Hans Wolf says goodbye: One last look at East Hesse!

Hans Wolf says goodbye: One last look at East Hesse!

Friedberg, Deutschland - What's new in the Wetteraukreis? The Friedberg History Association has undertaken an impressive trip to East Hesse with its first single -day excursion in 2025. The participants, almost 50 in number, had the opportunity to visit various historical sites and gain exciting insights into the region. Hans Wolf, the long -time first chairman of the association, led this excursion for the last time after he had been responsible for daily excursions since 1972 and from 1977 to 2019 for the multi -day trips. fnp reports that Wolf was honored for his services.

The trip led the group via Alsfeld and along the historical connection between Frankfurt and Leipzig, which is known as "the short Hesse". A remarkable first stop was the Herzberg Castle, the largest high castle in Hesse. This impressive fortress dates from the 13th century and was redesigned by Hans Jakob von Ettlingen in the late 15th century. The Wasserburg Friedewald, which was first mentioned in 1312 and was also rebuilt by Ettlingen, was also on the program.

The Cold War as an important topic

A particularly impressive part of the excursion was a visit to the “Point Alpha” dunning and memorial. Here, on the former border with the GDR, the participants were able to immerse themselves in the history of the Cold War. In particular, the sculptures of the "Way of Hope" in the death strip between Hesse and Thuringia, which are reminiscent of the Iron Curtain, are an urgent symbol for resistance to the communist dictatorships in Central and Eastern Europe. At this point, the urgent past comes alive because the cold war shaped Europe over 40 years of Europe and was shaped by the threat of mutual annihilation. Point Alpha informed about the monumental sculptures that embody the will to freedom and the belief in change.

The memorial not only conveys the feeling of the former division, but also stimulates reflection on the challenges in difficult times. In the "House on the Border", the participants received a comprehensive overview of the border security and the events of the Cold War, including the local conflicts and the diplomatic tensions that prevailed during this time. The memories also included a contemporary witness that reported on his experiences as a member of the GDR border troop.

historical discoveries about the region

After lunch in Philippsthal, where Landgrave Philipp von Hessen-Philippsthal had a castle built on the remains of a Benedictine monastery, Achim Meisinger had interesting explanations on Kali mining, which has been operated here since 1905. An important part of the economic history of this region, which is known for its calibration and magnesium reduction, is explained alive.

The last stop of the trip was the three -aisled basilica in Rasdorf from the late 13th century, which comes up with capitals from a previous church, dated between the 9th and 12th centuries. The BPB offers a deeper analysis of the Cold War and the associated memories that are also discussed in the memorial.

Chairman Lothar Kreuzer thanked both Hans Wolf for this last excursion and for the many upcoming events that the participants will always appreciate. This trip not only offered a historical educational trip, but also the possibility of personal encounters with history and memories of a moving past that influenced us all.