Student Exercises to German Unification: Five Years After

prepared by Adolph N. Hofmann
Department of Modern and Classical Langauges Emeritus, Santa Rosa Junior College

I. Questions to Part 1, 'Berlin and Environs'

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A. Answer in English (any 5 out of 8):

1. Five years after unification, what was the outlook for Berlin becoming the capital of Germany?

2. Five years after unification, what has occurred in the way of building in the very center and heart of Berlin?

3. Why are some members of the German government reluctant to move from Bonn to Berlin?

4. How is the U-Bahn (the Berlin underground/subway system) functioning five years after unification?

5. West Berliners have not formed many relationships with East Berliners five years into unification. Speculate as to why not...

6. What do East Germans, and East Berliners make compared to West Berliners/West Germans?

7. What sights are now open to the public in Potsdam?

8. What were the relative conditions of property left behind by departing Soviet forces and departing U.S. forces?

B. Mini-Essay (100 words). Summarize the main points presented in this section of "German Unification: Five years after."

C. Intermediate German Exercise / deutsche Übung: Beschreiben Sie zwei Bilder in diesem Teil des Aufsatzes. Verwenden Sie etwa fünf bis sieben Sätze pro Bildbeschreibung.

II. Questions to Part 2. 'Freiburg: Living the Good Life'

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A. Answer in English (any 5 out of 9):

1. In which section of a map of Germany would you place Freiburg in Breisgau?

2. To which area of Europe do Freiburgers feel oriented, and why?

3. What recommends life in Freiburg as opposed to life in Berlin?

4. What are some favorite diversions for Freiburgers?

5. List three of the benefits of the German social net.

6. What makes life in Freiburg so expensive?

7. What happens when a German worker loses his/her job?

8. What was the overall employment picture in the Freiburg area?

in 1994?

9. What was the difference in compensation between East and West Germany in pension benefits at this stage of unification?

B. Mini-Essay (100 words). Summarize the main points presented in this section of "German Unification: Five years after."

C. Intermediate German Exercise / deutsche Übung: Beschreiben Sie zwei Bilder in diesem Teil des Aufsatzes. Verwenden Sie etwa fünf bis sieben Sätze pro Bildbeschreibung.

III. Questions to Part 3, 'Jena and Environs:Work in East Germany'

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A. Answer in English (any 5 out of 9):

1. What are some of the great names of philosophy and literature with which the city of Jena and its University of Jena are associated?

2. What role did the University of Jena play in supporting the Nazis?

3. What living proof is there, that Jean was firebombed in WWII?

4. Name two historical firsts associated with the optical industry that took place in Jena?

5. How many people were employed in Jena's glass industry under the former government? How many are presently employed in the current version of the glass industry?

6. Why are Trabbi's the butt of so many jokes?

7. What has the Federal Republic of Germany done to improve the infrastructure of eastern Germany?

8. Why is housing a problem in Jena? What sorts of housing are available?

9. How high is unemployment in parts of eastern Germany?

B. Mini-Essay (100 words). Summarize the main points presented in this section of "German Unification: Five years after."

C. Intermediate German Exercise / deutsche Übung:Beschreiben Sie zwei Bilder in diesem Teil des Aufsatzes. Verwenden Sie etwa fünf bis sieben Sätze pro Bildbeschreibung.

IV. Questions to Part 4, 'The Klemms, an East Germanfamily'

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A. Answer in English (5 out of 8):

1. Why has the birthrate in East Germany dropped off?

2. Characterize briefly the difference between the Nazi regime and the Communist regime of the former East Germany, the GDR.

3. What is the sense of most young people in East Germany concerning the sins of the Nazi past?

4. Why should a young mother like Frau Klemm find it difficult to believe that the current changes in government will be beneficial to her and her family?

5. How do the Klemms get around town?

6. Why do the Klemms pay a rent they consider fair?

7. What modern appurtenances do the Klemms have?

8. What is an e-mail project?

B. Mini-Essay (100 words). Summarize the main points presented in this section of "German Unification: Five years after."

