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Be convincing also in German

Enhance your potential with courses & certificates from the Goethe Institute.  Goethe-Institut examinations are well known throughout the world and the associated certificates are accepted as a qualification by employers and further education institutions in many countries.

German language courses - Beginners (CEFR Level A1) up to Diploma (CEFR Level C2) - for adults (including short courses) and courses for schoolchildren (held on Saturday mornings) will be starting in October at the German-Maltese Circle in Valletta. 

Also starting:  Maltese language classes for Foreigners (Beginners’ Level) 

Payment terms by instalment available

Applications for the 2009-2010 German language courses are open. 

For information on ALL courses which are being offered – click here !

Gesprächsrunde - Veranstaltungsabende 2009

Unsere Gesprächsrunden erfreuen sich immer größerer Beliebtheit, und wir setzen sie mit den hiernach aufgeführten Diskussionsleitern/Innen und Themen fort. Die Teilnahme für Mitglieder des Deutsch-Maltesischen Zirkels ist kostenlos. Zeit ab 18.30 Uhr. 

The Maltese Temples and their German Connection

Wednesday, 9th September at 7.00p.m.
Talk (in English) on the theme "The Maltese Temples and their German Connection" by Francis Xavier Aloisio, Visionary Artist.

A different perspective of  research and hypothesis is approached emphasising the interest taken by German historians and archaeologists in deciphering and unravelling the messages and mysteries of the sacred pre-historic temples on the Maltese archipelago. The speaker will illustrate by means of  a Power Point presentation the probable purpose of the temples as well as special, lesser known areas of the treasures of our Islands.

Following the talk Francis X. Aloisio will introduce an exhibition of his original paintings supporting his views and theories as proffered in his new novel Islands of Dream.  The Exhibition will remain open until the 10th October.

German Film Evening

Friday, 11th September at 7.00p.m.
German Film Evening: “Ein Freund von mir” directed by Sebastian Schipper (2006).  
Subtitles in English.  Entrance Free to everyone.

Synopsis: Karl and Hans couldn’t be more different. Karl is a young mathematician with a promising career at an insurance company, whereas the man-about-town Hans, only takes up the odd job to get by. When they meet, Hans asks Karl whether he is happy. Karl doesn’t know what to reply until Hans shows him what makes him happy: girls, airplanes, the fastest backwards driving car in the world, and driving a Porsche at night in the nude along the Autobahn for example. For Hans “friendship” means to share everything, even Stelle, the queen of his heart. This is too much for Karl. But then, you can’t just get rid of a friend like Hans, and a woman like Stelle is unforgettable.

Wahlparty

WAHLPARTY - Sunday, 27^th September from 17.30 till 20.00 hrs 

The new German Ambassador, H.E. Bernd Braun has the pleasure of inviting members and friends of the German-Maltese Circle who have an interest in Germany in general and in German politics in particular, to join in this Open-House Party which will be held at Messina Palace in Valletta.   

Watch the German General Election results live on big screen.  Drinks and German finger food will be served.

Other News

NOTTE BIANCA – Saturday, 3rd October 2009 from 19.00 hrs. 

Open house at MESSINA PALACE with ongoing events including Bavarian Food & Beer and Brass Band – make sure you come !!

No Summer holidays for the Circle’s administration – issuing of results for just under 400 candidates who sat for the Goethe Institut examinations, organisation of 15 Summer classes for schoolchildren (also in Gozo), preparations towards the launching of the forthcoming language courses and of German Language Awareness projects as well as participation in cooperation projects in the Summer School of the Valletta Local Council. 

Participants of the Young Leaders Alumni Conference visit Messina Palace

Atlantik Brücke e.V. Berlin held its Fifth European American Young Leaders Alumni Conference with the title FROM ANCIENT SITES TO THE ‘MEDITERRANEAN HOLLYWOOD’ recently in Malta. The 160 participants were accompanied by the organisation’s Honorary Chairman, Dr. Walther Leisler Kiep, and Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Beate Lindemann. Hailing from many different nations, the visitors attended lectures and workshops from “World Affairs from the Perspective of a Small Island” to “How to Prevent a Clash of Cultures”.  

Some time was also dedicated to visiting the outstanding treasures of Malta from prehistoric sites to the fortifications and buildings created by the Knights of St. John. And for this latter purpose Messina Palace was chosen as an example of a typical Palazzo, erected by the knights some four hundred years ago. On one Saturday afternoon more than half of the participants visited our premises in two separate groups. They were introduced to the building by our president, Ingrid Kidder and listened to a condensed introduction to the establishment of the Order of St. John by historian, Dr. Thomas Freller. Jokingly he called his contribution: Ten Centuries in Ten Minutes. Lively questioning by the listeners right until their buses arrived showed their deeper interest in Malta’s life style past and present.

