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Subscribe to RSSPlans to close a seniors' center in a building that was used by East Germany's Stasi spies during the Cold War have prompted its elderly patrons to take action: They've occupied the building. NBC News' Carlo Angerer reports from Berlin.
BERLIN – Ranging in age from 55 to 96, a group of fed-up German retirees may be the world's oldest squatters.
They have occupied their local seniors' center in Berlin-Pankow, a formerly Communist district of the German capital, since local officials announced it would be shut by early July.
With its intermittent hot water and creaking hardwood floors, the villa -- which was used by East German Stasi spies during the Cold War -- is not the most comfortable place to stay overnight.
The protesters had planned to stay for only a few nights hoping for a quick offer by the city. The group’s 72-year-old leader Doris Syrbe admits that they were unprepared at the beginning.
"We didn’t know what to expect," Syrby told NBC News. "All of us were citizens of East Germany, where it wasn’t routine to get up on the barricades. And even now, politicians tell us that we are operating out of limits."
Before the action started, the center was a place to get together and do exercise, play chess and even celebrate momentous occasions such as one couple’s 50-year wedding anniversary.
The demonstrators are afraid that the building will be sold off and torn down to make room for more of the high-rent houses that already dominate the neighborhood, and their community split up with members sent to different locations.
Carlo Angerer / NBC News
Doris Syrbe, 72, leads a group of retirees struggling to keep open a community center in Berlin.
And worried that the city would lock them out, the retirees decided to occupy the house. More than a month later, they remain.
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Now big posters draped on the street-front fence declare "Hands off!" and "This house is occupied," reminiscent of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
'Just don't get sick'
At least seven of the retirees representing the center's 300 regular users have stayed every night since the end of June, sleeping on old mattresses, camping beds and sun loungers.
But after a couple of weeks they have become highly organized with plans for when a person can spend a night at home once a week or at what time newspaper reporters and camera teams can visit.The elderly squatters have enjoyed widespread support from neighbors, political activists, local media and their families. "They are proud of us and tell us to hang in there, just don't get sick," one of the occupiers said.
With no acceptable offer by the city in sight, Syrbe said the occupiers are now in for the long haul. "We want to stay together," she said. "The city has not even been able to find room for all of our groups."
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City officials say they can no longer afford the annual operating costs of about $73,000 and an imminent renovation which would cost more than $3 million. The retirees counter that those estimates are artificially inflated and say the community center is vital to its 300 visitors, many of whom get a pension that barely covers the cost of living in Berlin.
To make ends meet and to finance at least a short vacation with his wife, 71-year-old occupier Peter Klotsche says he has to work for two days a week on tourist buses. He says that after working and paying taxes for decades, the retirees should get at least something in return.
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"We don’t want to be ignored and sit at home in front of the television all the time," Klotsche said adding that the building is the only place for many to stay active and have a vital social life at an old age. "Life doesn’t stop with retirement."
Carlo Angerer / NBC News
Peter Klotsche, 71, says that after working and paying taxes for decades, retirees like him should get something in return.
But a solution seems out of sight after the city cut the telephone lines and even sent a worker in the early morning hours to change the locks to the basement, which barred access to its gym. The seniors complain that there is little communication from the city.
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Local politician Lioba Zürn-Kasztantowicz, who announced the center's closure, told NBC News that the city hardly has a choice due to budget pressures.
"The money just isn’t there anymore," she said. "There is less and less wiggle room, when it comes to voluntary social services."
More stories from Germany on NBCNews.com
Zürn-Kaztantowicz said that there are no current plans to clear the squatters from the site. "But I can’t say if that decision will hold," she added.
The squatters say they will remain in the building until the city promises to keep the center open or a substitute building that could house their community is found.
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Leave a Comment:
LOVE it! Hang in there with your peaceful protest!!!
So they are no longer contributing anything usefull to society and yet they still think they deserve a vacation each year and a recreational home just for play? and all on the governments pay? this is a classic example of greedy spoiled westerners who are tainted by the poison of a luxurious successfull society.
Victory
Well, I guess, according to you, that they should just shrivel up and die. I mean, the years they contributed to society apparently means nothing to you.
I wonder just how old you are.
typical hysterical response. where did you get that victory wants them to "shrivel up and die"?
actually, how old are you? welcome to real life.
