Obama’s New Berlin Venue: Another Bad Choice
Speaking in front of a monument associated with Hitler could have been avoided.
In response to German criticisms of his proposal to give a speech at Berlin’s historic Brandenburg Gate, Barack Obama has now come to agreement with Berlin municipal authorities to give his speech today at the historic “Victory Column” or Siegessäule: approximately one mile down the road and with the Brandenburg Gate still in direct view.
This new arrangement is supposed to have overcome the objections of the critics: first and foremost, Chancellor Angela Merkel. But it is difficult to see how. If, as Wolfram Weimer wrote here, “It shows a lack of respect to want to degrade the historical monuments of friendly countries into electoral campaign scenery,” then clearly this criticism applies just as much to the “Victory Column” as to the Brandenburg Gate.
Moreover, as a new round of critics has hastened to point out, the specific history of the “Victory Column” makes its choice as backdrop for Obama’s German photo opportunity at least ironic, if not downright troubling. For what the candidate and his handlers have decided is the appropriate “scenery” for his Berlin appearance was, in effect, created by none other than Adolf Hitler and his own maestro of political dramaturgy Albert Speer.
The “Victory Column” as such already existed before Hitler and Speer decided that it would form a suitable centerpiece for the “East-West Axis”: one of the two major thoroughfares laid out in their megalomaniacal plans for a “new” Berlin redesigned to reflect the power of the new German Reich. The polarity of column and gate — with the two monuments providing dramatic points of reference for the mass demonstrations so beloved of the Nazis — undoubtedly figured in their calculations. One can well expect both elements to be featured in the televised images of Obama’s mass rally on Thursday.
The original column was inaugurated in 1873 to commemorate the Prussian victory over France in the Franco-Prussian War two years before, as well as earlier Prussian victories over Austria and Denmark. Hence the three rings — each decorated with artillery seized from the defeated nations — making up the original structure.
Detail of captured artillery, the Siegessäule (source: Wikimedia)
As Andreas Schockenhoff of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union pointed out, even just this early history of the monument could be enough to give one doubts about Obama’s choice of venue. “The Berlin Victory Column … is dedicated to the victory over neighbors who are today our European friends and allies,” he told the Sunday edition of the popular German tabloid Bild. “I think the symbolism is unfortunate.”
The point was apparently lost, however, on House majority leader Nancy Pelosi. In conversation with the Berlin daily Die Tagespiegel, Pelosi defended the choice of the Siegessäule by noting that “There are symbolic sites that belong to the whole world.” The French found the symbolism of the column so universal that after the Second World War they wanted to blow it up. They would eventually be satisfied with merely removing the (since restored) bas-reliefs depicting the French humiliation at Sedan.
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John Rosenthal’s writings on European politics and transatlantic relations have appeared in English, French, and German in such leading publications as Policy Review, Les Temps Modernes, and Merkur. He holds a PhD in philosophy and he taught political philosophy and classical German philosophy before turning to journalism. More of his work can be found at Transatlantic Intelligencer.
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39 Comments
1. Dave II:Thanks for the history lesson!
“…generalized megalomania..” indeed!!! An apt description of Obama’s ego in hyperdrive…though I know that is not what you were describing.
And no, I don’t believe Obama is Hitler…he just likes to take pages from Der Fuhrer’s playbook. The massive rally planned for Invesco Field is one such technique. The guy is just REALLY sorely lacking in ANY boundaries or common-sense limitations to his ambition and pride. We are seeing a literal megalomaniac monster being created before our eyes by his inflated ego on steriods! Don’t think so?
Look at this poster for his Berlin rally. Creepy…
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/barack-in-germany.jpg
And similarities to Hitler..? You gotta admit…he’s learned from the master demagogue himself!! No question there are techniques and styles common to both…
Read this:
http://www.mbj.com/Edits/2008Edits/intellectualdemagogues.html
Jul 24, 2008 - 2:02 am 2. dan:The author could have made a similar and more compelling point if he noted that the head of current head of the domestic “Anti-US Imperialism” party has chosen to lead his highest profile foreign rally in front of the column marking the victories that gave birth to the German Empire, certified German Militarism, and led to World War I, the Bolshevik Coup, and World War II.
There really are ways in which Obama is stupid, and his project highly self-contradictory. It’s really self-defeating to say “Hitler.”
