If there is a man whose life’s saga could serve for a brilliant adaptation or a first-class international novel, then it is certainly Hans Siegfried Liepe – son of former German soldier who stayed in Bihac after World War II, an accomplished musician, painter and artist. The person who was living in contradiction from established cultural and traditional norms all his life. Or in short, modern age bohemian.
Alfred Josef Liepe, who was originally from the city of Burg in Germany, fought in World War II in the area of Bihac on the side of the German army, as a logistician. Since he spent 4 years in the war in Bihac, he decided to stay there after it ended.
“My father was a highly skilled mechanic,” said Hans, “and after the war, over 200-300 different vehicles, tanks, trucks and cars was left in Bihac, so partisans decided to keep him to take care of them and repair what was needed in the vehicle fleet, because nobody else knew it. A short time later, my father even taught the first generation of mechanics in one school in Bihac,” said Hans.
Hans likes to read philosophical, historical, theological works and works from the area of psychology, and he developed love for music and painting from early age.
He claims that he loves this country, Bihac and our people from the bottom of his heart.
During 1971, Hans went to Germany in search for job, where he worked for 2 years. However, he soon realized that he cannot live without BiH, so he decided to go back.
“I drank Una. I love this city and I have grown together with it. When I went to Germany, I had to come back because of homesickness. I can now go to Germany, but I cannot live without this city, the river, the view next to Una, ships in which I drive, without pies and kljukusa (pie characteristic for area of Bosanska Krajina). I love these people, even though they are sometimes angry and resentful and “impolite” as they say, but their impoliteness is much better than courtesy of Western citizens and Europe. It is politeness just out of interest and nothing else,” says Hans.
“What turned me away from Germany? Their coldness, insensitivity and lack of emotion. They are people of work, discipline and without emotion. Emotion prevails here. When I was in Germany, and when I told my landlady, with whom I lived, that I have never worked until the age of 22, she told me: ‘What kind of mother is that? She’s not normal. If you were mine, you would be working as early as the age of 18.’ And when I asked her where her daughter is, she told me: ‘She is working and living there, the third house from mine!’ Beware of this, I was her tenant, and her child is a tenant three houses down the street. What are those principles and ideals, tell me please?” asked Hans.
(Source: M. C./Klix.ba)
