Adenauerplatz

There is a small statue of Konrad Adenauer on the square that takes his name in western Berlin. He was an interesting man who was mayor of Cologne during the interwar years and lost his position when Nazis came to power in 1933. Despite being a conservative, he declined to support Hitler and National Socialism. He was arrested and threatened with deportation from time to time. After the Second World War he became the first chancellor of Germany under the Bonn Republic in 1949, a post in which he would serve until 1963 when he was 87 years old.

I often stay near Adenauerplatz when I am in Berlin these days. Consequently, it is not uncommon to walk through the square when I am catching a u-bahn or exploring neighborhoods. This year’s stay was particularly poignant for me.  My friend, John Adams, gave me a substantial biography of Adenauer from his library as a gift a few years ago. His work as a reporter, and his interest in Germany, meant that he had a keen interest in Germany. He admired Adenauer quite a bit and we had several conversations about him and Germany in general. John passed away this past December after a battle with melanoma. As I passed Adenauer’s statue the other day while on a walk, I smile and thought wryly of John. Although I have been aware of Adenauer’s importance to post-war Germany history and politics, I am grateful for John’s insights and conversation.