General Archives ⋆ The Passenger

June 21, 2025June 22, 2025

Germany’s only high-sea island

Helgoland, Germany’s only high-sea island, has a rich and turbulent history shaped by its strategic location in the North Sea. Originally inhabited since prehistoric times, the island belonged to Denmark for centuries before passing to the United Kingdom in 1807 and finally to Germany in 1890 through the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty. Since 1932, Helgoland has been part of the Landkreis Pinneberg in Schleswig-Holstein, a unique administrative arrangement that ensures efficient governance despite its distance from the mainland. Pinneberg was selected as it is close to Hamburg, which has the best connection to the island.

June 20, 2025June 22, 2025

Halunder

The Halunder Jet is the most efficient and enjoyable way to reach Helgoland. This high-speed catamaran is designed for comfort and speed, whisking you from Cuxhaven to Germany’s only true high-sea island in a bit more than an hour. If you prefer a longer ride you can also already start your trip at the harbor of Hamburg, giving you a nice tour on the Elbe river. The Halunder Jet is modern and has panoramic windows as well as spacious decks, and great amenities. The timetable gives you the option to either explore Helgoland in four hours (which is possible with good preparation) and return the same day – or to stay overnight and skip one boat.

June 9, 2025June 11, 2025

Die Moorsoldaten

The Zirkus Konzentrazani stands out as a remarkable episode in the early history of Nazi concentration camps, particularly at KZ Börgermoor in the Emsland region. Conceived by the actor and prisoner Wolfgang Langhoff, this ‘concentration camp circus‘ was a bold act of cultural resistance. Prisoners organized a satirical variety show, complete with mock circus acts, humor, music, and dance, cleverly using double meanings to subtly mock their captors and the Nazi regime. The event provided a rare moment of relief and solidarity among the inmates, allowing them to reclaim a sense of humanity and dignity in the face of brutal oppression.

June 8, 2025June 11, 2025

Tor Ostfrieslands

Leer, often called the ‘Gateway to East Frisia‘, is a charming town in northwestern Lower Saxony, Germany, nestled between the rivers Leda and Ems and just a short distance from the Dutch border. Its strategic location has made it a crossroads of cultures and commerce for centuries, and today it stands as a vibrant blend of history and modern life, with about 35,000 inhabitants. The town’s origins trace back over 1,200 years, with archaeological evidence of settlements as early as 3200 BC, and its first chapel built by Saint Ludger in 791 AD marked the beginning of Christian influence in the region.

June 7, 2025June 11, 2025

Oldenburg in Oldenburg

Oldenburg’s roots stretch back to the early Middle Ages, with archaeological finds dating its first settlements to the 7th or 8th century. The city was first recorded as ‘Aldenburg’ in 1108, when it was a strategic fortress on a trade route between Bremen and Frisia. Over the centuries, Oldenburg grew in importance, becoming a seat of power for the Counts of Oldenburg, and later, through dynastic ties, influencing the thrones of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The city endured periods of prosperity and hardship, including devastating fires and Danish rule, before emerging as a vibrant regional center. Today it is the third largest city in the German federal state of Lower Saxony.

May 29, 2025June 1, 2025

1000 millimes

The Tunisian dinar, introduced in 1960, replaced the Tunisian franc at a rate of 1 dinar to 1,000 francs as part of Tunisia’s assertion of economic independence following the end of French colonial rule. The currency’s name derives from the Roman denarius, reflecting the region’s ancient history. Initially, the dinar was pegged to the US dollar rather than the French franc, marking a shift away from colonial ties. Over the decades, the dinar has experienced fluctuations, including a significant depreciation against major currencies like the dollar and euro since 2008.

May 29, 2025June 2, 2025

Tunis-Goulette-Marsa

The Tunis-Goulette-Marsa (TGM) train is a historic commuter rail line in Tunisia, inaugurated in 1872, making it the first railway in the country. It predates the French protectorate by about a decade and has been known as the TGM since 1905. The line stretches approximately 19 kilometers, connecting the capital city Tunis with the coastal town of La Marsa, passing through La Goulette and other notable suburbs, including Carthage (yes, the famous Carthage!) and Sidi Bou Saïd. This route has played a significant role in shaping the urban expansion and development of the northern suburbs of Tunis, especially along the scenic seafront.

May 29, 2025June 1, 2025

Jasmine revolution

The Jasmine revolution in Tunisia was a pivotal event that ignited the broader Arab spring movement across the Middle East and North Africa. It began in December 2010 when Mohamed Bouazizi, a young street vendor in the town of Sidi Bouzid, set himself on fire in protest against police corruption and economic hardship. This desperate act resonated deeply with Tunisians, sparking widespread demonstrations against unemployment, poverty, political repression, and corruption under the authoritarian regime of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who had ruled for over two decades.

May 5, 2025May 5, 2025

Moldova

Moldova, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordering Ukraine and Romania, has a rich and complex history spanning from prehistoric times to modern independence. The territory was part of the Principality of Moldavia from the 14th century until 1812, when it was ceded to the Russian Empire by the Ottoman Empire. After briefly uniting with Romania in 1918, it became part of the Soviet Union in 1940 as the Moldavian SSR. Moldova finally emerged as an independent republic following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since 2020, under the presidency of Maia Sandu, the country has pursued a pro-Western and anti-corruption agenda.

May 3, 2025May 6, 2025

Transnistrian ruble

The Transnistrian ruble is the official currency of Transnistria, a breakaway region in eastern Moldova that is not internationally recognized. The ruble, divided into 100 kopecks, was first introduced in 1994, replacing provisional issues and old Soviet banknotes that had been stamped with local symbols. Early issues suffered from high inflation, leading to frequent overprints and the eventual creation of a local mint in Tiraspol in 2005. Today, the currency features both banknotes and distinctive polygonal coins made from composite materials, with designs often depicting historical figures like General Suvorov.