and without any guarantee of success. The best example is the moose in the east of Brandenburg, the habitat where an estimated population of just ten animals has now become permanently established. Although this tiny moose population has already produced young, experts are still uncertain whether the animals might decide to roam back to Poland one day. Germany’s dense urban development and networks of roads and motorways make it difficult for the animal to settle in these surroundings. The example of the moose illustrates the delicate balance between risk and success when trying to preserve biodiversity. It is true that Germany has not fully achieved
its ambitious goal of completely halting the loss of habitats and species at national level by 2010. Nevertheless, specific measures have led to some appreciable successes, for instance in maintaining the status quo of beavers, otters and sea eagles. And according to Dr. Reinhard Piechocki, species preservation expert at the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, numerous projects have helped “to increase public awareness of the issue”. The German National Biodiversity Strategy is a comprehensive blueprint designed to realize the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. It contains around 330 goals and 430 measures on all topics concerning biodiversity. The project spectrum ranges from re-establishing the European sturgeon in rivers, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea to the implementation of an international standard in the sustainable collection of wild plants. In their efforts to preserve the diversity of species in Germany, scientists form cooperation networks, such as the forum on bio-
diversity research at www.biodiversity.de which bundles the insights of various disciplines ranging from agriculture to marine research. The platform also provides information about concrete projects. For example, the biologist Stefan Kreft is examining which mix of trees will best help the forests of Brandenburg to survive the effects of climate change. And hydrobiologists are accompanying the regeneration of the ecosystem in the Emscher River region, the world’s largest renaturalization programme. The project, with investments of around 4.4 billion euros, is scheduled for completion by 2020. There are already marked improvements in the quality of the river water which had been polluted for decades by industrial waste in North Rhine-Westphalia. Numerous species have returned, including the rare ringed snake. However, such successes would be inconceivable without a high level of public involvement in nature conservation. The variety of support for biodiversity in Germany is also illustrated by the work of two envi-
ronmental organizations, each with around half a million members: NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union) and BUND (League for the Environment and Nature Conservation). Among other things, BUND strongly supports agriculture that consciously sustains biological diversity, ranging from the profitable rediscovery of old types of grain to species-appropriate animal husbandry for rare breeds of pigs. In addition, BUND members have established a nationwide “wild cat rescue network” throughout Germany, one of Europe’s largest projects for the protection of species. NABU is focusing on another type of carnivore with its “Welcome Wolf” project. Meanwhile, the initiators are happy to record around 60 wolves in Germany, a remarkable number considering that the shy animal only returned at the end of the 1990s. Their prospects for survival are looking good, because this year pups have already been sighted in all six of the packs living in the Lausitz wolf region of Saxony and Brandenburg.
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February / March 2011
Three Rooms + Kitchen and Bathroom
Rent or own? Modern energy-efficient house or stylish old building? Insights into Compulsory housing and dream homes in Germany. Military Service Will be Suspended By: Janet Schayan magazine-deutschland.de
A three-piece suite with a corner sofa and armchairs, preferred colours terracotta or eggshell white. A wall unit made of light-coloured wood, a coffee table, a television set and a computer with Internet access. Woodchip wallpaper on the walls, a dark-blue velvet carpet on the floor. Primroses, ivy or orchids stand on the window sill. This is what you will find in “Germany’s most typical living room”. Jung von Matt, the Hamburg-based advertising agency, has set up and furnished this room – and strictly adhered to data from the Federal Statistical Office and consumer research experts at GfK Group. It facilitates a particularly concrete form of target group research: advertising professionals meet in the expertly researched and designed room whenever they want to get as close as possible to the world of consumers. Can you get any closer than their most private surroundings? Closer than the place they have furnished according to their own tastes, the place where they live their day-to-day lives? In the English language the verb “to live” can mean both “to dwell” and “to be alive”. German, on the other hand, makes a clear distinction between “wohnen” (dwell or reside) and “leben” (be alive or exist). The word “wohnen” has Old High German roots that originally meant “to stay” and “to be content”, which is not totally wrong today in our context. “Wohnen” is understandably considered important in Germany. Germans spend the largest proportion of their monthly income on somewhere to live – a total of roughly 700 euros on rent, maintenance and electricity and energy costs. However, that is just the average. Depending on the town, residential area and apartment or house size, the rent alone can be significantly higher or lower than that. In generally terms it can be said that you pay more for a place to live in southern Germany than in the north or east. On the other hand, according to a study by the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR), the population of Bavaria and BadenWürttemberg believe they enjoy a particularly high quality of life. Surveys repeatedly rank Munich as the most expensive German city. Tenants in the Bavarian capital pay 70% higher rents than the average for Germany as a whole. Wiesbaden, Stuttgart, Cologne and Düsseldorf are also very expensive and are at the top of the rent league table alongside Hamburg and Frankfurt am Main. On the other hand, living in the German capital is surprisingly cheap, especially when compared to other metropoles in Europe. On average, Berliners pay less than 5.50 euros per square metre a month. Many people consider renting the second best option. The Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography in Leipzig has ascertained that in Germany “the desire to own property comes second in the ranking of material aspirations”. It immediately follows owning a car. Yet the level of property ownership is rather low compared with other European countries. Less than half of all German households live in their own apartments or
© picture-alliance/dpa
houses. The majority rent – but only rarely a complete house: 76% of tenants live in buildings with more than three apartments. On the other hand, the size of apartments has been steadily increasing since the 1960s. If you calculate the average for all the approximately 39 million rented and owner-occupied apartments and houses in Germany, you end up with an average living space of 90 square metres, which works out at a little over 40 square metres per head. However, these figures vary considerably depending on size of household and income. The most popular section on the real-estate websites is certainly the traditional “Three Rooms plus Kitchen and Bathroom”. Only half a century ago it was quite normal for a family of four to live in this kind of apartment – with a living room, the parents’ bedroom and a room for two children. Today, according to surveys by the Leibniz Institute, a separate room for each child is considered “appropriate”. During the 1950s, the years of reconstruction after the Second World War, a large number of simple apartments were built relatively fast. In the following decade – in West Germany – expansion mainly occurred in the suburbs as a result of building subsidies for onefamily houses. The 1970s were then characterized by the large-scale construction of areas of social housing. Since the 1980s the picture has become more multifaceted: old buildings are being modernized at considerable cost, high-quality owner-occupier properties built on a small scale, compact housing areas constructed on the edge of town and also areas of multistory housing in the suburbs. Innovative housing experiments are also becoming increasingly popular: for example, the joint purchase of large properties with communal and private areas. Additionally, today’s property seekers are increasingly interested in the energy consumption of houses and apartments – not only as a result of increased environmental awareness, but also for cost reasons. Since 2009 anyone who wants to buy or rent a property in Germany even has a statutory right to see the Energy Performance Certificate, which documents the energy efficiency of an apartment or a building. However, the trend is already clearly moving on – towards ecological housing. Young families in particular are drawn to these environmentally friendly settlements with lowenergy or plus-energy houses. These building projects are mainly springing up in the metropolitan areas of Stuttgart, Hamburg and Munich, while Freiburg, the city that pioneered solar construction, can already boast several areas of ecological housing. That all seems very sensible. Yet when it comes to Germans’ dream homes, they tend to be much more adventurous. In 2010, immowelt.de, a real-estate website, discovered in a survey that 25% of respondents dream of living on a cozy houseboat, 21% would like to live in a secluded farmhouse and at least 3% yearn for the supposed freedom of a builder’s caravan. That certainly doesn’t sound very much like plush eggshell-white sofas and primroses.
Ende der Wehrpflicht Recherche
Minister of Defense, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg
The German Government has approved the plans of Minister of Defense, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, to suspend the Compulsory Military Service in Germany, at the latest by summer 2011. It is not clear yet if the last recruits are being drafted to start service on March 1st, 2011, nor how long they will have to serve. This means the end of 53 years of compulsory military service for Germany’s young men. From now on the German Bundeswehr will have to entice young men with special benefits (and better pay) but nobody is forced to absolve 6 months of service any longer. While this is good news for every young man currently finishing school, it is bad news for the socialservices in Germany. Whoever had good reason not to serve in the military was able to refuse, but had to absolve at least the same amount of time in social services instead. All these „Zivildienstleistende“, the 90,000 young men working in the hospitals, retirement homes, rescue services, cultural centers and so on, will now have to be replaced. The plans of the Government include attracting young people – male and female – to absolve a voluntary social year after finishing school. This social year is not limited to young people though, as everyone can participate from now on, regardless of their age. This will change the landscape of social services in Germany immensely. Since our politicians are in agreement that a social year for everybody cannot be forced, our young people are now free to chose what they would like to do after finishing school. But a lot of people I know favor the idea of a compulsory social year for everyone in order to re-install a conscience toward social services into our ever growing economic thinking. For the first time ever, Germany could then have females, “Zivis” (conscientious objectors), performing community service.
February / March 2011
German-American Journal
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The German book market produces around 60,000 new publications every year.
Achtung!
Es war ein warmer und sonniger Herbsttag im Oktober 2002. Jener Tag, an dem ich mich von meiner damaligen Freundin sowie meinen heiß geliebten Jeanshosen verabschieden musste. Die in Deutschland bestehende Wehrpflicht drang nun auch in meine Privatsphäre ein und rief mich zum Dienst an der Waffe. Denn Matthias Knobloch schließlich soll ich ja in der Lage sein, Volk und Vaterland im unwahrscheinlichen Fall eines Angriffs verteidigen zu können. Alle Rekruten müssen sich einer dreimonatigen Grundausbildung unterziehen. So auch ich. Diese aus Drill, Sport und praktischen Übungen bestehende Ausbildung absolvierte ich im Instandsetzungsbataillon in Gotha. Da stand ich nun, vor dem frisch gebackenen Hauptschulabsolvent und musste mir erzählen lassen, wie ich Bett zu machen und Stube zu reinigen habe. „Jawohl Her Unteroffizier!“ - „Kommt der sich wichtig vor.“ dachte ich nur. Eines Tages werde ich dein Chef sein und dann wirst du nach meiner Pfeife tanzen. Es hat mich wenigstens nicht viel Zeit gekostet, bis ich schließlich kapiert habe, dass diese sogenannte Wehrpflich ja im Prinzip nur ein riesiges Ferienlager für junge Männer ist. So sehr anders war es ja schließlich nicht gewesen. Wir haben ab und zu im Wald bei Lagerfeuer und Suppenkanone campen dürfen und konnten sogar unter Aufsicht Krieg spielen. Sicherlich waren unsere Aufseher keine Aufpasser im eigentlichen Sinn. Auch waren unsere persönlichen Freiheiten mehr oder weniger stark eingeschränkt gewesen. Dennoch kann ich aus heutiger Sicht feststellen, dass ich meiner Zeit bei der Bundeswehr doch eher positiv als distanziert gegenüberstand. Natürlich hätte ich auch ohne Zweifel ein ganzes Jahr eher mit meinem Studium beginnen können aber träumt nicht jeder Junge einmal davon, wie Rambo mit Patronengurten um die Brust durch den Matsch zu kriechen, ohne später von Mutti Ärger zu bekommen? Nach meinen ersten drei Monaten als Rekrut in der Grundausbildung hat man mich zum Gefreiten befördert. Die Division, in der man mich einsetzte war für die Instandhaltung von Kriegsmaschinerie verantwortlich. Ich bekam sogar eine Ausbildung als KFZ- und Panzerschlosser und durfte in mehreren Unterrichtsstunden lernen, wie man die Räder eines Bergepanzers oder die Ketten des Kampfpanzers „Leopard“ wechselt. Die Instandhaltung
Attention!
