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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · 3d

Two years ago today I published 'In Search of Berlin', a personal take on the 800 years of my adopted home. I first lived here (in the East) as a young reporter in 1988. I'm so grateful for the reception the book received, and to the many people over the years who've been on the journey with me

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · 3d

Had the privilege of seeing Daniel Barenboim conducting the Berlin Phil last night, Schubert's 'Unfinished' and Beethoven's 7th. He was so frail but he commanded the orchestra, and the audience was in raptures. What a servant to music and the cause of peace in Israel/Palestine

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · 9d

Off to the Romanian city of Timisoara later today for the last chapter of my book (more on that anon) and as a speaker at a summit on EU enlargement. Atmosphere will be buoyed by Moldova's (momentary) escape from Putin's clutches
timisoarasummit.eu

Timișoara Cities Summit 2025 – EU Enlargement - Timișoara Cities Summit 2025

Timișoara Cities Summit on EU Enlargement 30 September 2025 Welcome to Timișoara Cities Summit 2025 It is an honor for […]

timisoarasummit.eu

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · 9d

Moldova isn't the only (small) ray of anti-populist sunshine in Europe this morning. In the run-off for a series of mayoralties in North Rhine Westphalia, Germany's largest state, the far-right AfD lost decisively. Good night for Merz's CDU. SPD & Greens not trashed
www.euronews.com/2025/09/28/g...

CDU wins big in local German vote as AfD fails to secure any cities

After Germany's local elections, the CDU made significant gains, winning in Dortmund, Leverkusen and Bielefeld. Despite setbacks, the SPD celebrated victories in Cologne and other cities.

www.euronews.com

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Reposted by John Kampfner

Lucy Ash @lucyaash.bsky.social · 18d

The many faces of Tikhon Khrennikov who controlled the Soviet Union of Composers for 42 years. On @bbcradio3bot.bsky.social I map his influence over decades of cultural control. Can music ever be apolitical in a dictatorship? Listen here from Sunday evening: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · 19d

Dear city of Munich, Free State of Bavaria and Government of Germany. There is no moral equivalence in these two flags

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · 19d

open.substack.com/pub/johnkamp...

The Trump (& Reform) playbook to nowhere

After all his mishaps, can Starmer find something better to stand for?

open.substack.com

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · 21d

On the day Starmer and King Charles welcome the terror that is Trump, why Britain, post-Brexit, has become a leader in Europe in terms of panic-laden and short-lived governments.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/16/s...

Starmer Is the Dog Who Caught the Car

Britain’s prime minister fulfilled his quest for power but never knew what to do with it.

foreignpolicy.com

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · 23d

Writing a piece this morning on Starmer's woes @foreignpolicy.com and decided to insert these two videos, Blair 97 and Obama 08. Brings chills down the spine.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Za...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk17...

Tony Blair's famous Downing Street celebration 1997

YouTube video by New Labour

www.youtube.com

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · 27d

So Mandelson is sacked. What I find amusing is the extent to which many Brits still cling to the view their politics are cleaner than others'. That's not my experience in 30 years of covering it (and dealing with people who got away with things) - and now watching it from one step removed

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · 28d

This is the third shortlist this summer/autumn for @lucyaash.bsky.social. Not bad, I'd say...

The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 29d

The British Academy Book Prize 2025 shortlist is here!

Each book offers a new perspective on issues of global importance, driven by rigorous research and an ability to tell powerful stories in an engaging and compelling way.

📖 Discover the full list here:

https://bit.ly/4glo8Jo

Promotional image for The British Academy Book Prize 2025 shortlist, featuring a diagonal divide with various book covers displayed on a teal and dark blue background.

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · 28d

Nice of you to say @codendahl.bsky.social, though - if I was being reductive (perish thought) - I would be a little less worried about the state of 🇩🇪 than I would of government-less 🇫🇷 and a 🇬🇧 in thrall to Farage and other extremists and clowns

Christian Odendahl @codendahl.bsky.social · 29d

No I know, @johnkampfner.bsky.social is not just a great author but an astute observer of what is going on in Germany, he wrote a great optimistic take on the country which Germans should read, maybe especially now that nothing seems to work.

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · Aug 26

Just pressed the button on my eighth & most ambitious book yet. Nothing beats this moment for excitement & relief. ‘Braver New World’, to be published spring 2026, looks at 10 countries where people & government have lessons for us in dealing with the world’s many problems. More in coming months

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · Aug 22

Excellent piece on Germany's difficulty with Israel/Gaza.

I work with Germans who commute across the swiss border and they echo the torment John K highlights in his piece.

DE is in serious danger of being on the wrong side of history. Again.

John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · Aug 22

Germany's paralysed torment on Israel/Gaza. This wasn't an easy piece to write. If you can't access it @foreignpolicy.com it's also on my Substack
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/20/g...

Germany’s Israeli Dogma Lives On

The German government has changed its tone on Israel policy—but not much else.

foreignpolicy.com

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · Aug 22

Germany's paralysed torment on Israel/Gaza. This wasn't an easy piece to write. If you can't access it @foreignpolicy.com it's also on my Substack
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/20/g...

