Author: ohliger.9

The Berlin Bear

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Coming to Berlin, I was surprised to see so many bears. Bears, in Berlin? The fiberglass bears are on almost every block of the city. No one bear looks the same, either. Some bears are standing, some on four paws, and some are doing a crazy trick. Each one also has its own unique patterns that emphasize the location that it is at.

Why do bears represent a city that none call home? Well, there are theories. The most popular theories are that bears were very common in the geographic area that is modern-day Berlin, that “Bär” means bear in German and that the city of Bär-lin means city of the bear, or that it was named after Albert I von Ballenstädt, a famous warrior called Albert the Bear. Whether any of these hypotheses were true or not, the bear became the official crest of Berlin in 1280.

Berlin Bear outside of a tea shop in Berlin.

The Berlin Bear has become a staple of Berlin since its original introduction of the crest of Berlin. Today, the bears around Berlin may seem like a mere photo opportunity. While these bears look great in pictures, they mean much more. The modern Berlin Bear, or “Buddy Bear,” symbolizes tolerance and international understanding. The Buddy Bears welcome individuals from all walks of life to the city of Berlin.

Berlin Bear outside of a hotel in Berlin.

The Flag of Free France: A Deeper Meaning

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The Flag of Free France (1940-1944). Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The French Resistance plays a pivotal role in the remembrance of Free France during WWII for France. The French Resistance comprised several organizations that merged for one goal—the liberation of France. The French Resistance officially operated from the summer of 1940 to the slow dissolution in 1944 after the Liberation of Paris. The French Resistance worked within the split occupation, Free France and the Vichy regime, and fed information to the Allies. While many believe the resistance was a group of clandestine cells that operated independently, the resistance was a vast and well-organized record with intentionality behind every move.

When coming to France, I had expected there to be instances where the flag of the French Resistance was raised alongside the French flag—particularly on government buildings around the annual holiday of VE day. However, I only saw the flag of Free France in museums dedicated to the remembrance of the liberation movement of France. I was taken aback at first since the flag of Free France has a deep connection to the history of France.

The Flag of Free France symbolizes the movement’s mission—the liberation of France. The basis of the blue, white, and red is congruent to the flag of France since the French Revolution; the three colors represent liberty, equality, and fraternity. The flag also encompasses the Cross of Lorraine in the middle portion. The cross is also symbolic of France; the cross was used by the French in previous centuries when Germany annexed the provinces of Lorraine in eastern France. There is a close tie between using the French flag and resistance to German aims. So, why not continue to use this flag that helped reclaim France? Upon reflection, the goal of Free France was not to create a new country or governmental system but to instill the liberation of France from the annexation of the Vichy regime. France fought to unify France rather than further divide it. The tri-colored French flag was reinstituted after WWII because Free France fought for liberty, equality, and fraternity, similar to what their revolutionary ancestors fought for in the French liberation in the French Revolution.

Free France Liberation Flag used in Caen. Image by Olivier Touzeau, 18 April 2021

2024 Paris Olympics: For Better or Worse for Paris?

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Abrianna Ohliger with the 2024 Olympic countdown w/ the Eiffel Tower in the background

Knowing that Paris would host the Olympics a little over a month after our visit exhilarated me. Who can claim to have visited Paris in an Olympic year? Not many; Paris last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1924. This took place during the period between the two world wars. The city had only hosted the Olympics six years after WWI ended, marking it the second Summer Olympics post-war. As I arrived in Paris, my curiosity peaked on how such a vast city would manage to prepare for a global event. The city beautifully merges my interests in history and the sports industry.

Undoubtedly, the Olympics will take over the city in Ju. Mlyoving between monuments, one cannot help but notice signs of the imminent games. The city buzzes with construction crews, and the erection of spectator stands and athletic arenas is a continuous sight. Throughout its history, Paris has expanded significantly. Around 2 million people call Paris home, roughly 1/3 of London’s population, our last visit. Yet, Paris’s circular layout, typical of ancient cities, gives it a more compact yet expansive feel than London. This density includes the perennial influx of tourists, Olympic year or not.

