Heidelberg, 9 January 2026 Stefanie Wally visits the Studienkolleg
On January 9, 2026, we had the pleasure of welcoming writer and cultural artist Stefanie Wally to the Studienkolleg for her third “storytelling reading”. Organized by history and politics teachers Steve Bahn and Dr Michael Roth, the event was aimed at students in the S and G courses. The focus was on Stefanie Wally’s two books: “Akte Luftballon” (File 'Balloon'), published in October 2016, and her new novel “Rosa”, published in September 2024.
Julie de Lamirande, a second-semester student, and Milena Estefania Carrera, a first-semester student in the S course, relate their impressions:
German history, especially in the 20th century, is highly complex and eventful. For us as young students in particular, it is difficult to imagine this period and to place ourselves within. Yet through works such as Stefanie Wally’s “Rosa” and "Akte Luftballon", we gain a deeply human and personal perspective on German history, one that becomes tangible and accessible to us. Stefanie Wally began her lecture with Nena’s well-known song “99 Luftballons”, which, in retrospect, turned out to be an almost perfect summary of her own story. This led us into her first book, and we followed the life of the author, who is six years old at the beginning of "Akte Luftballon". With a broken leg and therefore in urgent need of distraction, she attached a note to a balloon and sent it up into the sky, hoping that it would land somewhere and that she would receive a small message in return to cheer her up.
And that is exactly what happened when the card attached to the balloon was found by the grandfather of a girl of the same age near Meissen in the then German Democratic Republic. This marked the beginning of a friendship that continues to this day — a friendship that crossed borders, changed perspectives, and brought hope to two little girls on their path to adulthood.
After a short break, we were introduced to Rosa, the author’s grandmother and a woman who witnessed and survived some of the most significant events of the 20th century. Her life, together with the political events of the time, presented in connection with her favourite recipes, made this period comprehensible in a very different way.
In addition, we were able to trace the story through various mementos, such as photographs and other objects, giving us very personal insights. With each new chapter of the book, we as readers are also given a new recipe connected to the chapter that follows.
Julie de Lamirande
Through the reading, we gained various insights into 20th-century German history, whose complexity became much easier to understand through Stefanie Wally’s personal and emotional approach. The author does not avoid difficult topics or emotional situations; instead, she engages with them and invites us to do the same.
She has a wonderful gift for combining historical sources and literature in order to tell a captivating story. Her books are highly recommendable, especially for those who are only just beginning to get to know present-day Germany or who want to understand it better through its past. This was also reflected in the many personal conversations with the author after the reading.
Both books, “Akte Luftballon” and “Rosa”, tell the stories of strong women. “Akte Luftballon” in particular impressed me profoundly. In my home country, I had heard very little about the history of the two Germanies — and about what this division meant for the people.
It was fascinating to listen to a contemporary witness who shared her own experiences of that period. Her way of telling the story was so vivid and moving that I became completely immersed in it.
I believe that today we often forget where we come from and which people have accompanied and shaped us along the way. These memories are part of us, and without them we lose a piece of our identity. As an international student in a country with such a rich history, I find it especially important to preserve my own roots.
Perhaps one day I, too, will tell the story of my great-great-grandfather, who once had the courage to emigrate from Italy to Ecuador — a decision that ultimately shaped my own life as well.
Milena Estefania Carrera