The Unknown Heroes

After nearly 70 years, the names of the people who helped smuggle refugees into Switzerland have been cleared. There was a law that you were not to help Jews or civilians enter Switzerland illegally. There were 137 know people that were convicted for breaking this law. There were a total of about 300,000 people that crossed the border into Switzerland. A recent ruling has now annulled the old law and named the people who helped many survive “heroes”. Even though most of the people who help are now dead, they are still considered “heroes”. There families can live knowing that there late family members did something that may have been illegal but did it because it was the right thing to do. They a

War World II had a great impact all over the world. Every student learns or at least knows of WWII. They not only learn about the Holocaust but also the tragedy behind it. They were, also, either showed or told how people were killed and how they were treated. It is very depressing that a human being could do this to another human being.

I went to Dachau Concentration Camp and walking through the gates everyone stoped talking. We all knew what happened. We learned it even in school. We all, also, knew how sad it was. When I went there I learned that, in Germany, sixth grade students visit Dachau. They learn the history of why it was there and to teach and hope that they learn that nothing good happens when you belittle someone else.

War World II is a cultureal importance not only to Germany, but to the rest of Europe and the world. Many countries pulled together and fought against the Nazis. Even if the United States came in a little late for my liking, they still helped save a lot of people. I believe that everyone working together is very important. WWII showed us that we can work together. Conflict does nothing but prolong the peace that the world can have.

           

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss_news/Swiss_acknowledge_wartime_heroes_.html?cid=31857022

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig von Beethoven was born in Germany during the 18^th century. His father, Johannes first introduced Beethoven to music. He taught him the piano and violin. His first performance was at the very young age of 7. Beethoven moved to Vienna to study other composers, like Mozart, and ended up living there up until he died. Beethoven wrote and composed music even after he started to go deaf at the age of 28. He wrote nine numbered symphonies in his whole career. He died on March 26, 1827 in Vienna, Austria. He was buried with honors and it is believed that more than 10,000 people attended his funeral.

A three page document has been found in a collection, which was donated to the Brahms Institute of the Lubeck School of Music. This three page document was a letter written by Ludwig von Beethoven. The letter was written in July of 1823, to a man named Franz Anton Stockhausen. He was a composer living in Paris, France. The person who had the letter before the Institution was Stockhausen’s great-granddaughter, Ms. Renate Wirth. Ms. Renate Wirth died last year and she donated a part of her estate to the Brahms Institute of the Lubeck School of Music. This letter that was written by Beethoven is worth up to €150,000 ($192,000). In the letter Beethoven writes and complains about being sick and about being short on money. While reading the letter the Institute discovered that Beethoven died four years after the letter was written.

Ludwig von Beethoven was and still is a great inspiration. He influenced every age, from the young to the old. Beethoven has inspired many people through his music all around the world. Beethoven’s symphonies and other works have been played and are also known in different countries. Even though he had a disability he showed everyone that you are still able to follow your dreams and believe in what you can do. His 9^th symphony is played every year during the holidays; its common name is Ode to Joy. This German composer has influenced a great deal of people through his beautiful works of music.

Formal Traditions and Customs!!

Germans have a more formal way than Americans for traditions and customs!!

When people think of Germany, they usually think it's only the beer and sausage country. What they do not know is that Germany is much more than that. It has a very rich culture and has been around a lot long than the United States. Germans are very big into planning their day accordingly, keeping home and work life separate from each other, and are very tidy people.

While Americans are spontaneous, work lots of overtime and very often brings their work home with them, and Americans will often put off what they can do today.

Germany is a formal country. It is very important to respect everyone. They will use Mr. or Ms. until otherwise they told you that you can use their first name. They also have a great deal of many rules that Americans do not do. For an example send a “Thank You” note after going to someone’s dinner party and you should always bring a gift for your host. If you are invited into someone else’s home you are either a relative or are now considered a very close friend.

Americans’ can be polite when they have to be, but when you give someone your first name they will use that instead of your surname. Americans will normally also bring a gift for the host, most of the time it is a bottle of wine and it does not matter where it was imported from. They will also invite a lot of different people from family to friends to even business associates.

When it comes to traditions and customs Germans are more formal than Americans. Germans believe in having a sense of balance between work and home life. While Americans sometimes bring their work home with them.