Julius Lorenzen, a great-grandson of the Penza governor, participated in VII Penza-Flensburg Congress at Penza State University and answered the questions of the newspaper “Penzenskaya Pravda” correspondent.

Great-grandson of the Penza governor Julius Lorenzen: Penza is a part of me

During these days Penza is hosting a delegation from Germany and Belgium participating in the annual international Penza-Flensburg Congress aimed at promoting cooperation between Russia and Germany in the humanitarian field.

The Congress unites university teachers, medical doctors, public figures and students. Among them are the grandsons of the Penza governor Anatoly von Lilienfel-Toal who was the head of the Sura region in 1910-1914: Detlef, Peter and Hannes Lorenzen. Peter Lorenzen, a doctor and public figure from the city of Flensburg, initiated relationships between the two counties. He is supported not only by his brothers, but also by his nephew Julius, Hannes Lorenzen’s son.

Julius Lorenzen is 30 years old, he lives in Brussels (Belgium), but he often visits Germany, his homeland, he works as an adviser on waste recycling in the European parliament. It is his second visit to Penza.

- Penza is a part of my ancestors’ history, so it is also a part of me, - says Julius. – I knew before that my great-grandfather had been a Penza governor, but I didn’t know much about his period of life in Russia. Thanks to uncle Peter who shared this part of the family history with us.

When at university, he had a brief course in the Russian language, however, he didn’t remember much. But over the years his interest in Russia grew, so Julius started taking private lessons of Russian.

Julius told us that his grandmother, governor von Lilienfeld-Toal’s daughter, spoke Russian very well. However, her children and grandchildren didn’t learn the language. Julius is the first Lorenzen who decided to fill this gap.

- I read a lot in Russia, I understand it well. It is easy for me. It is much more difficult to speak as I don’t have an opportunity to communicate with native speakers all the time. There is not enough practice.

Julius likes Penza, its sights, the university buildings and the campus. He also enjoys walking along the “shopping alley” – Moskovskaya street.

In Julius’ opinion, despite the recent recession in Russian-German relations in big politics, it doesn’t prevent the people of goodwill from efficient cooperation.

- I think that our nations have very good relationships, people want to make friends, a lot of Germans are interested in Russia, and a lot of Russians are interested in Germany. Personally I am planning to continue the cooperation with Penza and I hope to come back here again.

Author: Natalia Sizova, “Penzenskaya Pravda”