Forty Autumns

Forty Autumns PDF Author: Nina Willner
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062410334
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 223

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Book Description
In this illuminating and deeply moving memoir, a former American military intelligence officer goes beyond traditional Cold War espionage tales to tell the true story of her family—of five women separated by the Iron Curtain for more than forty years, and their miraculous reunion after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Forty Autumns makes visceral the pain and longing of one family forced to live apart in a world divided by two. At twenty, Hanna escaped from East to West Germany. But the price of freedom—leaving behind her parents, eight siblings, and family home—was heartbreaking. Uprooted, Hanna eventually moved to America, where she settled down with her husband and had children of her own. Growing up near Washington, D.C., Hanna’s daughter, Nina Willner became the first female Army Intelligence Officer to lead sensitive intelligence operations in East Berlin at the height of the Cold War. Though only a few miles separated American Nina and her German relatives—grandmother Oma, Aunt Heidi, and cousin, Cordula, a member of the East German Olympic training team—a bitter political war kept them apart. In Forty Autumns, Nina recounts her family’s story—five ordinary lives buffeted by circumstances beyond their control. She takes us deep into the tumultuous and terrifying world of East Germany under Communist rule, revealing both the cruel reality her relatives endured and her own experiences as an intelligence officer, running secret operations behind the Berlin Wall that put her life at risk. A personal look at a tenuous era that divided a city and a nation, and continues to haunt us, Forty Autumns is an intimate and beautifully written story of courage, resilience, and love—of five women whose spirits could not be broken, and who fought to preserve what matters most: family. Forty Autumns is illustrated with dozens of black-and-white and color photographs.

Forty Autumns

Forty Autumns PDF Author: Nina Willner
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062410334
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 223

Get Book Here

Book Description
In this illuminating and deeply moving memoir, a former American military intelligence officer goes beyond traditional Cold War espionage tales to tell the true story of her family—of five women separated by the Iron Curtain for more than forty years, and their miraculous reunion after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Forty Autumns makes visceral the pain and longing of one family forced to live apart in a world divided by two. At twenty, Hanna escaped from East to West Germany. But the price of freedom—leaving behind her parents, eight siblings, and family home—was heartbreaking. Uprooted, Hanna eventually moved to America, where she settled down with her husband and had children of her own. Growing up near Washington, D.C., Hanna’s daughter, Nina Willner became the first female Army Intelligence Officer to lead sensitive intelligence operations in East Berlin at the height of the Cold War. Though only a few miles separated American Nina and her German relatives—grandmother Oma, Aunt Heidi, and cousin, Cordula, a member of the East German Olympic training team—a bitter political war kept them apart. In Forty Autumns, Nina recounts her family’s story—five ordinary lives buffeted by circumstances beyond their control. She takes us deep into the tumultuous and terrifying world of East Germany under Communist rule, revealing both the cruel reality her relatives endured and her own experiences as an intelligence officer, running secret operations behind the Berlin Wall that put her life at risk. A personal look at a tenuous era that divided a city and a nation, and continues to haunt us, Forty Autumns is an intimate and beautifully written story of courage, resilience, and love—of five women whose spirits could not be broken, and who fought to preserve what matters most: family. Forty Autumns is illustrated with dozens of black-and-white and color photographs.

At the Edge of the Wall

At the Edge of the Wall PDF Author: Hanno Hochmuth
Publisher: Berghahn Books
ISBN: 1789208750
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 364

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Book Description
Located in the geographical center of Berlin, the neighboring boroughs of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg shared a history and identity until their fortunes diverged dramatically following the construction of the Berlin Wall, which placed them within opposing political systems. This revealing account of the two municipal districts before, during and after the Cold War takes a microhistorical approach to investigate the broader historical trajectories of East and West Berlin, with particular attention to housing, religion, and leisure. Merged in 2001, they now comprise a single neighborhood that bears the traces of these complex histories and serves as an illuminating case study of urban renewal, gentrification, and other social processes that continue to reshape Berlin.

The Wall Jumper

The Wall Jumper PDF Author: Peter Schneider
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 9780226739410
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 148

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Book Description
In the Wall Jumper, real people cross the Wall not to defect but to quarrel with their lovers, see Hollywood movies, and sometimes just because they can't help themselves—the Wall has divided their emotions as much as it has their country.

What Was the Berlin Wall?

