Today is day 174 of my exile.
Exile 174.
Nineteen seventy-four.
In the Federal Republic, an era comes to an abrupt end. After the Guillaume affair, Chancellor Willy Brandt resigns in May, a political turning point that shows how deeply the Cold War continued to resonate even during periods of détente. Helmut Schmidt takes over the government at a time of economic uncertainty, shaped by the aftermath of the oil crisis and a noticeable realignment of Western industrial societies.
In the GDR, the political leadership under Erich Honecker remains focused on stability. The Basic Treaty continues to have an effect, yet relations between the two German states remain marked by mistrust. While the international recognition of the GDR becomes more firmly established, economic dependencies on the West intensify at the same time.
Internationally, the balance of power shifts. In the United States, the Watergate affair forces President Nixon to resign, an event that shakes trust in political institutions. In Portugal, the Carnation Revolution ends decades of dictatorship and sets new dynamics in motion across Europe. In the Middle East, the consequences of the Yom Kippur War continue to unfold, while energy policy becomes a strategic issue worldwide.
The year shows how closely national developments are intertwined with global shifts in power. Diplomacy, intelligence activity, economic interests, and social change intersect. Conflicts rarely arise from a single decision, but from long chains of political choices made by many actors.
Exile 174.
A year of resignations and upheaval, in which political systems had to prove their resilience.
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/
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