By: Matthias Knobloch
It was a warm Indian summer day when I said good bye to both my girlfriend and denim. October 1, 2002 marks my first day as a soldier in the German Army. Germany has conscription for all young male citizens and that first day in October was the day that the German government drafted me. They wanted me to learn how to control a rifle in the event that the wonderful German constitutional rights were ever under attack. I underwent three months of basic combat training composed of drills, physical activities, field maneuvers, and theoretical lessons. There I was, standing in front of a drill sergeant lucky to have finished 10th grade, thinking “Really? I just graduated with my Abitur, Germany’s highest school degree and now I have to put up with this? Sergeant, someday I’m gonna be your boss” and yet I was forced to put up with his yelling at me for not
eines 1.500 PS Benz Panzermotors gehoerte ebenfalls zu meiner lehrreichen Ausbildung. Leider sank mein Interesse, tonnenschweres Bundeseigentum instandzuhalten, von Tag zu Tag und so kam es, dass ich mich eines Tages schlafend im Innenraum eines Panzers wiedergefunden habe. Zu meiner Zeit dauerte der Wehdienst genau neun Monate und die Bundesrepublik gab den jungen Männern die Möglichkeit zwischen dem Wehrdienst und dem Zivildienst zu waehlen. Besonders für künftige Mediziner war der Zivildienst eine günstige Alternative, gab und gibt es doch besonders viele Stellen in Krankenhäusern und Altenheimen. Den sogenannten Wehrersatzdienst konnte jeder wählen, der aus Gewissensgründen nicht an der Waffe dienen wollte. Vor kurzem hat Deutschlands Verteidigungsminister Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg den Antrag gestellt, den Wehrdienst ab Juli 2011 auszusetzen. Bedenkt man die Kosten, die dem Bundeshausalt jährlich durch den Wehrdienst entstehen, so ist dieser Antrag wohl einer der Besten in den letzten Jahren. Die Wehrpflich stand zuletzt nicht nur finanziell im Licht der Berichterstattung. Auch haben Videos von betrunkenen Wehrdienstleistenden in Uniform auf You Tube die Bundeswehr negativ in die
having shaved or cleaned the dorm in the proper way. However, It didn’t take me very long to realize that I should see these nine months with the German Army as a gigantic summer camp for young adults. We got to sleep in the forest, play with guns, and eat together. Sure, our camp counselors weren’t very nice and our personal freedom was narrowed to the walls of the barracks, but in retrospect, I would say that my time as a soldier was more enjoyment than pain. Of course, I could have started my studies one year earlier instead of crawling through mud in Thuringia’s finest forest preserves, but doesn’t every boy dream of walking like Rambo with a bandoleer on his chest and a machine gun in his arm? After the first three months of basic training, I was transferred to the Logistics Battalion. The transfer came along with a promotion to “Gefreiter” which is comparable to the US version of Private 1st Class. My division was responsible for fixing and maintaining tanks in the tank division. In training sessions I learned how to change tracks, fix wheels and brakes,
Schlagzeilen gebracht. Nur gut, dass man mich damals nicht schlafend im Panzer gefilmt hat. Die Abschaffung der Wehrpflich hat aber auch eine negative Seite: Der wegfallende Zivildienst. Das ohnehin schon finanziell geschwächte Gesundheits- und Pflegesystem in Deutschland wird mit dem Wegfall der Zivildienstleistenden wohl vor einer großen Herausforderung stehen. Schließlich bediente sich das System aus dem Pool von billigen Wehrdienstverweigerern und füllte so Aushilfsstellen in Kranken- und Pflegeeinrichtungen. Ein Punkt den es zu überdenken gilt. Falls die Wehrpflicht abgeschafft wird, reformiert sich die Bundeswehr zu einer reinen Berufsarmee. Eine Armee, die qualifizierte Bewerber mit offenen Armen empfängt und ausgezeichnete Studien- und Lehrbedingungen bietet. Deutschlands Männer werden sich freiwillig entscheiden können, ob sie dienen wollen oder lieber gleich nach der Schule eine Ausbildung oder Lehre beginnen möchten. Die Regierung wird eine finanzielle Last weniger haben und wenn dann auch noch das Problem mit den wegfallenden Zivis gelöst ist, kann man direkt von einer klassischen Win – Win – Win Situation reden.
maintain the heart of the Leopard panzer with a 1,500 horse power Benz engine. Unfortunately, my interest in fixing dark green tanks decreased daily, to the point where I began to just fall asleep inside the tank that I was supposed to have fixed by the end of the day. Germany’s young men can chose between serving in the army or doing alternative community service in a social institution such as a hospital or a nursing home. Young men who want to become health industry professionals particularly prefer to go the social service route. Recently, the German Minister of Defense has proposed discontinuing the German Army conscription beginning in July 2011. This is a smart move, considering that this obligatory service costs Germany a fortune and that I was most likely not the only Private sleeping in a tank. The rise of web 2.0 has also caused the practice of German Conscription some humiliation. Videos on YouTube that show young recruits drinking in dorms and playing obvious war games are feeding the media and have added to the call for the Minister’s proposal to be
approved. Although both high costs and the current lack of discipline exhibited by recruits are both strong arguments for discontinuing conscription in Germany, many argue that the Civil Service will suffer from the loss of young men willing to choose this track instead of the military service, particularly given the fact that Germany’s public health care system depends on these young citizens as cheap labor—a . The German government must take this fact into account when they decide whether or not Germany needs the conscription. If conscription is overturned, Germany’s army would become a career army made up of recruits who are eager and willing to dedicate a part of their lives to military service. Some may chose to become livelong soldiers, as the Army also offers excellent academic programs for cadets and could contribute more to these promising recruits if funds were freed up as a consequence of discontinuing conscription.
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February / March 2011
More than 300 types of bread are sold in bakery shops across Germany
German Heritage Collection At New Ulm Public Library By: Mr. Larry Hlavsa, Librarian, Mr. George L. Glotzbach
The New Ulm Public Library holds a collection known as the “German Heritage Collection”. It is believed to be the only such specialized German-American history collection in a public library in the United States. This collection of nearly 100 books is devoted not to German history per se, but more precisely to German-American history. This collection is noteworthy in its attempt to collect materials on this focused topic. Mr. Denis Warta, then a New Ulm City Council member, urged the creation of the collection noting “There are pieces of this in college libraries all across the United States. Some public library should make this available, and New Ulm should be that place, as the most German town in the United States”. And so it is. Dedicated in Oktober, 2000 the German Heritage Collection has grown guardedly given its narrow subject focus. Donations from several authors helped establish the collection, as did contributions from members of the Society for GermanAmerican Studies. While scholars find the collection of note, so do geneaologists and
anyone interested in German-American history. All of the materials circulate and may be borrowed locally or through interlibrary loan. The collection is not separately housed, but is interspersed throughout the library’s general collections.
Hillcrest Park, now a forgotten plot of land on the edge of a small town, located west of Milwaukee, is revealing its mysterious existence it has played during the Cold War. Once the most super secret military defense system, with an atomic bomb proof command bunker and surrounded with eight Nike Missile launching systems, it served as a protective shield from incoming soviet missiles. Remnants of this military installation are still visible. It is the future home of the Cold War Museum - Midwest Chapter - located
online catalog. Access the online catalog using the Web link www.tds.lib.mn.us/. Then click on the “TdS Catalog” link. Use the local subject heading: “GermanAmerican Heritage Collection” to obtain listings of the materials.
New Ulm Public Library. Credit to the Brown County Historical Society, New Ulm, MN., Darla
Waukesha, Wisconsin Missile Site By: Werner Juretzko
However, each volume in the collection is distinguished by an identifying sticker depicting the Hermann Monument in New Ulm. For off-site users, contents of the collection may be searched in the library’s
in Waukesha, Wisconsin. During a tour by AoFIO-members (Association of Former Intelligence Officers) through the base, Collin Sandell shocked the visitors with the horrifying account of the day. As an 18 year old recruit, he arrived at the base in the morning hours of October 22, 1962, as the US Armed Forces were put on high alert. It was the day the Cuban Missile Crisis began. All missiles were raised into 10-minute firing positions on orders of President Kennedy. Unbeknownst to today’s contemporaries, this is the closest the world has come to a military conflict during the Cold War.
Collin Sandell shocks the listeners with the events from October 22, 1962
February / March 2011
German-American Journal
25,000 Bob Miske Confirmed as New National Treasurer!
By: Bill Fuchs On December 23 of last year, the DANK National Board held a special board meeting to elect Robert Miske of the Milwaukee chapter as National Treasurer. The position became vacant by the resignation of Maria Thompson, who resigned because of personal reasons. We sincerely thank Maria for dutifully exercising the position of National Treasurer in the last 3 1/2 years, while bringing her professional financial expertise to our organization. Many positive changes were accomplished during her tenure and she left some big shoes to
Just Add One Well, here we are in 2011! Our membership hopefully had a wonderful Christmas and is starting out the New Year with new goals and objectives, be they lose weight, find a new job or change personal circumstances such as health, wealth and happiness. Like you, your national organization also is optimistic that 2011 will be a year that changes the tide with additional growth, active chapters as well as an active and involved membership. Those organizational goals are all connected. In signing up new members, we create chapter growth; chapter growth brings a more active and involved membership, which in return makes a more vital organization. We, as an organization, have many long range goals that involve our Germanic heritage, such as the establishment of German Cultural Centers throughout the country, as being worked on in Chicago and Washington DC. We continue to focus on the expansion of the German –American Friendship Garden and permanent establishment of a German-American Day, without having to annually undergo the process of obtaining recognition. None of these things can be achieved without your involvement in making this
fill. We are extremely thankful that Bob Miske has stepped up and volunteered to fill the position at this time. Bob brings with him a wealth of expertise, serving DANK on National and Regional levels for many years as Parliamentarian, coordinating our National Conventions for the last several decades and serving many terms as Treasurer for the Milwaukee chapter. Ms. Thompson worked with Bob over a one month period to assure a smooth transition and to make this as seamless as possible. We truly appreciate the professionalism that both individuals exhibited during the changeover.
organization grow. While some of our group membership drives, like Fox Valley and Uniontown, have borne fruit, ultimately the success is dependent on each one of you reaching out and helping to bring in one new member for the year 2011. So the campaign continues and we continue to ask our membership to become more actively involved and make that effort. Interestingly enough, in an exchange with another ethnic group at Pittsburgh’s Heritage Days, I was shocked, but pleased, to learn that this particular Scottish group has more than eight thousand members in Pennsylvania alone. Their dues structure is similar to ours and their activities simulate ours in numbers and nature. Yet despite their small percentage of the American fabric, they show tremendous pride in their heritage. They are able to sign up decedents to show pride and perpetuate their heritage. Here we are, the largest ethnic group in America, and continue to struggle in maintaining a national presence. As stated before, the task of fulfilling the membership goal of this organization cannot fall on just a few, but needs to be shared by the larger organizational membership. Fulfill your responsibility by adding “just one” new member in 2011. Have a wonderful New Year!
Sign Up For Membership Online @ www.DANK.org
Here’s hoping that everyone is having a romantic February and looking forward to a warm, early spring! We in the office are thrilled with all of the progress and good things that have been happening around us lately. The theme to kick off 2011 seems to be stewardship, with DANK members everywhere getting active and involved. Overall, we’ve received many wonderful donations throughout the first part of the dues collection season, including for the Journal, the German-American Day Fund, the St. Nick Project, and for our new database system. Thank you to everyone who has generously donated! We appreciate it! We also just approved the brand new Life Member Pin, and will be distributing them as soon as they come in. Lorraine Reinsch, a local graphic designer, volunteered to design the pin, which is both sleek and simple, and will make a great gift for all current and future Life Members. One last thank you goes out to DANK member and second place raffle prize winner, Ursula Anderson. Rather than accepting the prize, the big screen television, she generously decided to donate the prize back to DANK, allowing us to keep the funds. As a special thank you, we decided to give her
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There are more than 25,000 castles scattered around Germany
an honorary membership for 2012 (since she already paid her 2011 dues). Thank you, Ursula! Along the lines of stewardship and getting involved, a volunteer or two will be needed for the Neighborhoods Around the World, “German Chicago Now!” event happening at Navy Pier in Chicago on April 3. The DANK Haus is contributing a lot of energy to the event and DANK National will also have a table with fun activities for children set up, and some merchandise for sale. If you are interested in helping us at the national table (set up, break down, during the event, etc.), the event takes place on Sunday, April 3 from noon to five, with load in times from eight to 11 that morning and break down from five to seven that evening. Call the office or email us at office@dank. org to let us know! On a final “business-y” note, you may have noticed that the new membership cards you received in the mail this year have been updated, and that the attached order form reflects new prices for all of the listed products. The DANK flag pins and regular membership pins now cost $7.50 each (that does include tax and shipping), and the longevity pins are now only $4.00 each (including tax and shipping).
Pappas Presents Award of Excellence to DANK Chicago-South Newspaper Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas presents an award of excellence in her downtown Chicago office to DANK Chicago-South Newsletter Co-Editor Marianne Dietz for 13 years of ongoing contributions to the German American Community.
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German-American Journal
February / March 2011
RECOGNIZING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE GENERAL VON STEUBEN MONUMENT THE HONORA)*E TI,OTHY )ISHOP OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, December 2, 2010 Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the one hundredth anniversary of the dedication of the monument to General von Steuben across the street from the White House – in Lafayette Park, Washington, D.C. The monument to General Frederich Wilhelm von Steuben was dedicated in a ceremony presided over by President William H. Taft on December 7, 1910. Taking its place among the statues of three other European-born Revolutionary War heroes, the Steuben monument serves as a reminder of the tactical foresight and invaluable contributions of General von Steuben to the United States military during the American Revolution.
military in the world. In addition to his battlefield heroics, General von Steuben’s enduring impact lives on through the U.S. Armed Forces’ continuing reference to his “Blue Book,” which outlines a training plan that has served as the standard bearer for strategic military preparation. General von Steuben’s contributions and accomplishments continue to serve as a source of great pride and inspiration for the millions of German-Americans living in the United States today.