What Was the Berlin Wall? PDF Author: Nico Medina
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1524789690
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 129

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Book Description
The Berlin Wall finally came down in 1989. Now readers can find out why it was built in the first place; and what it meant for Berliners living on either side of it. Here's the fascinating story of a city divided. In 1961, overnight a concrete border went up, dividing the city of Berlin into two parts - East and West. . The story of the Berlin Wall holds up a mirror to post-WWII politics and the Cold War Era when the United States and the USSR were enemies, always on the verge of war. The wall meant that no one from Communist East Berlin could travel to West Berlin, a free, democratic area. Of course that didn't stop thousands from trying to breech the wall - more than one hundred of them dying in the attempt. (One East Berliner actually ziplined to freedom!) Author Nico Medina explains the spy-vs-spy politics of the time as well as what has happened since the removal of one of the most divisive landmarks in modern history.

The Collapse

The Collapse PDF Author: Mary Sarotte
Publisher: Basic Books (AZ)
ISBN: 0465064949
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 322

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Book Description
On the night of November 9, 1989, massive crowds surged toward the Berlin Wall, drawn by an announcement that caught the world by surprise: East Germans could now move freely to the West. The Wall—infamous symbol of divided Cold War Europe—seemed to be falling. But the opening of the gates that night was not planned by the East German ruling regime—nor was it the result of a bargain between either Ronald Reagan or George H.W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. It was an accident. In The Collapse, prize-winning historian Mary Elise Sarotte reveals how a perfect storm of decisions made by daring underground revolutionaries, disgruntled Stasi officers, and dictatorial party bosses sparked an unexpected series of events culminating in the chaotic fall of the Wall. With a novelist’s eye for character and detail, she brings to vivid life a story that sweeps across Budapest, Prague, Dresden, and Leipzig and up to the armed checkpoints in Berlin. We meet the revolutionaries Roland Jahn, Aram Radomski, and Siggi Schefke, risking it all to smuggle the truth across the Iron Curtain; the hapless Politburo member Günter Schabowski, mistakenly suggesting that the Wall is open to a press conference full of foreign journalists, including NBC’s Tom Brokaw; and Stasi officer Harald Jäger, holding the fort at the crucial border crossing that night. Soon, Brokaw starts broadcasting live from Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, where the crowds are exulting in the euphoria of newfound freedom—and the dictators are plotting to restore control. Drawing on new archival sources and dozens of interviews, The Collapse offers the definitive account of the night that brought down the Berlin Wall.

Berlin Wall: East Vs West Germany

Berlin Wall: East Vs West Germany PDF Author: A.J. Kingston
Publisher: A.J. Kingston
ISBN: 1839383445
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 417

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Book Description
Are you ready to immerse yourself in one of the most captivating and transformative periods of history? Step back in time and witness the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, an iconic symbol of division and defiance. Introducing the "Berlin Wall: East vs West Germany" book bundle, a comprehensive collection that takes you on a journey through the intricate layers of this monumental structure. Book 1 - Echoes Of Division: Exploring The Human Stories Of The Berlin Wall Delve into the personal narratives, heart-wrenching separations, and the unwavering spirit of those impacted by the Berlin Wall. Through intimate accounts and compelling stories, experience the triumphs, tragedies, and enduring hope that emerged from a divided nation. Book 2 - Beyond Concrete Walls: The Economic Impact Of The Berlin Wall On East And West Germany Uncover the economic repercussions that echoed across East and West Germany. Dive deep into the stark disparities in living standards, employment opportunities, and economic development that emerged as a result of the Wall. Gain valuable insights into the lasting effects on both sides of the divide and the subsequent challenges faced during reunification. Book 3 - Unveiling The Hidden Secrets: Espionage And Intrigue Along The Berlin Wall Unlock the hidden world of espionage and the cloak-and-dagger operations that unfolded along the Berlin Wall. Unveil the gripping tales of spies, intelligence agencies, and covert operations, and discover how the Wall became a battleground for secrets, power, and international intrigue. Book 4 - Art As Resistance: Graffiti And Political Expression On The Berlin Wall Witness the power of artistic expression and its defiance against the oppressive regime. Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of graffiti and political art that adorned the Berlin Wall. Experience the visual manifestations of protest, unity, and hope, as artists turned the Wall into a canvas of resilience and resistance. Individually, each book offers a unique perspective on the Berlin Wall, but together, they form an all-encompassing narrative that will transport you back in time. Unearth the stories of ordinary individuals caught in extraordinary circumstances, analyze the economic impact of a divided nation, delve into the hidden world of spies and espionage, and witness the transformative power of art in the face of oppression. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a lover of human stories, or someone seeking profound insights into the forces that shaped our world, this book bundle is a must-have addition to your collection. It offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the complexities, triumphs, and lessons of the Berlin Wall. Don't miss your chance to own this captivating book bundle. Order the "Berlin Wall: East vs West Germany" collection today and embark on an unforgettable journey through history. Experience the echoes of division, the resounding impact on economies, the clandestine world of espionage, and the enduring power of art as resistance.

