Peter Günther

Last Friday at the memorial service for Professor Peter Günther, Red Baron said goodbye to a friend.

A simple memorial service at the Protestant church in Merzhause (©GvS)

Peter was a member of the Freiburg-Madison-Gesellschaft (FMG) and the Museumsgesellschaft. I held Peter in high regard as a kind, empathetic, and people-oriented person.

We had just arrived in Madison.
Peter is flanked by his charming wife Ulrike and Red Baron.

I learned about his expertise as an Americanist back in 2009 when we visited our sister city, Madison, with the FMG.

His lecture, “Puritan Heritage and Political Religion,” which he gave at the FMG’s regular Stammtisch in October 2010, remains just as relevant today. I was excited, so my comment followed promptly.

I will miss Peter. RIP

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Schicksalspegel Kaub

Today, Red Baron read an article in the NYT about a water plan for America's once mighty Colorado River.

"Across the region, two decades of drought have reduced winter snowpack, which creates the majority of the river's flow. At the same time, warming temperatures caused by climate change have increased water losses from evaporation."

The now-reduced water flow has forced Federal Authorities to regulate the amount of water neighboring states may draw from the river in the future, which has major impacts on agriculture and industries in regions touched by the Colorado.

That resources become limited is a dramatic turning point for the US, where continuous growth still is a leitmotif.

Here in Europe, the ongoing heat wave and lack of rain have caused several rivers to show historically low water levels.

The Dreisam through Freiburg (©BZ)

The lack of water immediately catches your eye when you look at Freiburg's river, the Dreisam. Yesterday, at the measuring station upstream in Ebnet, the water level was 17 cm, while the average water level for the Dreisam at this point is 52 cm.

The Dreisam has disappeared completely a few kilometers downstream (©SWR)

No water to spare! Even Freiburg's tourist attraction: the Bächle are currently dry.

The situation is more dramatic for the Rhine River. In “normal” years, 285 million metric tons of cargo pass through Europe’s busiest inland waterway. The prolonged drought is causing the Rhine's water level to drop steadily. The proud and much-praised river is now nothing more than a trickle.

The critical situation at Kaub (©Die Zeit)

The levels near the historical site of Kaub are critical for Rhine shipping. Yesterday the key gauge at the Kaub measuring station reached an all-time low of 24 cm, i.e., below the lowest level of 25 cm recorded in October 2018. The forecast from the Federal Institute of Hydrology for August 13 is 9 cm!

©Wikipedia

Marion Halft took this historical photo of the low water level at Kaub in 2018. It was just under 30 cm on October 20, dropping to 25 cm on October 22. Pfalzgrafenstein Castle, a former toll station, is visible in the background.

For comparison: The so-called Equivalent Water Level (EWL), where shipping around Kaub is unlimited, is 77 cm, while the average water level in the place over the year is 208 cm.

 

©SWR

Mind you, while 24 cm is today's officially measured water level, the navigation channel at Kaub, appropriately named "Wilder Gefähr (Wild Ferrying)", is much deeper. 

Still, at an EWL of 77 cm, the Gefähr is only 190 cm deep in some places. This means that at the actual water level of 24 cm, cargo ships presently have only 137 cm of water depth and therefore can be loaded only 20 to 30%.

According to the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), "Below a water level of 40 cm (i.e. 153 cm depth) at Kaub, inland navigation is not feasible." As ships can only operate with significantly reduced cargo volumes, transport costs are driven up.

©Financial Times

The IHK should not forget about international shipping of goods between Basel, Switzerland, and Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The water level at the Kaub measuring station becomes Europe's Schicksalspegel.


Red Baron is a history freak. So he relates Kaub to Field Marshal Forward, Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher's crossing of the Rhine River on New Year's Day 1814 in the pursuit of Napoleon.

While people were celebrating New Year's Eve across Europe, preparations began near Kaub for one of the largest military river crossings of that era (Read more).

Russian engineers of the First Silesian Army built a pontoon bridge in the cold and fog, and in secret, because the French were to find out as late as possible where Blücher intended to cross the Rhine on his way to Waterloo. Pfalzgrafenstein Castle served as an important base and bridgehead.

Over the next five days, an entire army crossed the Rhine, comprising about 50,000 soldiers, around 15,000 horses, and 182 artillery pieces.

It was a logistical feat.

©T-Online

In case the Rhine runs dry, future river cruises will be handled by a substitute bus service.

