Foto: picture-alliance/dpa
Who else knows what that handshake symbolized? Today’s young people probably don’t. Deal? In some respects, yes.
Do ut des. This for that. Give and take. Literally: Manus manum lavat. One hand washes the other. The ancient Romans elevated the ancient custom to a legal principle in the Ius Civile, from then on codified in all legal works, including the Civil Code. Deals are particularly popular in Anglo-American legal circles and shorten some expensive processes. And are also increasingly being practiced in the German judiciary. Whether rightly or wrongly.
The “deal” concluded in April 1946 between communists and social democrats in the Soviet occupied zone to march together from now on, to stop fighting each other, and to never let right-wing extremists come to power again, was full of hope and brought about a lot of good, but was disappointing also. Some more than others. Ultimately, the logo degenerated into a stigma for opportunists. Whether rightly or wrongly. And the common joke was: If a plane crashes over Africa, the passengers fall into the hands of cannibals. Amid cheers, they are led to the tribe’s large cauldron. The chief graciously gives the prisoners a chance: “If we know the country you come from, we will give you life.” The American boasts: “From the USA, world power .” – “We don’t know it, off to the cauldron.” The Frenchman proudly: “Grande nation.” – “We don’t know it, off…” The Soviet citizen, confident of victory: “From the fatherland of the working people, we have it The first people were sent into space.” – “We don’t know.” The GDR citizen doesn’t even get a word in edgewise. The chief has discovered the ellipse on the lapel of his jacket, for him two chopped off hands: “Brother!” There is also a second version of the joke. The fourth passenger, horrified by the failure of the representatives of great nations, squeaks intimidatedly: “From the GDR!” Then the whole tribe cheers: “Good friend! Cauldron, gift of solidarity from your tribe. And life was given to the little man from the little country. Do ut des.
We-don’t-give-each-other anything
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