I too was relieved that the parade was toned-downed from being an intimidating display to being more of a celebration of the history of America's citizen army. I think there is still hope!
Having been in the U.S. Army myself, serving in Germany 1971-72 as a clarinetist with the 3rd Infantry Division Band, I will never forget brief moments of visceral sting of former DDR repression that I felt as I took the military duty train across East Germany to West Berlin. The train stopped at the border to switch engineers and the DDR soldiers coming through the train to inspect our military IDs. Then, in Berlin, being in the physical presence of the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate with the East German machine gun towers. --It was interesting to hear your experience in the DDR.
Having been in the Army myself, I am pretty sure that the parade on June 14th in DC was toned down intentionally and precisely--I don't think the U.S. military would leave these details to chance.
thanks for commenting. I hadn't known about your army experience, or that you had also spent time in the DDR. I'm sure that, as a soldier, you got special scrutiny at the border. East Berlin's infrastructure must have been in pretty rough shape during the years you were stationed there.
I also recall taking the train across the border from Bavaria to Saxony, travelling from Bayreuth to Jena; during the border stop the locomotive was switched from diesel/electric to a steam locomotive. Arriving at Jena I observed another train, also with a steam locomotive, which consisted of pre-war Deutsche Reichsbahn passenger cars. It was really like entering a world of the past. Staying in East Germany was an experience too, since one had to stay in the so-called "Inter-hotels" where one paid in D-Mark; those hotels were like an island of capitalism in a socialist land.
Later, on one of my visits in East Berlin, I was advised by some East Germans to take the train from Friedrichstrasse back into West Berlin. It was possible, but to get a ticket I had to jump a queue of hundreds of East German seniors waiting for day passes, and was detained for hours by the border police once I entered the station. It wasn't my happiest day in the east.
I only went across East Germany to Berlin one time back then; steam engine and very rickety tracks. The WWII looking East German solders held our Military ID until we got to the border. I felt extremely uncomfortable suddenly having no ID in my possession!
West Berlin was enlightening to see. I got to spend one evening at the Berlin Opera for a wonderful performance of Berg’s Wozzeck.
Great piece. You said that you felt intimidated by the parade in East Germany. I suspect that was precisely the point. I also suspect that Trump wanted his parade to intimidate; his rhetoric beforehand certainly suggested as much. But it failed rather pathetically at achieving that. I'm not sure if the failure was part of a plot on the part of the soldiers, as some are suggesting, or a more general expression of the American mood. But the failure is nonetheless very reassuring.
Thank you for providing this helpful perspective. I certainly hope that the source of your hope is well-founded. And I will be hanging onto that hope for the time being...
Thanks so much, Caroline. I've told this story a number of times to friends and family, but always in some historical context. It's frightening to think that it has become topical in the country that was decisive in Germany's defeat in 1945.
I suspect for many the remembrance of a divided Germany, or of a divided Europe, has faded, or for people of a certain time has never been part of their lived experience. I'm glad the conclusions offer you some hope.
Another great essay, John! The parallels you drew between the DDR and today’s US are eerie (The Emperor’s New Clothes, anyone?)— and your conclusion also gives me hope.
I did not see the parade, but I saw the crowds around me in Chicago where we marched. I began my day with images of my friends in Germany marching and giving speeches around the US Consulate in Hamburg, the sister city of Chicago, and the oldest Consulate in Germany, first opened when George Washington was president. Then, later I shared my pictures with people watching the parade.
I am glad to hear that the US military parade was not well attended. The difference when you cannot force your people out to attend in a system of merits and demerits for compliance like one had in East Germany. It is interesting to hear your POV of the parade in East Berlin, and East Berlin before the wall was down. I was just on that street last month visiting the campus that lies on Unter den Linden, so I can picture how long that street is, and I suppose ideal for having a parade. I heard there was no music at the parade in Washington, so it must have been super boring for the people having to march and watch.
Now Trump seems determined to get our military in the public eye again, but this time by helping Israel in its attack of Iran. So, we shall see what happens, but the US needs to hope that we see more and more of the Trump incompetence leading to less influence in the world.
I too was relieved that the parade was toned-downed from being an intimidating display to being more of a celebration of the history of America's citizen army. I think there is still hope!
