April in Berlin 2010: (4/6) Moabit prison park -- H.Wolf--H.Schlusnus: "Heimweh" - in HD !

When leaving the great building of present Berlin Hautbahnhof and turning westward along Invalidenstrasse, then crossing the latter one right and entering Rathenowerstrasse one may have a trouble to find the area of the famous former Moabit prison.
Again, a good guide seems to be indispensable, the more that this terrain is hidden in some way among ordinary old buildings, home gardens and a forgotten cemetery.

Moabit prison was built between 1842 and 1849 and became very "famous" for its isolation torture.
After 1933 the Nazis used it to detain political enemies and especially deserters.
In 1945 German author Wolfgang Borchert was convicted to 9 months of prison in a solitary cell in Moabit prison. During that time he wrote the song "800 mal Lehrter Strasse" (800 times Lehrter Street). During those nine months he could hear the loudspeakers of the nearby train station announcing every train arriving at the station.
In 1957 the prison was torn down and since 2003 there is historical park arranged, telling the history of those who were detained and killed there.
The project won the Deutsche Landschaftsarchitektur-Preis 2007.

The park did not seem crowded that humid, warm April day; the only visitors except us were a few young girls trying to get the sun-tan in their bikini suits, in the corner of the main square lawn... -

Hugo Wolf's song - "Heimweh" (Longin for Home), recorded by Heinrich Schlusnus in 1927 -- details of the record and recording on the label at the end of the video.


Heimweh
lyrics: Josef Karl Benedikt von Eichendorff (1788-1857)

Wer in die Fremde will wandern,
der muß mit der Liebsten gehn,
es jubeln und lassen die andern
den Fremden alleine stehn.

Was wisset ihr, dunkle Wipfel,
von der alten, schönen Zeit?
Ach, die Heimat hinter den Gipfeln,
wie liegt sie von hier so weit?

Am liebsten betracht' ich die Sterne,
die schienen, wie ich ging zu ihr,
die Nachtigall hör' ich so gerne,
sie sang vor der Liebsten Tür.

Der Morgen, das ist meine Freude!
Da steig' ich in stiller Stund'
auf den höchsten Berg in die Weite,
grüß dich, Deutschland, aus Herzensgrund!


Homesickness (translated by Emily Ezust)

He who wishes to wander
must go with his beloved,
the others will rejoice and leave
the stranger standing alone.

What do you know, dark treetops,
of the good old days?
Ah, my homeland beyond the mountains -
why does it lie so far from here?

I loved most to look at the stars
that shone as I went to her;
I listened happily to the nightingale
as she sang before my beloved's door.

But morning - that is my joy!
In that peaceful hour I climb
up to the highest mountain
and greet you, German Homeland,
from the depths of my heart!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Moabit
• prison
• park
• Hugo
• Wolf
• Heinrich
• Schlusnus
• Heimweh
• jurek46pink

[shirla26]

Fascinating story, it is nice to think that people use the park for pleasure now. Maybe the shades of those imprisoned there so many years ago, smile to see such simple joys now enjoyed in a place of sadness.

[jurek46pink]

@shirla26

Worth thinking deeply, indeed.

Thank you.

J.

[1920sbuff]

Dear J: I was trying to answer you by saying that Big Brother "always knows what's best for us" and the system rejected my asnwer 4 times... which proves the same Big Brother doesn't like the idea of unhappy users :-)....

[jurek46pink]

@1920sbuff

In some way (??) HE allowed me to see it in my gmail box - but not here.

Whereas your longer explanation - thanks ! - is ...only here...::))))

[1920sbuff]

An exquisite and very appropriate song is accompanying this interesting video!

[jurek46pink]

@1920sbuff

YT forced me to join my account with gmail system. Of course I was not able to say anything. Thought that I will accustum to it. But not all comments or messages appear in my new gmail box now. As it just happened with yours.

I found it only when I was looking into... YT mail.

Best wishes, P.

J.

[Inky261]

moabit after the war in west berlin was a) frauengefängnis and b) untersuchungshaftanstalt (until court). necessary and nothing bad.

[jurek46pink]

@mayatatyana1

It's been only two months and this moment already created recollections...:))

Best greetings, J.

[dzheger]

The Lied and the singing are beautiful and the video and the information very interesting. Yes, you must have had an excellent guide.