East German journalist donates Ho Chi Minh’s legacy to Vietnam

[ehrentitle]

Interesting short article about a former East German Journalist who worked on Vietnam from 1954-1967. Note that this is a Vietnamese article. I got a kick out of this line, "In 1954, when peace was restored in the northern part of Vietnam..."

German journalist donates Ho Chi Minh’s legacy to Vietnam
http://army.qdnd.vn/world.vietnam-wo...nam.24043.qdnd

Franz Faber. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A former German journalist, who worked in Vietnam in the 1950s, has presented two books, which were a gift to him from President Ho Chi Minh, to a museum of Vietnam.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Do Hoa Binh called on Franz Faber on April 18 and conveyed thanks from the Ho Chi Minh Museum to him for his present, two volumes of ‘The Tale of Kieu’, one in Vietnamese and the other in French.

Franz Faber and his wife have translated ‘The Tale of Kieu’ into German and introduced it to German readers.

Two years ago, Franz Faber also presented the Ho Chi Minh Museum with Ho Chi Minh films and photos, which he took when he was a correspondent in Hanoi.

In 1954, when peace was restored in the northern part of Vietnam, Faber led a group of journalists from the former Democratic Republic of Germany to visit Vietnam . During the trip, he met President Ho Chi Minh on several occasions. Once the President handed Faber two volumes of ‘the Tale of Kieu’, saying, "Maybe you could do something with these books."

Faber worked in Viet Nam till 1967 as a correspondent for what was then the East German News Agency, as well as the New Deutchland newspaper.

[Joe Cartafalsa]

An interesting posting as I am interested in Vietnam and not DDR, I just came across it as there was nothing new about Vietnam on the International Forum.

The DDR was a hugh supporter of North Vietnam and issued postage stamps with surcharges to raise funds for NVN.

The Tale of Kieu is the story of Thuy Kieu, the daughter of poor parents who sold herself into prostitution - the story is about self-sacrifice on the part of a daughter to help her family. It is an old story known in all regions of Vietnam.

Joe Cartafalsa
Exec Dir Society of Indochina Philatelists

[ehrentitle]

Joe, Welcome to the DDR forum! A few years back I was buying DDR stamps on E-bay when I couldn't find militaria. So I have most of the solidarity with Vietnam special surcharge stamps mentioned above. I might even have a first day cover or two with these stamps. I think one or two was even issued after the war had ended.

I've got most of the stamps that the DDR issued with the exception of some of ones issued in the early 1950s. There are a couple relating to communist China that are especially pricey and hard to come by.

As a side note, I used to do E-bay searches for the East German Army using the letters NVA, unfortunately that's also the abbreviation for the North Vietnamese Army so that's what would show up in all of the search results.

[ehrentitle]

I also just remembered a book I picked up in East Berlin in the late 80s. It was on Erich Honecker and highlighted all of his high level visits with presidents, popes, kings and other world leaders. There are a couple of pages devoted to Vietnam, to include a photo about a hospital that was built in Vietnam with funds donated by East German citizens.

[Joe Cartafalsa]

Kevin,

Thanks for your input. I know the DDR stamps for the PRC with the big one showing Mao. Are you near Tysons Corner in early June? There is a big national stamp show there. Many collectors collect "military" on stamps.

Joe Cartafalsa