Having been in the U.S. Army myself, serving in Germany 1971-72 as a clarinetist with the 3rd Infantry Division Band, I will never forget brief moments of visceral sting of former DDR repression that I felt as I took the military duty train across East Germany to West Berlin. The train stopped at the border to switch engineers and the DDR soldiers coming through the train to inspect our military IDs. Then, in Berlin, being in the physical presence of the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate with the East German machine gun towers. --It was interesting to hear your experience in the DDR.
Having been in the Army myself, I am pretty sure that the parade on June 14th in DC was toned down intentionally and precisely--I don't think the U.S. military would leave these details to chance.
Hi Marty,
thanks for commenting. I hadn't known about your army experience, or that you had also spent time in the DDR. I'm sure that, as a soldier, you got special scrutiny at the border. East Berlin's infrastructure must have been in pretty rough shape during the years you were stationed there.
I also recall taking the train across the border from Bavaria to Saxony, travelling from Bayreuth to Jena; during the border stop the locomotive was switched from diesel/electric to a steam locomotive. Arriving at Jena I observed another train, also with a steam locomotive, which consisted of pre-war Deutsche Reichsbahn passenger cars. It was really like entering a world of the past. Staying in East Germany was an experience too, since one had to stay in the so-called "Inter-hotels" where one paid in D-Mark; those hotels were like an island of capitalism in a socialist land.
Later, on one of my visits in East Berlin, I was advised by some East Germans to take the train from Friedrichstrasse back into West Berlin. It was possible, but to get a ticket I had to jump a queue of hundreds of East German seniors waiting for day passes, and was detained for hours by the border police once I entered the station. It wasn't my happiest day in the east.
I only went across East Germany to Berlin one time back then; steam engine and very rickety tracks. The WWII looking East German solders held our Military ID until we got to the border. I felt extremely uncomfortable suddenly having no ID in my possession!
West Berlin was enlightening to see. I got to spend one evening at the Berlin Opera for a wonderful performance of Berg’s Wozzeck.
Great piece. You said that you felt intimidated by the parade in East Germany. I suspect that was precisely the point. I also suspect that Trump wanted his parade to intimidate; his rhetoric beforehand certainly suggested as much. But it failed rather pathetically at achieving that. I'm not sure if the failure was part of a plot on the part of the soldiers, as some are suggesting, or a more general expression of the American mood. But the failure is nonetheless very reassuring.
Hopefully you're right. Incredible that you were at a German parade in 1985 and can make a real life comparison. This gives me some hope.
Thank you for providing this helpful perspective. I certainly hope that the source of your hope is well-founded. And I will be hanging onto that hope for the time being...
Thanks so much, Caroline. I've told this story a number of times to friends and family, but always in some historical context. It's frightening to think that it has become topical in the country that was decisive in Germany's defeat in 1945.
I suspect for many the remembrance of a divided Germany, or of a divided Europe, has faded, or for people of a certain time has never been part of their lived experience. I'm glad the conclusions offer you some hope.
Thank you again.
Another great essay, John! The parallels you drew between the DDR and today’s US are eerie (The Emperor’s New Clothes, anyone?)— and your conclusion also gives me hope.
I did not see the parade, but I saw the crowds around me in Chicago where we marched. I began my day with images of my friends in Germany marching and giving speeches around the US Consulate in Hamburg, the sister city of Chicago, and the oldest Consulate in Germany, first opened when George Washington was president. Then, later I shared my pictures with people watching the parade.
I am glad to hear that the US military parade was not well attended. The difference when you cannot force your people out to attend in a system of merits and demerits for compliance like one had in East Germany. It is interesting to hear your POV of the parade in East Berlin, and East Berlin before the wall was down. I was just on that street last month visiting the campus that lies on Unter den Linden, so I can picture how long that street is, and I suppose ideal for having a parade. I heard there was no music at the parade in Washington, so it must have been super boring for the people having to march and watch.
Now Trump seems determined to get our military in the public eye again, but this time by helping Israel in its attack of Iran. So, we shall see what happens, but the US needs to hope that we see more and more of the Trump incompetence leading to less influence in the world.