Germany’s Israeli Dogma Lives On

The German government has changed its tone on Israel policy—but not much else.

foreignpolicy.com

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · Aug 11

The Trumpification of German politicians and the far-right threats facing Friedrich Merz. My take on the first 100 days (this week) of the new German Chancellor
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

After a torrid 100 days, Germany’s Friedrich Merz is mocked as a ‘dead man walking’. He must fight back | John Kampfner

With the AfD surging, it could soon be the largest party here. But, if he acts now, that dark scenario need not come to pass, says author John Kampfner

www.theguardian.com

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · Jul 18

Today unhappily marks the centenary of the publication of the first volume of Mein Kampf. Following my BBC Radio 4 one-hour documentary, and pieces for the Sunday Times and other UK outlets, here is my piece for Der Spiegel (in German)
www.spiegel.de/geschichte/h...

(S+) Meinung: Hundert Jahre »Mein Kampf«: Wo Adolf Hitlers Gedankengut wieder an Einfluss gewinnt

Vor hundert Jahren erschien Hitlers Hetzschrift »Mein Kampf«, in der er seine politischen Vorstellungen erläuterte. Wie seine unmenschlichen Theorien trotz Aufarbeitung in der modernen Politik und Ges...

www.spiegel.de

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Reposted by John Kampfner

Gesine Weber @gesineweber.bsky.social · Jul 17

Refreshing read by @johnkampfner.bsky.social.

On the school trips: as much as I always argue for more Franco-German and more Erasmus, we also desperately need more UK-GER (+ UK-EU) school/uni exchange - can't afford another generation Brexit.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The British-German conversation deserves more than tired old cliches. Over to you, Merz and Starmer | John Kampfner

The chancellor’s first London visit is an opportunity for a modernising reset – on business, defence and even school trips, says author John Kampfner

www.theguardian.com

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · Jul 17

Starmer and Merz are opening a new chapter in elations. Until now the political conversation between the two countries hasn’t kept pace with the lived experience of Brits in Germany and the Germans in the UK. I see it all the time here in Berlin www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The British-German conversation deserves more than tired old cliches. Over to you, Merz and Starmer | John Kampfner

The chancellor’s first London visit is an opportunity for a modernising reset – on business, defence and even school trips, says author John Kampfner

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by John Kampfner

Scott Dougal @scottdougal.bsky.social · Jul 1

In Search of Berlin by John Kampfner

Preparation for post-exams trip to Berlin. Looking forward to being boring dad on a city break.

A cracking book which mixes history and personal reflection. Perfect primer for a visit, or just if you want to read about one of the world’s great cities.

#BookSky

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Reposted by John Kampfner

The New World @thenewworldmag.bsky.social · Jul 10

‪🗞️ Our latest issue is on sale today - The comeback edition

Featuring
@tombaldwin66.bsky.social @petepaphides.bsky.social @soniasodha.bsky.social @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com
@johnkampfner.bsky.social, Matthew d'Ancona and more

🔗 Subscribe here: www.thenewworld.co.uk/subscribe/?u...

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Reposted by John Kampfner

Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin @wiko-berlin.bsky.social · Jul 9

"100 Years of 'Mein Kampf'" - Fellow @johnkampfner.bsky.social, whose Jewish father fled Czechoslovakia in 1939, sets out to explore the book’s origins, its impact and its disturbing echoes in today’s world www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, 100 Years of Mein Kampf

John Kampfner read the world’s most notorious book so you don’t have to.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by John Kampfner

Martin McKee @martinmckee.bsky.social · Jul 7

It’s 100 years since publication of Mein Kampf. Highly recommend this programme by @johnkampfner.bsky.social on what happened to it during that time and why we should know about it today

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Archive on 4 - 100 Years of Mein Kampf - BBC Sounds

John Kampfner read the world’s most notorious book so you don’t have to.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by John Kampfner

John Peters @johnthejack.bsky.social · Jul 6

I am not trying to say that today’s leaders will follow Hitler. Words don’t inevitably lead to actions. I am saying that, for all the efforts to eradicate this book’s ideas, some of them have returned into the heart of global politics
(£) www.thetimes.com/culture/book...
By @johnkampfner.bsky.social

Mein Kampf at 100 — why the most reviled book in history still haunts us

John Kampfner is one of the few people to have read Hitler’s 700-page book, both in English and in German — this is what he learnt

www.thetimes.com

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John Kampfner @johnkampfner.bsky.social · Jul 6

Thanks for appearing @unddieregel.bsky.social. The parallels you drew in the programme between Mein Kampf and present-day videos on YouTube and elsewhere were important and alarming

Simon Strick @unddieregel.bsky.social · Jul 5

Tonight at 8, the BBC's series "Archive on 4" premieres a new episode on 100 Years of "Mein Kampf". I had the pleasure to contribute a bit on the many digital and memetic afterlives of the book. Thanks for the collab @johnkampfner.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, 100 Years of Mein Kampf

John Kampfner read the world’s most notorious book so you don’t have to.

www.bbc.co.uk

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