In 2025, I published the history of my family — from 1560 until 1945, over twelve generations — as a book with Wallstein Press (“Von Armut und Aufstieg: Die Geschichte einer Familie über vier Jahrhunderte” ). More information is on the publisher’s website . Since many friends, family and colleagues do not read German, I translate parts of the introductory chapter into English here. CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION Germany’s history we find in two forms. For one, there is the hist
