Final Post

Part A:

 

1.Paste the url of the reviewed blog first.

a.        http://ge110fayezal.blogspot.com/

2.      Why did the blog draw your interest as you started reviewing it, why not?

a.       Because I didn’t have any group presentations with him.

3.      How much care did the blog author show for her or his blog? How can you tell?

a.       His blogs were descriptive and met the criteria which shows he did care for his blog.

4.      How would you rate the overall informative quality on a scale of 1-5 (five is high)

a.       5/5

5.      How would you rate the readability of the blog on a scale of 1-5 (five is high)

a.       5/5

6.      Compared to your own blog, is the reviewed blog better, the same, or worse?

a.       I would say this blog is better because I missed a couple blog post

 

 

 

1.                  Paste the url of the reviewed blog first

a.       http://ge110katherinebi.blogspot.com/

2.                  Why did the blog draw your interest as you started reviewing it, why not?

                                                              i.      As I was looking through the list I chose people who I didn’t have group meetings with

3.                  How much care did the blog author show for her or his blog? How can you tell?

a.       She cared for her blog, it was neat and organized the color adds to it as well and makes it vibrant.

4.                  How would you rate the overall informative quality on a scale of 1-5 (five is high)

a.       5/5

5.                  How would you rate the readability of the blog on a scale of 1-5 (five is high)

5/5

6.                  Compared to your own blog, is the reviewed blog better, the same, or worse?

a.       Better since I missed a few blogs

 

 

1.         Paste the url of the reviewed blog first

a.         http://ge110katherinebi.blogspot.com/

2.         Why did the blog draw your interest as you started reviewing it, why not?

i.          As I was looking through the list I chose people who I didn’t have group meetings with

3.         How much care did the blog author show for her or his blog? How can you tell?

a.         She cared for her blog, it was neat and organized the color adds to it as well and makes it vibrant.

4.         How would you rate the overall informative quality on a scale of 1-5 (five is high)

a.         5/5

5.         How would you rate the readability of the blog on a scale of 1-5 (five is high)

5/5

6.         Compared to your own blog, is the reviewed blog better, the same, or worse?

a.         Better since I missed a few blogs

 

 

 

1.         Paste the url of the reviewed blog first

a.         http://ge110ryanch.blogspot.com/

2.         Why did the blog draw your interest as you started reviewing it, why not?

i.          As I was looking through the list I chose people who I didn’t have group meetings with

3.         How much care did the blog author show for her or his blog? How can you tell?

a.         He was missing quite a few important blogs It doesn’t seem like he’s been in the class since September.

4.         How would you rate the overall informative quality on a scale of 1-5 (five is high)

a.         1/5

5.         How would you rate the readability of the blog on a scale of 1-5 (five is high)

1/5

6.         Compared to your own blog, is the reviewed blog better, the same, or worse?

a.         Worse, although I missed some blogs I did not miss the important ones or as many as he did

 

 

Part B. When I registered for this class I was looking for a filler class for one of my goals, but as the semester closes I took more from it than just knowing one of my goals are complete. I think my favorite part about the class and something that should never be taken out of the syllabus is the book “All Quiet on the Western Front”. I think it would be a huge mistake if that book wasn’t included in classes again and the one thing I would have changed was that we spend more time on the book. I knew a fair amount about Germany but have always been curious about the war and the military. The book illustrated what young men went through and how the war changes people and wars still do today. Being a daughter of a retired colonial and engaged to a soldier gives me my interest in war and the effects it leaves on soldiers. This is also why I chose the topics I did on our research topics at the end. Overall it was a great class and I would highly recommend it to other students. The blog portion was different than what I am used to but it was fun doing something other than quizzes and exams for once, I thought it fit with the atmosphere of the class.

Baader Meinhof Complex

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Baader Meinhof Complex film was directed by Uli Edel. The film is based on the 1985 German best selling non-fiction book of the same name by Stefan Aust. This movie also tells the story of early years West German far left militant group known as the Red Army Faction (RAF) during 1967-1977. The film was nominated for best foreign language film at the 81st Academy awards and also a golden globe for best foreign language film.

 

The movie takes place in Germany in 1970.  Murderous bomb attacks, the threat of terrorism and the fear of the enemy inside rock the fragile foundations of the fragile German Democracy. The radicalised children of the Nazi generation lead by Andreas Baader, Ulrike Meinhof and Gudrun Ensslin are fighting a violent war against what they perceive as the new face of fascism: American imperialism supported by the Germans, many of which have a Nazi past. Their goal is to create a more human society but by employing inhuman means they not only spread terror and bloodshed, they also lose their own humanity. The man who understands them is also their hunter: the head of the German police force Horst Herold. And while he succeeds in his relentless pursuit of the young terrorists, he knows he's only dealing with the tip of the iceberg.