The Steuben Society, founded in 1919 and named in honor of General von Steuben, serves to educate the public about matters of interest to General von Steuben arrived in the United American citizens of German heritage and their States from Prussia during a period of great turmoil families, to encourage participation in civic affairs, for our young country. Facing the superior forces and to perpetuate and enhance the understanding of of Great Britain, the American military lacked contributions made by German Americans to our experience, tradition, and proper training. It was nation. I am proud that the national headquarters of under these circumstances that General von Steuben the Steuben Society is located in Patchogue, New wrote to General George Washington prior to his York, which is my district and home to 130,000 arrival in 1778, stating “The object of my greatest German-American constituents. ambition is to render your country all the service in Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize my power, and to deserve the title of a citizen of the centennial anniversary of the dedication of the America by fighting for the cause of liberty.” General von Steuben monument in Lafayette Park, General von Steuben is credited with almost singlehandedly transforming the Continental Army and I commend the Steuben Society for its active role in promoting the culture and contributions of from a group of untrained militias into a professional army capable of defeating the strongest German-American citizens across the United States.
Left to Right: Bernhard Wenzel, Washington, Saengerbund; Dr Don H Tolzmann Vice Chairman, and Ilse Hoffmann, Secretary, Steuben Society of America National Council; William Fuchs, President, German American National Congress; Major General William H. McCoy, Jr., Acting Inspector General US Army; Hon Klaus Scharioth, Ambassador of the Federal Republic to the USA, Gerhard Meinzer, President, Association of German American Societies of Greater Washington DC;Randall Ratje, Esq,, National Chairman, Steuben Society of America; Bern E Deichman, President, German America Heritage Foundation Washington, DC, Dr. Martin Mencke, Pastor, German Lutheran Church, Washington, DC
Steuben Statue, 100 year anniversary of the dedication of the monument
Laying of a commemoration wreath
Our Last Hurrah
The Importance New Year’s Eve Party of DANK Chicago West of Friendship By: Stefan Pigler
Princepaar and others of the Rheinische Karnival Verein mingling with guests.
By: Annelies Pitz Published as Submitted With spring-like weather, our guests arrived at the beautiful Drury Lane in Oak Brook with smiling faces. The ladies looked lovely in their festive gowns and the men looked pretty dapper too! Without a doubt, Drury Lane far exceeds in elegance and ambiance in the Chicago area. Beautiful decorations at the entrance of the theater and Grand Ball Rooms transform you into an area of wonderland. A sumptuous dinner of prime rib or orange roughy helped set the tone for the evening. The Drury Lane Chefs have been awarded many awards for their culinary skills. This year’s food surpassed them all. President Harald Pitz greeted the guests and introduced a number of notables: our own Honorary President, Siegfried Endlichhofer (Marianne); Elmhurst Männerchor President Hermann Pigors (Dorothy); Elmhurst Damenchor President Petra Hentzel (Jerry); DANK National Treasurer Maria Thompson (Jerry) and members of the Austrian Mixed Chorus. For our dancing pleasure the Phenix Band provided terrific entertainment
for dancing, singing or schunkeln. It was especially nice to greet the 2011 Karnival’s Prince Manfred and Princess Jennifer who came to cheer our guests. Lent is late this year which will provide for extra activities of the Rheinische Karnival Verein. Our sponsor, American Airlines, provided round-trip tickets within the USA for two lucky raffle winners: Maria Thompson and Hans Jacobs. We welcomed the New Year with singing, dancing and polonaise and lots of libations. We thank our guests for attending and wish all of you a Healthy and Happy New Year. For fifty-one (51) years our chapter entertained our guests at various locations throughout Chicago. From initial turnouts of 500 guests at our Silvester Gala evenings to the present of fewer than 200 guests, we sadly decided that this was our “last Hurrah”! However, DANK-West will host a May Dance on Sunday, May 22, 2011 at the Alpine Banquet Hall in Hillside with delicious German food, and the Paloma Band playing. Hope to see you there! Wishing all of you a very healthy and Happy New Year!
It was back in March of 2004, at our weekly DANK Cleveland Stammtisch gathering; which occur Friday evenings at the Cleveland Maennerchor hall, that the late Johanna Roth, our president at that time, “guilted” me, and my friend Paul Holt, into attending the Fruehlingskonzert of the Banater Choir. Johanna had been a member for decades. Paul and I were well aware of the seven German choirs that were still in operation in Cleveland, but we had never been to a concert and didn’t know what to expect. Well, we were blown away by the performances of the five participating choirs. So much so, that Paul and I decided to join the Cleveland Maennerchor, because we felt that we needed to be part of this. We have been members ever since, and especially enjoy participating in the Bezirkssaengerfests and the National Saengerfests. Our first one was in Peoria, Illinois, in 2004. Our regret was only that we didn’t come across this much earlier. I guess sometimes it takes a little forceful nudge from a friend to do the right thing. Now fast forward to 2010. At the German – American Fest in June, several people noticed that Paul was behaving a little different. We thought that he might have had a mini stroke, and pressed him to see a doctor. It turned out to be much worse. Paul was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was operated on immediately. Most of the tumor was removed and the rest was going to be shrunk with radiation. He did his regiment of treatments, as well as chemo, and seems to be on the road to recovery. However he is unable to work, so he has applied for Social Security disability benefits. That, however, takes a while. I talked with some of our DANK members and the Cleveland Maennerchor, and we decided to have a fundraiser for Paul. Luckily, with e-mail, one can reach a whole lot of people in a matter of seconds, and our fundraiser was a huge success within a short time. What’s the moral of the story? Friendship! Friendship and belonging, whether it is belonging to good organizations, such as DANK, or a singing society, it is what life is all about.
February / March 2011
German-American Journal
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DANK Lake County, Illinois Volkstrauertag Commemoration and Wreath-Laying Ceremony
In center, Onno Hückmann, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, assisted by Mrs. Hückmann, addressing the gathering
Bernd Krämer (left) and Werner Stein
By: Ursula Hoeft On November 14, DANK Chapter Lake County, Illinois once again observed Volkstrauertag at the Fort Sheridan Military Cemetery where nine German World War Two prisoners of war are buried. For more than three decades the Chapter has invited the public to take part in this annual commemoration. What began as a small gathering has grown every year with a record number of people attending the 2010 observance. Chapter President Cobi Stein thanked Chapter Board member Ernst Weber for organizing the observance, and Chapter Board member Anni Kordas and Honorary Chapter President Victor Kordas for
making the wreaths for the graves, a task they have lovingly carried out for the last 27 years. Mrs. Stein read a poignant letter written by a German soldier to his parents during the 1914 Christmas truce. The official wreath, provided by the German Consulate’s Office, was placed by Onno Hückmann, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Chapter members Wolfram Kollacks and Willi Boschat. In his address, Mr. Hückmann talked about the history of Volkstrauertag, the German National Day of Mourning, founded in 1919 to commemorate those who died in World War One. The Day was intended to serve as a “visible indication of the bond between those who did not suffer losses and
Happy New Year From South Bend Chapter
the dependents of the fallen,” Mr. Hückmann stated. He added that “the National Day of Mourning has also become a day of warning to remind us of the need for reconciliation, understanding and peace.” To the solemn sound of a chime as his name was read, a wreath was placed at each soldier’s grave by individuals representing various groups: Erich Freiberger (DANK Chapter Chicago North), Heinz Voss (DANK Chapter Chicago Northern Suburbs), Maria Thompson (DANK Chapter Fox Valley), Irma Lenz (DANK Chapter Lake County, Illinois), Edwin Günther (DANK Chapter Milwaukee), Klaus Leicht (German-American Club of Antioch), Rudolf Golsch (Rheinischer Gesang Verein), Heinrich Janssen (Schleswig-Holstein Saengerbund), and Ernst Weber (Schwaebischer Saengerbund). Honorary Chapter President and Vice President Karl Schmidt read the poem Heldenfriedhof in memory of Otto Alden, DANK Chapter Lake County, IL Board member and German Kriegsgräberfürsorge
Pappas Welcomes German American Community Leaders To Holiday Party Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas (playing the keyboard) welcomes leaders of the German American community to her Annual Holiday Party. Several hundred persons from diverse ethnic and religious groups attended Pappas’ Holiday Party, which has become a tradition in the
Left to Right: John, Bill, Sonja, Franz, Erika, Guenter, Baerbel, Trudy, Christine Front Row: Anna Haas, Mr. Hofman
By: William R. Troutman It was almost Christmas, a very busy time for most folks including the German American National Congress folks of South Bend. Advent Service at the Saint Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church was first on the list. On November 28, Pastor Reverend Gregory Fiechtner gave a wonderful service in German, complete with German Christmas music, a full choir and even a cello quartet. Since I’m a musician, I must say it was very beautiful. Afterwards, we gathered in the fellowship room for hot coffee and desserts. Next was our Christmas party on December 5th. Pastor Fiechtner was so kind to let us use the fellowship room for this function. After eating, our chapter singers got up, and with the help of Patricia Nyuken at the piano and
myself on the guitar, we all sang German Christmas carols. Lastly, on December 10, we sang Christmas carols at Arborwood Retirement Community for one of our German immigrants: Frau Anna Haas. The dining room was made into a little theater and we sang to a crowd of appreciative people. Guenther Kison’s performance was exceptionally wonderful when he sang “Weihnacht Auf Hoher See” and then told a heart-felt story of the connectedness loved ones feel, who are far away from each other on Christmas, and how they find comfort by looking up at the stars in the night time sky and knowing the other one is also looking as well. And despite all of our differences, when we as members gaze through the darkness at the star of D.A.N.K, we feel a connection to all other members who are doing likewise.
honoree who, until his death, had for many years organized the Chapter’s annual Volkstrauertag observance. Mr. Schmidt also asked that a moment of silence be observed in memory of Helmut Lenz, Chapter member and former Fort Sheridan POW. The day was memorialized in prayer by the Reverend Richard Käske, a Chapter Board member, and in song by members of the combined Rheinischer Gesang Verein, Schleswig-Holsteiner Sängerbund, and Schwäbischer Sängerbund directed by Glen Sorgatz. Honorary DANK National President Ernst Ott also spoke about the significance of Volkstrauertag and extended greetings from DANK National President, Bill Fuchs, who was not able to attend due to a work commitment. A cake, coffee and conversation gettogether at the American Legion McKinlock Post 264 in Lake Forest followed the Volkstrauertag ceremony and allowed time for socializing and reflecting on the day’s significance.
Treasurer’s Office at the Cook County Building in downtown Chicago. Guests viewed more than 90 Christmas trees decorated by different ethnic groups of Cook County and sang carols as the Treasurer played the keyboard.
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German-American Journal
February / March 2011
DANK Chicago South and Suburbs 2010 Year In Review By: Anita Walthier
We started the year with our annual Faschingstanz in February and had a great turnout. We were pleasantly surprised when Prinz Josef and Prinzessin Debbie from the Chicago Rheinischer Verein Karneval Gesellschaft came with a bus of about 20 people in their entourage. In spring we hosted German entertainers brought to us by Armin Homann of the Deutschland Echo radio show. In May we collaborated with the Village of Frankfort for the 4th Annual German Heritage Celebration. Summer rolled around and once again we hosted an Armin Homann picnic extravaganza, with nearly 200 people in attendance. We supported Germanfest in Milwaukee with a tour bus full of “Southsiders,” that cheered our chapter on, as those dressed in Trachten marched in the parade. The summer ended with a picnic in August and the celebration of the Frankfort Fall Festival parade. In September we participated in Chicago’s “Von Steuben Parade,” held in Lincoln Square. Later that month we hosted our Oktoberfest, which was definitely filled with “Gemütlichkeit,” even though umbrellas were needed. November 4, 2010, was the beginning of our first “Adult Conversational” German language class, which lasted 6 weeks and received overwhelmingly positive results. The next session will continue in February 2011 and is scheduled for another 6 weeks. Our bi-annual elections were held on November 21, 2010. We are thankful and appreciative of the previous Vorstand/ Board and hope that the new Vorstand will continue with as much enthusiasm to carry on our German heritage. On Thanksgiving weekend we sponsored another Armin Homan (Deutschland Echo radio host,) Weihnachts Show, with entertainers form Austria and Germany, which was a
DANK Chicago South Board - Left-Right: Christine Walthier, Treasurer, Katharina Fandl, Recording Secretary, Mellanie Trachsel, Membership Secretary, Marianne L. Dietz, Corresponding Secretary, Donna Lippert, National VP, Gary Dietz, President, Kathy Kruss, VP, Thomas Papineau, VP, Michael Konrath, VP
great success. We were delighted to have many members come with their children and grandchildren, despite the extreme winter weather, to our Weihnachts Festival, that took place on Sunday, December 12th. There was also a special appearance by St. Nikolaus. The event began with various ladies from the chapter carrying large platters of sweets to the tables in the German Cake Walk to music performed by Lothar Gehrig. Participants of our Youth Group, consisting of Jake Harfmann, Matthias Dietz, Heidi and Eddy Walthier, performed poems in German for the audience to enjoy. Each child attending the party also made their own Christmas
ornaments to take home. The Chapter made a contribution to the local area food pantry for the St. Nikolaus Project. “Danke schön” for all of the help we received to support this needy cause. As a reminder, we will have a container at all of our events, to continue collecting for this special project. DANK Chicago South & Suburbs wishes all members “Zum Neuen Jahr 2011 Gesundheit, Glück und viel Erfolg!’ Come and have the best Gemütlichkeit there is to experience on the south side of Chicago, in Frankfort, IL, and visit us at our all of our events in 2011.