In fact, I really wish people would stop bringing up Hitler, just for a little while, if only because it blinds everyone to the history of German militarism of which Hitler is the culmination. Recognition of the role of German militarism is the beginning of the end of the idiot theory that the “imperial system” is doomed to war, and that there is anything inherently bad with imperialism to begin with – a major prop of Socialism, Communism, hippies, the Left in general, my most annoying and ignorant and intellectually servile friends, and possibly You, Reader, you resentful political prostitute.
Jul 24, 2008 - 5:08 am 3. rotwang:Very few national monuments anywhere are untainted by some form of historical stink. If Obama spoke in front of the pyramids, you would scream that they were constructed by slaves. If he spoke at Mt. Rushmore, you’d accuse him of supporting the genocide of the Sioux Indians and the disfiguring of their sacred mountain, Paha Sapa.
It would be simpler — if less remunerative — for Mr. Rosenthal and other writers to admit that they simply don’t like Obama.
Jul 24, 2008 - 6:36 am 4. Right Wing Nut House » THE MAN WHO WOULD BE FUHRER:[...] Matt. I’m not saying that Obama is like Hitler for holding a mass rally, speaking beneath a Nazi icon with a hundred thousand screaming, fainting, frothing at the mouth Germans as a backdrop for [...]
Jul 24, 2008 - 6:46 am 5. Valerie:“Very few national monuments anywhere are untainted…” Incredibly naiive.
Jul 24, 2008 - 7:05 am 6. Roy M:John, Given your broad, desperate really, definition of “associated with Hitler” the only way “could have been avoided” is by not speaking in Berlin at all.
I must say I was surpised by Dan’s comment, are PJM writers paid for this kind of thing?
Jul 24, 2008 - 7:10 am 7. dan:What’s wrong with my comment?
Jul 24, 2008 - 7:24 am 8. bw:If McCain uses only 10% of the material that BHO is handing him, he’ll win 40 states. The question, though, is whether he will use it.
Jul 24, 2008 - 7:40 am 9. The Wizard:Who cares were the messiah Obama speaks in Berlin. This idiot is not even the official nominee, yet is acting as if he is the newly annointed leader of the free world. He has no business discussing American policy with foreign leaders, rightfully elected by their constituents. The man is an idiot, a fool, a sycophant and a charlatan. He denigrates the very fabric our our democracy with his audacity. The man is an embarrassment and a racist, certainly not qualified to hold the office of President. Wake up, America, this is a man you cannot afford in office.
Jul 24, 2008 - 7:49 am 10. J.J. Sefton:BO, like many, many others, may not really understand the symbolism of where he is speaking, and for others to assume some sort of Nazi linkage to him is a bit of a stretch. After all, he was a member of Trinity Baptist for over 20 years and had absolutely no idea that Rev Wright was a racist.
Jul 24, 2008 - 8:05 am 11. Robbins Mitchell:I doubt Baroque Obozo is even aware of the historical significance of this German monument at all…given his speech the other day in his alleged home state of Hawaaii he referred to “the bomb that fell on Pearl Harbor…”….his grasp of history,American or otherwise,seems to be tenuous at best….the self-beclowning continues apace.
Jul 24, 2008 - 8:08 am 12. always right:Barack Obama’s famous Berline 2008 speech entitled:
“Ich bin ein noch groesserer Berliner.”
Jul 24, 2008 - 8:16 am 13. david levavi:Rotwang:
…Very few national monuments anywhere are untainted by some form of historical stink…
Something like my first thought, too, when I read the headline of Rosenthal’s piece. Some minor gaffe in choice of venue. A minor complaint about symbolism.
But I hadn’t thought about the venue much at all before. I knew that Obama was a demagogue in the making but Rosenthal gives it context. And Dave II ads visuals and interesting insights from Bob Hoig who I never read before.
I’m beginning to wonder if Obama isn’t a true believer. I hadn’t made a connection to Hitler until I read Rosenthal’s comment on venue but I heard Obama say something very recently that I find genuinely disturbing.
It flashed across my forty-two inch screen while channnel surfing. I can’t provide context because I have no idea what was being discussed and it was the closing line in the segement of whatever interview I was surfing past.
The interviewer asked Obama if he had any doubt. Obama took a moment to think about it (or acted like it; you never know with a politician) and responded, “Never!”
The printed word doesn’t convey Obama’s tone and expression. His face was lit and every molecule of his being was shouting, “Nein!” It was the ringing response of a man truly convinced.
Such a response would be appropriate for a religious leader. A coach or an athlete, perhaps. But coming from the mouth of a candidate for President in unsettled economic times during a war (with some years yet to go yet, whether we like it or not), it is chilling.
