German memories: childhood between Russians and friendship in the Cold War

German memories: childhood between Russians and friendship in the Cold War

On June 2, 2025, the rock musician Sacha Korn shares his memories of the late GDR in an urgent contribution, in particular his childhood experiences in 1985. In the article, he describes his time as a primary school student when he felt the urge to visit the nearby Russian barracks. Despite his language barriers - he did not speak Russian - he often found himself with Russian children. These intercultural encounters shaped him sustainably and aroused his interest in the Russian language and culture.

Korn describes how he observed soldiers during training and was impressed by their physical fitness. His experiences in the barracks were mixed: on one side he developed friendships with the Russian children, on the other hand he also experienced a worrying incident when he was attacked by an officer of the barracks and brought into a truck. His luck was that a friend's father freed him, which stimulated him to think about the stories of his grandparents, who told about war and the Soviet soldiers.

reflection on the past

Korn's memories are part of a broader review of German-Russian relationships that go beyond personal experiences. The author Hannelore, 80 years old and lived in Berlin, offers a valuable historical context for these experiences. She lively remembers her first contact with Soviet soldiers in 1945 who offered bread and did not represent a threat. Her joy in Russian lessons at school led to friendly letters with students from the Soviet Union, including from cities such as Moscow and Leningrad.

These personal stories reflect the qualitative development of relationships between Germany and Russia that have grown over centuries. There were numerous conflicts in the first half of the 20th century, but there were also moments of cooperation. Historical connections, such as trade relationships since the 10th century and the approximation between Russian and German princes, indicate a long cultural exchange. The Treaty of Rapallo after the First World War and the relaxation policy after the Second World War invited to restoring diplomatic relationships.

between hope and conflict

The challenges in the present, especially in the context of the Ukraine conflict, throw a shadow on the once grown connections. Hannelore expresses her sadness about the newly sparked hatred and rhetoric against Russia and hopes for a peaceful solution to the conflict. In retrospect, she recognizes how important the exchange and understanding between the peoples are, also in today's tensions.

The memories and experiences of people from different generations show that the desire for friendship and understanding across national borders is still alive today. Sacha Korn's stories of his childhood and Hannelores memories of their school days illustrate how valuable the personal exchange is to overcome prejudices. These reviews show us how necessary it is to reduce the enemy images and work on a conciliatory future.

is particularly important to recognize the historical depth of relationships. As the Federal Center for Political Education represents, the connections between Germany and Russia are deeply rooted and extend to the beginnings of German-Russian trade relationships. This historical perspective is crucial for understanding the current political situation and the challenges that need to be mastered.

summarized it can be said that both personal stories and the general history teach us how crucial trust and cooperation are for the future development of relationships between Germany and Russia.