Dr. Michael Brettin, born 1964, studied History, Politics and Slavistics and graduated with a PhD in History from Hamburg University. His dissertation examined the nationality question in the Soviet Union under Gorbachev. He is also a graduate of the Hamburg School of Journalism (Henri-Nannen-Schule). Currently, he functions as an editor for the daily newspaper ,,Berliner Kurier". His work on the history of The Berlin Wall was published in twelve issues and as a magazine. He lives with his wife, his daughter and his son in Berlin.