Imagine the year 1929. This was a period of tremendous upheaval, a time when the world was trying to rebuild itself after the devastating First World War. In this swirling environment of change, a young couple Hannah Arendt and Günther Stern, embarked on their own journey, choosing a quiet corner of this world, a southern neighborhood of Potsdam called Drewitz. Here they began their life together, sharing a small, one-room studio. The neighborhood itself was a mix of old and new, a place where the remnants of the past blended seamlessly with the promise of the future. They both felt drawn to this quiet corner of the world, a place where they could escape the bustling city and focus on their own ambitions. But their stay in Drewitz was brief. Their wanderlust led them to Heidelberg, where they lived with Hannah’s mentor Karl Jaspers. They then moved to Frankfurt, where Günther hoped to finish writing his Habilitationsschrift. These years of wandering were filled with intellectual exploration and personal growth, setting the stage for the remarkable careers that these two individuals would go on to have. Drewitz, a place of beginnings, a stepping stone to more ambitious destinations but a place that nevertheless played an important part in Hannah Arendt’s journey. It is a reminder that even the smallest corners of the world can hold tremendous significance.
Rote Villa
Why is it called the *Rote Villa*, you might wonder, as you stand before this striking building? Well, its nickname,