The First Class of Fulbrighters - Fulbright-Kommission

Fulbrighters visit a refugee camp in Eastberlin.
text and immediately asked the first person in the first row
to “read and translate.” Katastrophe! What to do? I had had
Latin, of course. Primarily classical Latin. And now medieval
Latin to be read and translated sight unseen into German. I
was in the middle row in a class of 21 students. When it
came to my turn I requested a reprieve as a Fulbright student
until I could adjust. There was a smile and consent. I
could sense the feelings of the others: an American student.
The following session I was in the last row. Next to me sat a
student, Karl Graach, who had had a minimum of seven
years of Latin. He became my tutor and good friend. Professor
Bischoff was very polite in his approach. He began every
session with the student following the last reading and
translation. The session almost invariably covered no more
than five pages. It was thorough. After a number of weeks
and after Karl and I had prepared the requisite number of
pages I told Professor Bischoff that I would participate. I
knew I was in trouble when I observed his smile. He sped
up the reading and translating so that when it came to me I
had to do the text sight unseen. I passed. But what an experience!
Most rewarding was my experience with the medieval
institute, the Monumenta Germaniae Historica, housed in a
building that today accomodates the general management of
the Bavarian State Picture Gallery. In 1953 it was a center
for art restoration. I have fond memories of Dr. Opitz as
director. The work area was small and intimate and we were
a small group. Probably because the building housed valuable
paintings, security was at a premium. One had to show
a pass upon entering as well as leaving. At lunch the greeting
was always Mahlzeit.
One would be remiss if one were to omit cultural
Munich. Munich was a city of music, opera, theater and
museums. There was every opportunity to enjoy concerts,
opera, and theater as well as visit museums. By joining the
Theatergemeinde tickets were available at extremely reduced
prices. And we did attend opera performances, concerts, and
visited museums.
There were also many good restaurants at reasonable
prices. One restaurant deserves special mention. We fondly
remember the Augustiner restaurant with not only its good
food, but the funsters Beppo Franz and his musical group.
We were also able to travel because there was ample time
between the winter and summer semesters. The “albatross”
now became a chariot. On occasion, the Fetzers, Mabel and
John, joined us. We went to Switzerland, the Austrian Tyrol
and Arlberg, Salzburg, and Vienna. The highway between
As if the
apartment
weren’t cold
enough,Wittke
and his wife
Bert visit Jenner
Peak, Austria.
Salzburg and Vienna was strictly controlled. Special permission
was required. There were checkpoints en route. We also
experienced a Vienna divided into sectors and learned that it
was strictly forbidden to enter the Russian sector.
There were also trips to northern Germany and Denmark,
the Netherlands and Alsace-Lorraine, and the
Schwarzwald. A memorable trip was Italy after Christmas.
Fourteen days, demi-pension from Munich to Sicily, and all
for the remarkable base cost of $125 for two.
Berlin was perhaps the most significant place we visited.
The Fulbright Commission made possible a visit in June of
1954. We traveled via night train from Frankfurt am Main
to the East German border with drawn shades. At the border
we cheated, we peeked and saw the heavily armed guards, it
was the same when we arrived in Berlin.
In Berlin one could see first hand the destruction as the
result of the bombings and the Russian conquest. The report
was that one sixth of all the rubble in Germany was in
Berlin. Entire city blocks were nothing but rubble. There
were visits to East Berlin, especially Alexanderplatz, and to a
refugee camp where we distributed fruit and chocolate to the
youngsters. We visited the famed Berlin cabarets and
enjoyed Berlin night life. I have been to Berlin many times
since, perhaps twenty-five. I have seen Berlin before the
Wall, during the Wall, and after the Wall.
A concluding activity was the workshop conference conducted
by the Columbus Gesellschaft in conjunction with the
American Consulate General and the UNESCO Institute held
June 24-25, 1954 in Gauting. It was a good session, summarizing
a number of aspects of student life and activities.
One other memory. I happened to be in the area of the
University when it was announced that Germany had won
the World Cup. The hordes of people in the streets made it
almost impossible to get to the Bahnhof. Wahnsinnig!
A note on language. The setting: The Kurgarten in Bad
Honnef. Sunny afternoon. Beer and wine. Waitresses went
from table to table crying “Käsestengel!” 4 One of our
Fubrighters asked why they were paging “Casey Stengel.”
He also wanted to know why they kept saying “Danke
Fieldmouse.” 5
In conclusion, I can only repeat and emphasize what was
stated in the opening paragraphs. The Fulbright program
was perhaps the most important influence in forming our
future. I attribute my career in great part to the opportunities
made possible by the Fulbright program. For that, many
thanks to the late Senator Fulbright, to Mrs. Fulbright, and
to the Fulbright Commission.
1) Economic miracle 2) a landmark cliff along the Rhine 3) Coal for the stove 4) Cheese sticks 5) Danke vielmals – thank you very much