Today is day 166 of my exile.
Exile 166.
Nineteen sixty-six.
In the Federal Republic of Germany, economic and political tensions intensify in 1966. After years of growth, the country slips into a recession, unemployment becomes visible, and long-held certainties begin to crumble. For the first time in a long while, the social market economy shows its vulnerable side.
Politically, Germany responds with a turning point. The Grand Coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD emerges, driven by the will to stabilize—but also by the recognition of limited alternatives. Power-sharing becomes a necessity, not an ideal.
At the same time, social debates intensify. Questions of democratic oversight, emergency powers, and the role of the younger generation move more strongly to the forefront. They are still early signs, but they point to emerging lines of conflict.
Internationally, Germany finds itself within a shifting alliance system. France withdraws from NATO’s military structures, forcing a rebalancing of Europe’s security order. The Federal Republic remains integrated, but must redefine its role.
Globally, several developments escalate in parallel in 1966. The war in Vietnam expands, driven by bloc logic and geopolitical interests. In China, the Cultural Revolution begins—an internal power struggle with global repercussions.
This year shows how closely domestic political decisions and global dynamics are intertwined. Exile 166.
And so, in the end, there remains the quiet realization that history rarely begins abruptly, but slowly condenses.
Exile Chronicle
All previous (from 130 – earlier entries are on X/Twitter) and ongoing entries of my Exile Chronicle are collected and documented here:
👉 https://marlas.army/exil-chronik/
Leave a Reply