‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech defined JFK
Editor’s note: Nicolaus Mills is professor of American studies at Sarah Lawrence College and author of “Winning the Peace: The Marshall Plan and America’s Coming of Age as a Superpower.”
(CNN) — The White House has announced that on Wednesday, at the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Obama will speak in Berlin at the city’s landmark Brandenburg Gate. The president’s subject will be the transatlantic alliance and the enduring bonds between the United States and Germany.
Berlin comes as a welcome relief for Obama. It gives him a chance to put aside for the moment the difficulties he is having in the Middle East and with the National Security Agency spying scandal. The president’s Berlin appearance also reminds us that he is following in historic footsteps.
June 26 marks the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech, praising the citizens of West Berlin for their refusal to be intimidated by the massive East German-built wall that since 1961 had divided their city.
The reaction of the crowd listening to Kennedy address them in front of West Berlin’s City Hall was so overwhelming that, on the plane leaving Germany, he remarked to his aide, Ted Sorensen, who had written most of his speech, “We’ll never have another day like this one as long as we live.”
Kennedy is always given style points for his Berlin speech because of its easy-to-remember rhetoric. But the speech is worth recalling today because it amounted to such a profound pivot away from the prevailing nuclear logic of the Cold War. In Berlin, Kennedy recast how he believed the Cold War should be waged in the future in a way that made his thinking clear to the European and American public.
For Kennedy, the chance to speak near the Berlin Wall two years after it was built was a major opportunity to redefine his foreign policy leadership.
In his 1961 Vienna summit meeting with Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev, Kennedy had gotten off to a rocky start. In 1962, during the Cuban missile crisis, he had regained his footing. He had resisted calls by some of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a massive airstrike against Cuba and made sure he and the Soviets avoided backing each other into a nuclear exchange.
In Berlin, Kennedy showed that he had learned from both confrontations. Instead of treating the Cold War as simply a battle over which side had the most military power and the will to use it, he framed it as a battle that also included the fate of captive peoples and their right to self-determination.
It was an emphasis that would bear fruit in the Prague spring of 1968, in Poland’s Solidarity movement and finally in Ronald Reagan’s 1987 Brandenburg Gate speech with its memorable line, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
Kennedy’s rhetoric in Berlin was equal to his good intentions. “Two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was ‘civis Romanus sum’ (“I am a Roman citizen”). Today, in the world of freedom the proudest boast is ‘Ich bin ein Berliner,’ ” Kennedy declared. His words paid tribute to those Germans trapped in a divided Berlin, but his overriding point was, “Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free.”
Kennedy was doing the opposite of saber-rattling. He was updating the ideas behind the Declaration of Independence so they spoke directly to contemporary Europe. When his audience heard Kennedy’s words, they were reminded of the Berlin Airlift of 1948, in which America responded to the Soviet ground blockade of West Berlin with an airlift that brought West Berliners the food and supplies they needed without U.S. troops firing a shot.
Earlier in June 1963, Kennedy had established the groundwork for his Berlin speech with an address he gave at American University in Washington. There, he spoke about establishing the conditions for an “attainable peace” that was neither a Pax Americana nor a peace of the grave.
The Soviet Union, Kennedy cautioned, needed to abandon its distorted view of an America ready to unleash a preventative nuclear war, but at the same time America needed to make sure that it did not fall into the same trap as the Soviets by seeing Russia through a distorted ideological lens.
Ever the practical politician, Kennedy conceded that he had no “magic formula” for bringing about such a change in the world’s two superpowers, but it was possible, he concluded, to debate the Cold War without each side making new threats. “We can seek a relaxation of tensions without relaxing our guard,” he insisted.
Today, the American University speech is widely praised, but at the time, the speech was seen primarily as a policy statement. The public reaction to the speech was minimal. One day later, the American University proposals were replaced as a front-page story by the highly charged racial confrontation between the Kennedy administration and Alabama Gov. George Wallace over the admission of two African-American students to the formerly all-white University of Alabama.
Berlin was a different story in terms of its popular impact and a sign that Kennedy was becoming increasingly sophisticated in using his personal popularity to promote policy change.
In Berlin, the still-young president took advantage of being on the global stage to make it easier for friend and foe alike to see him as a leader eager to steer America and the world away from nuclear confrontation.
His efforts were not wasted. Two months after his Berlin speech, the United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union signed the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the first such agreement since atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Nicolaus Mills.
Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/18/opinion/mills-jfk-berlin-speech/index.html?eref=edition
Justin Bieber is making the transition from tween sensation to adult icon, which is sometimes easier said than done.
On New Year’s Day, a photographer was killed crossing the street after taking pictures of Bieber’s Ferrari. Bieber, who wasn’t present at the scene, said in a statement: “While I was not present nor directly involved with this tragic accident, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim.”
The 19-year-old ticked off his fans after he showed up a reported two hours late to a concert at London’s O2 Arena. He disputed that in a tweet, saying he was only 40 minutes behind schedule.
In January, Bieber was photographed holding what 
Bieber later wound up sick in a London hospital. Being a lusted-after star, it’s not surprising that he tried to show how “well” he felt by posting a shirtless photo of himself online.
Bieber and photographers, we’ve learned by now, don’t mix. The singer got into a shouting match with a paparazzo in London as he exited the hospital at the end of a turbulent week, telling the photog that he’d “f*** him up.” 
After he was 
Bieber’s pet monkey, Mally, was taken by custom officials in Germany after he arrived in the country at the end of March. Mally is shown here in the quarantine station at the Munich-Riem animal shelter in Munich.
Seven years ago, Jaden Smith was a baby-faced child star appearing with his dad Will in 2006′s “The Pursuit of Happyness.” Although he’s once again starring with his father in this summer’s “After Earth,” Jaden isn’t a kid anymore. The 14-year-old budding actor/rapper is one of many child stars who’ve transformed seemingly overnight into young — and not-so-young — adults. 
Along with her older brother Jaden, 12-year-old Willow Smith has blossomed since she first appeared alongside dad Will in his 2007 film, “I Am Legend.” The actress and singer showed a more mature look this spring at the May 2013 premiere of “After Earth.”
Selena Gomez’s appearance hasn’t dramatically changed since she starred on Disney Channel’s “The Wizards of Waverly Place” in 2007, but her work sure has. Now 20, Gomez has stretched herself with more mature content, like this spring’s risque “Spring Breakers,” and her suggestive new single, “Come and Get It.”
Vanessa Hudgens came to fame as a Disney Channel star in 2006 but soon stepped away from her wholesome “High School Musical” roots. This year, the 24-year-old is appearing in more adult projects, such as “Spring Breakers” and “Machete Kills.”
It’s still hard to believe that Rudy Huxtable is now 34 years old. Keshia Knight Pulliam, the actress who played Rudy on “The Cosby Show” from 1984 to 1992, grew up on TV but acted sporadically since then. This year, she took a dive into reality TV with ABC’s competitive diving show, “Splash.”
Macaulay Culkin turned a scream and an exaggerated expression into a blockbuster movie franchise when he starred in 1990′s “Home Alone” at the age of 10. He went on to co-star with in 1991′s “My Girl,” but has in later years not been a huge fan of being on camera. In April, he ripped into paparazzi in the UK for trying to take his photo.
Along with Knight Pulliam, Raven-Symone is one of the most recognizable child stars, thanks to her work on the long-running “Cosby Show” and her subsequent career on the Disney Channel. The actress has been in the business since the age of 3, and most recently appeared on ABC Family’s “State of Georgia.”
“Mad Men” fans have watched Kiernan Shipka grow up as Sally, the daughter of protagonist Don Draper. Having starred on the series since she was 7, Shipka’s gone from being a little ballerina with a lisp to a teen girl with enviable poise over the series’ six seasons.
One minute, Abigail Breslin was a 10-year-old “Little Miss Sunshine,” and the next thing we know, she’s flashing her bra in 2011′s “New Year’s Eve.” The now 17-year-old is grownup enough to take on the older sister role, as she will in the November release, “Ender’s Game.”
Along with Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron was just a teen when he became famous with Disney’s “High School Musical.” Now 25, Efron caters to audiences well past high school, such as his turn in Lee Daniels’ 2012 film, “The Paperboy.” 
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have been in the entertainment industry since they were literally in diapers — the pair took turns playing the youngest daughter of the Tanner clan, Michelle, on “Full House” from 1987 to 1995. They went on to star in their own movies, but these days the twins are better known for their fashion lines, Elizabeth and James and The Row. 
At 20, Miley Cyrus has been working in show business for more than a decade. The singer/actress has gone from being a fresh-faced preteen to a platinum blonde vixen — one who could be headed down the aisle soon with fiance Liam Hemsworth. 