DANK Milwaukee Presents Awards Fish Fry Winner
By: Bob Miske
The Milwaukee Chapter election was scheduled for the afternoon of November 19. Officers were hoping that a The Milwaukee Chapter recently awarded certificates sizeable crowd would be present to show their support for and membership pins to long standing members. A total the programs presently in place. The chapter also busied itself with planning a bus trip of 43 members were honored for their dedication and serto the Christkindlmarkt in Chicago on Device to the organization. As each honoree’s cember 4th. Members and guests would name was called, Chapter President Edwin be picked up at 4 pickup points along the Gunther presented them with a membership pin and certificate. way to Chicago. The group then enjoyed a dinner together at a German restaurant at The membership meeting began as the Lincoln Square before heading downtown members were updated on all of the latest to Daley Plaza. happenings in the chapter as well as the The year’s activities wound up with the national level. Each officer in turn gave Christmas Party on December 11th at the their report and fielded questions from the hall at Sacred Heart Parish. Santa was there assembled members. The highlight of the to greet all the children and hand out gifts. meeting was the presentations of pins and The board of the Milwaukee Chapter certificates. A catered dinner then concludwishes to extend best wishes to all of our ed the afternoon’s activities. We wish each Doris Mueller, leader of the Folk of the honorees many more years of health Dancers receives her certificate members for a happy and healthy new year. and happiness. & pin from Edwin Gunther
By: Donna J. Lippert
In July 2010, Amanda Krause on her first time visit with her grandmother Elsie Krause, won a entire year of free fish fry dinners. This is the very first time that Amanda Krause attended one of the wonderful fish fries put on at the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph chapter located in Benton Harbor Michigan. If you have not been to one of this chapter’s fish fries, please do so today! They have a wonderful crew and a wonderful bar staff that will help you with all of your needs.
Weihnachtsfeier DANK Lake County Christmas Party
Santa at work
By: Ursula Hoeft What makes the hearts of little boys and girls go pitter patter at Christmas time? The sound of sleigh bells ringing, of course! They know it means Santa has arrived. And he didn’t disappoint the children hoping he would find his way to
Lake Forest on Sunday, December 5, when DANK Chapter Lake County, Illinois held its Weihnachtsfeier at the Gorton Center. To usher in the holiday season, Program Chair Ludwina Homer once again arranged a wonderful Weihnachtsfeier for Chapter members, their families and guests, blessed by the Reverend Richard Käske,
a Chapter Board member. The party had everything needed to get folks in the mood for the holidays: great food, Christmas carols, poems, plenty of ambiance, and a professional entertainer who delighted young and old alike with renditions of timehonored and popular songs. Mrs. Homer even arranged to have the Gorton Center on Santa’s delivery route that day. A buffet lunch consisting of delicious dishes prepared by Chapter members was followed by a traditional Christmas program. Chapter President Cobi Stein began the fun with a Christmas quiz for the children, who managed to answer all her questions. (OK, we admit it - they got some help from mom, dad, oma and opa.) Mrs. Stein and Chapter Board members Hanni Krämer, Brigitte Käske and Ursula Hoeft read a beautiful Christmas poem. Alexandra Pradella-Ott, playing her guitar, led everyone in singing traditional Christmas carols. But for the children the highlight of the afternoon was the arrival - finally - of jolly
Alexandra Ott (left) and Ludwina Homer
old St. Nick (a.k.a. Bernd Krämer), assisted by elf wannabe Hanni Krämer. Yes, they had been good all year, the children told Santa and, of course, he had presents for them all.
February / March 2011
German-American Journal
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Pittsburgh Chapter Celebrates Advent
Weiss and others who decorated. The culmination of the program was the arrival of St. Nicholas, who provided gifts to all the children in attendance. Thanks to the Kugler Family, the many gift were especially well received. After the formal program hot Gluehwein, prepared by Kristy Weiss, was served by the Weiss children and others. Hundreds of cookies with coffee and hot chocolate were enjoyed, especially since the vast majority of those cookies and cakes, donated by the membership, were homemade and delicious. If you lived in the Pittsburgh Area and missed this event it was truly your loss!
By: Erich Wittmann The last 2 weeks of November and the first week of December were busy for many members of the Pittsburgh Chapter. On November 20th and 21st several Chapter Members participated in “Heritage Days” at the John Heinz Regional History Center. The chapter sponsored a booth, showcasing German products for sale, providing German recipes to all who visited, and of course solicited visitors to consider joining the organization. Overall about twenty-five nationalities participated in the event, which ran in conjunction with the Vatican Treasurers display, an extremely popular program. Surprisingly, in addition to the attendees to the event, many of the volunteers from the other ethnic booths stopped by to share that they also had some Germanic roots. Of course they ended up buying some of our products. The Christmas Stollen especially was a hit with all. Less than two weeks later the Chapter celebrated our annual Advent/Christmas party, which we have done for over thirty consecutive years. This year’s program was especially successful, as we had approximately 50 members and guests in attendance, and the program was enjoyed by
all. Because of the active involvement of our members, we were able to provide donated items to be incorporated into our Christmas basket raffles, which in conjunction with other efforts, allowed the Christmas party to be self sustaining, without a charge to our membership, even making a small profit. The evening started off with a German Christmas buffet, followed by a program which included performances by several groups, as well as some activities by our own members. The program established by Erna Jochum, with support from others, was extremely well received. Our Christmas Market sales booth, headed up by new member Ruby Wilcosx, was very successful in raising funds to cover program expenses. Of course the support from our members and local merchants, who donated valuable gift certificates, such as Heinz Healy, Max’s Allegheny Tavern, McGinnis Sisters and John McGinnis, were of great benefit. Special “Thanks” to members Chas and Eileen Shaldenbrand, Chris and Larry Sabatini, Ray Schmidt, Phil and Geri Gottshall , John O’Connor, Sigrid Kiernan, Jim and Pat Schmitt and Erich Wittmann, who either donated or solicited items on behalf of the organization. The Teutonia Grand hall was especially festive, due to the work of Dan
Celebrating the Christmas Spirit of Serving By: Fred Leinweber
On November 20th, DANK West members held a food drive at Family Euro Deli in Lombard. In collaboration with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, DANK West was able to purchase 2,120 pounds of food for the York Township Food Pantry. A big thanks to all members who helped out, those who donated, and Jadwiga Szatko and Bozena Bozek from Family Euro Deli for allowing us to set up in front of Family Euro Deli.
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German-American Journal
February / March 2011
Greetings From NW Pennsylvania
Santa Claus with Brooke and Paige Lowry and Karle Kodrzycki
By: Beverly Pochatko Here we are again with another year gone and a fresh new year to start anew. Our chapter had a great Christmas party at the Männerchor Club this year. It was wonderful to have members step forward to take on the annual Weihnachtsfeier. Ursel Altsman headed up the planning and did a terrific job on the decorations, with the theme “An Old Fashioned Christmas”. The decorations and tree were simple, using the traditional cookies, candies, fruit and candles, that resulted in beautiful table decorations. Tammy Altsman and Lori Hirtzel went shopping for warm gloves, hats, scarves and socks, to supplement the donations from the members, for the Upper Room. Rose Hill helped in getting the set-up
in the Gold Room done before our guests arrived and took care of the cookie table. Members and guests enjoyed the delicious brunch, provided by the Männerchor Club. It was so nice to have Emil and Gretel Daeschner (Charter Members of the Chapter) join us this year. Tammy read the late Fred Huttel, Sr’s account of “Christmas in Germany” and it reminded us of how much simpler life was then, when family and friends were more important than gift giving. The number of children was down this year, but Santa (Fred Huttel, Jr) didn’t disappoint them and made an appearance. This was shortly after the Männerchor Gesangverein (all DANK members) sang songs from the fun “It’s a Marshmallow World,” to the song of “Somewhere in my Memory” from the movie Home Alone, to our traditional German Christmas carols for
the sing-along. Their program concluded with Jason Jaquaith reading the Nativity story from Luke, followed with “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht.” Then everyone enjoyed the cookie buffet and coffee before departing. As part of the St. Nikolas Project, we collected the equivalent of 1,332 lbs of canned goods for the Second Harvest Food Bank. We had emphasized “Caring is Sharing” and gave two boxes filled with scarves, gloves, hats and warm socks to the “Upper Room”, a day shelter for individuals needing a place to get warm and enjoy coffee and friendship, especially in this frigid weather. The food items were delivered to the two organizations the day after our party and just prior to the beginning of our big snow storm! Driving in the storm was a little tricky, but it was a good feeling delivering those items to the two organizations, knowing that it is appreciated. In November we held our election of officers and had a great turnout for the meeting. Re-elected were: President: Beverly Pochatko, Vice President: Mary Jane Hartman, Treasurer: Charlotte Chase, Secretary: Margaret Carter and our returning Direc-
Three Generations enjoy the festivities: Steve and Karle Kodrzycki, Paige , (mom) Wendy and Brooke Lowry, and Oma Margaret Potocki
Volkstrauertag-Fort Custer November 14th, 2010 Augusta Michigan By: Donna J. Lippert Many souls braved the cold wind against a gray sky for this year’s day of mourning at Fort Custer, located in Augusta, Michigan, held on November 14th, 2010 to honor the twenty-six (26) graves of the World War II German Prisoners of War, who died during their internment in the USA. This ceremony started in 1953 as a gesture of peace between the Americans and Germans.
tors: Diana Healy and Margaret Potocki. We welcomed four new members to the Board: Ursel Altsman, Tammy Altsman, Heidi Cowey and James von Loewe. They are already planning great things for the chapter this year and we are looking forward to our 2nd annual Fasching/Carnival Party. We try to keep most all of our programs related to Germans and German traditions. Thus we began our New Year with January’s meeting and a focus on health…especially for the ‘couch potatoes’ and those who don’t like to go out in the snow and cold. Keeping in mind that Germans are very health oriented, Tim Lesniewski, a sports trainer at LECOM’s Medical & Fitness center, came to talk and show us how to exercise in the comfort of our homes. Taking into account that we are mostly of the ‘gold and silver’ ages, Tim gave us papers with diagrams on it to take home and place next to our chairs for some ‘mindless’ exercises while watching TV or talking on the phone. Naturally, we ended the program with a social and some ‘healthy’ eating. Just think… winter is half over, so think spring!
Deputy Consul General Helmut Rausch from Chicago, gave the memorial speech at the cemetery and he stated “we stand as friends, not enemies” and he assured his American friends that “we mourn the deaths of your men too and we pray for them.” Mr. Rausch also stated “it is the duty of all world citizens to stand up against the tyranny and genocide that was rampant in World War II and to fight for liberty and justice.” The Carpathia Choir of Sterling Heights Michigan, made their journey and led us all in songs honoring these deceased soldiers. Blondine Klimach, President of the Michigan District of German Choirs, stated that “it wasn’t a cause that we necessarily supported, but it’s just the fortunes of war.” Those presenting wreaths that day were Donna J & Reinhard Lippert, from DANK National/Chicago, DANK #13 President Walter Patzer and his wife Julie, and members from the St. Joe Kickers Sports Club located in Berrien Springs, Michigan. A club from Ohio also presented a wreath and the Carpathia Choir of Sterling Heights, Michigan laid red roses on all the graves of the deceased German soldiers. After the heart-warming ceremony, those at the service traveled to the Air Force Sergeant’s Association Club, located in Falcon Hall in Battle Creek Michigan, to warm up with some good coffee and delicious treats, provided by the wonderful ladies at Falcon Hall. This was also a time to reflect on the day’s significance. Mr. Helmut Rausch, Deputy Consul General, spoke to the crowd and praised them for the warming ceremony at Fort Custer and hopes that this tradition can continue. Randy O’Neill, the organizer of the event, did a wonderful job. The next ceremony will be held November 13th, 2011 and Mr. O’Neill hopes that those present today can again make the trip next year. If you know of any German clubs in the Michigan area, please encourage them to make a wreath and participate in next year’s event as it is a very heart-warming ceremony.