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Dortu Documents

Red Baron was tempted to name this blog the Dortu Files. Indeed, it would be wrong, for what I present here are a few selected documents shown in an exhibition at the Freiburg Stadtarchiv (city archives). The occasion is the 200th birthday of revolutionary Maximilian Dortu, born in Potsdam on June 29, 1826. I wrote a detailed blog about Dortu in 2012.

Archive Director Dr. Florian Hoffmann had compiled many previously unpublished documents about and related to Maximilian.

Revolutionaries shot under martial law in 1849 (unknown author)

The most shocking document on display lists 25 revolutionaries who were executed by firing squad in 1849.

 

The list is headed by Joh. Ludw. Maxi. Dortu from Potsdam, who was shot at the Alter Wiehrefriedhof on July 31, 1849. The two others executed there by firing squad: Friedrich Neff from Rimmingen* on August 9 and Gebhard Kromer, a soldier from Bombach, on August 2, figure on the list.

*Rümmingen

Other known persons of the 1848/49 Revolution are listed too: In Rastatt, following the surrender of the federal fortress to the Prussian invading army, both Regimental Commander Ernst von Biedenfeld and the last governor of the fortress, Gustav Tiedemann, were summarily executed by a firing squad on August 9, resp on August 11, 1849.

Cityscape, circa 1860, by Gottlieb Theodor Hase

Now located in my fully built-up Wiehre neighborhood, the "Old" Wiehre Cemetery was far outside the city in 1849.

I shall continue to show and comment on more displayed documents.

Dortu had already become a "democrat" while still a student, serving as spokesperson for the Association of Radical Democrats in Potsdam. Following the barricade fighting in Berlin in March 1848 (Read the full story in German), Dortu sharply attacked Prince Wilhelm - the future German Emperor Wilhelm I  -accusing him of ordering the troops on March 18–19 to use grapeshot. Because of his derogatory nickname, the "Kartätschenprinz (Cardush Prince)," Dortu was sentenced in June 1848 to 15 months of imprisonment in a fortress. 

He evaded his sentence by fleeing to Brussels. Still, since he did not have a passport and the local police there took notice of his inflammatory speeches, the Belgian authorities deported him to France.

          

He eventually turned up in Paris and stayed at a hôtel meublé on 69 Rue St. Jacques in the Latin Quarter.

Plan of Paris before Georges-Eugène Haussmann milled the Boulevard Saint-Michel through the Latin Quarter in 1860. The Rue St. Jacques runs parallel to the future Boulemich to the east, and number 69 is at the height of the Rue des Ecoles.

Dortu rarely appeared in public; instead, he devoted himself to military-scientific studies to prepare for the expected uprising in Germany.

In May 1849, Dortu finally traveled to Baden to support the revolution there. Gustav Struve recommended him to Johann Philipp Becker, who was building up the Badische Volkswehr (People's Defense Force in Baden), "Dortu is a man of exceptional character, as bold as a lion in battle, impassioned and enthusiastic at the podium, and filled with the noblest patriotism of any age."

Young Maximilian

Becker, a determined democrat, called for swift military action against the approaching counterrevolution, and appointed Dortu as an aide-de-camp in the General Command of the Volkswehr. 

Order of the Day by the General Command of the People's Defense Force to the Mannschaft.

The Commander-in-Chief of the People's Defense Force, Joh. Ph. Becker's order aimed to better organize Baden's Defense Force and contains a warning: Let the reactionaries take note that an executionary army - one that watches over and protects, and stands up for freedom with property and blood - has already been established.

On June 17, Becker entrusted Dortu with organizing the People's Defense Force in the Gernsbach administrative district. There, young Maximilian's impetuosity became evident when he interpreted Becker's daily order of May 27 strictly.

Dortu rode up on horseback with his men in front of the Weisenbach church

On June 24, members of the Volkswehr under the command of Dortu arrested Pastor Franz Xaver Weingärtner and other Weisenbach citizens suspected of counterrevolutionary activities. In fact, the revolutionary government had suspended Weingärtner from office on June 21, because the pastor had made it clear that he was an opponent of the Baden Revolution.

 Nevertheless, Dortu's too harsh crackdown led to his removal from office and punitive transfer to the defensive frontline along the Murg River near Rastatt.

Why does Dortu's fate still move people - especially in Freiburg - to this day?

 
In general, an early death freezes a person's life in time. The myth of an early death dates back to antiquity. The favorites of the gods lead short, glorious lives instead of long, meaningless ones.

 
Young Dortu, who still had his whole life ahead of him, chose to stand by his convictions - and paid for it with his life. His last words: "I die for freedom. Brothers, aim well." still echo every July 31 at the commemoration reunion at the Old Wiehre Cemetery. 