Best known for his role as Renee Zellweger’s cute-beyond-words son in 1996′s “Jerry Maguire,” Jonathan Lipnicki is now old enough to play Zellweger’s love interest. According to IMDb, the 22-year-old has a dramatic film arriving this year starring Christopher Mintz-Plasse called “Tag.”
Chloë Grace Moretz was a “Kick-Ass” actress even as a kid, starring in movies like “The Amityville Horror” at age 8. Now 16, Moretz has ditched the Shirley Temple curls but not her action moves — the star will appear in the sequel to 2010′s “Kick-Ass” this August. 
Dakota Fanning has appeared in so many movies and TV shows since her career’s launch around age 6 that we could put together her baby book. Now 19, Fanning is not only an acclaimed actress, but also a high school graduate. 
Daniel Radcliffe’s development has been watched by millions as he came of age in the “Harry Potter” movie franchise, which launched when he was 12. By 2007, Radcliffe was ready to show how grown-up he’d become and starred in “Equus” in London — a stage production that required some nudity. 
Along with her “Harry Potter” series co-star Radcliffe, Emma Watson’s racking up proof that she’s not little Hermione anymore. The 23-year-old actress plays a thief in this summer’s “Bling Ring,” and an ax-carrying marauder in Seth Rogen’s comedy, “This Is The End.”
Angus T. Jones wasn’t yet 10 when “Two and a Half Men” first premiered on CBS in September 2003. A decade later, the now adult actor is ready to break away from the sitcom — one that he’s publicly said he finds distasteful — and won’t be a regular star on the 11th season this fall. 
Justin Bieber is only 19, and, according to his mentor Usher, is still in the midst of growing up. But between the tattoos, the ab workouts and those reckless driving accusations, Biebs is not the same “Baby” singer we met in 2009.
Amanda Bynes began working at 10, and by the time she was 14 had starring roles on two Nickelodeon shows. Yet around age 24, Bynes ceased her steady work schedule and claimed she was “retired.” Lately, that “retirement” has translated into troubling run-ins with the law. 
Lindsay Lohan showed acting prowess at 12 when she played a set of identical twins in the 1998 remake of “The Parent Trap.” Lohan went on to star in movies like “Freaky Friday” (2003) and “Mean Girls” (2004), but her tumultuous private life soon interfered with her career. 
Anna Chlumsky became a star at age 11 thanks to her role in 1991′s “My Girl.” After sporadic appearances on TV, the now 32-year-old, who’s expecting her first child this year, has landed a hit comedy with HBO’s “Veep.”
Justin Bieber is making the transition from tween sensation to adult icon, which is sometimes easier said than done.
On New Year’s Day, a photographer was killed crossing the street after taking pictures of Bieber’s Ferrari. Bieber, who wasn’t present at the scene, said in a statement: “While I was not present nor directly involved with this tragic accident, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim.”
The 19-year-old ticked off his fans after he showed up a reported two hours late to a concert at London’s O2 Arena. He disputed that in a tweet, saying he was only 40 minutes behind schedule.
In January, Bieber was photographed holding what 
Bieber later wound up sick in a London hospital. Being a lusted-after star, it’s not surprising that he tried to show how “well” he felt by posting a shirtless photo of himself online.
Bieber and photographers, we’ve learned by now, don’t mix. The singer got into a shouting match with a paparazzo in London as he exited the hospital at the end of a turbulent week, telling the photog that he’d “f*** him up.” 
After he was 
Bieber’s pet monkey, Mally, was taken by custom officials in Germany after he arrived in the country at the end of March. Mally is shown here in the quarantine station at the Munich-Riem animal shelter in Munich.
Seven years ago, Jaden Smith was a baby-faced child star appearing with his dad Will in 2006′s “The Pursuit of Happyness.” Although he’s once again starring with his father in this summer’s “After Earth,” Jaden isn’t a kid anymore. The 14-year-old budding actor/rapper is one of many child stars who’ve transformed seemingly overnight into young — and not-so-young — adults. 
Along with her older brother Jaden, 12-year-old Willow Smith has blossomed since she first appeared alongside dad Will in his 2007 film, “I Am Legend.” The actress and singer showed a more mature look this spring at the May 2013 premiere of “After Earth.”