Forever Friends in Europe

Carmelina Grech writes about her recent experience in Minden where she attended the celebrations held on the occasion of the 250^th Anniversary of the Battle of Minden

They brought us to the edge of the River Weser. ”Can you hear the pounding on the metal platforms?” asked our Minden friends. The bangs sounded militant and perseverant. They were building a Military Friendship Bridge.   

The 250^th Anniversary of the historically important battle which took place on the 1st August 1759, outside the town of Minden, in North West Germany, was commemorated in “friendship” between the British, French and Germans. 

The Minden Regiments (as the desendants of the original regiments are known), celebrated the battle that led to the end of the Seven Years’ War.  British Army units with the Minden Battle Honour came to Germany to meet their counterparts from Germany and France and on the 1st August 2009 celebrated the 250^th Anniversary of the battle together in comradeship and friendship.  To mark this episode, a Military Friendship Bridge, provided a passageway across the River Weser to the scene of a thrilling, spectacular experience where the Battle of Minden was re-enacted by several hundred actors and actresses dressed in authentic costumes.  

Staged by the “412 Amphibious Troop Royal Engineers” and the Bundeswehr's “130 Heavy Engineer Regiment”, the slick bridging display saw giant M3 rigs rapidly linked up to connect the river banks in just minutes.  Once constructed, Major General Mungo Melvin, General Officer Commanding United Kingdom Support Command in Germany, General Major Markus Kneip, Commander 1st German Panzerdivision, and M. Bernard Chappedelaine, the French Ambassador's representative, met in the middle and greeted each other in the name of peace with a significantly historic handshake. Marching across the military bridge across the River to the “battle site”, were the allied contingent, followed by the French cavalry and artillery, in turn followed by hundreds of spectators who wanted to watch the combats on the battlefield.   

The opening scenario represented the 9^th July 1759, when the French Army under the Marquis de Contades, took the city of Minden by surprise taking up position there since the marsh lands of the region afforded good protection. The opposing Anglo-Prussian-Hanoverian regiments, were under the command of Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick.  On the 13^th July, Duke Ferdinand crossed the Weser towards Minden to relieve it. The highlight of this re-enactment, was the replica of the battle fought on the 1^st August 1759. The French attacked at 5 o’clock in the morning, but the Allies put up a determined defence and supported by the artillery succeeded in repelling the attack.

In an exception to the norm of the era, Contades placed his artillery in the centre protected only by the cavalry, with his infantry on either flank.  The battle began on the French right flank, where Marshal de Broglie who commanded the reserve, began an artillery duel against the allied left. In the centre, due to a misunderstanding of orders, a brigade of British infantry, supported by the Hanoverian Guards, actually advanced to attack the French cavalry. Decimated by French shot and canister, they drove off repeated French cavalry charges with musket fire and inflicted serious casualties on the French horsemen.  Supported by the well-served British and Hanoverian artillery, the entire allied line eventually advanced against the French army and sent it fleeing from the field. The only French troops capable of mounting any significant resistance were those of de Broglie, who formed a fighting rear guard.  Prince Ferdinand's army suffered 2,800 fatalities, the French lost between 10,000 and 11,000 men.

The battle became an iconic victory for the 'Minden' Regiments who advanced with white roses in their hats, plucked from the hedgerows. 

World history was written.  The western threat for Prussia disappeared helping it to rise to one of the major European powers. The French Army being tied down in Germany, the British succeeded in capturing Canada.  It proved William Pitt’s theory that “America has to be won in Germany”. The results of battle may indeed shape world history, but there is always “a heavy human price to pay in the defence of freedom." 

Spectacular celebrations included the Beating the Retreat and a Military Tattoo, with the participation of the Band of the Brigade of the Gurkhas, the Nottinghamshire Band, the Rhine Area Pipes and Drums, who joined the colourful Garde Impériale de Dijon in authentic Napoleonic regalia and the Minden Band of The Queen's Division; a wreath-laying at the Minden Memorial, a ceremonial 'Festakt' of prayers and music.  Another event was a parachute drop by the Joint Services Parachute Centre. 

The slogan “forever friends in Europe” stands by the objectives of the European Charter and is a long-term commitment to friendship with European partners.

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