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Hardtwig's Berlin Memoirs
A review of the second part of Wolfgang Hardtwig's memoirs, focusing on his life in Berlin after the reunification of Germany and the challenges faced by academics.
German
Germany
Germany HistoryMemoirReunificationAcademia
Humboldt-Universität BerlinInstitut Für GeschichteUniversity Of ErlangenF.a.z.Potsdam Institute For Contemporary History
Wolfgang HardtwigEduard HammGerhard A. RitterMichael BorgolteHeinrich August Winkler
- How does Hardtwig portray his colleagues in the book?
- The book provides critical characterizations of colleagues like Heinrich August Winkler and Hans-Ulrich Wehler, highlighting both their strengths and weaknesses. It also includes personal anecdotes and reflections on Hardtwig's experiences as a student and professor.
- How does Hardtwig reflect on his own role and experiences?
- Hardtwig reflects on his own role in the events he describes, portraying himself as an actor, observer, and citizen. He acknowledges a "primitive victor's mentality" in the West and a lack of understanding towards the East German way of life, showing self-awareness and critical distance.
- What is the main focus of Wolfgang Hardtwig's second memoir?
- Wolfgang Hardtwig's memoir's second part focuses on his years in Berlin, where he lived and taught. It details the restructuring of the Humboldt University's history institute after German reunification, including internal conflicts and differences between East and West German academics.
- What challenges did the reunification of Germany pose for academics?
- Hardtwig's memoir offers insights into the challenges of integrating East and West German academics after reunification. He describes differences in work styles, self-presentation, and punctuality, as well as internal conflicts within the university.
- What is the importance of approaching the memoir with a critical eye?
- While the memoir offers valuable historical insights, it's important to read it with a critical eye, recognizing the author's perspective and potential biases. The text contains some factual inaccuracies, possibly due to imperfect memory or selective recounting.