DOCSLIB.ORG

102/210 Bereiche.Indd

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
102/210 Bereiche.Indd bkxxhhdd out difficulty. The border soldiers on the watchtower at Ruppiner Strasse did not notice him until he was on the Wall. They wanted to fire at him, but were unable to get the window open. By the time they had broken the window pane and fired a salve, the man was already in the West. D 414 Renate L., a secretary for the East Berlin housing construction ad- West min istration, was accompanied Representation Mauerpark D 409: Bullet holes in a West by an East Berlin police officer of the border wall Berlin apartment, 1965 when she inspected the building Representation of the border wall at Bernauer Strasse 31. When she D 409 D 411 briefly found herself alone and Commemorative column At about five o’clock in the morn- Klaus-Peter K. was arrested by unobserved in the backyard, she Representation for Olga Segler Commemorative Commemorative column of the border wall column for for Ida Siekmann ing on January 4, 1965, a man, border troops on December 14, seized the moment. She fled Bernd Lünser approximately 25 years old, suc- 1973. He had tried to flee to West through the front door that had Berlin Wall Memorial ceeded in fleeing not far from Berlin from Brunnenstrasse. He not yet been sealed up and ran to Ruppiner Strasse. He had a wire was apprehended along the West Berlin. M 10 cutter with him, as well as a rope patrol road after having gotten Area D: M Bernauer Strasse Location of “Tunnel 29” Bernauer Strasse M M 10 D 417: Contacts after the Wall was Wolliner Strasse ladder and a heaving line, when past the inner wall and the signal D 415 erected, Bernauer Strasse 34, U2 D 427 D 429 D 430 D 439 D 443 he entered the border area un- fence. Ulla D. and Hans K. fled to the August 29, 1961 D 418 D 417 D 415 D 423 D 422 D 441 Eberswalder Strasse Everyday Life at the Wall D 412 D 414 D 416 D 409 D 434 D 433 D 445 D 447 D 448 D 442 D 446 noticed. The border guards did West on the evening of Septem- D 436 D 438 D 444 U U8 D 413 D 419 not detect him until he set off the D 412 ber 3, 1961. Under false pre- D 417 D 420 Orientation model alarm on the signal fence. They Frieda Schulze had lived at Bern- tences, they managed to pass After the border closed on August Orientation map U Bernauer Strasse Patrol road Patrol road C currently not currently not D 424 D opened fire, but the fugitive had auer Strasse 29 since the end of through the security and enter the 13, 1961, the residents of the bor- accessible accessible taken cover behind a screen and the war. In late August, just after border house at Bernauer Strasse der houses were not per mitted and incident markers D 411 D 421 Patrol road D 431 D 410 Representation was not hit. He managed to climb the Wall was built, she was forced 37. They broke into the apartment to maintain relations with people over the Wall to West Berlin un- to move from her ground-floor of family M., which had already on the west side. But con tact con D 435 D 432 D 440 Patrol road of an escape tunnel, 1963 - Building facade D 425 D 428 harmed. A number of bullets, apartment into an apartment on left for the West, and jumped out tinued to exist never the less. D 426 D 437 Exhibition Relics of the Building however, flew into West Berlin the first floor. The 77-year old the window. Food and gifts were ex changed Representation Building facade Building console Relics of the Oderberger Strasse territory. Some entered the bed- widow fled when the large scale through windows or using ropes. inner wall of the signal fence Building