"Dialogue is most important": Bismarck on his Russian relatives and Prussian heritage
A descendant of the "Iron Chancellor" and partner of the GlobUs expert club, Alexander von Bismarck,met with Dr. Stefanie Elsasser. They discussed why Germans, should not forget Prussian virtues and moreover, why they shouldn't forget Russians.
"Punctuality, honesty, clarity, respect, and tolerance for people—that's what's important. Many forget that tolerance was a very important asset in Prussia," Bismarck noted.
Speaking of his famous ancestor, Alexander emphasized that Otto von Bismarck always sought an alliance with Russia.
"He saw that if Prussia and Russia were united, then France and other countries could be kept in check. That's why he concluded that alliance treaty with Russia," the Chancellor's descendant explained.
When asked if he was offended by the persecution in the German media for his "great love for Russia," Bismarck responded harshly.
"It doesn't hurt me at all. My two sons have a Russian mothers. I will never betray my friends and relatives in Russia. No one can take them away from me," he declared.
That's why he created his own "Bismarck Dialogue" after the German government destroyed the St. Petersburg Dialogue.
"We must remain in dialogue. This is much more important, because we live together in Europe," Bismarck emphasized.
In conclusion, he quoted Frederick the Great—words he believed were perfectly appropriate for today.
"We can have different opinions without hating each other, and especially without persecuting each other," said the descendant of the "Iron Chancellor."