Behind the Berlin Wall

Behind the Berlin Wall PDF Author: Patrick Major
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 019924328X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 336

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Book Description
On 13 August 1961 eighteen million East Germans awoke to find themselves walled in by an edifice which was to become synonymous with the Cold War: the Berlin Wall. Patrick Major explores how the border closure affected ordinary East Germans, from workers and farmers to teenagers and even party members, 'caught out' by Sunday the Thirteenth.

Fear of Mirrors

Fear of Mirrors PDF Author: Tariq Ali
Publisher: Verso Books
ISBN: 1784786942
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 257

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Book Description
The story of a family whose life mirrors the rise and fall of the Soviet Union With the fall of Communism, East German dissident Vlady Meyer’s life begins to fall apart. As the German nation unifies, his wife splits up with him. He loses his university job now that the times have turned against his Marxist views. He wants to tell his alienated son, Karl, what his family’s long and passionate involvement with communism really meant, but he can’t. Vlady’s story is interwoven with that of Ludwik, Kim Philby’s recruiter, and his four comrades, brilliant Galician secret agents working for the Fourth Department of the Red Army. Thoughtful and intimate, Fear of Mirrors unfolds an expansive plot that touches on the greatest political upheavals of the twentieth century. Its protagonist captures the hopes once roused by the Bolshevik Revolution and the hard realities that followed; Vlady Meyer is a mirror reflecting impeccably the intellectual milieu of an incomparable period.

The Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall PDF Author: Frederick Taylor
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1408835827
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 650

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Book Description
The appearance of a hastily-constructed barbed wire entanglement through the heart of Berlin during the night of 12-13 August 1961 was both dramatic and unexpected. Within days, it had started to metamorphose into a structure that would come to symbolise the brutal insanity of the Cold War: the Berlin Wall. A city of almost four million was cut ruthlessly in two, unleashing a potentially catastrophic East-West crisis and plunging the entire world for the first time into the fear of imminent missile-borne apocalypse. This threat would vanish only when the very people the Wall had been built to imprison, breached it on the historic night of 9 November 1989. Frederick Taylor's eagerly awaited new book reveals the strange and chilling story of how the initial barrier system was conceived, then systematically extended, adapted and strengthened over almost thirty years. Patrolled by vicious dogs and by guards on shoot-to-kill orders, the Wall, with its more than 300 towers, became a wired and lethally booby-trapped monument to a world torn apart by fiercely antagonistic ideologies. The Wall had tragic consequences in personal and political terms, affecting the lives of Germans and non-Germans alike in a myriad of cruel, inhuman and occasionally absurd ways. The Berlin Wall is the definitive account of a divided city and its people.

Wall Disease

Wall Disease PDF Author: Jessica Wapner
Publisher: The Experiment
ISBN: 1615197346
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 130

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Book Description
We build border walls to keep danger out. But do we understand the danger posed by walls themselves? East Germans were the first to give the crisis a name: Mauerkrankheit, or “wall disease.” The afflicted—everyday citizens living on both sides of the Berlin wall—displayed some combination of depression, anxiety, excitability, suicidal ideation, and paranoia. The Berlin Wall is no more, but today there are at least seventy policed borders like it. What are they doing to our minds? Jessica Wapner investigates, following a trail of psychological harm around the world. In Brownsville, Texas, the hotly contested US-Mexico border wall instills more feelings of fear than of safety. And in eastern Europe, a Georgian grandfather pines for his homeland—cut off from his daughters, his baker, and his bank by the arbitrary path of a razor-wire fence built in 2013. Even in borderlands riven by conflict, the same walls that once offered relief become enduring reminders of trauma and helplessness. Our brains, Wapner writes, devote “border cells” to where we can and cannot go safely—so, a wall that goes up in our town also goes up in our minds. Weaving together interviews with those living up against walls and expert testimonies from geographers, scientists, psychologists, and other specialists, she explores the growing epidemic of wall disease—and illuminates how neither those “outside” nor “inside” are immune.