Station: inner wall facade facade facade room of a resident who was building evacuations began on D 416 If the transaction was noticed, Representation The Wall in Politics Station: asleep in bed at the time. September 24, 1961. The firemen Selma P. and her son Peter W. had however, residents had to reckon of the signal fence Schönholzer Strasse Station: The Border Soldiers The Cold War and the Media Kremmener Strasse Station: spread out a rescue net beneath lived on the third floor of Bernauer with a punishment or in some The Berlin Wall and its Fall D 410 the window. Frieda Schulze first Strasse 35 since the end of the cases an eviction. Station: Station: Representation Station: at Schwedter Strasse On the evening of September 7, threw her cat down, along with a war. They began to think about The Wall and West Berlin Escape Agents and Tunnel of the patrol road Observing, Helping, Protecting. 1966, the border guard on Swine- few small possessions. She leaving East Germany after the D 418 Builders The Western View of the Wall münder Strasse noticed a man climbed onto the window sill but Wall was erected. They informed On the evening of September 29, climbing over the inner fence at was too scared to jump. West relatives in the West that they 1961, a resident of Bernauer Schönholzer Strasse. His super- Berlin teenagers climbed up the were planning to flee on the night Strasse 30 reported that West Kindly supported by visor chased after the man and facade and tried to help her. In the before September 22. Peter W. Berlin police were loading objects fired at him. The fugitive, Klaus N., meantime, East Berlin policemen barricaded the door of the apart- onto a car in front of her building. took cover behind an anti-tank had broken into the apartment ment. Then they waited for the East Berlin police discovered an obstacle. The border soldiers and were trying to pull her back firemen, who arrived at 2:30 in the opening in the bricked-up base- Gemeinschaftsaufgabe „Verbesserung Wolliner StrasseWolliner Brunnenstrasse Strasse Ruppiner Strasse Swinemünder der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur (GRW)“ assumed that he had been hit and inside. They also threw teargas morning. After throwing their pos- ment window of family D’s apart- Rheinsberger Strasse Rheinsberger Strasse wanted to arrest him, but he grenades at the West Berlin fire- sessions out the window, Selma ment. Gerhard D., his wife and Schwedter Strasse mana ged to climb over the inner men. Frieda Schulze finally fell P. jumped into the rescue net and both daughters had fled through wall unnoticed and escape back into the rescue net. injured her lower back. Neighbors the basement window to the into East Berlin. An East German who had observed the escape West. policeman who had watched the D 413 alerted the nearby border guards. escape attempt from his apart- At about one o’clock in the morn- But before they were able to D 419 ment arrested Klaus N. on Brun- ing on October 27, 1968, a man break into the apartment, Peter W. On the evening of August 24, nenstrasse. used a folding ladder to climb jumped, injuring himself only 1961, Detlef M. and Herbert Z. at- East over the inner fence that stood slightly. temp ted to climb over the Wall to Kulturinvestitionsprogramm next to the building at Schön hol- the West at the corner of Schön- zer Strasse 8. He crept along the holzer and Ruppiner Strasse. 