In April 2026, I celebrated my 91st birthday. At the end of World War II, I was 10 years old, which gave me the opportunity to experience the golden years of the German Federal Republic from day one. Future generations will refer to the period from 1945 to at least 2026 as Germany’s Golden 80 Years: a Germany at peace for 80 years, annual growth in prosperity, a functioning democracy.
I am grateful that I was born into this time in 1935. I was never a soldier. In my youth, I belonged to what was called the Silent Generation. This year, in 2026, I will have been married to my dear wife Carmen for 70 years.
