These were taken June 1962... a year after the wall went up. November 9 marks the twentieth anniversary of when the Wall came down. Here' s some of my photos, and written excerpts from postcards sent home to my family:
"Arrived safe and sound in Berlin after comic opera border farce. WOW do these people ever go in for bureaucracy. Autobaun went straight throo East Germany to Berlin like a corridor..We had to drive it non stop, me driving ....lots of guards, guns etc...." |
"Today Mimi's uncle took us to East Berlin. More comic opera passport jazzz.. we had to pass throo many barriers and wall mazes that have been constructed to prevent cars from crashing through..The difference between the two sides is amazing. East Berlin is dull, drab, hundreds of old bombed buildings still around and bullet marked houses. The Germans seem to like Canadians.. they smile at us, a lot. ....."
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(this isn't a gate, but one of many raised platforms so that people could look over the wall)
"At the entry gates to the West (there are only two) stand many West Berliners. They cannot enter of course but they hang around the gates hoping to see relatives (its actually impossible because of the barriers) Or maybe they are looking for some sort of excitement. They just stand around quietly, watching the gates. Berlin is a quiet city. " |
"We went to look at the buildings in West Berlin with bricked up windows that form part of the wall... they bricked up the windows because people tried to get into the west by jumping from the windows... many died when they hit the ground, and there were a lot of these memorial crosses on the western side...."
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wow, how extraordinary to see these postcards. I can still remember it being taken down. One of the first historical moments in my life
SusanM30 · 2009-11-08: 03:12
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thanks for posting these, there's been all sorts of stuff commemorating the fall of the wall on TV, but it's great to see how it was.
Quailia · 2009-11-08: 03:28
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I saw an image on tele last night that made realise how flimsy it was. I'd always imagined it was more of a fortress type of width. Now i realise that that wasn't exactly necessary anyway.
ShangriLa · 2009-11-08: 03:33
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Oh this is very impressive.
Tulpje · 2009-11-08: 04:24
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Wow, an amazing personal documenting of something so historic! Great
sydneylizzie · 2009-11-08: 05:23
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interesting suff, and very appropriate post.
thisismizb · 2009-11-08: 07:25
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Great view of history.
Oweena · 2009-11-08: 09:17
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I love to view these History post on PB, great work and thanks for sharing them :-)
tedbarlow · 2009-11-08: 11:00
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Thank you!
bouds · 2009-11-08: 11:18
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These are great photos from the past. Thank you for sharing them! The last one is very strong.
lideto · 2009-11-08: 12:22
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Great photos! :)
ppinho · 2009-11-08: 13:30
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Great view of the past - thanks for showing us.
KateR · 2009-11-08: 15:28
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Wow. Thank you.
phona · 2009-11-09: 08:24
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Amazing - looking at your photos and fona's is brilliant.
elldee · 2009-11-09: 09:42
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