Ann24

Editor’s Pick
NOVEMBER 9, 2009 6:16PM

Tourist Behind the Wall - Photos of East Berlin, 1971

Rate: 9 Flag
In 1971, my parents and I visited East Berlin shortly after my 13th birthday. The adventure was on a whim, but the experience was a "life changer."
If my memories of the city were not so vivid, I would attribute the faded, grey scenes to the camera and film I used at the time.  Even the weather seemed sunny on the other side of the street (Wall).
Photographed with a Kodak Instamatic and Ektachrome slide film.
  
Checkpoint Charile, 1971
Checkpoint Charile  on US side.
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Boy on Bicycle and Pedestrian, East Berlin 1971
 Boy on bicycle and pedestrian on deserted street
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Family Taking a Walk, East Berlin 1971
Family taking a stroll.....on deserted street
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Red VW parked on deserted street next to wall 
Red VW Parked on deserted street next to wall.
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hotel berloina 
Hotel Berolina
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Stalin's Nose  
Not-so-deserted street in the shadow of "Stalin's Nose", television tower
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Elderly Couple taking a stroll (notice how the gentleman is carrying his wife's purse) 
Elderly couple - (sweet how the man is carrying his wife's purse)
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Update: designanator just posted some beautiful pictures of East Berlin in 1967. Check them out if you have time!

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great photos. they called the television towers "stalin's nose"??

ha! and the man with the purse. the nuance and mood in these photos is wonderful.
doloresflores_d
November 09, 2009 06:23 PM
They called that particular tower "Stalin's Nose." It was a big deal -- an example of East Berlin's state of the art communications-industrial-complex. It's hard to convey the sense of isolation and grand scale at the same time. There were blocks and blocks of huge boxy apartment buildings that all looked the same....and wide boulevards with nary a car....

Thanks for coming by to look at these pics, Delores! I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Ann24
November 09, 2009 06:39 PM
Remarkable photos! They remind me of my family's own summer holiday to Hungary and Rumania that same year.
Alan Nothnagle
November 09, 2009 07:04 PM
I'm digging the red maxi coat and those brown boots under the green mini.. Interesting slice of (a dismal chapter in) history.
O'Really?
November 09, 2009 07:33 PM
I enjoyed the photos, thanks!
Lija Rasa
November 09, 2009 07:33 PM
David - Your parents' story reminds me: The East German guards confiscated my "Archie" comic books after we had passed through the Allied sector. I'm sure they probably gave them to one of their kids since there weren't many American children crossing over in those days. What an adventure. Thank you for sharing your story!
Ann24
November 09, 2009 08:24 PM
Alan - glad you enjoyed the photos. Maybe you can post some from your trip to Hungary and Rumania on OS, too! I'd love to see them.

O'Really - Sadly, those unfortunate 1970's fashion statements seemed to have migrated from the West;-)

Lija - Thanks so much!
Ann24
November 09, 2009 08:58 PM
Nelly, you captured an important slice of history with your photos!
designanator
November 09, 2009 09:35 PM
Great photos. They capture that moment in time beautifully.
OEsheepdog
November 09, 2009 09:47 PM
Thanks, Designanator! Just saw your grandfather's photos from East Berlin in 1967. They are awesome (just updated this post with a link to them).
Ann24
November 09, 2009 11:17 PM
Thanks for visiting, OE!
Ann24
November 09, 2009 11:18 PM