Ron the Yarn Spinner

 

Your Carry-Ons

 

After the end of WW II, there were still  a great many Nazi sympathizers in Germany, despite the process of denazification. They harbored resentment towards the Allied powers and  downplayed Germany's responsibility for the war and the Holocaust.

These individuals embraced a sense of intense nationalism  characterized by a potent blend of historical grievances and years of ideological indoctrination.

The sense of nationalism  was deeply intertwined with the ideology of the Nazi regime, which emphasized notions of racial superiority, expansionism, and the absolute glorification of the German nation. Germany as a superior civilization destined to dominate Europe became ingrained in collective memory – a memory that endured among some for a half- century – more. This was unchecked “baggage” on some of the thousands of Lufthansa flights that brought over 600,000 German immigrants to the U.S. in the decade following the end of WW II. It was “carry on,” remnants of past experiences, beliefs or traumas that may have to be unpacked and addressed – someday. They were sealed suitcases stored away in the attics of the immigrant’s minds,  lingering  thoughts and unresolved emotions, exerting a subtle but persistent influence on  behaviors and relationships.

Like any “baggage”, nationalism can accompany individuals and societies on their journey through history, shaping their experiences, perspectives, and interactions with the wider world.

Karl’s was an authentic German style tavern, complete with an expansive collection of ceramic beer steins, along with an undocked set of quality glassware for all German ales: quarter liter stemmed glasses, half-liter glasses, liter glass steins, and  the inevitable two-liter glass boot—always a crowd-pleaser. Karl’s  Gasthaus cuisine reflected the hearty and comforting nature of German culinary traditions in tavern food. From Schnitzel to Sauerbraten,  “Sehr gutes Essen.” The food was great.

Keith stopped in at Karl’s for a stein of Spatan and a bratwurst sandwich:  A white veal sausage boiled, then  grilled and served on a French roll with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. Afterwards, Keith waiting by the register to pay for his meal, took in some of the German items on display, which included a series of collector plates nailed to the bar backdrop: a part of the Berlin Wall, old German newspaper clippings, German militaria, deutschmarks, photos from Chicago-based German festivals, and a very large colored wall map of Europe.

Pointing to the map, Keith asked Karl, the tavern owner (“Salonbesitzer,”) “Karl what’s that? “Germany,” came the rather loud reply  “But Karl…..”

“I swear I heard someone whistling Horst Wessel Lied “ (Go ahead….Google it for atmosphere) Keith later told me,  as his words were cut short, pre-empted by Karl’s abrupt explanation. Karl knew Keith was about to object.

The” Germany” displayed on Karl’s map included all the countries the Germans had invaded during the war. Their names had been removed from the map.

The stacks of steins, beer mugs and assorted  glass ware behind Karl jostled as the  ham-fisted saloon owner pounded on the bar adding emphasis to his reply when Keith reminded him his Germany included the twelve occupied territories,

 

“Ja, das ist das wahre Deutschland!”*

“That is the true Germany.*”

It was 1990 but the year held little significance. Karl, one of  the 600,000, had cracked his "suitcase" wide open four decades and two years earlier.

Funny thing about history:  Various factors contribute to the rich and often complex tapestry of an individual’s historical memory, where multiple perspectives coexist and sometimes conflict with those of others. “Muss Gepäck geöffnet werden?"*

*Any baggage to be opened?