On a breezy evening in Ludwigshafen the Royal Ottoman Society gathered once more, accompanied by the good wishes of Fürst Alexander. The meeting had originally been planned for 17 June, but a message from the imperial heir moved it forward to 10 June – the birthday of the future sovereign – giving us an occasion to reflect on history, current events and the resilience that binds our community.
A Warm Welcome
The evening opened with a light‑hearted remark about a lingering “red‑green” virus that had visited Berlin earlier in the year and was, thanks to the fresh air in the hall, already fading. Memories were shared of journeys across Germany and East Frisia and of early encounters with routes once travelled by Prussian soldiers – reminders that history feels present when we walk the ground that shaped past empires.
Historical Reflections and Contemporary Politics
A brief look at current politics followed. Recent coverage in The New York Times of two prominent German politicians, Sahra Wagenknecht and Alice Weidel, served as a starting point for discussing the changing landscape of political discourse in Europe, and for values such as community, duty and homeland.
Journey Through War‑Torn Mariupol
The heart of the talk was a travel account from Helsinki through St Petersburg and Moscow to Mariupol. After receiving a special passport at Russia’s foreign ministry, the speaker travelled on to Rostov‑on‑Don and was then escorted into Mariupol, as one of only two Germans to enter the city after the siege.
The description was unflinching: charred buildings, shattered windows, and a theatre that had become a tragic memorial. Yet within four months, a new district with eight hundred housing units had been built. As a civil engineer, the speaker could judge the reconstruction with professional eyes: 40,000 to 50,000 people – engineers, doctors and teachers among them – work every day to rebuild hospitals, schools and homes. Children are returning to kindergartens, families plant flowers in public squares, and spring blossoms grow among the ruins.
Reflections for Our Community
The resilience seen in Mariupol resonates with our own tradition of rising from adversity. Just as Ottoman cities were rebuilt after conflict, reconstruction is about more than bricks and mortar – it is about renewed hope. In closing, thanks were expressed for the fellowship of the evening; the service, steadfastness and readiness to act for the common good described that night reflect values we cherish as a society.
Explore further reflections on resilience and heritage in our Royal Ottoman Society Library.
