Ranks of perfectly coordinated dancers put on a show ranging from the seriously martial – women soldiers of the Korean People’s Army using tae-kwon-do blows to make mincemeat of “Yankee invaders” – to the seriously absurd – lines of dancing eggs and barnyard animals.
Cold War
Years After Death, a US East-Bloc Rocker May Have Revival
In his day, he was known as “Red Elvis,” the most popular American entertainer from East Berlin to Vladivostok. Now, 30 years after he took the communist world by storm, mention of Dean Reed in central Europe evokes little more than snickers or shrugs.
Budapest Revisits its Recent Horrors
Few residents would disagree that Budapest’s newest museum, the House of Terror, is haunted. But the ghosts of a turbulent history have not been put to rest.
Russian Deserters Languish in West
Rif Akhmetganeyev, a former Soviet Army lieutenant colonel, says he is no longer afraid. When he deserted from his unit and applied for German political asylum, he thought he had reached safe ground. But the reasons for his fear have hardly disappeared.
Germany Sheds Its Pacifist Role
“For the first time since the end of World War II, German soldiers are on a combat mission,” Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said. “We cannot exclude dangers to life and limb for our soldiers.”
Embattled German Conservatives Try ‘Girl’ Power
Angela Merkel is the most unlikely personification of the conservative political party she is trying to save.
Grateful Berlin Recalls US Rescue
Sgt. Charles Bass neatly filled in the last entry of Dieter Hahn’s school attendance booklet with the words: “1946-47, evenings and Sunday mornings, softball and democracy.”
East or West, New Ways Are Best – Sort Of
“The Wall at the end of the street was our horizon,” says Michael Gabbert. “It was unimaginable that these two parts of Germany would ever be together.”
A New Germany; A New Berlin
The largest city between Paris and Moscow, Berlin still exudes a certain air of self-conscious provinciality incongruous to its population of 3.5 million.The roots lie in the island mentality of West Berlin and the isolation of East Berlin from outside influences.
New Afghan Generation at War
“When we were fighting the Russians, it was to the Americans’ advantage to help us,” says Commander Masood. “But when the Soviets were destroyed, they forgot about us.”