Dortu's lasting impact stems from the combination of his personality, youth, political convictions, and sacrifice. He developed into the quintessential symbol of the failed revolutionary movement of 1848/49.

 
So the obituaries of some of his great contemporaries read:

Wilhelm Liebknecht: "In my life, I have never met anyone else who came as close to the ideal of the young hero as Max Dortu."

 
Amalia Struve, the icon of the Baden Revolution: "In my eyes, Dortu is the martyr who can be regarded as the representative of the enthusiastic German youth. He possessed the full force of that conviction and enthusiasm found in the noblest segment of German youth. Ready for any task - even the most seemingly ordinary - when it came to serving the fatherland, cheerful and undaunted in the face of any danger - he exemplified, perhaps more than anyone else, what deep conviction, combined with youthful energy, is capable of."

 
His former boss, Johann Philipp Becker: "Dortu was a man of the most fortunate dispositions. He combined the critical acuity characteristic of his North German compatriots with that warm enthusiasm for all that is great, beautiful, and good - which is the nobility and magic of youth. He displayed pride in his reflections, power in his voice, and grace in his entire demeanor. Toward his friends, he showed the same devotion and self-sacrifice with which he was committed to his political convictions."
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The Buried Treasure

The Gospel reading for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time is found in Matthew 13:44–52.

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

The clothes are just right (©Katholisches Bibelwerk)

Red Baron didn’t understand, but he attended Sunday Mass, where the officiant was expounding on the Gospel - yet he was working in the style of Bismarck back in the days of the Ems Dispatch: The preacher omitted the last part of this Sunday Gospel.

So he could make his point: Seize God’s treasure at any cost; don’t miss the opportunities. Do everything in your power to acquire it.

As a child, I was offered intensive religious instruction that weighed heavily on me rather than training me to be a treasure hunter. So, as a young student, I turned my back on the church - and with it, on God - though with the firm resolve to grapple with the subject at a later date. My numerous blogs on the topic of religion bear witness to this.

Have I found and recovered the treasure? I am still digging it up.

Actually, it was the third part of the Gospel - which the preacher omitted so as not to complicate his central message - that preoccupied Red Baron.

In the third parable, the Last Judgment presided over by Christ ultimately divides people into two groups: the good to be kept and the evil to be thrown away.

Dramatic depictions of the Last Judgment are found in all medieval churches. Nothing preoccupied people back then as much as how they might attain eternal bliss.

Martin Luther is by far the most visible tip of the iceberg in this regard. He came to the conclusion that it is God’s grace alone that enables us humans to become treasure hunters.

The gracious God continually invites us to seek. In his play Faust II, Goethe has the choir of angels sing as they welcome Faust’s soul into heaven: “Whoever never ceases to strive, him we can redeem.”

So, keep seeking, hoping to find the treasure. In the end, Jesus, the fisher of men, will become the Judge of the World and divide his catch.

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We're Having a Heat Dome

(©ZDF)

While in Europe in June 2019, we were suffering from a tropical heatwave; we are now smoldering under a tropical heat dome over Europe that has only slowly moved over the last five days.

When Ella sang "Gee her anatomy, made the mercury, jump to ninety three. Yes, sir!" today, the mercury didn't jump to 93 °F (34 °C), but at 6:18 PM it climbed to 36.9 °C (98.4 °F) on my shadowed terrace.

 
The temperature in my living room is 28.9 °C, which is tolerable because the relative humidity is only 50%. Despite the windows being closed, the CO₂ level remains within the green range due to the apartment's large volume.

When I wake up these days at 4 AM, I open the windows at opposite ends of my apartment wide to make a Durchzug (draught). This Querlüften (cross ventilation) improves air exchange.

At 7 AM, it's time to close the windows again because the outside temperature is approaching 30 °C.

©WP

On June 24, the heat dome lingered over France ...

©WP

 ... slowly sneaking into Central Europe and the British Isles by June 27.

©CNN

Temperature records were broken all over Europe

Charming weatherwoman Claire in "2050" (©WP)

In 2014, extrapolating from past data, Météo France predicted a hypothetical heat wave in August 2050. 

A shock. The hypothetical scenario happened 24 years earlier! (©WP)

There are still people who deny climate change and dismiss more frequent, longer heat waves as mere weather anomalies. However, scientists are concerned about the accelerating rise in temperature.

©WP

©WP

©WP

©NYT

Is this year's abnormal El Niño reaching out to Europe?

