Red Army Faction

The Red Army Faction was founded in 1970 as a West Germany Militant group that described itself as communist and anti imperialist. The engaged in armed attacks in an urban guerrilla warfare against a fascist state. They were considered terrorists by the West German government. From 1970-1998 they were at their most active and 1977 their attacks led to a national crisis known as "German Autumn." The RAF was responsible for 24 deaths throughout its 30 years of being active.

It was founded by Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin, Horst Mahler, and Urlike Meinhof. Meinhof was not officially a leader of the RAF but her assistance in breaking Baader out of jail attached her name to the RAF. on April 20, 1998 an eight page letter was faxed to the Reuters agency declaring that the group had dissolved. Its insignia is a red star with an MP5 in front of it

Role of the German military in 20th and 21st centuries.

The early 20th century was very destructive for the German state. With WW1 The Germans had the most powerful army and the second most powerful navy, The war was caused by Austria's Crown prince was assassinated. The war left over 2 million German soldiers dead, The economy in ruins because they were forced to pay all war reparations. Post war Germany was not allowed to have a standing army or Navy.  This caused the Rise of Adolf Hitler, who felt Germany was ashamed and moved the German people and the country to starting WW2 with the 1939 invasion of Poland. During the course of the war between 3.25 million and 5.3 million soldiers were killed, and between 1 and 3 million German civilians were killed. This again caused the country to be in shambles separated by the Iron curtain. Democratic east and Communist west. Each area had established its own standing army. Post Cold war the newly formed Germany had around 360,000 soldiers.

The 21st century, the German army had around 7 divisions total. 5 mechanized (each with two mechanized brigades), 1 special forces, and one airmobile division. Germany is now allied with NATO and actively participates in NATO operations around the world. The active duty and reserve component of the military both man and women is around 115,000 man and women.

Relations to Germanys immediate neighbors in 18th and 19th centuries

in the 1700's the Prussian empire occupied the territory in current Germany. Sweden was defeated by Russia, Saxony, Poland, Denmark–Norway, Hanover, and Prussia in the Great Northern War (1700–1721). This war ceased Swedish power in The Baltic Sea.
From 1740-1760 Prussia was at War with Austria and in 1748 Prussia gained the territory of Silesia. humiliated Austria formed and alliance with France and Russia while Prussia sought help from England. Defeating the Austrian army at the Battle of Burkersdorf and relying on British success against France, Prussia was finally able to force a status quo ante bellum on the continent. This result confirmed Prussia's major role within the German states and was established as a European great power. Frederick caused near-defeat of Prussia, and ruled as a much more peaceable ruler.

During the 1800's Napoleon had his war, at first Prussia was allied with France and invaded British territories. But as the war progressed Prussia had half its territories cut in 1807 with Napoleons first defeat. In the second Napoleanic war, Prussia was occupied but allied with france, with French defeat inevitable. Prussia sided with Russia and defeated the French in 1812.

Germany was finally unified in 1862, after the Franco-Prussian War.

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Prussia

Berlin Calling

Berlin Calling follows a DJ in Berlin as he deals with drugs, drama, and putting out his new album

1. What do drugs mean to  Ickarus?

Drugs are almost everything everything to him. They are how he deals with stress, anger, as well as when he goes on stage and performs.

2. When, why, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?

His fans take drugs during his performances and afterwards. They take them to enjoy his music and that is also the culture surrounding Techno music. The drugs I've seen is Herion, Cocaine, Weed, Ecstacy, and DMT.

3.While we can see that his drug habits get him ill and into psychosis, and while we witness his relapse and inability to work successfully, why does the subculture Ickarus belongs to focus on drugs?

Because the Techno culture wants to be in another world, away from their problems. Hence the light shows and music. He believes that in order to make music that is good enough for his fans, he has to be able to think and act like them. So he takes the same drugs as they do.

Question 4: Compare the standards you know from your home society with the people you see depicted in this movie. Which are the stark differences and contrasts?

I come from small town USA. So doing drugs is extremely frowned upon, and doing them in public is a no no as well. I know people who are very open to this kind of thing with the Techno subculture and have done this kind of thing. They are very open about it. Ive always been raised to keep your private life that.

5. Germany is considered a strong industrial nation the world over. Do you think that the youth culture as depicted here could change that? How about work ethics of Ickarus and of Alice, the label director who fires and then resigns him?

