Escape from Leipzig (ePub)

With a foreword written by G *#x0027;t HooftIn the 1960s, Leipzig was the center of resistance in East Germany. Harald Fritzsch, then a physics student, contemplated escape. But before he left, he wanted to demonstrate to the government that they had gone too far when they destroyed St. Paul's Church in May 1968. He accomplished that by unrolling a protest transparency in spectacular fashion. Despite the great efforts of the secret police, the STASI, the government was unable to find out who was responsible for this act. Soon after, together with a friend, Fritzsch began his journey to Bulgaria in order to escape into Turkey by traversing the Black Sea in a folding canoe. This was a daredevil endeavor, never done before.In this book, Harald Fritzsch — now a world-renowned physicist — portrays in captivating detail an authentic picture of the East German regime and the events of the late 1960s. Today, 40 years later, he critically takes stock of the events since German reunification.Contents:Autumn 1967RheinsbergIn the Bay of Danzig — Summer of 1967As a Scout in Bulgaria — November 1967Spring in PragueDestruction of the Church — May 1968Preparations and a Visit by the Secret PoliceThe TransparencyThe Following DaysFarewell to LeipzigAt the Golden BeachThe EscapeGoing Ashore at IgneadaIstanbulThe Years ThereafterBack in East GermanyAfter the Fall of the WallReflections in 2004 – Leipzig Pauliner SocietyReadership: General.