The McCain campaign ought to run that several second clip of Obama expressing his absolute confidence in himself and his abilities over and over until even the the densest voter in the land recognizes that this candidate without credentials is flying to the White House on a magic media carpet.
Jul 24, 2008 - 8:19 am 14. TIm Casey:The last sentence in the article (Given Obama’s unfamiliarity with Berlin, it is indeed more conceivable that the idea of using the Siegessäule as backdrop was suggested to the Senator and his advisors by their Social Democratic friends than that they hit upon it by themselves.) in the article is also ironic considering we have been told that Obama has a worldview because he lived in Indonesia providing him more knowledge about world events/politics/psyche of non-Americans than his detractors
Jul 24, 2008 - 9:57 am 15. Roque Nuevo:John,
Jul 24, 2008 - 10:04 am 16. newguy40:You certainly know how to write about present-day politics using history. Very illuminating in a lot of ways, especially insofar as the link between Obama and the German Social Democrats. Previously, you explored this topic with respect to Clinton’s mammoth book deal. Thanks for writing.
These contextual situations with Obama seem so frequent that I have to conclude that not only does his staff not care, he does not either. And, regretably, many of US voters don’t either.
Jul 24, 2008 - 10:21 am 17. pch1013:Given everyone’s unfamiliarity with Berlin, it’s not surprising that no one has mentioned the fact that the Siegessäule has become a totem of the city’s gay community. The surrounding park is a well-known gay meeting place, and it’s even lent its name to a Berlin gay website (http://www.siegessaeule.de/).
I realize this won’t do much to obviate your association of Obama with German militarism, but the fact remains that when many Berliners look at the Siegessäule, they don’t think “Bismarck,”, they think “schwul.”
Jul 24, 2008 - 11:04 am 18. Mabel:I am reading Obama’s speech on Drudge and OMG, what a ripoff! He basically took JFK and Reagan’s speeches and traced the lines!!! Talks about a “wall” that divided East and West but now that imaginary “wall” divides races and religions??? You think this guy would have at least ONE original thought. The Germans will eat it up but i hope the American people are wiser.
Jul 24, 2008 - 11:44 am 19. Roque Nuevo:This isn’t about comparing Obama to Hitler. It’s about Obama’s personality cult. Seems to me that Obama would respond to the backdrop Hitler laid out, even without knowing its significance, just because it’s a great backdrop for such mass meetings. This is why it’s interesting: Obama gravitates to the Hitler/Speer backdrop, without really knowing why.
Jul 24, 2008 - 1:31 pm 20. bill-tb:The question remains, why would a candidate for US President go there and give a campaign speech?
Megalomania indeed, there has never been a more arrogant snob run for President. What better place to display the “cult of personality” than at the original megalomania site. Obama will be summarily dismissed, the US does not elect tyrannical dictators, as Germany did. Does anyone hear the hue and cry in the US for re-arranging the world? What if the Chinese, the Russians, the Iranians … don’t go along with the re-arrangements? What then.
Not one convincing word about American freedom and liberty.
Jul 24, 2008 - 2:18 pm 21. pappy:i wouldn’t say that b.o. acts like hitler, more like mussolini. or alfred e. neuman, i see he made the cover of mad magazine again. i noticed at the ten foot mark on the column a basketball hoop was attached, just incase he bumped into some american gi’s. he could run to the hoop and ignore them, as he did in the middle east. maybe he’ll visit the wounded at the next stop. GOD BLESS THE SOLDIERS.
Jul 24, 2008 - 2:56 pm 22. Mary Stella:Quite sad, he did not have enough time to visit our courageous beloved soldiers, but time to exercise, in Germany.
Jul 24, 2008 - 3:42 pm 23. Lea:In Afghanistan, did the same, did not take time to shake hands with the fine troops who stood in line in respect, but he had time to shoot basketball.
All he wanted photos for his campaign, just as the rest of the liberal lefts have done, tagging along two token Republicans, they looked like his lap-dogs, but had them muzzled too.
God Bless Our beloved Troops, and their families.
The interviewer asked Obama if he had any doubt. Obama took a moment to think about it (or acted like it; you never know with a politician) and responded, “Never!”
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts. – Bertrand Russell
John, Given your broad, desperate really, definition of “associated with Hitler” the only way “could have been avoided” is by not speaking in Berlin at all.
