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The modified words here from Federal Chancellor Bruno Kreisky (1911–1990) to the journalist Ulrich Brunner (ORF) on February 24, 1981 achieved cult status. They can even be found in the title of a book (ecowin, 2020) about the Kreisky era. In 1981 I was a seventh grade high school student. At the Schottengymnasium in Vienna, in addition to ancient Greek and Latin, the curriculum also included history and other subjects. Today, 45 years later, I realize that the then Chancellor's words would apply to me. But I don't just see a need to be up to date in history.
Regardless of whether you never learned it or have already forgotten it, things cannot continue like this. Those around me mean well. “Do you know the book?” or “You absolutely have to read this.” You probably also know these recommendations. My approach to continuing education is a more intensive form: I review and write books. It is important to develop and represent opinions and content. After 50 posts in the Erlesenes Wissen blog, in the 51st post I'm talking about the secrets, based on the motto: "Educate books".
The blog posts appear every two weeks. I present two, or occasionally three, books on a topic. The approach is surprising; books are “usually” discussed individually. But this concept is part of my self-imposed tutoring. The tight schedule requires discipline, consistent and critical examination of the contents of the books, but in return brings constant growth in knowledge in various areas.
In terms of botany, I learned that the violin wood for the famous Stradivaris and Guarneris grew during the Little Ice Age between the 15th and 19th centuries (Contribution: Double Botany), and the Alpine flora was a topic in August 2025. Since physics isn't one of my strengths, I prescribed a lesson in domestic nuclear research.
Another concern in addition to further education is the presentation of books outside the mainstream. Wasps and dragonflies fall into this category, as do Lake Neusiedl and the stork; This is how I expanded my entomological and ornithological knowledge.
In 1994 I offered Falter-Verlag a book about the northeastern Weinviertel. Armin Thurnher, the publisher's boss, agreed, but said: "We want the entire Weinviertel, it should be published in 1995!" No sooner said than done, I visited all the Weinviertel villages and delivered a manuscript that was far too thick as my first work. Othmar Pruckner, editor of the “Falters Fine Travel Guides” series, looked after me. He taught me to look for the essentials. The book was a success and I became a Weinviertel expert. Alfred Komarek (1945-2024) as a well-meaning mentor reminded me: "Don't forget, my dear, we not only have to inform, we also have to entertain!" Over the years, books have appeared about Vienna, the Weinviertel, the Wachau and various other topics. I learned to research, question, inquire and develop my personal style.
In 2013 I discovered ANNO (AustriaN Newspapers Online), the world of scanned newspapers. In 2014, the Weinviertel publisher Ulrich Winkler-Hermaden spoke to me. Together we developed the concept for “It happened in the Weinviertel”. The anthology of thematically diverse historical newspaper articles received a positive response from readers. Further books were published under the title “It happened”, from the western Weinviertel, to the Wald- and Mostviertel, to the Industrial Quarter. The first Viennese rapprochement took place regionally via Transdanubia. The question of how things should proceed - regionally via Vienna's suburbs and suburbs or chronologically - was answered with two books about "Old Vienna" (2023) and "Vienna 1918 to 1955" (2025). That brings us to the story.
ANNO gave me a certain addiction factor. The historical newspaper articles gave me a new perspective on the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A lot of things were new to me, some things I came across by chance. Ulrich Winkler-Hermaden proved to be a well-meaning advisor. Not only did he value a balanced mix of topics, but he also had specific ideas about images, which he also knew how to procure.
An interested readership was to be expected for a book about Vienna during the imperial period. In addition to indispensable fixtures of the era, such as the assassination attempt on Emperor Franz Joseph (February 18, 1853), the monarch's wedding (April 24, 1854), the opening of the Ringstrasse (May 1, 1865) and the World Exhibition of 1873, lesser-known topics were also included. “Family happiness in the elephant house: Little 'Peperl' from Schönbrunn,” said report (Neues Wiener Tagblatt, July 15, 1906) describes in humorous terms the birth of an elephant and the family happiness of the pachyderm parents.
Fittingly, I found a postcard with “Mädi”, the baby elephant and his mother “Mizzi”. I learned that at that time the animals in the Schönbrunn Zoo all had local names. Bull elephants were always called "Pepi", females were called "Mizzi" and were therefore the favorites of the Viennese audience. I also took them to my heart because I love this type of story(s).
What was new to me was that cyclists in the late 19th century were called bicyclists. I wouldn't have known that the then young leisure activity was taking place in the Prater in May 1896 and was also popular with the ladies of Viennese society, including the actress Adele Sandrock.
After the imperial era, we continued until the state treaty. But my knowledge of the contemporary history of these decades was incomplete. The most important events were known to me: the era of Red Vienna, the murder of Dollfuß, the construction of Höhenstrasse, the fire of the Rotunda, the year 1938 with the "Anschluss" in March, the beginning of the persecution of Jews, which reached its first peak in November 1938. I learned a lot in detail.
My publisher drew my attention to events that were previously unknown to me. I read in the Neue Wiener Tagblatt of March 5, 1933 ("Chaos in Parliament") that there was a crisis in the rules of procedure on March 4, 1933 and the resignation of all three parliamentary presidents with an interruption in the session. I learned that the resumption of the session was prevented by the Dollfuß government and that parliamentary democracy was de facto abolished.
While browsing through online shops, I found two graphically interesting maps: from the 2nd International Socialist Youth Meeting in July 1929 and from the 1st Vienna High Road Race from October 18, 1936. If you want to share in the jubilation of the July 1929 days, you can find everything in the Arbeiterzeitung from July 11, 1929. The high road race in question was a motorcycle race that started at Krapfenwaldgasse and finished at Kahlenberg (Length: 2.9 kilometers). Two people started with the engine running.
An estimated 25,000 spectators came and saw the hero of the day, Hermann Paul Müller from Chemnitz (Germany). In the class up to 500 cc he achieved with his Auto-Union-D.K.W. an hourly average of 105.2 kilometers on the winding route. I learned that Auto-Union-D.K.W. ("Dampf-Kraft-Wagen") was a German company that produced cars and motorcycles and was the world market leader in motorcycles in the 1930s.
The 1950 European boxing championship title for Joschi Weidinger was also new to me. On June 5, 1950, the newspapers were full, the world press and the Vienna Kurier carried pictures of the boxing match on the front pages.
I remember other historical moments from my father's stories (1931-1983). As a young dairy worker, he was proud to have donated some roof tiles for the renovation of St. Stephen's Cathedral. As a contemporary witness who came to Vienna from the Weinviertel in the early 1950s, he talked about the destroyed Vienna, about the occupying forces ("Four in a Jeep") and about illicit trafficking in Resselpark. I don't know whether he knew that the legendary opera singer Maria Jeritza had bought 2,000 (!) roof tiles for the Steffl. I found a report about this in the world press from June 9, 1950.
Conclusion: Even if a potpourri of colorful newspaper articles cannot replace critical history lessons, the articles and images convey a broader perspective. "With their help, you can delve into a past that includes largely unknown facets of the city's history - such as the theft of the Kahlenbergbahn rails or an opulent Reinhardt production in the inner courtyard of the town hall - as well as the momentous political events of those years between 1918 and 1955," writes Vienna urban researcher Peter Payer in the foreword.
In any case, I found and continue to enjoy this type of “further training”; The question remains unanswered: How do you, valued reader, feel about your further training? (Thomas Hofmann, April 3, 2026)