Why is Starosiedle, Poland important to the author of The Courage to Be?

Starosiedle, Poland is Paul Tillich’s hometown. He was born there in late summer 1886 when the village was still a part of Germany prior to World War II. Tillich lived with his family until 1898 when he was sent to Königsberg in der Neumark (now also a part of Poland) for schooling. Two years later, in 1900, Tillich moved with his family to Berlin for his father’s work and additional schooling. Starosiedle remained a part of Germany’s eastern territories until the middle of the twentieth century.