SUTTON Travels: Berlin

Showing posts with label Berlin. Show all posts

11 November 2024

Berlin Wall Germany

The Berlin Wall was a guarded concrete barrier that divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. It was constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) to prevent East German citizens from fleeing to the West. The Wall included guard towers, antivehicle trenches, and a "death strip" that was heavily monitored by guards.

The Wall was officially opened on August 13, 1961, and stood for nearly 30 years. It became a powerful symbol of the Cold War and the division between East and West

The fall of the Berlin Wall began on November 9, 1989, when the East German government announced that citizens could cross the border freely. Crowds of people gathered at the Wall, and many began chipping away at it with hammers and picks. The official demolition of the Wall began soon after, and by November 30, 1990, most of the Wall had been dismantled. The last sections were removed in November 1991.

Between decorated Berlin Wall

Scenes from the wall 11 October 2024

Here's a quick trip along the Berlin wall

Berlin Germany

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

This post contains images of memorials, monuments, and buildings in Berlin, Germany

For places associated with the Nazi era, select the link below.

Nazi Trail of Terror

Reichstag Building in 2024

Rotes Rathaus, City Hall Berlin

Soviet War Memorial 2024

A cool October - by the Brandenburg Gate

Hotel Adlon Kempinski 2024

The Berlin Wall

Lunch at an Irish pub, Berlin

Our evening meal at a different pub near Alexanderplatz

We visited at the time of The Berlin Festival of Lights in October. Select the link to see those images.

Alexanderplatz and The Festival of Lights Berlin

Other Berlin sites can be found in my post about the Nazi era - see below.

Nazi Trail of Terror

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Geoffrey W. Sutton has a PhD in psychology and writes about psychology and culture.

Website: https://www.suttong.com/

Amazon Author: https://author.amazon.com/home

ResearchGate page: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Geoffrey-Sutton-2

Academia Page: https://evangel.academia.edu/GeoffSutton

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Alexanderplatz Berlin Germany

Rotes Rathaus Berlin

Alexanderplatz is a large public square and transport hub in the central Mitte district of Berlin.

We visited during The Festival of Lights in October 2024.

The Festival of Lights in Berlin is an annual event that transforms the city into a dazzling display of light art. Held every October, the festival features spectacular illuminations, luministic projections, and 3D mapping on famous landmarks, buildings, squares, and streets across Berlin.

The festival not only showcases artistic brilliance but also celebrates Berlin's cultural rebirth and resilience. It's a magical time when the city becomes a stage for breathtaking light installations created by artists from around the world.

The TV tower at night and day

St Mary's Church - day and night

Fountain of Friendship

About the plaza

Early History: Originally known as Ochsenmarkt (Ox Market), Alexanderplatz was a cattle market outside the city fortifications.

1805: Named in honor of Tsar Alexander I of Russia, who visited Berlin on October 25, 1805.

19th Century: The square became a major commercial center with the construction of the Stadtbahn station, a market hall, and the Tietz department store.

World War II: Alexanderplatz was heavily damaged during the war but was reconstructed under Soviet influence.

Post-War Era: The square was transformed into a showcase of socialist architecture, featuring buildings like the Fernsehturm (TV Tower), the Fountain of Friendship, and Karl-Marx-Allee.

Modern Day: Alexanderplatz remains a bustling area with shops, restaurants, and attractions, making it a popular starting point for tourists exploring Berlin.

Some more nighttime images.

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Geoffrey W. Sutton has a PhD in psychology and writes about psychology and culture.

Website: https://www.suttong.com/

Amazon Author: https://author.amazon.com/home

ResearchGate page: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Geoffrey-Sutton-2

Academia Page: https://evangel.academia.edu/GeoffSutton

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'Euthanasia' Murders Memorial in Berlin Germany

The Nazi euthanasia program, known as Aktion T4, was a campaign of mass murder targeting individuals deemed "unworthy of life" due to physical or mental disabilities. Initiated by Adolf Hitler in 1939, the program aimed to eliminate those considered a burden on society and the economy.

The program involved the systematic killing of patients in psychiatric hospitals, care homes, and other institutions across Germany and occupied territories. Physicians were authorized to select patients for "mercy deaths" based on their medical conditions. The methods used included lethal injections, gas chambers disguised as showers, and starvation.

Although officially discontinued in 1941 due to public protests, the killings continued covertly until the end of World War II in 1945. It is estimated that between 275,000 and 300,000 people were murdered under this program.

For more information about the Nazi genocide, see the additional sites at the link below.

LINK TO -->> THE NAZI TRAIL OF TERROR

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Geoffrey W. Sutton has a PhD in psychology and writes about psychology and culture.

Website: https://www.suttong.com/

Amazon Author: https://author.amazon.com/home

ResearchGate page: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Geoffrey-Sutton-2

Academia Page: https://evangel.academia.edu/GeoffSutton

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Google Map to the Memorial

Gleis 17 Memorial Berlin Germany

The Gleis 17 Memorial in Berlin is a poignant tribute to the Jews deported from Berlin during the Holocaust. Located at the Grunewald train station, it marks the spot where 186 deportation trains departed between 1941 and 1945, transporting over 50,000 Jewish Berliners to ghettos and extermination camps like Auschwitz and Theresienstadt.

Along the tracks are plaques documenting the deportations.

The trees at the ends of the railway remind us that deportations won't happen again.

The Gleis 17 Memorial was officially opened on January 27, 1998.

For more information, see the additional sites at the link below.

LINK TO -->> THE NAZI TRAIL OF TERROR

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Geoffrey W. Sutton has a PhD in psychology and writes about psychology and culture.

Website: https://www.suttong.com/

Amazon Author: https://author.amazon.com/home

ResearchGate page: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Geoffrey-Sutton-2

Academia Page: https://evangel.academia.edu/GeoffSutton

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Google Map to the Gleis 17 Memorial in Berlin

Roma & Sinti Memorial Berlin

Roma Sinti Memorial, Berlin Germany

A series of storyboards form a wall on the outside of the memorial. The panels are organised by year. I have cropped the images to reveal only the English text.