The University of Bonn had the reputation, among West German universities in the mid-1970’s, of being relatively conservative and orderly. However, when I was privileged to study there beginning in the fall of 1974, I was astonished at the prevalence and virulence of Marxist thought among the students. Echos of the 1968 student revolution in western Europe still reverberated throughout the university, and anti-capitalist rhetoric was common and went largely unopposed in student discussions and throughout the student social scene.
However, most of the lectures and seminars that I attended, in history and political science, were led by professors who presented balanced, responsible scholarship. It was not unusual for activist students to “take over” a lecture just before a class would begin, occupying the front of the classroom and insisting on the necessity and urgency of social solidarity and action to oppose capitalist propaganda. When this happened, the typical professor would walk in, move to the front of the classroom, wait a couple of minutes with modesty and dignified patience, and then interrupt the student and suggest that it was perhaps time for him to have a turn and present his lesson. Activist students sometimes tried to carry on, but students in the classroom usually showed a preference to have the professor do the lecturing. In spite of the passion with which the activist students asserted themselves, such confrontations–at least the ones I witnessed–were peaceful, lacking even a suggestion of physical intimidation, and spectator students in the classroom were normally dispassionate regardless of their social/political leanings.
Only once did I see a professor get excited and angry when this kind of thing happened, but that one exception was memorable. It was a lecture in a regular political science course by Professor Krazewski, a visiting professor from Poland. At the time, Poland was part of the Soviet empire, behind the Iron Curtain.
Prof. Krazewski had arrived at the University of Bonn in the fall of 1974. The fact that the Polish regime (and the Soviet Union) had permitted his year-long residence and teaching in West Germany suggested to me that he was a reliable Communist, with a thoroughly Marxist/Leninist interpretation of history and international relations. That’s why I wanted to hear his lectures. (Know your enemy.)
At the end of April and on 1 May 1975, the last of the U.S. presence in Vietnam ended in the ignominious rout that we of the Class of 1969 remember so vividly. At the University of Bonn, students were gleeful–the underdog communist North Vietnamese had prevailed over the neocolonial imperialist United States of America. Gathering for Prof. Krazewski’s lecture that day (my notes taken at the time show it was 29 April 1975), the students were raucous, celebrating as the class was about to begin, and several students had occupied the front of the classroom and wanted the professor to celebrate with them and change his topic to the war in Vietnam and the defeat of the United States.
Prof. Krazewski was not amused. He became angry and berated the students, accusing them of immature foolishness and of failing to understand what that war had meant for the Communist movement. He said that tremendous resources had flowed from Poland and the other satellite states to fight the United States in Vietnam, and the economic impact had been devastating; if it had not been for that war, the Soviet Union would have beat the United States to the Moon.
Angry overstatement? A narrow and prejudiced view from a member of the Polish “nomenklatura” who had been denied the standard of living so evident in the West? I don’t know. But I have never forgotten his reaction to the students, who were so sure that they were witnessing a huge milestone in the worldwide struggle for social justice. Prof. Krazewski helped them toward an understanding: it’s not so simple. The economic effect of the war on the Soviet empire was enormous and stressful. And I believe it’s not wrong to say that it was the social and economic pressure of our country on the Soviet empire that won the Cold War.
While attending the university, I tried to be modest and blend in as just a student, but I made no secret of the fact that I was an active-duty Captain in the U.S. Army. As a class was about to start on 1 May, after news reached the world of the departure of the last American helicopters, one of the student activists addressed me. He was not trying to denigrate me, but his tone was, “America deserved this outcome, and we told you so.” I responded that four U.S. administrations of both political parties, had tried to defend a semblance of South Vietnamese freedom in the face of North Vietnam’s military aggression, so it wasn’t just one cabal of American capitalists manipulating the public and pursuing profits. He hadn’t thought of it that way, and it quieted him some.
Our country is certainly not always “right,” as each of us has seen in our lifetimes of service to her. Still, there is a lot of good that results from the high ideals that the United States stands for and that we accepted upon graduation and have worked to further. And perhaps even in some of our worst failures, the ideals we try to uphold prevail and make our country better.
Phil,
Congratulations on a great story enlightening us on a unique perspective at a key moment in our then-young lives. Richly told and insightful. Ironic now that Poland has emerged as a key ally at a critical moment in history while Germany has to do some scrambling to make up for years of neglect of its own role and responsibility.