Hope you get what you want. It's sad to see even in Germany they step on the little guy. Good Luck.
Maybe Obama should take notice. Old people (as ancient as 55) are protesting. Maybe he should revise his healthcare plan to require death counseling start at 55 with a manditory black pill at 60. Well maybe that is already in there, Nancy hasn't told us.
Hang in there old people!
I've a great respect for the elderly (my respect grows the older I get :) How ever it was this network that painted Germany as a "Utopian" example where people work the "least" with great benefit.... It's this report is a tip of the iceberg of what is REALLY going on in Europe and mny on here who are saying "Well the should get what they want." are the same ones who was decrying the American system for it's "inequality". I'm not saying America "doesn't need a fix" but I'm saying that America is not Europe nor should be. A little hypocrisy in this story... and the Vine.
Let me understand, I've worked since I was 14, paid taxes and contributed to social security, plan to retire next year at age73 and I will ot loner be contributing "anything useful to society". And, yes, I think I deserve a vacation whenever I can get one. I'm raising a14 year old child on top of everything and I want my social security and medicaid supplemental insurance (I have my own insuance thank you,so I want the gap coverage). How do you come to the conclusion that retirees are living off the governmen. Do you think we had any choice about paying into social security or paying federal and state taxes and municipal taxes or county taxes. After 59 years, I want what I'm "entitled" to which is what the government said would be provided if we paid those taxes.
Keep up the peaceful protest. Hopefully the government will have enough respect not to bring in the police to mow you all down; like they do here in America.
Debi you are sooooooooooooooo right!!!! If one of my neighbors heard this she would say I'm "anti" american!
Shirin Lankarani: Sadly, our "right" to peacefully protest has been taken from us.
That, is "anti" American.
They ALREADY contributed to society. That's all the work they did for the decades before you were probably even born! And you might also want to rethink that "greedy, spoiled westerners" comment, as these folks spent most of their lives in EAST Germany.
victory hail does all of the high-rent housing have waiting lists? Because if it does not, your comment is stupid.
Ted Kennedy says cuber you need to work on your reading skills.
Tickets to the Most Exotic Marigold Hotel for all!
Have some you ever been to Germany? Do ou have any idea about their medical system, retirement system, or even their tax paying system? Do you have the slightest idea of what it was like to be in East Germany? Who are you to be so disrespectful to some one someplace you have never been and know nothing of what they did just to survive in East Blocked Germany. I will admit that the wall has only been down about 22 years. I guess that most of you were 12 yrs old back than and don't remember, that would put you at an average of 32 yrs old now and you still sound like a 12 yr old!
Without making a judgement regarding the right or wrong of their cause, I'll observe that no politician , either here or in Germany wants to give the order which will cause these senior citizens to be removed in hand cuffs.
The politicians in Russia or China won't hesitate.
Connie from wv I have to agree with you on everything except that you are owed, not entitled. You worked and paid for what you have coming, it is not an entitlement. An entitlement is something that liberals think they have coming because they were born, earning it or paying for it, does not apply.
@connie, as for why you worked til you were 73, I won't comment on that is your business. You do have entitlements and rights. The down side is we still pay income tax on SS. If you haven't connected with AARP I would suggest that you do. There are many ways to save a few bucks here and there through them. If you want to keep you present ins as you say that's ok to. AARP has Ins providers that provide GAP Ins and others that fill the void. My opinion here is price shopping and what they (Ins Co) provide is a free conversation. You might find the same thing at a better price. In fact check with your Ins Co and see if they have a retirement deal. Don't cost nothing to ask. On the Income Tax part I suggest letting tham take out 10% or so. If you don't tell them to do this they won't take it out and income tax claim at the end of the year will surprise you. How you choose to handle your taxes is your choice.
@Paul-2539759, YOUR TURN! I was going to open a can of Whoop Ass on you but changed my mind. I don't feel like going to jail for child abuse. As for your Daddy, if I find him on the bar stool next to mine I will Bitch Slap his ass silly and than do it again for not bringing you up properly to show some respect.
The media needs to report more on the filth that is Israel. They are the biggest squarters, scamming Americans tax dollars. People are totally digusted with this filthy zionist media.