Christmas Holiday Celebration
By: Beth Casey On December 1, 2010, DANK members attended Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ holiday party. The holiday celebration kicked off when guests from ethnic organizations across Chicago were welcomed to view over 75 different Christmas trees from countries all over the world. Once everyone was fed with appetizers, cookies, and cake, and in good-worldly spirits, Maria Pappas sat down behind her keyboard and played twelve different Christmas songs. Some guests enjoyed singing along while others preferred to mingle and enjoy some more delicious treats. Two of the songs were German Christmas songs, with all members of the German community invited to sing “Stille Nacht” for the other guests.
February / March 2011
German-American Journal
25,000
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over 25,000 libraries are spread over the 16 states of Germany
German Poster Presentation Competition at DANK-Haus Chicago By: Gert Wilhelm ZfA Language Coordinator/Midwest
What do the following topics have in common? The Lipizzan Stud Farm in Illinois, a retired butcher in Cleveland, Ohio, and a robot car named “Leonie.” Can’t you guess? Well, here is your answer: These were some of the topics illustrated in a poster presentation competition that had been announced by Gert Wilhelm, the German Language Coordinator/Midwest. Mr. Gert Wilhelm lives in Chicago. He challenged the students attending Saturday and part-time German Language Schools in the Midwest to enter a local, a regional and the final round of poster competition/ presentation for the DANK Haus in Chicago. The overall topic had been: “German Influence In My Surroundings/In My Neighborhood”. Each student had to give an oral presentation on a topic of choice and had to verbalize a connection between their topic and their illustrations on a poster board. This is what these gifted students presented to the three Judges: a horsebreeding farm in Illinois where Lipizzans are bred, a German butcher who came to Cleveland to open a butcher shop so he could introduce his beloved German Bratwurst to the American community. Finally here is a riddle: What does a girl by the name of Leonie have in common with a car? Well, “Leonie”, the girl from the Twin Cities German Immersion School in St. Paul, Minnesota introduced a German Volkswagen called “Leonie”. This car drives by itself, is a true android, and is named “Leonie” as well. Other posters and topics presented were the life of German composer Beethoven, the genealogy of the “Katzenmaier/ Katzenmayer”-family, the origin of the actual Hamburger, my ‘German Day’, the American Aid Society of German Descendants, Audi – the company, the dance groups of the St. Louis Cultural Society, and German Weather, just to name a few. 15 teenage girls and boys age 10-14 came, not only from the three German Language Schools in Naperville, Chicago and Arlington Heights, but also from
Recipients of the DSD-Deutsches Sprachdiplom - not all present: DSS Chicago Dank North: Miro Ehrfeld, Allegra Ehrfeld, Felix Hecht, Kerstin Rieg, Hannah Yoder, Max Boettcher, Nigel Schilling, Julia Gelassini /// DSS Arlington (Dank Northern Suburbs): Andrew D’Angelo, Torsten Molina, Brigitte Hautzinger, Elisabeth Crotser, Margaret Crotser, Marcus Winings, Jannik Stamer, Charlotte Sue
Cleveland, OH, Detroit and Bloomfield, Saint Louis, MO and the Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN. And they brought with them 15 exceptionally wonderful presentations which made it very difficult for the jury to decide and rank the winners. The judges were Vice Consul Gunnar Christiansen from the German Consulate General in Chicago, DANK Superintendent Christa Garcia, and German “Fachberater” Gert Wilhelm from the “ZfA” (Central Agency for German Schools Abroad). The students were judged on content of presentation, language ability, correctness of grammar used, pronunciation and intonation, as well as the connection demonstrated between the visual and oral presentation. “This is so wonderful”, stated first-prize winner Julian De Georgia from Cleveland, OH, “I have been saving my allowance for an ipod touch for almost a whole year now, and here I won it! And on top of that I also received a CD of my favourite German pop group, “Wir sind Helden” (We are Heroes). That’s so great!” All students were awarded a set of
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CDs of modern German music as well as some marvellously illustrated books about Germany, which the German Consulate General of Chicago donated to each one of the contestants. During the second part of the Awards Ceremony another set of local ‘winners’ was honored – the students who took the German Language Diploma Tests (DSD=Deutsches Sprachdiplom) in the spring of 2010. These tests are based on the European Framework of Reference for Languages and determine the levels of oral and written proficiency achieved by each individual student. The tests are held on two different days each spring. The successful completion of each level provides career advantages when applying for jobs and for admission to many post-secondary institutions in the US and in Germany. Fifteen students from the Chicago area have received qualifying Certificates from them and had come with their parents to be awarded stating their German language competence on various levels. Needless to say, that these certificates came with really nice give-aways again – again by courtesy of the German Consulate General. After the ceremony everybody stayed together for a Kaffeeklatsch, where the girls and boys from the different areas exchanged emails and compared prizes. This also gave the chance for invaluable interchanges of ideas among the parents, teachers and hosts. It was an excellent coincidence that the participants had the chance to roam the Chicago Christkindl markets, one of them was set up in direct neighbourhood of the DANK-Haus, and that some well-disposed weather-gods had very timely dusted Chicago with fresh snow. The participating Poster Contest presenters were from the following schools: German School Bloomfield, Michigan: Fee Christoph, Sky Christoph, Kyle Heiberger
German School Cleveland, Ohio: Julian De Georgia German Language School DANK Northern Suburbs: Eric Fischer German Language School DANK Chicago North: Kerstin Rieg, Alexander Rodrigues, Tobias Wimmer German School Metro Detroit: Phillip Horn German School Naperville, Illinois: Elisabeth Gadbaw, Lucas Springer German School St. Louis, Missouri: Jaya Bommireddipally, Christoph Lorenz Twin Cities German Immersion School, Minnesota: Leonie Jacobs, Till Konczak. In the end everybody expressed their hope for a new competition in 2011, as this one was so successful and also helpful in strengthening the German (and in general: foreign) language teaching. The competition itself cannot only be seen as an event to show what language learning makes possible but also is a very good preparation for the participants for upcoming language examinations. The field of oral communication, and within that the capability of presenting a topic in one’s own words with appropriate and elaborated vocabulary, is related to a means of presentation like a poster – this field is a highly valuated skill in modern education all over the world. Of course, without tremendous efforts by the participating schools in a very short time, as the competition could only be announced around six weeks before the finals, nothing like that would have been possible. I would like to personally express my gratefulness to all the people who made this happen: parents, teachers, principals and, last but definitely not least and most important of all: the young students.
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February / March 2011
Thanks to our illustrator, Michael Randall and our editor, Matthias Knobloch. Like “The Adventures of Oskar and Atticus” on Facebook to learn the German word of the day and receive fun updates on the real Oskar and Atticus! Write to them at Oskar@dank.org or Atticus@dank.org
Oskar & Atticus Wish Upon a Star! By: Amelia Cotter
It was a night in February. Dani and her boy friend Elmar were standing on the porch and looking at the sky and the stars. Oskar and Atticus were, of course, right there, even though it was cold and the snow was still glistening on the ground. “The stars are so beautiful,” Oskar murmured. Atticus was too in awe to speak. Dani heard Oskar’s little dog voice and said, “When the sky is beautiful like this, one can wish upon a star. And the wish will definitely be granted,” “Wow, thought Oskar and Atticus. “Definitely?” asked Oskar. “Without a doubt?” asked Atticus. “That’s right,” Elmer said and hugged Dani tightly. “What do we want to wish for?” Oskar and Atticus asked themselves. Later, as Dani and Elmer slept, Oskar and Atticus had a very important discussion. “We have to work together to find the very best wish,” Atticus explained. “What if we only get one wish?” Oskar asked with worry in his voice. “That’s why.” Oskar thought. “Maybe world peace.?” “Good, good idea. Or the end to poverty.” “Yes, or we could wish to save the whales and dolphins.” Atticus blinked. “Of course! That, too.” Oskar wagged his tail. Atticus kept thinking. “Maybe we could also wish for something real or tangible.” “A big house?” Atticus shrugged. “Yeah…or a 2011 Dodge Charger.” “An Inferno Red Crystal Pearl SRT8?” “That’s exactly right!” The two were giddy with excitement. “Yeah,” Oskar cried, “right now! Let’s wish for that!” “No, no, let’s take a few days to think it all over. Then we’ll find the right wish and the right star.” Oskar was a little disappointed. “Okay. Yeah, you’re right.” Meanwhile it was Valentine’s Day. Everywhere on television and on the streets,
“Love” was the big word. Oskar and Atticus observed Dani and her boy friend. They were a happy couple and very much in love. They talked a lot about family, friendship, and the possibility of marriage with their own children in the future. They always showed each other a lot of respect, and Elmar was also very kind to Oskar and Atticus. Everyone seemed to be very happy. Oskar and Atticus thought for three days about what was important in life. Then they met after dinner by the window so they could make their wish. “I love you,” Oskar said suddenly to Atticus. “Oh, don’t be so sentimental! That’s awkward,” Atticus said and shuttered. Oskar looked at him lovingly. Atticus rolled his eyes. “Ugh. Oskar, I love you, too, okay? Now, what is our wish?” Oskar took a deep breath and said, “That we will always have a happy family, that there will always be someone who takes good care of us, that we will always be friends, and that we can take good care of each other and those dearest to us.” “…Still sentimental but I was thinking of something just like it. Oskar, I am ready to make our wish!” Oskar and Atticus found the brightest star in the sky and made their wish together. At the end of their (fairly long) speech they held their breath and waited. The star twinkled. “Ah, does that mean something?” Atticus asked. “I don’t know, I think we have to wait a little more.” They sat very patiently in front of the window. “You know,” said Oskar, “if our wish is granted, it can’t hurt to ask about the Charger, too.” “Yes. It’s always best to be certain. That can be our next wish.” “Even though we can’t drive.” “We’ll just wish for that, too.” The two smiled and finally left the star alone, so it could work on their wish in peace.
This story is about love. There are many kinds of love: romantic love, family and friend love, and abstract love that we have for people and things we don’t know. In English, we can say, “I love you” to anyone. In German, “Ich liebe dich” is only for romantic love. Family and friends would say, “Ich hab dich lieb.” Also, in German, “der Freund” and “die Freundin” can mean male or female friend, OR boy/girl friend, depending on the context. Below are some words from the story that have to do with love in all its forms: friend or boy/girl friend to hug to work together, cooperation Valentine’s Day love to be in love family friendship marriage respect kind, dear, endearing sentimental (in a serious or a cheesy way) affectionate, caring, loving darling, dearest to take care of
der Freund/die Freundin umarmen zusammen arbeiten/die Zusammenarbeit der Valentinstag die Liebe verliebt sein (in) die Familie die Freundschaft die Ehe der Respekt lieb sentimental liebevoll der/die Liebste aufpassen (auf)
Oskar & Atticus wünschen sich etwas beim Anblick einer Sternschnuppe! By: Amelia Cotter
Es war eine Nacht im Februar. Dani und ihrer Freund Elmar standen auf der Terasse und guckten sich den Himmel und die Sterne an. Oskar und Atticus waren natürlich dabei, obwohl es kalt war und der Schnee immer noch auf der Erde glänzte. „Die Sterne sind so schön“, murmelte Oskar. Atticus war zu erstaunt, um etwas zu sagen. Dani hörte Oskars kleine Hundestimme und sagte ihm, „Wenn der Himmel so schön ist kann man sich beim Anblick einer Sternschnuppe etwas wünschen. Und es wird auf jeden Fall erfüllt.“ „Wow“, dachten Oskar und Atticus. „Auf jeden Fall?“ fragte Oskar. „Ohne Zweifel?“ fragte Atticus „“Das stimmt“, sagte Elmer und umarmte Dani ganz fest. „Was wollen wir uns wünschen?“ fragten sich Oskar und Atticus. Später, als Dani und Elmer schliefen, hatten die Jungs ein sehr wichtiges Gespräch. „Wir müssen zusammen arbeiten, um uns den allerbesten Wunsch auszusuchen“, sagte Atticus. „Was, wenn wir nur einen Wunsch bekommen?“ fragte Oskar mit sorgsamer Stimme. „Deswegen.“ Oskar dachte. „Vielleicht Friede auf der ganzen Welt?“ „Gut, gute Idee. Oder das Ende von Armut.“ „Ja, oder wir können uns auch Sicherheit von den Walen und Delphinen wünschen.“ Atticus blinkte. „Natürlich! Das auch.“ Oskar wackelte mit dem Schwanz. Atticus dachte weiter. „Vielleicht können wir uns auch etwas Echtes oder Greifbares wünschen.“ „Ein großes Haus?“ Atticus zuckte. „Ja…oder ein 2011 Dodge Charger.“ „Ein Inferno Red Crystal Pearl SRT8?“ “Ganz genau!” Den Beiden war schon ganz schwindlig vor Aufregung. „Ja“, schrie Oskar, „sofort! Lass uns das wünschen!“ „Nein, nein, lass uns das Alles ein paar Tagen überlegen. Dann finden wir den richtigen Wunsch und den richtigen Stern.“ Oskar war ein bisschen enttäuscht. „Okay.