Paris Metro Stops with Pink Pyramids signifying Olympic points of interest.

While witnessing a city prepare for the Olympics was fascinating, the experience overall detracted from the city’s charm. The relentless construction and sporadic structures disrupted the city’s natural and architectural harmony. The city felt more congested than during non-Olympic times. Consequently, tourists visiting before, during, and after the Olympics miss out on an authentic Parisian experience. However, the Olympics bring certain benefits, such as the city’s immaculate maintenance and the monuments’ added luster, in anticipation of showcasing Paris on the global stage. I am eager to see which infrastructures will remain post-2024 Summer Olympics and how these will blend into the already dense cityscape.

Eiffel Tower, with its base blocked off from the public. In the background, Olympic structures can be seen.

Building with signage for the 2024 Olympics

Bayeux: Remembering Liberation 80 Years Later

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Sitting outside a café, I find myself on the quiet streets of Bayeux, France. The small town, nestled in the Calvados region of France, is a centerpiece in the reembrace of the liberation of France during the first days of liberation after D-Day. The town hosts a population of about 12,000 individuals; however, it feels much larger with the constant flow of tourists in the city. Outside the quiet town, cows and sheep call the sprawling fields of the region home. Minutes outside of the town center, rows of simple white marked and unmarked graves lie outside the city of Axis, Allied, and civilians who fell during the liberation efforts of France. On 14 June 1944, a tall and lanky General Charles De Gaulle strode amongst the incoming parades of liberated Bayeux mere days after the Normandy landings. Sitting in the café, complex imaging filled my thoughts of the narrow and war-torn streets of Bayeux bustling with parades, civilians, army personnel, and tanks upon the arrival of the Allies after liberation.

The British Memorial of fallen soldiers in the Normandy invasions within 5 minutes of the town center.

Today, the rural town of Bayeux still bears the scars and remembrance of WWII. Buildings show the marks of tanks that once traveled the narrow streets. I find myself seeing the town marked by the harsh remembrance of the cost of the landings, yet a celebratory atmosphere envelops the city, especially leading up to June. Leading up to the annual celebrations, the normal population explodes as history enthusiasts and veterans alike return to the historic town to remember the fateful liberation. The remembrance of the war showcases the binary of French memory, a constant battle between commemorating collaboration and resistance.

A drawing on a local shop that depicts the 4 major forces that participated in the D-Day landings in Normandy. The French flag was utilized in this art, but solidiers bore the French Resistance Flags during the landings. The crest of Normandie can be seen at the top of the building with the two lions.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day. While D-Day celebrations and subsequent liberation festivities occur yearly, this year’s atmosphere is uniquely special. During my stay, the town has transformed into an “Allied melting pot,” welcoming tourists from Allied nations who come to commemorate the world-changing event. I would not have expected such a melting pot of languages and cultures in the Calvados region. The intersection of a mass of cultures was scheduled for major cities but not the rural area of Calvados. As an American, I feel welcomed in this small town as American, British, Canadian, and French flags fly through the city. These countries are most well-known in the D-Day landings, but remembrance often forgets the efforts of other countries in the landings, such as Belgium and Luxemburg. While these countries did not play significant roles in the landings, the French remembered their efforts by paying homage to their contributions by flying their flags throughout the city alongside other countries’ collaborations. Throughout the city, locals and tourists dine and shop in areas that proudly display the flags and depictions of Allies in celebratory spaces. Commissioned drawings of depictions of Allied soldiers and civilians during liberation celebrations. This ranges from Much controversy surrounds the French remembrance of their part in WWII. However, the town of Bayeux surpasses all these notions by celebrating the liberation of Normandy as a momentous achievement, which remains a sacred celebration even 80 years later. Bayeux’s civilians continue to welcome the landings’ veterans with the same celebratory spirit as they did on 14 June 1944.

 

A picture outside a local bar that depicts the French, American, and British flags. The celebratory American soldier hoists a beer. The notorious Higgins boats are on the right side, with Allied paratroopers incoming.

Diners outside a local restaurant that commemorates the countries who participated in the Liberation of Normandy