I don’t think he should have been speaking in Germany. His campaign is paying for (part of) it, as a campaign stop. In Germany. Where he is not running for anything. The guy thinks he has this in the bag. He thinks he’s already president. THAT is what disturbs me! (also the no doubts thing. Holy crap!)
Jul 24, 2008 - 3:50 pm 24. Ned Ludd:200,000 cheering Germans, most of whom we are told understood the English and you of course find something to carp about! How droll
Jul 24, 2008 - 3:59 pm 25. Onno Dontje:This was all a rather strange experience. As a European based in my beloved old continent I fail to understand what an American candidate for the presidency is doing giving speeches in Berlin. A crowd of George W-disliking leftwingers cheering somewhat easy statements on how we all should get along whilst staying silent whenever he spoke American tough talk about beating terrorism and sending German troops to Afghanistan.
Jul 24, 2008 - 5:03 pm 26. pch1013:So yes Europe has plenty of gorgeous places which offer nice backgrounds, and yes even European rightwingers like myself do not really appreciate George and like the idea of him going back to Texas, but that is hardly an excuse for this embarrasing situation. Mr.Obama, you have not yet won, please come back once you did, and get of that high horse already.
As a famous wise woman once said : We don’t need another hero. And as for us Europeans, we are home already and can manage also without you in the White House.
“Not one convincing word about American freedom and liberty.”
Except these:
And these:
And these:
Not that I expect any of you knee-jerk Obama haters to take any of this seriously, because you’ve also conveniently convinced yourselves that he’s insincere and that nothing he says can ever be taken at face value. But your implication that he “hates America” is, to put it kindly, not fact-based. Not even a little bit.
(Cue mouth-foaming rants about the “Democrat [sic] Party,” “elitists,” “Communists,” “Socialists” in 5, 4, 3…)
Jul 24, 2008 - 6:27 pm 27. Andrea Fuzzi:Gaffes are no problem when it’s personal ambition and superego to drive Obama’s actions
Jul 24, 2008 - 7:01 pm 28. « PoliticalDerby.com:Every question becomes a weapon to pursue his own career
Obama just wows and predict,illuding the masses,without counting anything for real
Let’s hope he won’t be producing any diplomatic incident with the regular authorities
[...] So Barack Obama has now made his first ever trip to Berlin. I can’t wait to see the T-shirt sales from the 2008 Obamamania tour. He’s drawn huge crowds at every venue, whether it be the hotel gym at the Berlin Ritz Carlton or downtown at the Siegessäule. [...]
Jul 24, 2008 - 9:22 pm 29. Anonymous:HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE WHEN THE WORLD IS A BAD PLACE AND A POLICE STATE WHEN THE WORLD HAVE LOST THEIR FREEDOM. IN THESE MOVIES THEY ATTEMPT TO SEND BACK PEOPLE TO THE 21ST CENTERY TO SEE IF THEY CAN CHANGE HISTORY. WELL, I HAVE A FEELING THAT THIS ELECTION AND WHO BECOME PRESIDENT IS THAT MOMENT IN TIME. IF OBAMA GETS IN, THE WORLD IS IN BIG TROUBLE NO ONLY USA. PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY TAKE HEED, WE MUST BE STRONG NOT WEEK. OBAMA SHAMED OUR COUNTRY THIS WEEK WITH HIS SPEECH IN BERLIN. HOW DARE HIM TALK FOR US AS A NATION. WHO DOES HE THING HE IS – ” THE MESIAHA”
Jul 25, 2008 - 6:33 am 30. Augean Stables » Barack Obama, the John Lennon Candidate:[...] finesse of a bizarre choice. Not only have walls come down in Berlin, but they have come down in Belfast, where Protestant and [...]
Jul 25, 2008 - 7:32 am 31. The New Obamath: 200,000 . . . or 20,000? Obama’s Crowd in Berlin « Sigmund, Carl and Alfred:[...] — thus ran the AP headline the day after Barack Obama’s much-hyped speech in front of Berlin’s Siegessäule or “Victory Column.” This 200,000 figure has quickly become the standard estimate of [...]
Jul 25, 2008 - 12:03 pm 32. Was There 200,000 at Obama’s Berlin Speech or 20,000? « The PUMA Princess Weblog:[...] — thus ran the AP headline the day after Barack Obama’s much-hyped speech in front of Berlin’s Siegessäule or “Victory Column.” This 200,000 figure has quickly become the standard estimate of [...]
Jul 25, 2008 - 4:36 pm 33. Ted S.:What is it about the Siegessaeule that draws national socialists to it like moths to a flame?