Selena Gomez’s appearance hasn’t dramatically changed since she starred on Disney Channel’s “The Wizards of Waverly Place” in 2007, but her work sure has. Now 20, Gomez has stretched herself with more mature content, like this spring’s risque “Spring Breakers,” and her suggestive new single, “Come and Get It.”
Vanessa Hudgens came to fame as a Disney Channel star in 2006 but soon stepped away from her wholesome “High School Musical” roots. This year, the 24-year-old is appearing in more adult projects, such as “Spring Breakers” and “Machete Kills.”
It’s still hard to believe that Rudy Huxtable is now 34 years old. Keshia Knight Pulliam, the actress who played Rudy on “The Cosby Show” from 1984 to 1992, grew up on TV but acted sporadically since then. This year, she took a dive into reality TV with ABC’s competitive diving show, “Splash.”
Macaulay Culkin turned a scream and an exaggerated expression into a blockbuster movie franchise when he starred in 1990′s “Home Alone” at the age of 10. He went on to co-star with in 1991′s “My Girl,” but has in later years not been a huge fan of being on camera. In April, he ripped into paparazzi in the UK for trying to take his photo.
Along with Knight Pulliam, Raven-Symone is one of the most recognizable child stars, thanks to her work on the long-running “Cosby Show” and her subsequent career on the Disney Channel. The actress has been in the business since the age of 3, and most recently appeared on ABC Family’s “State of Georgia.”
“Mad Men” fans have watched Kiernan Shipka grow up as Sally, the daughter of protagonist Don Draper. Having starred on the series since she was 7, Shipka’s gone from being a little ballerina with a lisp to a teen girl with enviable poise over the series’ six seasons.
One minute, Abigail Breslin was a 10-year-old “Little Miss Sunshine,” and the next thing we know, she’s flashing her bra in 2011′s “New Year’s Eve.” The now 17-year-old is grownup enough to take on the older sister role, as she will in the November release, “Ender’s Game.”
Along with Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron was just a teen when he became famous with Disney’s “High School Musical.” Now 25, Efron caters to audiences well past high school, such as his turn in Lee Daniels’ 2012 film, “The Paperboy.” 
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have been in the entertainment industry since they were literally in diapers — the pair took turns playing the youngest daughter of the Tanner clan, Michelle, on “Full House” from 1987 to 1995. They went on to star in their own movies, but these days the twins are better known for their fashion lines, Elizabeth and James and The Row. 
At 20, Miley Cyrus has been working in show business for more than a decade. The singer/actress has gone from being a fresh-faced preteen to a platinum blonde vixen — one who could be headed down the aisle soon with fiance Liam Hemsworth. 
Best known for his role as Renee Zellweger’s cute-beyond-words son in 1996′s “Jerry Maguire,” Jonathan Lipnicki is now old enough to play Zellweger’s love interest. According to IMDb, the 22-year-old has a dramatic film arriving this year starring Christopher Mintz-Plasse called “Tag.”
Chloë Grace Moretz was a “Kick-Ass” actress even as a kid, starring in movies like “The Amityville Horror” at age 8. Now 16, Moretz has ditched the Shirley Temple curls but not her action moves — the star will appear in the sequel to 2010′s “Kick-Ass” this August. 
Dakota Fanning has appeared in so many movies and TV shows since her career’s launch around age 6 that we could put together her baby book. Now 19, Fanning is not only an acclaimed actress, but also a high school graduate. 
Daniel Radcliffe’s development has been watched by millions as he came of age in the “Harry Potter” movie franchise, which launched when he was 12. By 2007, Radcliffe was ready to show how grown-up he’d become and starred in “Equus” in London — a stage production that required some nudity. 
Along with her “Harry Potter” series co-star Radcliffe, Emma Watson’s racking up proof that she’s not little Hermione anymore. The 23-year-old actress plays a thief in this summer’s “Bling Ring,” and an ax-carrying marauder in Seth Rogen’s comedy, “This Is The End.”
Angus T. Jones wasn’t yet 10 when “Two and a Half Men” first premiered on CBS in September 2003. A decade later, the now adult actor is ready to break away from the sitcom — one that he’s publicly said he finds distasteful — and won’t be a regular star on the 11th season this fall. 
Justin Bieber is only 19, and, according to his mentor Usher, is still in the midst of growing up. But between the tattoos, the ab workouts and those reckless driving accusations, Biebs is not the same “Baby” singer we met in 2009.
