The author shares with impressions he gained during his recent visit to the capital of Germany (the visit coincided with the 70-th jubilee of the Great Victory. The opinion of the expert on German affairs, author of numerous studies in the 20th century German history, a person who from «within» observed how the Federal Republic of Germany really expanded at the expense of the German Democratic Republic is of interest because a picture that is carefully produced by media and politicians who care of anything but firm and safe peace in Europe does not disturb the author’s judgment. For a lot in the contemporary world still depends on what Germans think and do. The author comes to the conclusions providing a hope that peacefulness and readiness to constructive cooperation (both traits can be regarded as the GDR’s political testament) will prevail in the final resort.

The author deals with N.Mordvinov, the thinker and statesman. It is unknown to the general public that as early as in the very beginning of the 19th century there were Russian scientists who contributed to the world economic science. Having meticulously studied works of foreign economists, Mordvinov applied their discoveries to Russian reality and developed these discoveries, with the Russian peculiarities taken into consideration. According to the author, Mordvinov's essay on private provincial banks is of particular interest, for Mordvinov in that work stated his opinion on the monetary system and budget, i.e., on the issues which were within the sphere of his official duties (for some time Mordvinov was the chief of the State Economy Department of the Russian State Council).