Ja, du hast recht.“ Mittlerweile war es Valentinstag. Überall im Fernseher und auf der Straße war „Liebe“ das Stichwort. Oskar und Atticus beobachteten Dani und ihren Freund. Sie waren ein glückliches Paar und sehr ineinander verliebt. Sie redeten oft von Familie, Freundschaft, und die Möglichkeit einer Ehe mit eigenen Kindern in der Zukunft. Sie zeigten einander immer viel Respekt, und Elmar war auch immer lieb zu Oskar und Atticus. Alle schienen sehr glücklich zu sein. Oskar und Atticus überlegten sich drei Tagen, was wichtig im Leben ist. Dann trafen sie sich nach dem Abendessen beim Fenster, damit sie ihren Wunsch machen konnten. „Ich hab dich lieb“, sagte Oskar plötzlich zu Atticus. „Oh, sei nicht so sentimental! Das ist mir so unangenehm, “ sagte Atticus und schüttelte sich dabei. Oskar guckte ihn liebevoll an. Atticus verdrehte ihm die Augen. „Ugh. Oskar, ich hab dich auch lieb, okay? Na, was ist unser Wunsch?“ Oskar atmete tief ein und sagte, „Das wir immer eine glückliche Familie haben, dass es immer jemand gibt, der gut auf uns aufpasst, dass wir immer befreundet sein werden, und das wir auch gut auf einander und unsere Liebsten aufpassen können.“ „…Immer noch sentimental aber genauso hab ich es mir auch überlegt. Oskar, ich bin bereit, diesen Wunsch mit dir zu machen!“ Oskar und Atticus fanden den hellsten Stern im Himmel und machten zusammen ihren Wunsch. Am Ende ihrer (ziemlich langen) Rede hielten sie den Atem an und warteten. Der Stern funkelte. „Ah, heißt das etwas?” fragte Atticus. „Ich weiß es nicht, wir müssen noch ein warten, glaube ich.” Die Beide saßen sehr geduldig vor dem Fenster. „Weißt du“, sagte Oskar, „wenn unser Wunsch in Erfüllung geht, dann kann es auch nicht verkehrt sein, auch mal nach dem Charger zu fragen.“ „ Ja. Es lohnt sich immer, sicher zu sein. Das kann dein nächster Wunsch sein.“ „Obwohl wir nicht fahren können.“ „Dann wünschen wir uns das auch.“ Die Beiden lächelten und ließen den Stern endlich allein, damit er in Ruhe an dem Wunsch der Beiden arbeiten konnte.
February / March 2011
German-American Journal
1,300 Economic Recovery Seen In Germany
By: Martin Orth | magazine-deutschland.de The experts are rubbing their eyes, and the international press is calling it a miracle. “The 20-Year Miracle” was Business Week’s headline in its 23-page cover story on “New Germany” in autumn 2010. The renowned New York Times praises Germany’s “own vision” for tackling the crisis. And the French daily Le Monde heads a commentary with the not entirely serious question: “Will Germany save the world?” This international esteem is based on fascinating numbers: gross domestic product will grow by just under 4% in 2010; exports are approaching the trillioneuro mark; employment is higher than at any time since reunification; and the recovery promises higher incomes, growing domestic demand and rising tax revenues. After the recovery was initially mainly sustained by exports, it now has an increasingly broader base that also includes the domestic economy. It’s an upward spiral. And the German Council of Economic Experts is expecting unemployment to fall further. How has Germany managed this feat of overcoming the financial and economic crisis so quickly? Let’s take a look back in time. After the Lehman Brothers insolvency in September 2008, the collapse of world trade hit Germany with full force. German imports, exports and industrial output dropped by more than 20% within six months. In January 2009 Germany’s flagship automobile industry produced 34% fewer vehicles than in the same month of 2008. All this has nothing to do with miracles. The Council of Economic Experts gives the Federal Government credit for having “successfully slowed down the downward trend”. Faced with the worst recession of the last 60 years, politicians and entrepreneurs were farsighted and pragmatic in their response. The Federal Government launched economic stimulus packages worth billions of dollars. These were good for the economy and the environment. Buildings were reno vated by public investment, benefiting the construction industry – and the country’s ecobalance.
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The so-called scrappage bonus led to an ecological renewal of the vehicles in use and gave the industry a real boost. The “emergency parachute” for the banks prevented further turmoil in the financial sector. The flexible working time measures introduced as part of the Agenda 2010 reforms as well as the short-time working rules prevented mass redundancies in Germany. Now, in the recovery, they are enabling businesses to meet the rapidly increasing demand that is mainly coming from the emerging markets of China, India and Brazil. It is evident that the range of products offered by German companies matches the needs of the growth engines in the world economy. As a result, Germany is benefiting from the economic dynamism of the emerging countries. German industry is very wellplaced. In the crisis the SMEs yet again emerged as the backbone of German industry, showing the necessary stability. They make up well over 90% of all companies in Germany and employ 65% of the workforce. Most of the firms are family businesses. They are characterized by continuity and longterm thinking, not short-term pursuit of profit and frequent changes of strategy. So-called “hidden champions” are sometimes to be found among them – companies which, although largely unknown, are actually world leaders in niche markets. The really big German corporations are also coming out of the crisis with renewed vigour. The carmaker BMW made more money in the third quarter of 2010 than ever before. The technology company Siemens’ operating result hit an all-time high in 2010 – posting above-average growth in its environmental portfolio. Building companies and the skilled trades are asking their customers to put their orders off until next year. Companies in the fields of health and renewable energies, both regarded as growth industries of the future, are desperately looking for staff. The long list of job offers at juwi.de – a medium-sized engineering company in renewable energies – speaks for itself. The young company has just hired its 1,000th employee, having created 600 jobs in the past two years. “The Germans haven’t experienced a development like this in a generation,” writes manager magazin. Ulrich Kater, chief economist at Deka-Bank, believes Germany has found “almost the ideal line”. Under the headline “Germany Is Back”, Deutsche Bank Research does dampen the optimism slightly with a “but”, however. “Signs of a slowdown among important trading partners might point to risks.” It also needs to be seen whether these high growth rates are sustainable or are primarily a reaction to the very sharp economic decline and will soon crumble away again. In unison with the leading economic research institutes, Ulrich Kater warns: “We’ll have to wait and see what impact the unsatisfactory development in the USA has on Germany. Exchange-rate turbulence could also cause us problems. The commodity markets are my biggest worry at the moment.” But he adds: “The upward and downward risks are evenly balanced.”
There are 1,300 beer breweries in Germany, making some 5,000 kinds of beer
In-Flight WiFi On Intercontinental Lufhansa Flights Source: Deutsche Lufthansa AG
Lufthansa passengers travelling on long-haul flights can now once again enjoy the full freedom of online communication. Together with its long-standing partners Panasonic Avionics Corporation and Deutsche Telekom. Lufthansa will be the first airline to offer its customers broadband Internet access on intercontinental routes. The service, which will initially be provided on selected North Atlantic routes, will be available on nearly the entire Lufthansa intercontinental network by the end of 2011. “Inflight Internet on board our longhaul flights is an innovation in the interests of our customers,” says Thierry Antinori, member of the Lufthansa German Airlines Board. “FlyNet complements the consistent communications service offering for Lufthansa customers at all points of the travel chain. It provides them with completely new and unique opportunities to spend their time on board or while waiting for connecting flights.” The extremely fast, high-performance inflight Internet service gives passengers with a WLAN-enabled laptop or smartphone unlimited online access. Thanks to the high band- width, emails – including those with large file attachments – can be sent and received without any time delay. Business travellers can also access their company’s Virtual Private Network (VPN). In spring 2011, inflight data communication should also be possible using the mobile phone standards GSM and GPRS. In addition to the wireless Internet (WLAN) service, Lufthansa customers will then be able to use their mobile phones to send and receive SMS text messages and transfer data with smart phones such as the iPhone or PDAs such as BlackBerry. The price for one hour’s online access is 10.95 euros or 3,500 miles, while the 24-hour flat rate is 19.95 euros or 7,000 miles. Under the 24-hour flat rate agreement, passengers can access the Internet on all Lufthansa connecting flights equipped with a hotspot during the period of validity as well as after the flight in Lufthansa lounges.
iTunes Top 10 Song Downloads United States
DAX
15
Data Taken Jan. 23, 2011
Germany
11/19/10:
$11,203.55
11/19/10:
€6,843.55
1 Grenade • Bruno Mars
1 Grenade • Bruno Mars
1/21/11:
$11,871.84
1/21/11:
€7,062.42
2 Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor) • Pitbull feat. T-Pain
2 Rolling In the Deep • Adele
$ Change:
+ $668.29
€ Change:
+ €218.87
3 Hold It Against Me • Britney Spears
3 Hey (Nah Neh Nah) • Milk & Sugar & Vaya Con Dios
% Change:
+ 5.96%
% Change:
+ 3.20%
4 Firework • Katy Perry
4 Higher • Taio Cruz & Kylie Minogue
5 Coming Home • Diddy - Dirty Money & Skylar Grey
5 We Are the People • Empire of the Sun
EUR/USD
6 Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You) • Enrique Iglesias
6 The Time (Dirty Bit) • The Black Eyed Peas
11/19/10:
$1.3673
7 The Time (Dirty Bit) • The Black Eyed Peas
7 Coming Home • Diddy - Dirty Money & Skylar Grey
1/21/11:
$1.3622
8 We R Who We R • Ke$ha
8 Just the Way You Are • Bruno Mars
$ Change:
- $0.0051
9 Rocketeer • Far East Movement & Ryan Tedder
9 Freaky Like Me • Madcon feat. Ameerah
% Change:
- 0.37%
10 What’s My Name? • Rihanna & Drake
10 Barbra Streisand • Duck Sauce
Source: Yahoo! Finance
Shaded Row: Song found on both lists
Source: iTunes
16
German-American Journal
500
February / March 2011
There are over 500 kinds of mineral water to choose from in Germany
Greece: Neighborhood Of The Gods
By: Audrey L. Hess-Eberle Euro Lloyd Travel Group/Chicago Set high upon a craggy hill towards which all eyes turn during a visit to Athens, Greece, the elegant vision of The ‘Acropolis’ or ‘High City’ calls out to make a testament to that ‘Golden Age’ in which intellectual and artistic life flourished – a sparkling age of classical architecture and tolerance, of epics and philosophers – an age of gods and heroes. Greek astronomers charted the stars, grouping them into mythological figures – Orion, Perseus, and Andromeda. Legends wove their magical dance between earthlings and Olympian gods, between land, sea and the heavens, enchanting us with stories about Helen of Troy, Jason and the Golden Fleece, the exploits of Hercules – all overseen by Zeus, sovereign of all. It is with such thoughts of wonder for a glimpse of that golden past that we come to Athens and Greece. And we are not disappointed. Though Athens is a city of noise, traffic and pollution – for such are the trappings of modern day living – she is more like a series of small villages connected together, where old and new sit side by side, and her greatness speaks to us of what she has given to our world – the birthplace of Democracy, home of the
Olympics. Her many museums illuminate the history and millennia of Greek culture – the classical foundation to western civilization. The ‘National Archaeological Museum’ has the world’s finest collection of Greek antiquities, while the ‘Cyclaide’, ‘Benaki’ and ‘Byzantine’ museums reflect the history of particular regions. There are many different ways to approach a visit to Greece – independent mainland or island stays, escorted mainland or island hopping by plane, ferry or via cruise ships. A good foundation for your cultural understanding should, of course, start in Athens. After your visit to the Parthenon (dedicated to the goddess Athena) and other temples with their marble statues and glorious friezes, direct your path down towards the ‘Plaka’. A favorite area with tourists, the ‘Plaka’ is the old section of Athens – a charming atmosphere of houses and narrow, winding streets including restored mansions, and a number of archeological sites, including Greek and Roman agoras. Near Monastiraki Square are some important ancient monuments, like the ‘Library of Hadrian’, the dervish ‘Tower of the Winds’ and the ‘Roman Market’, But the ‘Plaka’ you have come to see is more than that view into the past, but rather a life-style that is alive and well – a vibrant
EURO LLOYD TRAVEL Announcing AIR FARE SPECIALS for members of DANK If you have not traveled to Germany lately, or just thought you might skip the trip to Europe this year, you can not afford to pass up the low discounted travel airfares being offered by all airlines. Please identify yourselves as DANK members when calling our office.