C. Intermediate German Exercise / deutsche Übung: Beschreiben Sie zwei Bilder in diesem Teil des Aufsatzes. Verwenden Sie etwa fünf bis sieben Sätze pro Bildbeschreibung.

V. Questions to Part 5, 'Building, Housing and Work in Jena'

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A. Answer in English (any 5 out of 8):

1. Why do the people of Jena dislike their 'cookie roll?'

2. Why would East Germans be interested in shows and things from the West from the 'fifties, 'sixties and 'seventies?

3. Why is building a sure sign of change in East Germany?

4. What was available at the government information stand inJ ena? Why does the government go to this trouble?

5. What was threatening Jena's main industry in the summer of '94?

6. What is the unemployment rate in Jena?

7. What is the unemployment rate in other parts of eastern Germany?

8. What is Herr Koksch's responsibility at the Arbeitsamt in Jena?

B. Mini-Essay (100 words). Summarize the main points presented in this section of "German Unification: Five years after."

C. Intermediate German Exercise / deutsche Übung:Beschreiben Sie zwei Bilder in diesem Teil des Aufsatzes.Verwenden Sie etwa fünf bis sieben Sätze pro Bildbeschreibung.

VI. Questions to Part 6, 'Kahla, an East German Success Story'

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A. Answer in English (any 5 out of 8)

1. Why is unemployment a problem for Kahla?

2. The mayor of Kahla has done a great deal for his town in the span of a few years. List his major accomplishments

3. What was Kahla's most urgent need in terms of infrastructure?

4. What has been done to improve Kahla's housing?

5. In 1994 the Kahla city government had a computer network to handle its affairs. How was it equipped during the previous regime?

6. How much paid vacation do the majoring of German workers get?

7. What percentage of German workers were unionized in 1994?

8. What were the two major values on which German society was built after WWII?

B. Mini-Essay (100 words). Summarize the main points presented inthis section of "German Unification: Five years after."

C. Intermediate German Exercise / deutsche Übung: Beschreiben Sie zwei Bilder in diesem Teil des Aufsatzes. Verwenden Sie etwa fünf bis sieben Sätze pro Bildbeschreibung.

VII. Questions to Part 7: Buchenwald and Beyond: The continuing legacy of the Holocaust

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A. Answer in English (any 5 out of 8):

1. Where is Buchenwald located?

2. How was Buchenwald created?

3. What sorts of prisoners were kept at Buchenwald?

4. Were concentrations camps purely for extermination of prisoners? Explain.

5. To what use did the Russians put Buchenwald after they took over after WWII?

6. Besides Germany, what other European nations evinced anti-Semitic trends in their past?

7. Who is Marcel Reich-Ranicki and what is his position in Germany's literary scene?

8. What accusations against Reich-Ranicki were made during spring and summer of '94?

B. Mini-Essay (100 words). Summarize the main points presented in this section of "German Unification: Five years after."

C. Intermediate German Exercise / deutsche Übung:Beschreiben Sie zwei Bilder in diesem Teil des Aufsatzes. Verwenden Sie etwa fünf bis sieben Sätze pro Bildbeschreibung.

VIII. Questions to Part 8, 'Duisburg: The East-West Unification Blues'

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A. Answer in English (any 5 out of 9):

1. Explain briefly, who and what the Stasi were.

2. Why does the shadow of the Stasi impede unification even five years after the fall of the Wall?

3. Skinheads and neo-Nazis have marred the first years of unification. What does this group want, and how do they go about achieving their ends?

4. What has been the success of the German government in getting private investment into eastern Germany?

5. What is the West German's main complaint about unification?

6. What is the East German's main complaint about unification?

7. How can East and West Germans quickly recognize each other in terms of language?

8. Has real income risen in East Germany since 1990? How much?

9. From which document do the words "the dignity of the

human being is inviolable" come?

B. Mini-Essay (100 words). Summarize the main points presented in this section of "German Unification: Five years after."

C. Intermediate German Exercise / deutsche Übung: Beschreiben Sie zwei Bilder in diesem Teil des Aufsatzes. Verwenden Sie etwa fünf bis sieben Sätze pro Bildbeschreibung.

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