Stasiland German words Flashcards
Weltanschauung (page 4)
A comprehensive view or personal philosophy of human life and the universe.
Schadenfreude (page 4)
Pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.
Sippenhaft (page 4)
Liability of all the members of a family for the crimes of one member; a legal practice in Nazi Germany.
Sonderweg (page 4)
A theory that considers Germany to have followed its own, peculiar path through history.
Scheissfreundlichkeit (page 4)
Exaggerated, and perhaps excessive, friendliness.
Vergangenheitsbewältigung (page 4)
The struggle to come to terms with the past.
Männerklub (page 75)
Men’s club.
Insiderkomitee (page 83-85)
Funder describes this as ‘more or less a secret society of former Stasi men who write papers putting their side of history, lobby for entitlements for former Stasi officers, and support one another if facing trial.’ She also states that it is ‘widely suspected … that these men harrass people who they fear may uncover them.’
Führer (page 104)
This is the German title meaning leader or guide. As this term is often associated with Adolf Hitler, the GDR forbade it.
Staatsratsbeschwerde (page 114)
This is described as ‘a method … for people to write directly to Erich Honecker if they needed something they couldn’t get.’ While Julia is skeptical of the process, threatening to appeal to Honecker succeeding in scaring Major N off.
Ostalgie (page 123)
Nostalgia for the east, as it was before the removal of the wall.
Mauer im Kopf (page 233)
The ‘Wall in the Head’. Funder comes to the conclusion that ‘the Wall and what it stood for do still exist. The Wall persists in Stasi men’s minds as something they hope might one day come again, and in their victims’ minds too, as a terrifying possibility.’
Hohenschönhausen prison
This is where Frau Paul and her husband were held for five months.