We need to protest the money Israel is scamming from the American people. Prostitution in Israel is a 2 billion a year business. Neo Nazi is not the probelem, they are not stealing from us, the zionist are.
usafirst1, tell your woes about Israel to Romney. He is all ears!
Good luck to them. I hope they can find a way to live happily ever after. After all the rest of us will be there sooner than we wished.
Old people in America take note. Keep voting for those who want to cut taxes and see what happens to your senior centers.
Cap'nJim, you hit the nail on the head. i love hearing what even elderly have to say about polotics; everyone wants to pay less money. someday i hope the elderly realize that social security and senior centers are a damn privilage and not anyones' right, as far as i am concerned they can keep protesting, what ever they get out of it is FREE to them, but we pay........i understand why they feel they deserve something, but considering they can't all provide for themselves they should be grateful we don't let them rot. What ever happened to beggers can't be choosers?
bernie social security is not a privelige. You have to pay in to it to get it. Ignorant beyond understanding.
Amen, Bernie. Ted, I see your point, but I think Social Security is really called Social Security Insurance. Many people live well beyond what they contribute, without being thankful. That's what really ticks me off.
Some of the logic in this discussion is eluding me. Yo, Bernie - is everyone over 55 a 'begger'? I guess so, since their chances of getting a job at a starbucks or hooters franchise are slim to nil. Much less if they carry scars from all the wars that the 'non-beggers' created. Cap'nJim has the answer - if you see a senior citizen that is NOT crying tears of gratitude for all the blessings endowed upon them, by the soon to be (if they're lucky) senior citizens, well then, terminate with extreme prejudice. Can't call Dick Cheney a 'begger'. You can, but not to his face. And he did his best to prevent many people from becoming 'beggers'. By God, we as Americans should be reducing health & education spending, so we can pay for a monument and a National Cheney/Rumsfeld/Bush holiday! Damned beggers - if they had an ounce of national pride (THE HOMELAND! - DER FADERLAND!) they would have punched their own ticket when the regime du jour first classified them as non-productive beggers. We all have choices. You youngsters can choose to NOT pay into Social Security (good luck with that) orr...choose to not become a begger in the next war (easier to do than to think about). Cap'nJim & Bernie - when the time comes - we expect you to do your duty! Godspeed.
Bernie-6095927 is a good example of a troll. By the way Bernie, you know what would be even better? If your generation would quit with the illegimate babies.
@Capt Jim, going on a limb here some but SS Tax and income Tax are two different things. When the reduce some Income Tax that is suppose to stimulate the Economy. When they return taxes to the original rate, everybody sayes they raised the taxs and wants to hang everybody from the president on down. Funny when a store has a sale and it end they never say the prices went up.
Ich bin ein whiner.
No money?Right!Never no money for the little people,but OMG,where did we find 100B Euros for bankrupt Euro Banks!Thats right,we found some change under the couch!
Wow go figure another liberal progressive crib to tombstone security blanket country that can't afford it any longer. And of course the biggest dopes in the world, yea us, we see all this around the world happening. And what do we want to do, the exact same thing. Tax and spend hand out as much benefits as possible with no regard to when the money runs out.
You seem to forget that these countries did just fine until the silent conspiracy of banks/governments caused the world economy to collapse. Let me explain just one part of that to you. Banks made bad loans, knowingly; lots of them. Then because they knew those loans were bad, they bet on those loans defaulting. Kind of like managing a boxer, breaking his hands and then betting on the other guy. The difference? All perfectly legal for banks.
Germany is doing better than a lot of countries at this time because they did not outsource ALL of their jobs. This situtation has nothing to do with "tax and spend". It has everything to do with unethical and immoral banking practices. Stop listening to right wing talking heads who don't even have a dog in this hunt and only repeat what their uber wealthy corporate masters tell them to.
Without having the opportunity to look at the books to find otherwise, it does sound as though the city would like to unload the property for a nice profit but further degrade the "community". Which I am sure they have a legal right to do. But what is legal and what is moral are often very different things. Personally I applaude these folks and wish them the best. The city needs to be working with them instead of cutting them off. I am sure there is a solution to be found if only the city will consider the bigger picture instead of just the money.
You too would probably be better off if you did the same.
Germany outsourced plenty of jobs, BMW and Mercedes are being produced here in the good old US of A!
albruno-1 why can the liberal progressive Germany afford to build high rent housing, which, as in most places that it is now being built, only can get partial occupancy?
