Today is day 177 of my exile.
Exile 177.
Nineteen seventy-seven.
The year is marked by a shaken West Germany. The so-called German Autumn shapes the Federal Republic with kidnappings, assassinations, and a tense security situation. The kidnapping of Hanns Martin Schleyer, the hijacking of the Lufthansa aircraft Landshut, and the events in Stammheim show how a domestic conflict takes on international dimensions.
The federal government responds with stricter security laws and closer cooperation with allied states. At the same time, Ostpolitik continues, driven by efforts to maintain stability in divided Germany. The GDR watches developments closely, while the Basic Treaty continues to define the framework of intra-German relations.
Internationally, the balance of power in the Cold War shifts only slowly, but noticeably. In the United States, Jimmy Carter takes office and emphasizes human rights as a guiding principle, while the Soviet Union secures its sphere of influence. In Africa, the Ogaden War between Somalia and Ethiopia escalates, backed by shifting great-power interests.
1977 also marks a turning point culturally. The death of Elvis Presley moves millions, while Star Wars opens a new chapter in popular storytelling. Technology, politics, and society are all under strain at the same time.
This year shows that internal radicalization, geopolitical rivalry, and social change are interconnected. Security does not emerge in a vacuum, but through the interplay of freedom and order.
Exile 177.
And between fear and new beginnings, a generation searches for its footing.
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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