pictures worth a million words

History, Cities

Berlin August 1986

On a East(Communist)-German Autobahn, speedlimit was 100 km/h View from West-Berlin to East-Berlin (in the background) The world famous Checkpoint Charly At the frontier between free and communist Berlin: West-German policemen protecting demonstrators from going to the Communist side. Area of the East-German border control facilities. No such things on the western side. Berlin Wall at night. Area of the East-German border control facilities. No such things on the western side. The Berlin Wall was in fact two walls plus one or more fences. Watchtower On the western side the wall was painted by several artists. You could touch the wall. On the eastern side the wall was painted white, to clearly see escaping people (and shoot them down). Only a few centimeters of rainforced concrete separated the west (where you could freely touch the wall) from the communist east (where you got shot down) This was the most busy place in Europe, once upon a time. Life was dreary in communist Germany. . The Soviet/Russian Monument, located in West-Berlin, had to be protected from demonstrators. The Brandenburg Gate Border troups of the NVA, the East-German Army. When shooting a refugee, they got a special leave. 'Tear down this wall!' was the famous challenge from United States President Ronald Reagan to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at this place on 12. June 1987. Brandenburg Gate The building on the left ist the Reichstag, the german parliament building. Now the parliament is back home there. Watching me taking photos. The border was in the middle of the river. Several people got shot here. Entering East-Germany, you had to pass a large area, where you and your car was scrupulous supervised. Taking photos here was strictly forbidden. Entering East-Germany, you had to pass a large area, where you and your car was scrupulous supervised. Taking photos here was strictly forbidden. Entering East-Germany, you had to pass a large area, where you and your car was scrupulous supervised. Taking photos here was strictly forbidden. Entering East-Germany, you had to pass a large area, where you and your car was scrupulous supervised. Taking photos here was strictly forbidden. Entering East-Germany, you had to pass a large area, where you and your car was scrupulous supervised. Taking photos here was strictly forbidden. The barriers cold be quickly closed, if somebody tried to escape. The barriers were massive, even a truck wouldn't have been able to get through. Watchtower
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