29.9.1961 Berlin Wall Memorial gable wall until he reached the They were arrested by border N Bernauer Strasse 111, 13355 Berlin signal fence, which he was able to D 418 guards and handed over to the www.berliner-mauer-gedenkstaette.de climb over without triggering the Flucht Familie D. East German police. [email protected] alarm. He pulled the ladder be- Telefon 030 467 9866-66 hind him and ran to the border Telefax 030 467 9866-77 wall, which he also climbed with- 60 m D 420 D 424 D 429 D 431 knocked him down with a shovel. had reached the building by D 441 D 443 Escape Tunnels Three more escape tunnels were On June 19, 1962, West Berlin Jan-Michael G. wanted to flee at The border troops set up an On the evening of October 6, Then Jörg S., Erich E. and W. ran cross ing over rooftops from Rainer P. and the former border Following a fight with his wife on At least seven escape tunnels built on the northeast end of police heard three shots fired at Ruppiner Strasse where gates in observation post at Bernauer 1961, border police arrested Anita towards the Wall. When the head Rheinsberger Strasse. The officer Uwe W. planned their the evening of January 28, 1966, existed in exhibition area D, but Bernauer Strasse in 1962 – 1963. Ruppiner Strasse. Shortly there- the inner wall and signal fence Strasse 44 to enable the guards L. and Erna M. in the attic of the guard recovered from the blow, woman lost her footing as she escape in May 1977. They had Manfred B. made the spon tan- only one of them was successful. In late 1962, escape helpers after cries of pain were heard, allowed border troops to pass to observe activity on Bernauer building at Swinemünder Strasse he set off a border alarm by firing passed by the third floor. She inspected the situation along the eous decision to flee. He first West Berlin students dug “Tunnel stopped working on a ten-meter- presumably from a wounded through.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Die Berliner Mauer in Berlin-Mitte, Gartenstr
    21. Berliner Archäologentag am 17. Oktober 2018 Bewegte Zeiten – Archäologie in Berlin Martin-Gropius-Bau, Kinosaal Torsten Dressler Altstadt Spandau, Fischerstraße 33-34 Archäologische Untersuchungen und Dokumentation: Die Berliner Mauer in Berlin-Mitte, Gartenstr. 85-87/ Geländes des Nordbahnhofs Die archäologische Untersuchung und Dokumentation am ehemaligen Mauerstreifen in Berlin-Mitte, Gartenstraße 85-87 erfolgte im Vorfeld der geplanten Bebauung mit einem Wohn- und Geschäftshaus „Quartier am Nordbahnhof“ im Zeitraum von Mai bis August 2017. Auf dieser Fläche konnte insbesondere der Ausbau der DDR-Grenzanlagen von 1961 bis 1989 am Nordbahnhof bzw. ehemaligen Stettiner Bahnhof archäologisch nachgewiesen werden. Der Vortrag gliedert sich in die Vorstellung der festgestellten Befunde und Funde nach: (1) Vorphase mit Stettiner Bahnhof ab 1842 und Wohnbebauung Gartenstraße 85-87 (19./20. Jahrhundert) 1. Grenz-Ausbauphase vom 13. August 1961 bis 1965 (2) Abrissmaßnahmen für die Grenzsicherung 1966 bis 1974 (3) 2. Grenz-Ausbauphase von 1966 bis 1979 (4) 3. Grenz-Ausbauphase von 1980 bis 1989 (5) Mauerfall und Abbruch der Grenzanlagen 1989 bis 1990 Der Bau der Berliner Mauer entlang der dicht bebauten und bewohnten Bernauer Straße zwischen Berlin-Wedding (Westberlin) und Berlin-Mitte (Ostberlin) stellte eine radikale Zäsur der deutschen Teilung ab dem 13. August 1961 dar. Um die Welt gingen die Bilder der verzweifelten Menschen mit dem Sprung in die Freiheit aus den Fenstern der Grenzhäuser und über die ersten Grenzabsperrungen. Hier ist u.a. mit Ida Siekmann das erste Todesopfer an der Berliner Mauer am 22. August 1961 zu beklagen. Die Anwohner auf der Ostseite der Bernauer Straße wurden zwangsumgesiedelt, ihre Häuser und Fenster zugemauert und anschließend abgerissen.