Unfortunately, the caricature has melted (©Mario Lars)

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12. Partnerschaftsmarkt

Red Baron attended the opening ceremony of the 12th Partnerschaftsmarkt on June 12 at the Platz der Alten Synagoge as an observer. At earlier editions, I was active at the joint booth of the Freiburg-Madison-Gesellschaft and the Carl-Schurz-Haus; this year, I passed the torch to younger generations after turning 91 three days earlier.

The weather was cold and rainy. Before Freiburg's Mayor Martin Horn welcomed dignitaries and guests on stage, the Big Band of the Deutsch-Französisches Gymnasium (German-French High School) set the tone. 

Patrick Seeger of the City of Freiburg took the "official" group photo showing the dignitaries who traveled to this year's Partnerschaftsmarkt. While on stage, they gave speeches of varying lengths on the history and the promising future of their partnerships.

Martin is the odd one surrounded by concentrated women's power (©Stadt Freiburg)

From left: Satya Rhodes-Conway, Mayor of Madison (USA), Jane Tyson, Mayor of Guildford (UK), Freiburg Mayor Martin Horn, Elisa Campoy Soler (City Councilor, Granada, Spain), and Emmanuelle Meunier (Deputy Mayor for International Relations, Besançon, France).

While waiting for the opening ceremony, Dick told Uwe and Helmut about warmer Partnerschaftsmärkte in the past. Indeed, Dick is documented in the 9th, 10th, and 11th editions. This man is indestructible.

Eventually, Mayor Martin Horn took the stage and opened the 12th Partnerschaftsmarkt in the presence of several representatives* from Freiburg's sister cities, who, despite the cold, rainy weather, were in good spirits.
*As for their names, consult the official group photo above.

 

Sheltered under an umbrella, visitors to the opening ceremony listened to the speeches, with Marathon Man (Who else?) Dick standing in the front row.

 

A veritable storm broke loose when Madison's Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway began to unfold her notes. She was firm in her statements. Even a nasty meteorological event cannot blow the friendship between Madison and Freiburg.

In the end, Martin Horn bid farewell to charming Ariane Hötzer. During the city's meetings with representatives from Freiburg's Partnerschaftsvereinen, Red Baron witnessed her expertise and competence in planning these Partnerschaftsmärkte. Goodbye, Ariane, and all the best for your well-deserved retirement.

©EF

The following Saturday, the Partnerschaftsmarkt was bathed in sunlight. Visitors' faces couldn't have been more radiant as they watched the folkloric performances from the various sister cities on stage.

©EF

FMG's Vice President, Frauke Feix, and newly elected President, Eberhard Fugmann, embrace Anke Wiedemann, Head of the International Affairs Team in Mayor Martin Horn's Office, at the Freiburg-Madison booth.

©EF

As in the past, the FMG relied heavily on assistance from students of the Academic Year in Freiburg. Visitors at our booth were greeted with a burst of charm. Thank you, students, for your valuable help.

©EF

And here comes the future. Eberhard's high school students are ready to take the American education challenge and become future FMG members.

For Sunday, Eberhard organized a trip for our visitors from Madison to Freiburg's local mountain, the Schauinsland.

Bringe mich hoch (Take me up high)(©VAG)

Breathtaking view of Freiburg and the Vosges mountains across the Rhine River in neighboring France

Before our group began the uphill walk to the Schauinsland lookout tower, Satya and Eberhard thanked everyone who had contributed to the success of this year's Partnerschaftsmarkt, while Anke carried the youngest participant.

Apotheose and obligation: the group photo (©FS)

©CJ

To wrap up the delegation's visit from Madison, the city of Freiburg invited our guests from overseas to dinner at the beer garden of the Kybfelsen restaurant.

©EF

After those exciting but also exhausting days, a bit of fatigue began to set in.

©EF

In the end, happy faces following another successful Partnerschaftsmarkt: Professor Charles James, president of the Madison Sister City Committee, Frauke, and Eberhard smile into the lens of a smartphone.

Charles sent me a couple of photos of the other activities the delegation from Madison went through during their official visit. Their coverage is not the subject of this blog, but one of Charles's photos caught my attention. 

©CJ

It shows Satya and Martin at the Mundenhof, Freiburg's "zoo", in front of the Bison enclosure. In 2018, the city took the representatives of the Partnerschaftsvereine on a walk to the Mundenhof and to the bison living there on a mini prairie.

Proudly, Satya presents the Mundenhof certificate of sponsorship by the City of Madison, Wisconsin, USA, for the Norton American Prairie Bison, while Martin holds firm to a fluffy bison, possibly thinking of his children.

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