Berlin was not where I had lived and died in the 1940s. Nevertheless, it was my first time returning to Germany since those horrific days.
One of the books on my WWII and post-WWII Germany reading list is The Ghosts of Berlin by Brian Ladd, which analyzes the city’s urban landscape within the context of its dark history. Getting into this reading list, especially starting with The Berlin Wall by Frederick Taylor, has rekindled memories of my brief time spent in Berlin.
When I prepared for my trip in February, I knew, given its intense history, that I would inevitably run into a spirit or two through the busy streets during my sight-seeing adventures.
I didn’t sign up for these bizarre visitations from beyond the grave–these uninvited spectral couch surfers who’ve turned my once seemingly normal existence into an all-out, what-the-fuck life of ghostly encounters.
“You will remember things,” I “heard” one of the ghosts that has taken up residence in my house say. Berlin was not where I had lived and died in the 1940s. Nevertheless, it was my first time returning to Germany since those horrific days. “The ghosts will read your history, and they will want to show you terrible things,” he said, slicing sharply through my thoughts, like icicles slashing through the folds of my brain.
I nervously laughed. “I’m sure you guys will serve as beacons for others, waving your large ethereal banners, advertising: Empath alert, empath alert! She was once one of us, and now has the ability to communicate!”
I always dissolve the paranormal intensity with a dose of sarcasm because, frankly, I didn’t sign up for these bizarre visitations from beyond the grave–these uninvited spectral couch surfers who’ve turned my once seemingly normal existence into an all-out, what-the-fuck life of ghostly encounters.
From Spook Fest to WWII: The Slow Emergence of Truth
The film (trailer), Truly Madly Deeply. Hans is like Jamie and he’s invited some his pals over for years of movie viewing and furniture moving without my consent
I feel like the character, Nina, in Truly Madly Deeply, whose once-upon-a-time earthly lover returns to her from the spirit realm, only this time, he has brought along a few of his movie obsessed, furniture rearranging chums that he’s befriended in the other side.
I had been going about my business blissfully, sticking to my little solar system, when Hans suddenly appeared in the summer of 2010; and like the couch surfer that is difficult to throw out, he became a fixture in my life. He tags along with me everywhere I go (he’s my spirit guide–this is what they do), whether I want him to or not. He can be boisterous at times, but I’ve adjusted to the spook fest. Actually, he’s really not that creepy. Or have I just adapted to his “party tricks”?
But when the soldier ghost showed up at the foot of my bed, fully materialized and glowing brighter than a night light on the early morning of D-Day, 2015, he opened a portal that now flashes a neon German sign, pointing in my direction: Sie kann dich hören! I sometimes wonder, whose WWII obsession is this anyway? I feel like the character, Nina, in Truly Madly Deeply [1], whose once-upon-a-time earthly lover returns to her from the spirit realm, only this time, he has brought along a few of his movie obsessed, furniture rearranging chums that he’s befriended in the other side.
Fortress Berlin
Preview to Episode 6, Season 1, Fortress Berlin, Nazi Mega Weapons, PBS.
Prior to going to Germany, I watched the first season of Nazi Mega Weapons on PBS, never getting enough of this insane war. I was surprised to discover that one of the architectural structures featured on one of the episodes is located in Berlin–the one and only partially surviving flak tower that had surrounded Hitler’s bunker. The Führerbunker now sits like an unmarked grave underneath a parking lot.
“Will have an encounter at the flak tower?” I asked Hans and the others as I ogled at the footage on the show.
They remained suspiciously silent.
When I arrived in Berlin, and as it tends to be since all this “ghost whispering” started for me, I was wrong about where I would meet the invisible residents of this ghost-filled city.
To be continued.
Notes
[1] There are so many synchronous films, such as this one, that continue to affirm my paranormal connection to Hans. Another one is The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, my all-time favorite paranormal romance film. Both of these films (and also Twilight--another favorite) I watched for the first time after Hans appeared in my life.
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