Jul 25, 2008 - 7:58 pm 34. unAmerican:BHO is unAmerican, unpatriotic & unabashedly egotistical. It is embarrassing to have the presumptive democratic nominee having mock meetings with presidents all over the East. Even more disturbing are our tail wagging, drooling network anchors following BHO around and presenting it as real news. Wow.
Jul 26, 2008 - 12:08 am 35. John Samford:“you’ve also conveniently convinced yourselves that he’s insincere and that nothing he says can ever be taken at face value.”
pch 1013, I have snipped the only fact based portion of your polemical rant.
Jul 26, 2008 - 12:21 pm 36. He ventured forth to bring light to the world - Page 2 - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!:As a candidate, Ohhhhhh…..BAAMA’s task is convincing us that he is sincere and can be taken at face value. From his slide in the polls caused in part by his recanting almost ALL his positions so far, I would say anyone with an average or slightly below average IQ would see Obamassiah as insincere and not to be taken at face value.
It is only the true believers that ignore the discordance between his words of today and his words of yesterday. Normal people see him saying what ever his current audience wants to hear and wonders if he means any of it.
Then you have his blatant arrogance and obvious elitism and and it starts to become clear that that person has serious mental issues.
That leads the rational to wonder just how safe it is to have him holding the button.
If he continues to slide in the polls, his assumption that he is the nominee will come back to haunt him. The PMA stuff is good in theory and the classroom, but it doesn’t fly in the real world. Stand in front of a run-a-way train and load up on PMA about the train stopping and see how much good it does on you. Those stock brokers jumping out of the 110th floor windows of the WTC had LOTS of PMA. What they didn’t have was wings. The PMA didn’t do them a bit of good when they hit the concrete at 186mph.
That PMA won’t do Ohhhhh…..BAAMA any good in November, if he gets that far.
[...] Berlin" — thus ran the AP headline the day after Barack Obama’s much-hyped speech in front of Berlin’s Siegess
Jul 26, 2008 - 5:57 pm 37. pch1013:Ted S.: what is it about Obama that leads you to equate him with the Nazis? (And please spare us the tired old sophistry about how ‘Nazi’ stands for ‘National Socialist’… Obama is neither a socialist nor, at least according to his critics here, a nationalist.)
John: what is it about Obama’s name that makes it impossible for you, in your own polemical rant, to state it without embellishing it somehow? And why are you unable to discuss him without accusing his supporters of being stupid and irrational? And finally, what the hell is PMA? The least you could do is define it. But maybe you’d rather bask smugly in your own superior knowledge of psychiatric acronyms, just like a true arrogant elitist would do.
Jul 27, 2008 - 1:20 am 38. always right:Re: pch1013@Jul 27, 2008 – 1:20 am
If you pursuit the namecalling leftists on ChimpyMcHitlerBush&CheneyCo just as fervently, then yes you earned the right and get to question others’ namecalling.
Jul 28, 2008 - 10:15 am 39. Ted S.:Well, pch1013, since you ask…
A Tale of Hope And Change:
Before the election there was a difficult and frustrating war. The homeland hadn’t actually been invaded, but it had been bombed, and prominent foreign presences made people uneasy. The economy was in turmoil. People had lost jobs and homes. The electorate was divided and bitter. Into this tumult came a politician who seemed to be more than just a politician. He spoke in soaring rhetoric. He promised hope and change. People hearkened to his message. Though he had been obscure before, with little track record to show, he took advantage of new media to transmit his message and to organize his party and the people.
There were some questions about his past. He seemed to have radical and racist associations. There were even questions about his nationality. He was born outside the main homeland, and details of his youth and upbringing were sparse. He was young, untested and without relevant experience, some people said. But they were not many. Mostly people wanted something to believe in, and didn’t mind the details. People were discontented. The nation was searching. Conventional politics had made people cynical. His charismatic presence and his rock-concert-like speeches, on the other hand, were a relief compared to politics as usual. In a speech in Berlin he urged people to remember history, to answer destiny, to stand as one, to work, sacrifice and struggle for something greater. So people overlooked the questions, or just didn’t ask them in the first place. People really just hoped for change and they no longer cared about the consequences.
“Yes!” That was all he asked, just say “Yes!” And people did. And so Adolf Hitler was elected.
… And, incidentally, the fact that “Nazi” is short for “National Socialist” may be old, but it is neither tired nor sophistry, just inconvenient … for you. And if you think Obama is not a socialist, you haven’t been paying attention.
Sep 4, 2008 - 1:42 am