Gentilemen, Germans are good little receipt keepers and are very attention to detail. They have Laws (you would agree with) that say every few years they must turn things over. Example: you buy a new refrig, you file the receipt, because after say 9 years you must replace it with a new one. They have people that comes to your house annually and checks you receipts to see you are complying with Law. If you haven't replaced the refrig by a point in time you will be fined. This is for all things TV, Living Room Set, Kitchen Set, etc. This keeps the dollars turning and the Government going. They have free health care, they pay a little more in taxes than we do but they wouldn't change the system though.
They can retire at 55 ?!
Yes after working a life time they should get something back. Trouble with that is the people who did not work, or pay into the system get the same as the people who did.
That money to support a system where everyone gets something whether they deserve it or not is now being taxed to to breaking point.
German citizens just like any other country are living longer, plus worked longer and payed into a system that can not even give a fraction of that back to them that they were PROMISED would be there in the end. Gee, sounds like our Social Security.
The Socialist society can not work because everyone has to pay into the system, but just like here, the welfare and illegals that paid Nothing into the system are getting just as much if not more than the people who have.
This is the path that the Democrats are taking us down. Doesn't matter if a person deserves to have their welfare check.
Just look to Europe to see where they are taking us. All those Euro counties are going broke at a faster pace than the leaders could ever have imagined. Common sense should have told them that it can not work.
Your statement that "this is the path that the Democrats are taking us down" implies that the Republicans have a different stance towards social security. They do not. The New Deal programs were continued and entrenched under the Presidency of Dwight Eisenhower, and the GOP won't dare touch the program today for fear of angering their vital retiree voting bloc.
Your diatribe suggests that the voter has a choice in the matter. Where is it?
I can't believe it, seniors that care more themselves than the super rich, billionaires. Here no such luck. They are owned stock and barrel by Dick Armey and his Freedom Works balloney. Have you people notice how the tea partier disguises totalitarism with democracy implying words? Here seniors, 66% of them, want more repression and less democracy, less for we the people and more for billionaires. I offer a trade, our dummies for their real McCoys and will be glad to include their retard leaders and as an extra added bonus, we let them get our war criminals so they can do to others, what was done unto them. All those in favor say: Aye. Aye, the ayes have it.
A preview of life in the United States if Romney wins in November.
Yeah, I know how you feel, Peter. Life just isn't worth the hassel our governments have made. I personally look forward to death. Today wouldn't be to soon. At least you got liberated. We have a Communist, Socialist, Muslem, pro-queer, and non-citizen President in what was once the GREATEST NATION on this planet. Yeah, Peter, we actually liberated you and yours, we've fed EVERY NATION on this planet and now we can't even feed ourselves. Isn't that sickening, Peter? We are truely a "worthLESS" nation, now. Good luck.
ljhays , yikes , only those who wish to receive free help voted for the first illegal president in history , this guy has totally undermined everything in the United States, he has opened the door to our greatest enemy , and has done nothing to help those who support this nation , Obama the pied piper is leading America off the cliff , he only says what people wish to hear so he can be in office , u should also listen to feddy 4life he right on the money , if you pump to much hot air in a balloon it will pop , wake up ignorance is no excuse nor is laziness........ and we need to support our seniors they have given for a long time just to be thrown by the side , I am 56 and when and if I retire I hope they appreciate all those years of slavery I put in ,
WOW..just WOW. I consider myself extremely blessed to be an American. U.S.A. is numero uno. Never, ever, ever, bet against the Americans. On Monday we landed the Curiosity ON MARS!!! (take that Jules Verne) People -I have worked a full time job my whole entire life. I have accrued my social security credits - I have paid my taxes (gladly) to support the FREE & the BRAVE. I have no problem helping my fellow Americans. I believe in WE THE PEOPLE'S right to protest and the FREEDOM TO CHOOSE. Sorry so many people posting here are so anti American and so anti protest. Our country was founded on protest. The economy is picking up and I for one believe our POTUS has accomplished a lot (considering the opposition and non cooperation).
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Do you REALLY know what the difference between a "squatter" and a "protester"? Nothing they are both BREAKING the law and there fore needs to go to jail. Not get praised for their activities...............