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765432/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ql_6

 

The RAF describes themselves as a communist and anti imperialist urban guerilla group engaged in armed resistance against what they viewed a fascist state. Members of the RAF generally used the Marxist-Leninist  term"Faction" when they wrote in English. This group was viewed as a terrorist organization by the German Government.

 

 

 

 



 

Role of the Military in Germany during the 20th and 21st Century

    The "Bundeswehr" is the unified armed forces of Germany. It consist of 4 branches including: the Heer (Army), Marine (Navy), Luftwaffe (Air force), Streitkraftebasis (Joint support service) and the Zentraker Sanitatsdrenst (Joint Medical Service). Bundeswehr was established on Nov. 12th 1955, the most important feature was their orientation as citizen defenders of a democratic state.

   After the cold war  responsibility for the security of Germany as a whole was rested with the four allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union. Since the 1990s Germanys armed forces have become much more involved in international operations such as Afghanistan during Operation Endure Freedom to assist the US military and were also involved in Kosovo as well. A major event for the German armed forces was in 2011 when they had to cut down on the number of military bases as well as the number of soldiers. This even is often criticized by other countries including the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundeswehr#German_Reunification_1990

Relations to Germany's immediate neighbors during the 18th-19th Century

    One of the most important relationships during these centuries for Germany was their relationship with France.  In the 18th century the rise of Prussia as a new German Power started the Diplomatic Revolution which is also known as the "great changes of partners." During this time it started with Britain and Austria vs. France and Russia which then became France and Austria vs. Britain and Russia during the Diplomatic Revolution.

     France and Germanys relations have had three grand periods: Heredity Enmity, Reconciliation (1945-1963), start of the special relationship known as the Franco-German Friendship in 1963. The heredity enmity was the idea of unavoidably hostile relations between the French and Germany that was finally overcome after world war II. For the EU the cooperation between the two countries reached coordination and collaboration. France and Germany are known as the core countries and most enthusiastic for the further integration of the EU. 

    During the first half of the 19th century Germans looked for unification of the states, and the nationalist movement believed that a unified Germany would allow them to replace France as the dominant land power in Europe. The Unification of Germany was triggered by the Franco German War, and the Germany was viewed as the ones who replaced the leading power of France. Germany was finally unified in 1862 after the France -Prussian War.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France%E2%80%93Germany_relations#Nineteenth_century

I am Paul Baumer. I am a 19 year old soldier on the Western Front during World War I, every situation I encounter out here on the front has changed my life in ways I never thought it would. I think about what my life use to be like when I enjoyed poetry and had a close bond with my family. I now disconnect myself from everything in my past life, I can't talk to my family I once had so much love for about what I've seen or the bad things I have done. My only choice seems to be to disconnect myself from my previous life because the men in my unit are my family now. Kemmerich's death, and Kat's death and parting from my friend Kropp was very hard, but  "you get use to that kind of thing in the army." I've learned to disconnect myself from my emotions, it's easier that way. I feel like I'll never be able to escape this horrid place I've entered, I'll never get the life I had before the war back. I am now part of the lost generation.

Chapter 5

Denise Bechtold

Jeff Foster

Maria Mueller

Chapter 5

Talk about the War End

The men talked out what they would each do after or if the war ended. They called it, “Peace – Time.” The first comment made to this was, “There won’t be any peace-time.” You have got to remember the mindset they must be in, they are enduring some much during the war.  Some of the other ideas they mention include; getting drunk, take a train elsewhere, go home and visit family, basically going to see prostitutes, wearing real clothes, and sleeping in a nice bed. This moment of thought lasted a short time before one said, “What silly questions you do ask.” They all thought it was ridiculous and won’t happen.        

The rumors that the men have been hearing are true; Himmelstoss has been brought to the front lines.  As he approaches the men ignore him and disobey rank.   They do not rise and click they’re heels together to him.  Himmelstoss is infuriated by this and demands that Tjaden address his higher rank.  Tjaden does, but in an insubordinate way by mooning him.  Himmelstoss returns to the barracks for the MP’s, as he does Tjaden escapes and hides as he knows this means lock up.  This stand by Tjaden is in response to the degradation that the men endured under Himmelstoss’ reign during training.

                Muller continues with his questioning about what will happen during “peace time”.  They calculate that only 12 men remain from their class of 20 men, 4 are dead, 1 insane, and 7 wounded.  They mock Kantorek and ask questions from school.  This is showing that all that they had “learned” in school means nothing here, and that it is forgotten during these difficult times.  The learning that they had been taught in school as normal “kids” will not be used in their lifetime.  Kropp closes this in stating how the war has destroyed everything for them and that there is no going back to normal, they can believe in nothing but war now.  

