Das Kaiser Friedrich Museum zu Berlin /

Label mounted on cover: Festschrift zur eröffnung des Kaiser-Friedrichmuseums zu Berlin, herausgegeben von P. Clemen.

Immigration, asylum and citizenship in Germany: the impact of unification and the Berlin Republic

In recent years, there has been much debate over whether post-unification Germany, often termed the 'Berlin Republic', represents a substantive change from the 'Bonn Republic ', that is, West Germany. This article analyses Germany's immigration and citizenship policy against this background by examining various dimensions of immigration before and after unification. The article argues that both unification itself and Germany's changed international environment have resulted in far-reaching changes in policy, which have forced a reappraisal of Germany's traditional self-image as a 'non-immigration country'.

Historical and Personal Perspectives on the Fall of the Berlin Wall, 1989: address to 20th anniversary forums.

The story of the fall of the Berlin Wall was an aspect of the “imagination gap” that we had to wrestle with as journalists covering the collapse of the Eastern Bloc in Europe. It was scarcely possible to believe what you found yourself reporting, and that work became a two-track process. On one hand a mass social movement was dictating the pace and direction of events; on the other, the institutional business of politics as usual, to provide a framework for all the change that was happening, had to be managed – and reported on. In later analyseds we could see, that crisis in the Soviet Union led to the crisis over the Berlin Wall; and from the fall of the Wall, came Germany’s reunification, and with that also, formation of the European Union as it is today. The government of the Federal Republic of Germany convinced its neighbours that a reunited Germany, within an expanded EU, would be a very acceptable “European Germany” -- not the leader of a “German Europe”. It committed itself financially, supporting the new Euro currency. The former communist states of Eastern Europe demanded to join and expand the EU; in order to remove themselves from the Soviet Union, enjoy human rights, and share in Western prosperity. So today, following on from the events of 1989, the European Union is an amalgam of 27 member countries, with close to 500 million citizens and accounting for 30 % of world Gross National Product.

Fritz Gottschalk and his children boating on a mountain lake; Titisee, Germany.

From left to right: Ursula, Walter, Hal, Kurt, Fritz, and Elizabeth Gottschalk; the lake is probably the Titisee near the Swiss border in the Black Forest, Germany

Grave of Josef Molling; Germany.

Josef Molling committed suicide. He had financial problems, either embezzelment from the Prussian State Lottery or over an aircraft plant.

Kurt and Hans Ludwig (Hal) Gottschalk on "skateboards" in front of Kurhaus Brunig; Norderney, Germany. Portraits Children

Left: Kurt Gottschalk; right: Hans Ludwig (Hal) Gottschalk

The six Gottschalk children Ursula, Elizabeth, Hal, Kurt, Freddy and Walter seated in a Strandkorb (roofed wicker beach chair); Nordeney, Germany. Portraits Children

Front row Walter (left) and Freddy; middle row Kurt (left) and Hal; back row Ursula (left) and Elizabeth

The six Gottschalk children Kurt, Walter, Elizabeth, Freddy, Ursula and Hal in the water on the beach; Nordeney, Germany.

From left to right: Kurt, Walter, Elizabeth, Freddy, Ursula and Hal Gottschalk

Three Gottschalk children digging in the sand; Nordeney, Germany. Portraits; Children

Digital Image

Gottschalk children on vacation at a mountain lake; Titisee, Germany.

Front left to right: Ursula and Walter; back left to right: Kurt, Elizabeth, and Hal

Fritz Gottschalk and his children boating on a mountain lake; Titisee, Germany.

From left to right: Ursula, Walter, Hal, Kurt, Fritz, and Elizabeth Gottschalk; the lake is probably the Titisee near the Swiss border in the Black Forest, Germany

Gottschalk family on vacation; Norderney, Germany.

Left to right: two unidentified women, Kurt Gottschalk, Therese Gottschalk nee Molling, Fritz Gottschalk, unidentified woman (the maid?), and Elizabeth Gottschalk

Gottschalk family on vacation in front of Kurhaus Brunig; Norderney, Germany.

From left to right: man with camera: Karl Gottschalk; sitting on stairs: Fritz Gottschalk, unidentified woman, Therese Gottschalk nee Molling, Hans Ludwig, Kurt Gottschalk, unidentified woman (maid?) and Elizabeth Gottschalk

Eyeglasses of Moses Mendelssohn.

Digital Image

Henny Molling nee Meyerhof, Therese Gottschalk nee Molling, Kurt, Elizabeth and Hal Gottschalk on the beach; Norderney, Germany.

Sitting in the Strandkorb (beach chair) at Norderney are Henny Molling and Therese Gottschalk; sitting in the sand are Kurt, Elizabeth and Hal Gottschalk