Book Review: The Berlin Wall by Frederick Taylor
Published October 16, 2007
It might have been tempting for Taylor to end with jubilant Berliners dancing on territory where only hours earlier they would have risked being shot. But his final chapter, The Theft of Hope, examines the fallout from the Wall's fall. So successful had East Germany's ruling elite been in disguising the parlous state of their shambolic economy that Chancellor Kohl underestimated both the scale of reconstruction and the cost of making two Germanys one. East Germans themselves emerged blinking into the light of freedom, only to suffer effects familiar to the institutionalised. Cosseted by a cradle-to-grave welfare system, free education, full employment and little crime, they discovered the brave new world of capitalism had some nasty surprises in store.
However, Taylor finishes optimistically, noting that Berlin's city council is now governed by a coalition of reformed Communists and Social Democrats under the leadership of an openly gay mayor, while Germany itself is led by a Chancellor born in the GDR.
Taylor set himself a daunting task to follow his compelling book about the firebombing of Dresden. But, if anything, The Berlin Wall is even better. Gripping and authoritative, scholarly and highly readable, Taylor's latest work will appeal to all who enjoy a dose of drama with their history.
- Book Review: The Berlin Wall by Frederick Taylor
- Published: October 16, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Books
- Filed Under: Books: History
- Writer: James Carson
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Thanks for the review. I was briefly stationed in West Berlin and I had the opportunity to go to East Berlin on occasion. THe differences between the two Berlins were amazingly obvious in 1989. I went back to Berlin in 2002, and so much had changed, it's hard to believe but worht seeing.
My brother David served the US Army as a MP on a boat on the river, Spree, in 1966-68 and reported removing many bodies from the water due to machine guns on turrets killing escapees.Some were helped by the army to safety and the reality of communist oppression was very vivid ti Dave. He was stationed in east Berlin and met people he liked.
In 1961 President Kennedy ordered reserves to battle service readiness and my husband went to Fort Dix and got winter clothing and training for the deployment that never came. I had an infant when he left and the public and my family supported the readiness to prevent the wall going up. That failure was a distinct blow to the Germans who then suffered in isolation for 30 years.
I only know of one Maura Rubencamp who would have a brother Dave, and they lived on Corlear Ave. in the Bronx.
I'm writing from Germany.In 1967 I was 17 years old and my father had a boatyard right beside the American Recreation Center at the "Wannsee" which is nearly a part of the river "Spree". That was the place where I got to know my first great love and this was Corporal David Rubencamp.With one of our rowboats I often visited him on the Patrol Boat. Later he came to our house and we were together till that terrible day when his time in the army came to an end.My wish to live in the USA with him later never came true but I'd like to hear from him.
Viktoria, I hope you manage to get in touch with David. It would be nice to know that you were reunited after all these years.
James
I heard David Rubencamp died almost 20 years ago.
Thanks to Victoria for e-mailing me about my brother,David Rubencamp. It is unfortunate they can not reunite today as he did die in 1992. He was only 48 and it was unexpected. Thanks to all the e-mailers who remember him and stay in touch!Maura
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This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net , which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States, and to Boston.com. Nice work!