                Himmelstoss returns with the sergeant major and demands to know the whereabouts of Tjaden, but the troop refuses to disclose this information.  The sergeant major declares that Tjaden must report within 10 minutes.  With every sentence that Himmelstoss delivers the men torment him.  Himmelstoss returns once more and demands Tjaden, Kropp insults him yet again with harsh words and Himmelstoss storms away.  That evening Kropp and Tjaden are brought to trial for insubordination, Tjaden receives 3 days open arrest and Kropp one after the men from the troop tell the court about the torment and abuse that Himmelstoss put them under during training.  The sergeant major scolds Himmelstoss for his actions in training as well.  Later Paul and the others visit Kropp and Tjaden in lockup and play cards and speak again.

Towards the end of the chapter Kat says to Paul, “What do you say to some roast goose?” after Paul agrees they catch a ride on a munition-wagon which cost them two cigarettes to the spot that Kat has marked. During their little adventure Paul agrees to get the goose and climbs over the wall and goes to the shed to open the door. After Paul sees the geese the attempt to stun them doesn’t go as fast as he had hoped it would. He fights desperately claiming, “What a kick a goose has!” This illustrates the struggle he has with stunning the geese. His situation becomes more stressful when he spots a bulldog from outside that growls at every move he makes. After what seems like forever Paul is able to jerk his revolver up and escapes the dog with one goose. Kat quickly kills the goose and he and Paul make their way to the lean-to to cook it. While the two take turns sleeping and cooking Paul hears the sound of gun-fire from the front and thoughts begin to consume his mind. Paul describes his feelings as, “We are two men, two minute sparks of life; outside is the night and the circle of death.” At this point in the chapter Paul realizes he is now in unison with someone whom he should never have had anything in common with. As he continues to think he sees two soldiers with big boots, and a shut heart who have forgotten all else but marching. After they feast on the goose they take the rest back to Tjaden and Kropp. The chapter ends with Paul describing himself as, “A soldier with big boots and a full belly, a little soldier in the morning—but by my side, stooping and angular, goes Kat, my comrade.” This chapter shows how Paul and his friends continue to form close knit unit and how the bond between soldiers is one like no other.

Group 4- Revel (Tallinn)

Group 4 - Reval (Tallinn)

Felicia Dieterman,
Maria Mueller,
Ali Alshaikhahmad,
Kyle Kielty
Mohammed Alsuwailem
Fayez Alanazi
Tatiana Satchivi


HISTORIC MARKERS THAT DESCRIBE THE HANSA

965 --> Increase of mercantile activity due to the market rights conferred in Bremen.

12th Century --> An alliance formed between Hamburg and Lubeck in Northern Germany marked the beginning of the Hanseatic League. Lubeck was a predominant town in the trades.

The League gained independence from the local feudal lords and only owed allegiance to the emperor.

Start of 16th Century --> The league started to fall apart and was in a weak position due to the rise of English and Dutch merchants. The league lost the monopoly of the trade routes. Another reason for its weaker position was due to the lost of common interests among the League. Finally, the influence of the German princes was growing, which made the cities from the Hansa lose their right to trade freely.

LIFE IN HANSEATIC CITIES

Cities that were members of the Hansa were called "Free cities" because they were not ruled by the local feudal lords. Lubeck was more independent compared to the other cities in the League.

If a city refused to join the Hansa it was blockaded or barricaded by the League. No trade was done with a city that had been barricaded until it joined.  The cities of the Hansa looked wealthier than the cities outside it.

TRADE ROUTES AND THE TRADE WORKED

One of the main trade routes that was used by the Hanseatic League was called the "Salt Road". Salt was a very sought resource by merchants to preserve their goods, which is why "Salt Road" was a common trade path, yet it was known to be dangerous. It was also the road between Hamburg and Lubeck.

The cargos in the port of Lubeck consisted of salt, herring, grain, timber, honey, amber, ships stores, and other bulk commodities. These were not cargos that made quick fortunes, but they were a steady trade, and the Hansa held a monopoly on a great deal of it, if not all. Ships were the main way to trade, which gave them access to Scandinavia.

SHIP, CITIES, AND SOCIAL MAKE-UP IN HANSEATIC CITIES

They used ships by selling them, this is the industry they excelled in, that is what boosted their economy. Ships were a huge factor for merchants that provided access to Scandinavia. Commercial ships also had to carry soldiers and their weapons. 

Cities: Most merchants came from North Germany cities, Baltic port cities and many others joined. Hanseatic League operated for 300 years with members from 300 cities. Hamburg was a popular trade route for salt, which was part of the “Salt Path”.

Social Make-up of Hanse: There were over 60 cities, each city had their own merchants and each made alliance and made their own common policies.

WHAT "TRUST" AND "TRUTH" MEANT AMONG HANSE TRADERS

Truth and Trust were important because the goal of the league was to keep the spirit alive and encourage a vibrant exchange between its members.
Contracts were done by handshakes and word of mouth.