A Jewish Activist's Memoir Uncovers Post-War Germany's Hidden Scars
Michael Moos, a longtime Freiburg city councillor and left-wing activist, has written a book reflecting on his Jewish heritage and political life. Born in 1947, he belongs to the generation of Kriegskinder—those who grew up in post-war Germany. His memoir, And Nothing Was Ever the Same Again..., explores family trauma, political engagement, and the legacy of the Shoah.
Moos was born to Alfred and Erna, Jewish refugees who fled Germany in 1933. The family lived in London and Palestine before returning to Ulm in 1953. Many of his relatives were murdered in the Holocaust, and his maternal grandfather died by suicide in Palestine in 1939. His mother, Erna, later received official recognition and compensation in 1983 for the psychological suffering caused by Nazi persecution.
After studying law in Tübingen and Freiburg, Moos became active in left-wing politics. He joined groups like the Socialist German Student Union (SDS), the Maoist Communist League of West Germany (KBW), and the League of West German Communists (BWK). For over 20 years, he served as a city councillor for the Left List in Freiburg. In 2002, he ran for mayor, securing nearly 15 percent of the vote.
His book, published by Klemm & Oelschläger in 2025, spans 160 pages and costs €19.80. It examines his family's history, his Jewish identity, and the political shifts in Freiburg—from 1970s activism to today's Green Party dominance. The Greens now hold key positions, including the mayoralty and a Bundestag seat since 2021.
Moos' memoir adds a personal voice to the German-Jewish experience in post-war Germany. The book ties together family loss, political struggle, and the evolving landscape of Freiburg. It will be available in 2025, offering readers a detailed account of a life shaped by history and activism.