    [Show full text]
  • The Fall of the Berlin Wall
    5/3/2016 THE PEACE MOVEMENT: HOW INFORMAL NETWORKS RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE GDR & THE CHURCH’S INVOLVEMENT TESS MARSHALL WHAT IS THE BERLIN WALL? • Border between East and West Germany • After World War II German territories split into four “allied occupation zones” • West Germany: Democratic Republic – Occupied by British, American and French sectors • East Germany – Controlled by the German Democratic Republic (Soviet Union) • Berlin also separated this way although it was in East Germany • Joint occupation began in 1945 www.flickr.com 1 5/3/2016 WHY WAS THE WALL BUILT? • Between 1945 and 1961 almost 3 million refugees fled from East to West Germany – Most were young, educated workers • July 1961 over 30,000 fled • August 12 more than 2,400 people fled – Largest number recorded in one day – Later that day Premier Khrushchev gave orders to the GDR to close the border • Two weeks later a barbed wire and concrete fence was built • After this it was impossible to travel from East to West Germany without passing through checkpoints • Families and friends were separated, jobs were lost THE WALL AND ITS BEGINNING • The Wall was steadily made more durable • Between the borders was the “Death Strip”– an area where GDR officials could patrol for and shoot escapees • Some tried to escape immediately • Ida Siekmann was the first death in attempted escape – Lived on a road that ran along the border – Jumped out of her window but died on impact idasiekmann.blogspot.com 2 5/3/2016 ANALYSIS OF THE PEACE MOVEMENT AND MONDAY DEMONSTRATIONS • No
    [Show full text]
  • Wallmaps.Pdf
    S Prenzlauer Allee U Volta Straße U Eberswalder Straße 1 S Greifswalder Straße U Bernauer Straße U Schwartzkopff Straße U Senefelderplatz S Nordbanhof Zinnowitzer U Straße U Rosenthaler Plaz U Rosa-Luxembury-Platz Berlin HBF DB Oranienburger U U Weinmeister Straße Tor S Oranienburger S Hauptbahnhof Straße S Alexander Platz Hackescher Markt U 2 S Alexander Plaz Friedrich Straße S U Schilling Straße U Friedrich Straße U Weberwiese U Kloster Straße S Unter den Linden Strausberger Platz U U Jannowitzbrucke U Franzosische Straße Frankfurter U Jannowitzbrucke S Tor 3 4 U Hausvogtei Platz U Markisches Museum Mohren Straße U U Spittelmarkt U Stadtmitte U Heirch-Heine-Straße S Ostbahnhof Potsdamer Platz S U Potsdamer Platz 5 S U Koch Straße Warschauer Straße Anhalter Bahnhof U SS Moritzplatz U Warschauer Mendelssohn- U Straße Bartholdy-Park U Kottbusser Schlesisches Tor U U Mockernbrucke U Gorlitzer U Prinzen Straße Tor U Gleisdreieck U Hallesches Tor Bahnhof U Mehringdamm 400 METRES Berlin wall - - - U Schonlein Straße Download five Eyewitnesses describe Stasi file and discover Maps and video podtours Guardian Berlin Wall what it was like to wake the plans had been films from iTunes to up to a divided city, with made for her life. Many 1. Bernauer Strasse Construction and escapes take with you to the the wall slicing through put their lives at risk city to use as audio- their lives, cutting them trying to oppose the 2. Brandenburg gate visual guides on your off from family and regime. Plus Guardian Life on both sides of the iPod or mp3 player. friends.
    [Show full text]
  • The Victims at the Berlin Wall, 1961-1989 by Hans-Hermann Hertle/Maria Nooke August 2011
    Special CWIHP Research Report The Victims at the Berlin Wall, 1961-1989 By Hans-Hermann Hertle/Maria Nooke August 2011 Forty-four years after the Berlin Wall was built and 15 years after the East German archives were opened, reliable data on the number of people killed at the Wall were still lacking. Depending on the sources, purpose, and date of the studies, the figures varied between 78 (Central Registry of State Judicial Administrations in Salzgitter), 86 (Berlin Public Prosecution Service), 92 (Berlin Police President), 122 (Central Investigation Office for Government and Unification Criminality), and more than 200 deaths (Working Group 13 August). The names of many of the victims, their biographies and the circumstances in which they died were widely unknown.1 This special CWIHP report summarizes the findings of a research project by the Center for Research on Contemporary History Potsdam and the Berlin Wall Memorial Site and Documentation Center which sought to establish the number and identities of the individuals who died at the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1989 and to document their lives and deaths through historical and biographical research.2 Definition In order to provide reliable figures, the project had to begin by developing clear criteria and a definition of what individuals are to be considered victims at the Berlin Wall. We regard the “provable causal and spatial connection of a death with an attempted escape or a direct or indirect cause or lack of action by the ‘border organs’ in the border territory” as the critical factor. In simpler terms: the criteria are either an attempted escape or a temporal and spatial link between the death and the border regime.