This is a very small group of people, and this is found all over the world. Many people that I have come across do the things they do. Yes listening to Techno has become more popular over the last few years, however more people are aware that doing the drugs and doing the things these people do is very detrimental to the human body. So unless people suddenly think that cocaine and heroin are good for you I don't think this would be detrimental to Gemany or the world. Without drugs Ickarus is very groggy and unable to make music, so he is very dependent on the drugs to do what he does. Alice is very driven and wants the best for Ickarus.

6. Which similar “cult movies” of US origin have you seen, if any?

I have seen a few that are similar to Berlin Calling. The first one being Trainspotting  It tells of the story of some young adults in Britain who are Heroin addicts. The other one I've seen is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.  It stars Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, and Tobey MacGuire. Its based in the 70's and has a huge drug culture base in there as well.

German Gymnastics

• Founded in 1811 following Germanys fall to Napoleon Bonaparte by Fredrich Ludwig Jahn
• Wanted to restore Germanys national pride through the physical and mental development through gymnastics
• Emphasized the use of parallel bars, rings, and the high bar. All still used used today
• Ludwig Jahn joined the Prussian army in 1806 and at one time commanded a battalion of men against Napoleon  
• not just a sports organization but a political as well
• Brought it to U.S by Charles Beck, however was much more of a fad and not as taken as seriously as it was in Germany
• Militarized viewpoint, vey strict and very controlled physical fitness. Essentially Jahn wanted to make Germanys citizens strong so the nation itself would become strong.
  
• The Swedes version used no apparatus's was less rigid and used more calisthenics
• Adolf Spiel, a German himself invented the gymnastics rings, originally they were triangles instead of circles, they were first featured in the 1924 Paris Olympic games

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Systems

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Ludwig_Jahn#Contribution_to_sports

http://www.ihpra.org/gymnastics%20history.htm

Chapter 8 presentations (From the perspective of Paul)

I see these men, these Russian soldiers, these men are mere shadows of what must have been shadows of themselves. They grovel and search for scraps like wild animals for food. Which the only they find is in the garbages, little is thrown out by us. Yet there is a shred of humanity in these men. These men who Ive been told are ruthless, and heartless men who will kill me at any chance, they are nothing like that. 

The other german soldiers mostly ignore them, but some kick their starving diseased bodies. I thin we in fact are the heartless ruthless men that our teachers warned about, not the Russians. I see these men and they are caring for each other, they do not fight among themselves they no longer have any reason to fight among themselves.I cannot relate to them as individual men because I can only sees the animal suffering in them. 

I see them suffering and I want to help them I give some of my cigarettes to the Russians. There is one man who I can somewhat relate to. He is a musician who said he played the violin in Berlin. I watched and listened as he played against the fence for the other Russians. I hear only sadness and loneliness. 

My parents came by and gave me some food, I am debating giving them to the Russians. They need it more than I do. If I were in their shoes I would hope that not everyone of my enemy is a heartless bastard. There is goodness in everyone. Then I thought my mother is in pain from her sickness, and She made these for me not the Russians. I decide to compromise and give them 2. If I have learned anything else from this war is that it is all a lie, my teachers said that the enemy will kill me at any turn. But from what Ive seen these men are just like me, brainwashed into believing that the man on the other side of the fence is my enemy and will want nothing but to kill me and my entire family. This is not true, these are humans with families, and emotions like me who want the killing to stop. 

Self revelations (Detering)

I am Detering, I'm a man who before the madness of war started was a simple farm man with a simple family and life. This war has changed so many things about me, the first ting is about these creatures who are absolutely magnificent being used for something as lowly as war. Horses do not belong on the battlefield, the belong under the plains and allowed to be free to run and eat at much as they want. Since this war started, they are only used for the whims of man, to cause havoc and to kill. Horses have no urge to kill each other because they have a different coat. Why do we? When I heard after a bombardment horses screaming, writhing and slowly dying. I couldn't take it. They do not need to suffer at the hands of their riders. I desperately wanted to end their suffering i wanted to shoot them and not let them die slowly. I only want what is humane. Kat prevented me from doing this, he didn't want me to give away my position.

I decide to leave and go AWOL, after I saw a beautiful cherry tree. It reminded of home and i didn't want to be here any more. Soon after I left I was captured and court marshaled by them. I never again saw my friends again.