Amanda Bynes began working at 10, and by the time she was 14 had starring roles on two Nickelodeon shows. Yet around age 24, Bynes ceased her steady work schedule and claimed she was “retired.” Lately, that “retirement” has translated into troubling run-ins with the law. 
Lindsay Lohan showed acting prowess at 12 when she played a set of identical twins in the 1998 remake of “The Parent Trap.” Lohan went on to star in movies like “Freaky Friday” (2003) and “Mean Girls” (2004), but her tumultuous private life soon interfered with her career. 
Anna Chlumsky became a star at age 11 thanks to her role in 1991′s “My Girl.” After sporadic appearances on TV, the now 32-year-old, who’s expecting her first child this year, has landed a hit comedy with HBO’s “Veep.”
Palestinian children play football in front of the Israeli security fence in the West Bank village of Abu Dis, on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Organizations such as Mifalot help bring Palestinian and Israeli kids together through the power of football.
Mifalot is a non-government organization in Israel which brings together children from all sections of society and provides education and training through football.
Mifalot operates over 300 programs across the world working with Israelis and Palestinians as well as leading projects in Cameroon, Rwanda, Angola, Benin, Germany, India and Haiti.
Mifalot works with local schools and youth clubs to provide facilities and finance for local children to get degrees in sports coaching and helps them find work after finishing their education.
Children with mental and physical difficulties are given the care and support they need to succeed in sport. Several have gone on to become qualified coaches and lead sessions for the next set of kids coming through.
The charity prides itself on integrating children, youth and young adults with special needs into wider society.
Last January, Mifalot held its first joint Palestinian-Israeli tournament under the banner of “Neighbors United” — a venture backed by the European Union Partnership for Peace Program. Five teams took part, with two of those made up of Israeli and Palestinian girls only.
Last year, a team of nine Palestinians and nine Israelis traveled to Los Angeles where they met players of Spanish club Real Madrid and L.A. Galaxy. The children played in front of 27,000 fans during the halftime interval as part of the Children United Initiative.
Kids work their way through the years until they’re 18, when most Jewish youths go into the Israeli Army. The scheme offers a voluntary civil service for Israeli-Arabs, ultra-orthodox Jews and those who are unsuitable for the army, which is a two-year course helping them attain employment.
Abbas Suan, one of the finest Israeli Arab players to have played for the country, believes his dramatic late goal in the 2006 World Cup qualifier against Ireland helped change perceptions within Israeli society.
Israel’s Jewish player Eran Zahavi (L) and Muslim player Beram Kayal (R) pray before the start of a Euro 2012 qualifier in 2011. The Under-21 squad which competed in this year’s European Championship Finals included five Israel-Arabs, two Ethiopians and a Bedouin.
Moacyr Barbosa Nascimento’s life was forever changed after the 1950 World Cup. With Brazil needing just a draw against Uruguay in its final game to lift the trophy for the first time, the team lost 2-1 and he was blamed for the second goal. The goalkeeper’s perceived mistake haunted him. Twenty years later he overheard a woman in a supermarket say to her son, “There is the man who made Brazil cry.”
The Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro was the venue for the 1950 final, with 200,000 spectators packed into the purpose-built arena. The stadium has been redeveloped and a crowd of 78,000 people will watch the final of 2014 World Cup at the iconic ground.
All eyes will be on Neymar during both June’s Confederations Cup and next year’s World Cup. The attacker, who recently signed for Barcelona in a deal reportedly worth in excess of $80 million, is Brazil’s star player and must perform to his best if “La Selecao” are to satisfy an expectant public.
The Brazil team of 1970, which beat Italy 4-1 in the World Cup final in Mexico, is widely regarded as the greatest of all time. Pele, a three-time World Cup winner seen here leaping on his teammates, says Brazil must recover from the failure of 63 years ago.
Luiz Felipe Scolari was the coach of the last Brazil team to lift the World Cup, in Japan and South Korea in 2002. The veteran has been reappointed in a bid to inject life into an ailing Brazil team. His results have so far left much to be desired: two wins, one defeat and four draws since November 2012.
England was Brazil’s first opponent at a refurbished Maracana earlier this month. A half-volley from midfielder Paulinho, pictured, rescued a 2-2 draw for the 2014 World Cup host.
Brazil’s most recent match, the last before the Confederations Cup starts, ended in a comfortable 3-0 defeat of France. A penalty from Lucas Moura, right, completed the scoring.