    [Show full text]
  • He Big “Mitte-Struggle” Politics and Aesthetics of Berlin's Post
    Martin Gegner he big “mitt e-struggl e” politics and a esth etics of t b rlin’s post-r nification e eu urbanism proj ects Abstract There is hardly a metropolis found in Europe or elsewhere where the 104 urban structure and architectural face changed as often, or dramatically, as in 20 th century Berlin. During this century, the city served as the state capital for five different political systems, suffered partial destruction pós- during World War II, and experienced physical separation by the Berlin wall for 28 years. Shortly after the reunification of Germany in 1989, Berlin was designated the capital of the unified country. This triggered massive building activity for federal ministries and other governmental facilities, the majority of which was carried out in the old city center (Mitte) . It was here that previous regimes of various ideologies had built their major architectural state representations; from to the authoritarian Empire (1871-1918) to authoritarian socialism in the German Democratic Republic (1949-89). All of these époques still have remains concentrated in the Mitte district, but it is not only with governmental buildings that Berlin and its Mitte transformed drastically in the last 20 years; there were also cultural, commercial, and industrial projects and, of course, apartment buildings which were designed and completed. With all of these reasons for construction, the question arose of what to do with the old buildings and how to build the new. From 1991 onwards, the Berlin urbanism authority worked out guidelines which set aesthetic guidelines for all construction activity. The 1999 Planwerk Innenstadt (City Center Master Plan) itself was based on a Leitbild (overall concept) from the 1980s called “Critical Reconstruction of a European City.” Many critics, architects, and theorists called it a prohibitive construction doctrine that, to a certain extent, represented conservative or even reactionary political tendencies in unified Germany.
    [Show full text]
  • Berlin - Wikipedia
    Berlin - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin Coordinates: 52°30′26″N 13°8′45″E Berlin From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Berlin (/bɜːrˈlɪn, ˌbɜːr-/, German: [bɛɐ̯ˈliːn]) is the capital and the largest city of Germany as well as one of its 16 Berlin constituent states, Berlin-Brandenburg. With a State of Germany population of approximately 3.7 million,[4] Berlin is the most populous city proper in the European Union and the sixth most populous urban area in the European Union.[5] Located in northeastern Germany on the banks of the rivers Spree and Havel, it is the centre of the Berlin- Brandenburg Metropolitan Region, which has roughly 6 million residents from more than 180 nations[6][7][8][9], making it the sixth most populous urban area in the European Union.[5] Due to its location in the European Plain, Berlin is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. Around one- third of the city's area is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers, canals and lakes.[10] First documented in the 13th century and situated at the crossing of two important historic trade routes,[11] Berlin became the capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg (1417–1701), the Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918), the German Empire (1871–1918), the Weimar Republic (1919–1933) and the Third Reich (1933–1945).[12] Berlin in the 1920s was the third largest municipality in the world.[13] After World War II and its subsequent occupation by the victorious countries, the city was divided; East Berlin was declared capital of East Germany, while West Berlin became a de facto West German exclave, surrounded by the Berlin Wall [14] (1961–1989) and East German territory.