Nobody cares about the law from the highest level of government to the lowest criminal. We use it if it pleases us change it if it doesn't.
Rnelson, I agree 100%
Outdoorsman, you say that as if Americans don't have a long history of romanticizing outlaws...
outdoorsman253 how did you earn your perfect life?
They are adults, aren't they? Don't they have phones, calendars, or other ways to figure out a meeting place? It's nice to meet in that building, but Berlin has plenty of other places that people can use. How about an apartment or storefront? Why not get a little money together and rent something? Ten people could rent something really nice in cheap Berlin.
Sie sind Erwachsene, oder? Haben sie kein Telefon, Kalender, oder andere Möglichkeit, eine Treffpunkt zu organisieren? Es ist bequem, in dieser Haus zu treffen, aber Berlin hat viele andere Gebäude, was die Läute benutzen kann. Was ist mit eine Wohnung oder Laden? Warum nicht ein paar Euro sammeln und Etwas mieten? Zehn Läute können Etwas schön mieten in billig Berlin.
Ok.. I hate to be THAT guy, but come on! GERMAN senior citizens age 55 -96 would place them directly in the generation of Axis powers during WWII. Even the youngest (age 55) would have been born a dozen years following WWII, and while I'm not saying that they claim any responsibility for their elders actions, they damn sure grew up around the war loss hatred from the West (or east depending on where they lived).
Still, why on Earth would these folks think that they, the worst generation in history, responsible for AT LEAST being a peanut gallery to unspeakable horrors that took place around them, deserve anything more than what they've earned since. They deserve nothing else, and should be happy for what they have.
What they grew up in was reconstruction financed by America.
What I am saying let the decisions makers walk a mile in those WWII senior citizen surivors shoes. These people created a new Germany and carried it's past. Dignity
Visit a Holocaust museum some time, plenty of empty shoes there to remind these folks of their 'civic sense' of responsibility. Crack a book some time instead of having blind compassion for a society that resembled (past tense) Sodom & Gomorrah.
Sodom and Gomorrah, You need to read a book. And if you live in the United States open a window and gaze upon Sodom.
Mass rape, theft, killing, and economic collapse.. yeah. Post WWII Germany was a lot like Sodom & Gomorrah, with Soviets serving as fire reigning from the skies. Still, these folks need to take personal responsibility for their behavior since. Societal problems are not natural disasters and can almost always be seen coming for years, if not decades, proceeding a societal impact.
rnelson302 - Real difficult to make a point when you have no valid point, huh? Here's my advice, if you want to bash the USA (or any other country for that matter) try posting on a topic actually involving that country instead of attempting to inject your lame opinions into an article dealing with German senior citizens.
.
Older East Germans grew up in a Communist state, and many have not adjusted to to the idea of living in a freer society. In their old world, there might not have been much for the average person but whatever there was, the government provided - and they're still looking to the government as their provider.
Wow, I am amazed at the vitriol being spewed over old folks wanting to keep the SENIOR CENTER open. I might point out that oftentimes these are centers that organize volunteer efforts carried out by--hello!--senior citizens. On a practical basis, they provide enormous physical and social health benefits--that chess game might alleviate depression, high blood pressure, and a host of other ills, also enabling their kids and grandkids to be working instead of grandma-sitting. They often organize group transportation for grocery-shopping and doctor appointments, meaning greater independence for them and less cost to society. Seems like a lot of people out there are just itching (in their fantasy lives) to live in a Mad Max world. Well, keep it up--but be warned, you just might be the old fart invited to plant your rear on an ice floe and be sent out to sea when you can't wield a hoe any longer.
Germany has full health care, better wages and benifits and in general a far superior life style than the US. We have, high crime, insurance robbed medecine, rampant drug and alchol abuse, high suicide and we rank high in almost everthing undesirable. Insted of being so critical we might try to learn from a country with less resources that does better.
Quality care for German Seniors ;
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We can assist the senior and their families in all arrangements with providing full care at affordable prices which do not exhaust pensions and life savings.
I would appreciate you asistance in publicizing our offer , I feel it could help assist a lot of seniors with affordability issues in finding quality care.
For more information please write to forticell@gmail.com , or contact me at 0048 94 318 92 17 , or Mobile : 0048 787 481 913
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Piast Seniors Residence
Mielno, Poland .