Racism has long been a stain on football but a resurgence of incidents in recent years has prompted soccer’s authorities to launch a renewed bid to rid the game of discrimination for good. Here a Fenerbahce fan holds a banana towards Galatasaray’s Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba during a Turkish league match in May 2013.
CNN’s Pedro Pinto stands on the spot where Boateng decided he’d had enough. He told the World Sport Presents Racism in Football documentary: “I decided to walk off the pitch because I said to myself, in this kind of environment, in this situation, I don’t want to play football anymore.”
Balotelli has had to deal with racism throughout his career. As far back as 2009, when he played for Inter, he was racially abused by opposing Juventus fans. Here, Inter’s fans hold up banners in support of the striker.
Balotelli told Pedro Pinto he was prepared to walk off if he receives more racial abuse: “After what happened to me in (the Roma) game, I felt a little bit alone when I was home. I always said that if that happened in the stadium, like if nobody said anything, I don’t care. But this time I think I changed my mind a little bit, and if it is going to happen one more time, I’m going to leave the pitch because it’s so stupid.”
Boateng’s walk-off prompted the game’s governing body to act and FIFA president Sepp Blatter invited the midfielder to sit on a task force dedicated to tackling racism in football. A raft of reforms have now been passed that could see teams relegated or expelled from competitions.
The head of FIFA’s racism task force, Jeffrey Webb, told CNN the new measures could be “a defining moment in the fight against racism and discrimination.” He labeled the recent abuse of Balotelli and Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba as “ignorant” and “unbelievable.”
One of the most high-profile incidents in England saw Liverpool striker Luis Suarez banned for eight-matches for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra in October 2011. Prior to the teams’ return fixture the following February, Suarez refused to shake Evra’s hand. Suarez subsequently apologized.
The Serbian Football Association was hit with an $84,000 fine after a brawl between their under-21 team and England’s in the city of Krusevac in October 2012. England player Danny Rose (far right) said he had been subjected to monkey chants throughout the game. The Serbian FA insisted their fine was for the altercation.
Serbian fans are renowned for creating an intimidating atmosphere, as CNN discovered at the Belgrade derby in May. Despite previous incidents, there was no hint of racism in the match, though the Serbian Football Association’s technical director Savo Milosevic did reveal they have no program in place to tackle racism.
Various initiatives across Europe’s leagues help to try and combat racism and offer opportunities to those communities that are under represented at the top of the game. The Asian Stars event, recently held at Chelsea’s training ground, aims to encourage participation among aspiring Asian players at all levels of football.
Germany captain Lewis Holtby wears a specially made training shirt with the Israeli flag and the words “Feeling at home” embroidered on the front to thank the host fans for making the team welcome at the European Under-21 Championship.
Holtby and teammate Toni Jantschke lay a wreath during the visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum before March’s friendly game against Israel.
Germany striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga told CNN that his visit to the museum in Jerusalem was “extremely moving.”
The players take a moment to pause and reflect while surrounded by photos of those who were murdered in the Holocaust.
Head coach Rainer Adrion was particularly moved by his visit, taking his time to walk around the exhibits.
DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach (center), vice-president Rolf Hocke (right) and the German ambassador in Israel, Andreas Michaelis, lay a wreath during last week’s visit of the German delegation at Yad Vashem.
Lasogga signs autographs for local children at the Hadassah Neurim Youth Village in Netanya.
Striker Peniel Mlapa hands out small German mascots to some of the children at the Youth Village. 
JUNE 18, BRASILIA, BRAZIL: Tens of thousands of people 
JUNE 17 – JAKARTA, INDONESIA: Once known as the “Queen of the East,” Kota Tua, which means old town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at the time. Today, its colonial architecture is in ruins, after the city edged south. The government hopes to restore the old town and develop it into a tourist destination.