Current Winter airfares (special early-bird-sales can occur at any time) for travel to and from Germany, including taxes and fuel surcharges, start from: Chicago Indianapolis Milwaukee Madison Cleveland Detroit
$705 $808 $826 $826 $787 $858
Audrey L. Hess-Eberle or Tiffany Nedwed EURO LLOYD TRAVEL GROUP Partner of Lufthansa City Center The Monadnock Building 53 W. Jackson Blvd. - Suite 863 Chicago, Illinois 60604
*Call for special airfares to other European cities and beyond. *Low discounted Domestic and international airfares. *European Rail passes and single tickets. *Car rentals with special low dollar rates in most European countries. *Cruises world-wide. *Worldwide tours – independent, hosted and fully escorted.
Call now for information: 1-800-572-3149 or 1-312-362-0218 email: chi@eurolloyd.com Visit us at: www.eurolloyd.com
Rates are subject to availability for your date of travel, with various airline non stop or connection options. Friday, Saturday, Sunday Weekend surcharges apply for each direction.
area of hustle and bustle – of dining beneath the foot lit ‘Acropolis, tavernas, nightclubs enhanced with the passion of Greek music and ‘opa’s’, and non-stop souvenir shops. Should you decide to include a visit inland, you may choose to visit Mycenae and the tomb of Agamemnon, or drive to Olympia where the first Olympic Games took place, passing through picturesque towns of central Greece. You may wish to visit Meteora, meaning ‘suspended in the air’, with its mystical monasteries nestled perilously close to the edge of the bizarre rock formations. Pristine beaches, endless olive groves, cypress tree forests, vineyards and citrus orchards provide a lush backdrop as you explore this country of sincere, warm hospitality. Leaving the mainland, the Aegean Islands are each a stunning tapestry of whitewashhouses and colorful balconies set against the royal blue sea. While some are quaint and quiet, others offer an array of restaurants, cafes and bars where you can sample delicious Greek cuisine. Island hopping by plane or ferry is an option for longer visits or for a day, but a cruise offers a wonderful way to unpack and enjoy your floating hotel in luxury and style, while visiting any number of islands. From 4 to 17 days, there are many ship companies including Greek Islands from which to choose, based upon your budget and islands of interest – some reaching out to include exploration of Turkey, Italy, Cyprus, Egypt, and Israel as well. Great dining, lively entertainment,
lectures and optional shore excursions will round out your total experience. Part of the Cyclades, the island of Santorini is a city perched on the cliffs of an ancient volcano overlooking the royal blue ocean. While there, visit the fabled ruins of Thera, thought to possibly be remains of Plato’s fabled Atlantis. Windmills, tiny churches, beaches, whitewashed buildings of chic shops and cafes highlight a visit to Mykonos. The mountainous island of Crete is the largest of the Greek islands located in the south of the Aegean Sea. With history dating back to 3000 B.C., it was the centre of the advanced and highly artistic Minoan civilization. Bear witness to ancient achievements in the form of palaces, tombs and sacred sites. We have only scratched the surface to comprehend what the culture of Greece has contributed to our world. History beckons us to appreciate and explore……..will you? Travel Season for Greek cruises is between March to early November. Land and Cruise rates start from $822 plus air. Call today for more information, varied itineraries and lengths of stay, all travel destinations. Identify yourselves as a D.A.N.K. member. Ask for Audrey or Tiffany. Phone: 312-362-0218 /// Toll Free: 800572-3149 /// Email: chi@eurolloyd.com
February / March 2011
German-American Journal
17
DONATIONS TO DANK - 2010 Abelkis, Marie Charlotte Adam, Robert Adomat, Horst K. Anderson, Christa Anderson, Ursula Anger, Peter Antkowiak, Dennis M. Antonaitis, Christa M. Appelt, Helmut Ashbaugh, Patrice Aust, William W. Baranski, Scott M. Bauer, Meta Baum, Michael A. Baumert, Irene L. Beiermeister, William Beinhauer, Gerhard Bergmann, Irmgard Bernhardt, Eugen Bertsch, Werner Biddle, James V. Biersach, Ann Biersborn, Jr., Charles Bigham, Christa H. Blanke, George R. Bley, Rudolf Block, Marvin W. Bloss, Karl H. Boden, Hans Bohn, Mark R. Bolle, Daniel Boucek, Josef Bradel, Jr., John H. Brantsch, Sara Braun, Hans J. Braun, Katherine Buegner, Karl H. Burkart, Josef Burkhard, Leonhart F. Byrom, Linda E. Callendar, Gary Childs, Ralph N. Chodak, Lauren A. Chylik, George J. Custard, Klara Dabels, Hans J. Davit, Ilse Depenthal, Lore Dethlefs, Karin C.H. Doblinger, Alois Doherty, Ingeborg Dominis, Inge S. Dreisilker, Henry Drotleff, Katharina Durham, Nadine Ebinger, William F. Eichler, Heidi Emerson, David P. Erbach, Steven T.H. Erichsen, Joan Erzinger, Carol V.
Fandl, Adolf Faubl, Dr. Hermann Fiedler, Horst Fiedler, Martin Fields, Joseph T. Fischer, Gaye Lloyd Foster, Allan E. Freiberger, Erich A. Froehlich, David Frolich, Irma Fuchs, William Gansewendt, Ewald Gantner, Ida Garbelmann, Barbara Gareiss, Mildred Geissler, Walter German American Heritage Society German-American Police Association-Chicago Gier, Peter E. Glienke, Ruth M. Glienke, Ruth M. Gnilka, Gudrun Goemmer, Hans Alfred Goering, Erwin Golsch, Rudolf A. M. Good, Barbara C. Greif, Margaret J. Greiff, Gerhard Griner, Robert C. Gronau, Erwin O. Groteke, Daniel E. Gudeman, David J. Hackspiel, Karl Hageman, Walter H. Hain, Andrew Hanson, Irene Harfmann, Daniel Harle, Eleonore M. Hartung, Walter Hebble, Kathryn Ann Hebel. Frederick Heinscher, Hans W. Henck, Lois W. Henriksen, Gretchen A Herian, Elfriede Herrmann, George M. Herzmann, Kurt Heuberger, Elly Hinz, Alexander D. Hoban, George R. Hoffman, Matthew J. Hofmann, Ernst Hopp, Gustav Horwath, Prof. Peter Hubbard, Charles Hudak, Reinhard Huening, Eileen Jacker, Lynette Jacobs, Hans W. Jasniowski, Martha
Jochum, Erna M. Johnson, Vince A. Joneikis, Johann E. Jones, Patricia J. Juengling, Albert P. Kalbfleisch, Werner Kammholz, Craig Kearney, Lanny H. Kebleris, Edith Keenan, Joanne J. Keim Jr., Edward J. Kelbert, Erwin G. Kempf, Gunter Kempf, Hartmut Kempken, Klaus Kennealy, Lorie M. Kilcoyne, Robert Killian, Maria Kirkland, Margot Klein, Charles N. Klutke, Gerd Knoblock, Jr., Harry W. Koehling, John R. Koenig, Oscar E. Kohlrus, Karl Kollacks, Wolfram A. Konrad, Adam Konrath, Michael R. Kordas, Karl Kordas, Victor Krahn, Erich Kramer, Matthew Joseph Kratzke, Siegfried B. Krause Filettie, Melitta M. Krautwurst, Louise Kristy, Joan Kross, Jeanne Krueger, Elisabeth Kuppelwieser, Vigil Kuschmierz, Dr. Ruth L.M. Lakota, John Lange, Erika Laven, Erika B. Leddin, Edward Andrew Lemke, Fred E. Lengfelder, Rosa Linzing, Richard J. Lipa, James David Lippert, Reinhard E. Luecht, Brian Luettke, Erich Lundt, Craig G. Lyckberg, Liselotte Machalek, Margit Mai, Harry Maier, Laura Manarin, Carlo A. Mandl, George L. Manko, Rosemarie Manko-Morgan, Christiane T. Manthey, Jack E.
Markwart, Dieter E. Martin, Michael Wayne Mauer, Carl Max, Dale F. Mayer, Karl O. Mehringer, Karyn Mentz, Geroge S. Messing, Katherine Metzger, Ralph Meyer, Jared H. Missun, Gertrude Mitchell, Robert Mitchener, Gerald E. Montsko, Anna Moore, Detlef B. Morgen, Rosemarie Moser, David E. Mowers, Lydia F. Mueller, Juliana Mueller, Rudolf Muenx, Horst H. Mulderink, Sr., James J. Nelson, Kathleen Neradt, David Nice, Phillip Nolan, Irma M. Nowacki, Waltraut Obert, Elizabeth Olsen, Anne F. Ott, Edward Parsons, David Paterek, Kurt Peliwan, Ewald Pelz, Dr. William A. Pelzer, Rubin Penev, Gerta Pentz, Hans Perlenfein, Otto J. Perry, William D. Pfeifer, August H. Pfeifer, Horst Pitz, Marcel A. Pizzato, Albert Polnau, Egon Prenzno, Thomas W. Priebe, Edward P. Prill, Gerda Prolic, Anita Prusak, Ludwik Puckett, Kunigunda Quaas, Margarete Raack, Edward Radke, Walter Ray, Linda A. S. Reed, Carie S. Rehder, Ernst Reichmann, Ruth M. Reisel, Richard M. Robertson, Eva Rock, Reinhold Ronan, Ruth E.
Rosenbach, Madeline R. Rosing, Gretchen Ross, Anneliese Roth, M.D., Stephan L. Russell, William A. Sabitsch, Joseph Sandberg, Alan K. Schaeffer, Rodney H. Schaldenbrand, Chas A. Scharpenberg, Juergen Schaupp, Prof. Frederick W. Scheel, Hans J. Scheibe, Roland Schindler, Kirk Dieter Schlacks, James J. Schlaudecker, Robert T. Schlicht, Peter Schloesser, Rudolf Schmidts, Herwig Schmitt, Ursel Schneider, Ronald C. Schneider, Wilbur H. Schnell, Richard H. Schoenbrunn, Mark O. Schoentag, Helene Schrautemyer, Jr., Albert J. Schroeder, John L. Schubert, Susan B. Schuler, Renate Schulz, Karl Schwab, Catherine M. Schwass, Alfred Schweisthal, Karl Schwotzer, Arthur C. Seewald, Bernard G. Seidel, Geret Seyffert, Gordon M. Shephard, William C. Siegel, Horst E. Simon, Doris H. E. Singer, Loni Smaka, Wilfried Snyder, Ingwalde Sommer, Gerhard Sommerfeld, Holger Sprainys, Erika Sproul, Jeannette Ruth Staroske, Manfred Steck, Frank Stockmann, M.D., F.J. Storch, Annelene Strahl, Rudolf Streib, Gerald W. Strelis, Harri W. Strupat, Anneliese Tamkutonis, Gerald C. Thiel, Johann C. F. Tooren, Waltraud Totzke, Erhard J. Trautmann, Hildegard E. Trbojevic, Ada
Recipe: Gert Rausch’s Chicken Schnitzel
Verterano, Elizabeth Viebach, Katie T. Vieraitis, Irene Anna Vogel, Frederick Vogel, Rev. Traugott Von Schafnitzel, Roman Voss, Klaus W. Wagener, Horst N. Wagner, Jack Wallin, Sharon Watson, Gudrun Weber, Walter Wegener, Anneliese Weidl, Thomas Wendler, Guy H. Whisler, M.D., Walter W. Wiencke, Erich K. Will, Keith Wirth Jr., William F. Wirtz, Matthew J. Wittmann, Erik Wjst, Christine Wolf, Hans J. Wolf, Horst Wolkov, Michael Wurlitzer, Wendy H. Zaschke, Ehrenfried Zeeb, Marianne Zerngast, Vincent L. Zielke, Reuel S. Zuschlag, Roland Database Donors Pelzer, Adolf Indianapolis DANK Chapter Milwaukee DANK Chapter Pohlmann, Hans Peter & Ingelore Vogel, Frederick & Elfriede St. Nick Project Donors American Licorice Biersach, Ann Chicago South DANK Chapter Chicago West DANK Chapter Erie DANK Chapter Erie Maennerchor Family Euro Deli Fuchs, Bill and Darlene GermanFest Milwaukee Pittsburgh Bezirk Siebenburger Society Ladies Auxiliary St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Erie Stevensville Legion Club Uniontown DANK Chapter Wolf, Hans and Kathy Zaschke, Ehrenfried Zion Evangelical Church of Christ
Courtesy: Germerica
Cape Cod Aqua Grille executive chef and co-owner Gert Rausch, who grew up in Germany, says, “It works with veal, chicken, pork, beef, venison and more.” The best way to pound cutlets is with a kitchen mallet. Cover meat with plastic wrap first to avoid making a mess. Pound for 60 to 90 seconds, working to get the cutlet almost thin enough to see through, without tearing it. Fried in hot oil then basted with butter, schnitzel is a high-calorie indulgence. “Schnitzel is not something we eat everyday,” Rausch says. In a video at www.capecodonline.com/food, Rausch cooks chicken schnitzel using the recipe below. Be sure to discard any unused egg and breading as raw chicken can contaminate the toppings, making them unfit to save for later use. Ingredients: 4-ounce cutlet, pounded as thin as possible 2 to 3 egg yolks, beaten lightly in their own bowl Breadcrumbs or panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) in their own bowl Flour, salted and peppered in its own bowl Butter | Oil | Salt & Pepper
1. Pound cutlets to uniform thinness. After pounding, remove wrap and dredge each cutlet in the following order of bowls: flour mix, lightly beaten eggs, breading. 2. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil to skillet. Get the pan hot (almost smoking) and add your first cutlet. 3. Rock pan gently until down side is brown and turn to brown other side. Cook for only a few minutes total. This is thin meat. 4. Remove first cutlet from pan to a plate, repeating same method with the rest of the cutlets. 5. When all cutlets are done, out of the pan and on plates, remove oil from the pan and add one-half to one stick of butter (depending on the number of cutlets). Melt and ladle evenly over cutlets.