    [Show full text]
  • Things to Do in Berlin – a List of Options 19Th of June (Wednesday
    Things to do in Berlin – A List of Options Dear all, in preparation for the International Staff Week, we have composed an extensive list of activities or excursions you could participate in during your stay in Berlin. We hope we have managed to include something for the likes of everyone, however if you are not particularly interested in any of the things listed there are tons of other options out there. We recommend having a look at the following websites for further suggestions: https://www.berlin.de/en/ https://www.top10berlin.de/en We hope you will have a wonderful stay in Berlin. Kind regards, ??? 19th of June (Wednesday) / Things you can always do: - Famous sights: Brandenburger Tor, Fernsehturm (Alexanderplatz), Schloss Charlottenburg, Reichstag, Potsdamer Platz, Schloss Sanssouci in Potsdam, East Side Gallery, Holocaust Memorial, Pfaueninsel, Topographie des Terrors - Free Berlin Tours: https://www.neweuropetours.eu/sandemans- tours/berlin/free-tour-of-berlin/ - City Tours via bus: https://city- sightseeing.com/en/3/berlin/45/hop-on-hop-off- berlin?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_s2es 9Pe4AIVgc13Ch1BxwBCEAAYASAAEgInWvD_BwE - City Tours via bike: https://www.fahrradtouren-berlin.com/en/ - Espresso-Concerts: https://www.konzerthaus.de/en/espresso- concerts - Selection of famous Museums (Museumspass Berlin buys admission to the permanent exhibits of about 50 museums for three consecutive days. It costs €24 (concession €12) and is sold at tourist offices and participating museums.): Pergamonmuseum, Neues Museum,
    [Show full text]
  • Mauerparkmythofcreation
    Mauerpark – What’s with the name? Though the name of the Institute was originally inspired by the fact that it is one of the favourite hang-out place of many of the founders, the history of the park, its present use and its possible future are emblematic of where we want to go with our project, what values we espouse and what issues we want to work with. During the division of Berlin in two following the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 until its fall in 1989, the Mauerpark ("Wall Park") formed part of physical barrier, the most concrete manifestation of the Iron Curtain (no pun intended) erected between the citizens of the city. The term "Berlin Wall" is actually a misnomer, as the border installations actually consisted of two parallel sets of walls, between which was a strip of land patrolled by armed border guards, and further reinforced with obstacles such as razor wire rolls and anti-tank obstacles. This area between the two walls was known colloquially as the Death Strip as until 9 November, 1989, the border guards had orders to shoot anyone trying to escape over the walls. Fast forward a few short years and the formerly silent Death Strip of concrete and steel has become a lively, blossoming park, where people of all kinds of social and ethnic backgrounds, of various ages come to enjoy their lives, to lie in the sun, smell the flowers, have a beer, play music, sing karaoke or sell some funky artwork. From a place where two systems stared each other down it has now become a place where in more than one way can now 1000 flowers blossom.
    [Show full text]
  • 50Th Anniversary of the Berlin Wall
    Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter August 2011 Volume 7, Issue 1 Wreaths laid down in front of a preserved segment of the Berlin Wall near the memorial site at Bernauer Strasse in Berlin on August 13, 2011 in Berlin. Berlin marks the 50th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall on Saturday. AFP 50th Anniversary of the Berlin Wall Berlin marks 50th Wall anniversary with minute of silence Agence France-Presse 9:15 pm | Saturday, August 13th, 2011 These included Ida Siekmann, 58, the first known Berlin Wall victim who fell to her death when jumping to the West from BERLIN—Berlin on Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of the day the third story of a building on August 22, 1961. the Berlin Wall started to go up with a memorial service and a minute And Chris Gueffroy, 20, the last victim, shot dead on February of silence in memory of those who died trying to flee to the West. 6, 1989 — nine months before the Wall fell — while trying to German President Christian Wulff, Chancellor Angela Merkel, who swim across a canal. grew up in the East, and Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit attended a The Wall was born in the early hours of Sunday August 13, nationally televised commemoration followed by a ecumenical 1961, a day chosen by East German authorities as that most church service at a chapel built where the Wall stood for 28 years. likely to catch people by surprise as they enjoyed a Flags flew at half mast on the Reichstag (parliament) and church bells summer day off.