JUNE 14 – TEHRAN, IRAN: Supporters of Iranian adviser to the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and conservative presidential candidate, Ali Akbar Velayati, attend his campaign rally on June 12. Khamenei’s vote officially opened the ballots as he called on the 50 million Iranians eligible to 
JUNE 13 – BEIHAI, CHINA: Fishermen pull their nets on Silver beach in Beihai, southwestern China. One of the world’s fastest growing cities, the ancient port of Beihai was historically a major trade hub. As China’s urban population expands, the traditionally rural, agriculture-focused country is facing its 
12 JUNE – ISTANBUL, TURKEY: 
JUNE 11 – GAZA CITY, GAZA: Palestinian boys take a break during a summer physical training camp run by Hamas in Gaza City. Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement that operates in the Palestinian territories, sponsors 
June 10 – NEW YORK, U.S.: A boy takes part in the Alliance of American Jews protest against the Israeli Draft on June 9, 2013. Thousands gathered in Federal Plaza to demonstrate against a proposed law which would require
JUNE 7 – MANILA, PHILIPPINES: Fishermen cast their nets on the shallow end of polluted Manila Bay. This Filipino community is considered to be amongst the poorest in the country. With Manila’s fishing exploited by commercial fishers, the fisher folk are struggling to earn a living from their trade. 
JUNE 6 – KASHMIR, INDIA: Muslim villagers watch the funeral of Altaf Baba, the divisional commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (The Army of Muhammad), a Kashmir-based Islamic militant group, at Algar-Kandi in Pulwama district, south of Srinagar, on June 6, 2013. Altaf Baba was killed in a gunfight on June 5.
JUNE 5 – HONG KONG – People hold a candlelight vigil to mark the anniversary of the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. Pro-democracy groups around the world say the 
JUNE 4 – ZEITZ, GERMANY: Firefighters evacuate local residents from their flooded homes in Zeitz, Germany. Heavy rains are pounding southern and eastern Germany, Austria and western Czech Republic, causing heavy flooding. 11 people have died across the region so far, tens of thousands have been forced to leave their homes.
JUNE 3 – ISTANBUL, TURKEY: Tear gas surrounds a flag waving protestor on June 1, 2013. What began as a small sit-in over the Turkish government’s plan to demolish a park in central Istanbul in favor of a shopping arcade has swelled to become the biggest 
MAY 31- PARO, BHUTAN: Bhutanese women stand in line outside a polling station on May 31, 2013. Bhutan begins its second ever parliamentary election on Friday, after polling officials trekked for up to seven days to reach voters in the most remote corners of the Himalayan kingdom. 
MAY 30 – MONTPELLIER, FRANCE: Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau kiss in front of a crowd of supporters after their wedding, 
MAY 29 – BAZARAK, AFGHANISTAN: Defense personnel inspect the scene of a 
MAY 28 – ARLINGTON, U.S.: 
MAY 27 – PARIS, FRANCE: An estimated 150,000 
MAY 24 – LONDON, ENGLAND: On May 23, 2013, a police officer stands in a hail storm close to a crime scene where a 
MAY 23 – NEW DELHI, INDIA: A boy minds his family’s containers as people fill theirs with water. High temperatures are causing 
MAY 22 – VALPARAISO, CHILE: Demonstrators are dispersed by police water cannons during clashes in Valparaiso. Students in Chile have been demanding a fairer education system which would allow those from poorer backgrounds access to the best schools.
MAY 21 – MOORE, OKLAHOMA : Debris covers the ground after a powerful 
MAY 20 – SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: Young South Koreans participate in a traditional Confucian coming-of-age ceremony in Seoul. The ceremony celebrates young people who have turned, or are going to turn, 20 this year and is meant to increase their awareness about the responsibilities of adulthood.
MAY 17 – SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: Name cards with wishes of Buddhist followers are attached to lotus lanterns during a ceremony to celebrate the birthday of Buddha at Jogye temple. Buddhism is one of South Korea’s largest and most active religions with millions of followers. Although the exact date is unknown, Buddha’s official birthday is celebrated according to the lunisolar calendar, on the eighth day of the fourth month.
MAY 15 – NEW YORK, U.S.: The new “Rain Room” installation at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City creates a field of falling water that stops in the area where people walk through, allowing them to remain dry. The piece releases a 260-gallon of water per minute.
MAY 14 – POPOCATEPETL, MEXICO: Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano has been rumbling with explosions and expulsions of ash and gas, prompting authorities to bar people from getting close to a crater that is within sight of Mexico City and many of its 19 million residents.
MAY 13 – WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron meet in the White House to foster the 
MAY 11 – CAIRO, EGYPT: A supporter of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak holds his portrait outside the Egyptian police academy in Cairo, on the first day of the retrial on May 11, 2013. Mubarak is appealing against his conviction for the murder of hundreds of peaceful protesters during the 2011 uprising.