Thank you, Jim. Yes, it’s ironic that Poland is now a valuable ally, in some ways setting the example for the West. For this vignette I tried to contact Prof. Krazewski or his heirs, but I had no luck. I should have done that two decades ago. It would be fascinating to get his perspective on events since the rise of Solidarity and the fall of the Berlin wall. Given the dominance of leftist political orientation among my German student peers in the mid-1970s, I wasn’t surprised when Germany’s elite criticized U.S. actions responding to 9/11–our 1970’s peers were in charge by then. I would like to think recent events have made them wiser, but I’m skeptical.
Phil, thanks for your observations and insights. No thought police monopolizing the conversation!
Thanks, Bruce. Good comment about thought police. I was almost shocked at the behavior of militant leftists at the University of Bonn five decades ago. May such behavior NEVER be the norm in our great country.
Phil, thanks for an outstanding story from that turbulent time in Germany and America.. Hopefully, some of your young fellow students did grow up and learn to appreciate the free market system.
Thanks, Eric. Some of those students doubtless did, and Claudia and I are visiting one of them (who does appreciate the free market system) next month. It’s good to talk with him!
Thanks, Phil, for this very informative background. I certainly enjoyed learning more of your life and know why Mike respected you so much for so many reasons. I also enjoy the history of the world as seen by classmates as you each set out to make your mark in different parts of the globe.
Janie, you are way too kind, and Mike must not have told you the many undistinguished episodes he had to endure because of me, but he could turn every one of those episodes into funny stories. What a guy! I miss him, and Claudia and I miss you. However, as Mike would quote, “Though much is taken, much abides,” and we’ll get together at the next class gathering!
Phil — Look forward to hearing more of your experiences of studying abroad when we meet on the Elbe Cruise. The evolution of thinking in European countries has been enlightening.
Appreciate the insights you shared.
Respectfully,
Stewart
Stew, you know more about the evolution of thinking in European countries than I do. I’m looking forward to that cruise, and I’m looking forward to talking with you. Thanks, old buddy!
Phil, thanks for your story. I did not know that you had studied in Germany which must have been fascinating for sure. Though you shared this one particular story, I bet you must have many more you could share. We of the Class of 1969 have had some truly wonderful experiences.
You are so right, Ray–we of the Class have had some truly wonderful experiences. I’d put at the very top, with almost no other competition, the incredible service you have done for our Class. Thanks, Ray.
Phil: Thanks for your story which reports about then and alludes to now in a very poignant way. You remind us that the lessons of history are too often forgotten (or not taught). Best to Claudia. Saint
Thanks, Saint. You’re so right–the reappearance of conflict, both hot and cold, is poignant, especially for us Classmates. For a while, back three decades ago, we had hope that we’d see a more nearly peaceful world, at least for the rest of our lives. As the Romans said, si vis pacem, para bellum (if you would see peace, prepare for war).
Phil,
You present a fascinating moment in time and insight from an entirely different angle. Thanks.
Many thanks, Pete!
Thanks, Phil. Fascinating perspective you had.
I am wondering if you ever wandered around the countryside near Bonn and came upon a tiny “burg” to the southwest called Kessenich, Germany? Ann & I visited it while stationed in Bamberg.
Heavens yes, Paul. I lived directly across the street from northern edge of Kessenich. Now you have to tell the Class what your relationship is with that town–now a suburb of Bonn.
Thank you, Phil. As I read through your wonderful story I had to think about what I was doing those years of 1974-75, as you were dealing with the student activists of Germany. I was in Korea and it was during that same period they discovered the booby-trapped mines under the DMZ, and our own Art Bonifas had been murdered at Panmunjom. What a turbulent time it was, and I greatly appreciate your story so representative of being an officer in the Cold War.
Tom, thanks for your note. The student activists in Germany were a heck of a lot less challenging than the North Koreans around the DMZ in Korea. And lest we forget, the domestic social strife in our country was tough to deal with, too. A turbulent time indeed, and always under the threat of mutually assured destruction. We of ’69 tried to make a positive difference, and I think we DID–and one of the ways was your development of the most powerful laser in history, which promised to make strategic missile defense a reality.
What a fascinating life story Phil! Thank you for sharing your story. You and Claudia are wonderful souls and Margie and I enjoyed every moment with you at the reunion! Thanks for the beer! I miss you all already.