    [Show full text]
  • Berlin Commemorates the 25Th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall from 7–9 November
    Berlin commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall from 7–9 November Berlin, 30. October 2014 The countdown is on. From 7-9 November, 8,000 illuminated balloons will change Berlin’s face. They will line a “Lichtgrenze” (border of light) along the former path of the Berlin Wall from Bornholmer Straße, past Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie. Residents will reminisce, while visitors will be amazed at how the Wall had separated what have since become key arteries in the reunited city. Hearing Stories, Understanding History: The balloons are the visual centerpiece of the celebrations. But the commemoration is much more about the people. The celebration’s theme “Mut zur Freiheit” (“The Courage to Seek Freedom”) remembers those who made the peaceful revolution of 1989 possible. With 100 informational displays along the light installation, the Robert-Havemann Gesellschaft will help visitors remember the stories of those who were separated by the Berlin Wall and those who died trying to cross it. In addition, numerous guided tours will be offered in English, starting respectively at the Mauerpark, Checkpoint Charlie and the East Side Gallery. They will cover stories of division, escape and a city healing its wounds. Furthermore, volunteers from “Service in the City” are also glad to share their own memories about the Wall era. Finally, the festival on 9th November in front of the Brandenburg Gate will offer concerts as well as interviews with contemporary witnesses. At 7.00pm, the highlight of the anniversary weekend will begin with Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”. Than the balloons will be released from their poles and rise into the Berlin night sky.
    [Show full text]
  • DEFA Directors and Their Criticism of the Berlin Wall
    «Das ist die Mauer, die quer durchgeht. Dahinter liegt die Stadt und das Glück.» DEFA Directors and their Criticism of the Berlin Wall SEBASTIAN HEIDUSCHKE MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY This article examines the strategies used by directors of the East German film monopoly Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft (DEFA) to voice their disap- proval of the Berlin Wall.1 My aim is to show how it was possible, despite universal censorship in East Germany, to create films that addressed the wall as an inhumane means to imprison the East German people. Although many DEFA films adhered to socialist law and reiterated the official doctrine of the «antifascist protection rampart» on the silver screen, an analysis of three DEFA films will demonstrate how the representation of human crisis was used as a means to criticize the wall.2 The films Das Kleid (Konrad Petzold, 1961), Der geteilte Himmel (Konrad Wolf, 1964), and Die Architekten (Peter Kahane, 1990) address walls in a variety of functions and appearances as rep- resentations, symbols, and metaphors of the barrier between East and West Germany. Interest in DEFA has certainly increased during the last decade, and many scholars have introduced a meaningful variety of topics regarding the history of East Germany’s film company and its films. In addition to book-length works that deal exclusively with the cinema of East Germany, many articles have looked at DEFA’s film genres, provided case studies of single DEFA films, and engaged in sociological or historical analyses of East German so- ciety and its films.3 In order to expand the current discussion of DEFA, this article applies a sociocultural reading to the three DEFA films Das Kleid, Der geteilte Himmel, and Die Architekten with the goal of introducing the new subtopic of roles and functions of the Berlin Wall in East German film to the field of DEFA studies.
    [Show full text]
  • Germany Itinerary
    Germany – Sample Itinerary Day One Begin your visit to Germany at the Story of Berlin Museum for an interactive overview of the history of the country. Stop by Checkpoint Charlie, the most famous crossing point between East and West Germany, which now serves as a reminder of the Cold War and the partition of Berlin. Then see the Topography of Terror exhibit to learn about the origins, development, and deployment of Nazi terror from 1930-1946. Finally visit and tour the Neue Synagogue and Museum. Day Two A visit to Classic Remise Berlin is exciting whether you are a car lover or not. This center for vintage cars is located in a historic tram depot and provides a terrific backdrop for some very cool photos. Perhaps the most noteworthy symbol of Berlin is the East Side Gallery – a portion of the Berlin Wall which serves as a memorial and art gallery with it's popular murals painted on the remnants of the wall. We will tour the area and get a more in depth understanding of the culture and history of the city. For lunch, we will meet and hear the story of a Syrian refugee living in Berlin at "Refugio Berlin," a center providing support and community to the refugee community. After some free time to prepare, we will join with the local community at the Central Synagogue to celebrate Shabbat together. Day Three After walking to the Urban Nation Street Art Museum, we will see varied insight into the history of urban contemporary art at this unique platform for urban art in Berlin.
    [Show full text]