a long way off, 15. Mai 2005

As my ability to write in German does not suffice to express myself well, I choose the English language instead. I hope you do not mind, for Ostpreussen is of course a very German subject.

This documentary by Kristof Berking makes quite clear why. His choice of theme, a holiday trip in 1937, connects excellently with the somewhat fairy tale-like qualities Ostpreussen presented to many Germans. Such as a variety of beautiful landscapes, combined with a rich nature and a wide choice of animal species. Such as its small towns and villages, some of them containing fine pieces of architecture and other treasures. Such as Ostpreussen's outspoken countryside-character, with its abundance of water and healty, fresh air. And, last but not least, such as its hot & dry summer-climate -- a guarantee for any succesful holiday.

If that's not enough, this documentary also teaches us that Ostpreussen's attraction for nature-lovers is matched by its own history. By generating great scientists as Copernicus and Kant. By founding the kingdom of Prussia, in Köningsberg's castle-church in 1701. Or by the year 1914, when the impact of the Tannenberg-battle grew larger than life -- due to emphasizing on the eviction of all 'Slav hordes' from the Prussian motherland.

We even see a glimpse of Adolf Hitler, taking in Memel-country as a result of his 'Heim ins Reich'-policy. Sharing his joy about it with many, many locals. 'Heim ins Reich' surely must have appealed to the people of Ostpreussen, having been cut off from the rest of Germany since 1919.

As Kristof Berking's documentary is based on this holiday-trip from 1937, he leaves the fateful year 1945 out of his scope. By then Ostpreussen saw its loyalty to the Nazis betrayed by Adolf Hitler, who sternly refused to evacuate the country. Thus leaving its people to the terrible onslaught by the returning 'Slav hordes', the latter being utterly revengeful for all atrocities committed to them in the years before.

Being intelligently based on this amateur-film from 1937, made by some unknown folks from Essen, this documentary leaves you with a sense of mourning. Having been in northern Ostpreussen (now Russian) myself, one can only conclude the restauration of this country's fairy tale-beauty is still a long way off.

       Eine Reise in die Vergangenheit!, 19. September 2003

Um meiner Oma einen großen Wunsch zu erfüllen, schenkte ich ihr die zwei wunderschönen Filme über ihre Heimat. Mit Tränen in den Augen verfogte sie jedes der tollen Bilder und lauschte gespannt der erzählten Geschichte. Mit diesen zwei Filmen konnte ich ihr ein Stückchen Heimat nach Hause holen. Die Originalbilder aus der vergangenen Zeit sind authentisch und beeindruckend zugleich. Behutsam wird die Geschichte Ostpreußens erzählt - jeder, dessen Herz noch in Ostpreußen geblieben ist, wird diese Filme lieben. Absolut empfehlenswert!