MAY 10 – LAHORE, PAKISTAN: Supporters of former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif stand on a wall overlooking the field where he held the closing rally of his campaign on May 9, 2013. 86 million voters are due to go to the polls on May 11; the election will be the first civilian-to-civilian transition of power in the country’s 66-year history.
MAY 09 – MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Russian soldiers march in Red Square during a Victory Day parade. Fighter jets scream overhead and heavy tanks rumble over cobblestones as Russia flexes its military muscle on the anniversary of its costly victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
MAY 08 – LONDON, ENGLAND: Queen Elizabeth II arrives to the State Opening of Parliament in London. The monarch will mark the 60th anniversary of her coronation later this year and despite being 87 years of age, she’s shown no inclination to step down.
Manfred Zbrzezny, an artistic designer and trained blacksmith who’s honed his skills in Italy and Germany, is the founder of Fyrkuna Metalworks. He moved permanently to Liberia in 2005.
He first worked with weapons scrap in 2007, when he was asked to create a banister for a riverside restaurant in Monrovia.
The wreck of the German World War II Dornier Do-17 plane is transported on a barge to a harbor near Ramsgate, England, on Tuesday, June 11. The bomber was shot down during the Battle of Britain in 1940.
A German Luftwaffe Dornier 17 bomber is seen in flight in this undated World War II-era archive photo provided by the Royal Air Force Museum.
The aircraft is lifted from the English Channel off the coast of Kent.
Seawater-damaged engine parts and propellers of the aircraft sit on a salvage barge.
The aircraft is lifted from the waters of the English Channel. It was first spotted on the floor of the channel by divers in 2008.
The plane will go on display at the Royal Air Force Museum in London.
The cockpit of the aircraft is seen after it was raised by the salvage crew.
Salvage workers inspect the bomber after it was lifted from the water.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is a popular but polarizing figure who has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade. Click through to see some highlights of his career.
Putin serves as the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the City Council in St. Petersburg from 1991 to 1994. Before becoming involved in politics, he served in the KGB, a Soviet-era spy agency, as an intelligence officer.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin, right, shakes hands with Putin during a farewell ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on December 31, 1999. Putin rose quickly through the political ranks, becoming the second democratically elected president of the Russian Federation in 2000.
President-elect Putin watches the tactical exercises of Russia’s Northern Fleet in the Barentsevo Sea on April 6, 2000. He has been at the helm during a decade of Russian economic growth fueled by natural resources of gas and oil.
A Russian cadet snaps a picture with Putin in Moscow’s Red Square on May 9, 2007, during an annual celebration of the end of World War II. Putin has pushed to modernize Russia’s military.
Putin attends an inauguration ceremony for president-elect Dmitry Medvedev at Moscow’s Kremlin on May 7, 2008. Putin was constitutionally obliged to stand down as president but stayed close to power, becoming prime minister.
Putin vacations outside the town of Kyzyl in Southern Siberia in 2009. Over the years he has earned a reputation as a “strongman,” declaring a crackdown on Chechen militants a priority in his first presidential term. 
President Barack Obama meets Prime Minister Putin at his home in Novo Ogaryovo, near Moscow, on July 7, 2009. Putin said Russia was pinning its hopes on Obama to revive ties with the United States.
A worker takes down a giant elections poster bearing a portrait of Putin on October 13, 2009, in Moscow. Putin’s party tightened its grip on Russian politics with a sweeping victory in local elections, officials said, as the opposition alleged widespread fraud.
Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin ski together in Krasnaya Polyana, near the Black Sea resort of Sochi in southern Russia, on January 3, 2010.
Putin takes part in a judo training session at a sports complex in St. Petersburg, on December 22, 2010. The Russian leader holds a black belt in judo.
Putin receives a medical consultation during his visit to the Smolensk Regional Hospital on August 25, 2011. Putin said he hurt his shoulder during morning judo practice.
Putin speaks to supporters at a Moscow rally on February 23, 2012. He won the presidential election in March, with just under 65% of the vote. Former President Medvedev became his prime minister.
A topless protester shouts at Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center, during their visit to the Hanover Industrial Fair in central Germany on April 8, 2013. Human rights groups say civil liberties and democratic freedoms have suffered during Putin’s rule.
Putin addresses the media during his visit to Hanover on April 8, 2013. 
Putin and his wife, Lyudmila, ended their nearly 30-year marriage, the state-run news agency reported on June 6.
