Posted on 02/28/2005 1:04:47 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
LUEBECK - The German parliament is due to gain a deputy with one of the most prominent historical names in Germany when Carl-Eduard Graf von Bismarck takes a seat for the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Carl-Eduard, 43, is a great-great grandson of Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898), who as the "Iron Chancellor" was the driving force in the creation of the modern German state.
The Luebecker Nachrichten newspaper said Carl-Eduard was to take the seat in the German parliament of Peter Harry Carstensen, who led the CDU in the 27 February elections in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein.
The paper said Carstensen aimed to give up his seat in Berlin in order to lead his party in the state parliament. A CDU spokesman in the state capital Kiel confirmed the paper's account on Sunday.
Otto von Bismarck was the major player in shaping the modern German state, first as Prussian Prime Minister from 1862 to 1873 and then, after the founding of the German Reich, as Imperial Chancellor in Berlin from 1871
A Bismarck taking the seat for Schleswig-Holstein? Many a history buff will find that ironic.
It is ironic.
And many of the admirers of the old "Iron Chancellor" met their end at the gallows in WW2. Not at Nuremberg, but rather at the hands of their countrymen as being involved in the Stauffenberg plot to assasinate Hitler.
I assume the family had to leave their Prussian estates when the Soviets came in 1945. It's ironic that the great grandson is representing Schleswig-Holstein. In a way, that is fitting, because without Otto von Bismarck Schleswig-Holstein wouldn't be a part of Germany.
"without Otto von Bismarck Schleswig-Holstein wouldn't be a part of Germany."
Yes and without Holsteins Gateway computers would come in a plain brown box.
Warm up the "ooompha" band...
heh heh!
And in an unrelated story...the French government is asking if anybody has an old copy of the Maginot Line plans. Next time around it's going all the way to the coast.
I wonder what he'll do when the Muslims invade -- send the police to arrest them ala Otto?
Oh, well, as Kleist put it, Im Staub mit alle Feinden Brandenburgs!
I think Otto would be very perplexed by the state of affairs in the country he built. The idea of Turkish gastarbeiter and Islamic parasites would be a totally alien concept.
"Chancellor Bismark has a nice ring, even today."
Yes it does; and given the level of political sophistication of the average German, it may be enough.
Can the restoration of the Kaiser be far behind?
Here's hoping.
And into the Ardennes.
Ich bin ein Berliner.
This reminds me of one of my favorite Letterman top-10 lists from way back:
Top 10 Ways France Is Preparing for the German Reunification - July 18, 1990
10. Dialing 911.
9. Installing speed bumps to slow down Panzers.
8. Cutting bedsheets into convenient easy-to-wave white rectangles.
7. Watching twice as many Jerry Lewis movies just to keep their spirits up.
6. Stockpiling Blistex so they can kiss plenty of German butt.
5. Printing up T-shirts that say, "Don't shoot! I'm a collaborator!"
4. Going a really, really long time without bathing.
3. Suddenly acting all chummy with Chuck Norris.
2. Practicing running backwards and blowing kisses.
1. Developing top secret stealth cheese.
My favorite Bismarck quote: "There is a Providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children and the United States of America."
Cinco de Bismarck?
Unnngh.
For that one you get Das Boot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.