Check The Recipe Files at capecodonline.com/food for spaetzle & red cabbage recipes.
6. Plate and serve with lemon slices accompanied by any number of sides, including potato salad, mashed potatoes, french fries or spaetzle, along with cucumber salad or red cabbage.
18
German-American Journal
February / March 2011
*** Calendar Of Events ***
This area is designated for DANK chapters and Associate Members to inform their members and the public of events they are having. We rely on the submissions of each chapter or organization, therefor all events may not be included. Please contact our National Office at 773-275-1100 or visit www.DANK.org for the most recent listing of events or for information on how to make sure your event is listed in the next issue. (Associate Member Events Listed In Italics)
February 2011 4
Benton Harbor, MI: Fish Fry, 6-8pm. Doors open 5:30pm, band plays 7-10pm. $8.00 all you can eat. 2561 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022. Call 269-926-6652 for info
4
Chicago: Kulturkueche, 7:30pm. Cooking demo and tasting, limited to 22 attendees and cost is $12. RSVP required. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
5
5
Chicago: Lost German Chicago Exhibition Celebration, 11am. Free. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com Chicago: Kino, Kaffee, und Kuchen, 1pm. $4 members, $6 non-members. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
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Chicago: Treffpunkt DANK, 7:30pm. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com Chicago: German Cinema Now, 7:30pm. Free admission and popcorn, refreshments available. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
6
Fox Valley, IL: Open Membership Mtg, 3pm. St. Charles VFW, 119 N. 3rd St., St. Charles, IL. 630-377-9845 for info
9
Chicago: Treffpunkt DANK, 7:30pm. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
11
Chicago: Sportsklub DANK, 7:30pm. No cover, cash bar. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
12
Chicago: Kino, Kaffee, und Kuchen, 1pm. $4 members, $6 non-members. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
26
Chicago: Kino, Kaffee, und Kuchen, 1pm. $4 members, $6 non-members. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
Chicago: Pilates Klasse, 9:15am. $10 per class, bring mat. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
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Fox Valley, IL: Open Membership Meeting, 3pm. St. Charles VFW, 119 N. 3rd St., St. Charles, IL. Call 630-377-9845 for more information
Chicago: Lost German Chicago Exhibition Celebration, 11am. Free. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
Benton Harbor, MI: Concertina—St. Patrick’s Dance, 128pm. 2561 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022. Call 269-926-6652 for more information
13
Chicago West, IL: Chapter Board Meeting, 1:30pm. Call Harald Pitz at (708) 562-7038 for more information
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Chicago: Treffpunkt DANK, 7:30pm. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
Chicago: Pilates Klasse, 9:15am. $10 per class, bring mat. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
Chicago: Stammtisch, 7:30pm. No cover, food and drink available. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
26
Lake County, IL: Fasching Dance, 6:11pm. $12 admission, food and drink will be served at extra cost. Costumes encouraged. Gorton Community Center, 400 East Illinois Rd., Lake Forest, IL. Contact Ludwina Homer, 847-2490073 or Cobi Stein, 847-234-3920 for more information
19
Chicago: Kino, Kaffee, und Kuchen, 1pm. $4 members, $6 non-members. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
19
Chicago: Pilates Klasse, 9:15am. $10 per class, bring mat. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
20
Benton Harbor, MI: Open House—Banquet Hall, 1-3pm. 2561 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022. Call 269926-6652 for more information
20
Pittsburgh, PA: St. Paddy’s Day Dinner. Molly Branigan’s Pub, 660 Washington Rd., Pittsburgh. Visit www. germaninpittsburgh.org for more information
Benton Harbor, MI: Super Bowl XLV Party, 5pm. Free Taco Bar-Drink Specials. 2561 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022. Call 269-926-6652 for more information
11
Chicago: Pilates Klasse, 9:15am. $10 per class, bring mat. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
Chicago South, IL: Fasching. 25249 Center Road, Frankfort, IL. Contact Nancy at 708-448-8731 for more information
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Benton Harbor, MI: Dancing with DJ Sandy, 5pm-12am. 2561 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022. Call 269926-6652 for more information
Chicago: Kinderfasching, 12pm. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. Info call 773-561-9181 or dankhaus.com
9
Chicago: Lost German Chicago Exhibition Celebration, 11am. Free. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
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Benton Harbor, MI: Valentine Dance with Phil Mann, 6-11pm. 2561 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022. Call 269-926-6652 for more information Chicago: Sportsklub DANK, 7:30pm. No cover, cash bar. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
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Chicago, IL: Weiberfastnacht, 7:11pm. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
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Chicago: Kino, Kaffee, und Kuchen, 1pm. $4 for members, $6 for non-members. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com Chicago: Lost German Chicago Exhibition Celebration, 11am. Free. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
Rheinischer Verein, Chicago, IL: Masquerade Ball at Rosemont Convention Center. Rosemont, IL. For more information, call Reinhard Richter at 773-581-5120 Rheinischer Verein, Chicago, IL: Magic Monday/ Rosenmontag. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information, call Reinhard Richter at 773-581-5120
MARCH 2011 4
Benton Harbor, MI: Fish Fry, 6-8pm. Doors open 5:30pm, band plays 7-10pm. $8.00 all you can eat. 2561 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022. Call 269-926-6652 for info
23
Chicago: Treffpunkt DANK, 7:30pm. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
4
Chicago: Kulturkueche, 7:30pm. Cooking demo and tasting, limited to 22 attendees and cost is $12. RSVP required. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
25
Chicago: German Cinema Now, 7:30pm. Free admission and popcorn, refreshments available. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
13
Chicago West, IL: Chapter Board Meeting, 1:30pm. Call Harald Pitz at (708) 562-7038 for more information
13
South Bend, IN: Valentine’s Day Party - 2pm. 52739 Lilac Rd., South Bend. For Info call Christine at 574-272-8163
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Erie, PA: Karneval Celebration, with traditional Fastnachts, coffee/tea, and cash bar. The Erie Männerchor Club, 1617 State St. Call 835-1939 for more information
Benton Harbor, MI: Dancing with DJ Sandy, 5pm-12am. 2561 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022. Call 269926-6652 for more information
Benton Harbor, MI: Spring Dance with Squeezebox Band, 6pm. Band plays from 7-11pm. 2561 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022. Call 269-926-6652 for info
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Chicago: Stammtisch, 7:30pm. No cover, food and drink available. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
Chicago: Kino, Kaffee, und Kuchen, 1pm. $4 for members, $6 for non-members. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
Chicago: Kino, Kaffee, und Kuchen, 1pm. $4 members, $6 non-members. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
5
Chicago, IL: Kabaret, 7pm. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call 773-561-9181 or www.dankhaus.com
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Chicago: Pilates Klasse, 9:15am. $10 per class, bring mat. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
Chicago: Pilates Klasse, 9:15am. $10 per class, bring mat. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
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Lake County, IL: Chicago Wolves Hockey Game, 3pm. $31 Order deadline: March 13. Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Rd., Rosemont, IL. Call Cobi Stein, 847-2343920 to order tickets
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Chicago: Kino, Kaffee, und Kuchen, 1pm. $4 for members, $6 for non-members. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com
Welcome New Members National Members Hallen, Leo Palen, Clark Palen, Cole Palen, Rowan
Chicago-South , IL Arlt, Karin M. Heine, Dennis W. Jaskiewicz, Erik Jaskiewicz, Kristi Kreuz, James J. Kreuz, Jimmy Kreuz, Julie K. Kreuz, Susie Landers, Josef
Moe, Mike Ronald Schroeder, Ken
Chicago, IL Aggarwal, Astrid Baumann, Deidre Chodak, Michael Frazier, Joan Hays, Patricia Toddie Hebble, Paula Kaye, Rosemarie R. Lacombe, Esther Lacombe, Ethan Liljedahl-Hoff, Gerald Mendes, Peter R. Pfaeffle, Walter
Poehlmann, Michael Schweda, Robert C. Sesterhenn, Stephen Valentine, Jennifer A. Wagner, John Lee
Chicago West, IL
October 19 - December 15, 2010 Benton Harbor, MI Crumb, Jack
Indianapolis, IN Kester, James R. Miles, Waltraud M. Sculthorp, Nancy C.
Frommelt, Jeffrey
Fox Valley, IL
Milwaukee, WI
Hovet, Kevin W.
Mahn, Helga E. Mayr, James
Springfield, IL Dorocke, Paul M.
Chicago Northern Suburbs, IL Byrom, Robert
Crotser, Ellen Eilhauer, Jane Eilhauer, Rolf Himmelberger, Elodie V. Himmelberger, Visa Juffa, Juergen Urs, Kamala Urs-Juffa, Suma Urs-Juffa, Vasi
Uniontown, PA *Copeland, Jackie *Copeland, Roy R.
Pittsburgh, PA *Eisenloeffel, Magdalene *Maierhofer, Alois *Maierhofer, Kara Taylor, Robert L.
Philadelphia, PA
Associate Member
Aust, Jean
German American Club Gesangverein of Louisville, KY
Phoenix, AR *Meyers, Ann S.
*Joined at the Pennsylvania Bavarian Oktoberfest
February / March 2011
German-American Journal
OBITUARIES Annelene Storch
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Merchandise For Sale
DANK Polo Shirt with Blue Trim
DANK Polo Shirt
$32
50th Anniversary Pin
$7.50
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Annelene Storch, born December 10, 1933 in Emmelsbüll, Germany, died November 21, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. Survived by daughter Adrienne, granddaughters Catherine, Christa, and Cara, brothers Heinz and Ernie, late husband Robert, late son Mark and late mother Catherine Brodersen. Annelene Storch participated in DANK Chicago North, German-American Singers, Lincoln Turner, Pensionäre Gruppe
Check Us Out Online Head on over to our National Website to get the latest updates and information on DANK and the Germanic-American community.
Moon Landing Coin Silver - Sold Out Bronze - $19
DANK Flag Pin
$7.50
www.dank.org dank.org/forum dank.org/blog
Are Your Photos Safe? Bicentennial Poster
$12.70
Bumper Sticker
$2.00
Cookbook
$17.00
All Prices Include Shipping And Tax! Call Our Office To Purchase Toll Free: 866-926-1109
Your photos are irreplaceable. If they are sitting in a shoebox or album they are losing quality each day and can be lost forever in the event of a disaster. With an estimated 4-5 trillion printed photos existing around the world, how many photos are you contributing?
Bulk Discounts Available With Purchases Of More Than 5 And Sent To The Same Address
DANK Is On YouTube www.YouTube.com/DANKNational
Preserve your life’s greatest photographed moments. Whether your photos have just faded with time or are scratched and torn, we can make them look new again. Your photos are saved to a disc that can be copied and shared so that they last.
Add new life to your photo memories. On Once your photos are preserved digitally, you can have them turned into a stunning photo montage where your pictures are set to music and motion right on your TV.
Take your memories beyond the photographs. What about those memories that aren’t in your photos? Have your videos edited into an enjoyable movie or let us capture your life story into a video documentary to pass along for years to come!
Golden Fox Productions
Darlene Fuchs www.GoldenFoxPro.com 847-452-6335
Stephen Fuchs www.FoxTaleEdit.com 630.776.4502
Mention this ad when ordering for a 10% discount on your order. Not valid on life documentary.
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German-American Journal
Please Support the Businesses That Advertise in the German-American Journal
February / March 2011