Remnants Of The Wall
by johngayton
There is so much information about the wall here and elsewhere that there's no point in me repeating the factual stuff and so I'll just share my personal impression.
When I came across the section pictured, abutting the former SS and Gestapo headquarters on Niederkirchner Strasse, just off Wilhelmstrasse, I was surprised at how flimsy and insubstantial it was. But then it wasn't just the wall itself that was the barrier to prevent East Germans defecting to the west. Before reaching it there was a no-man's land of minefields, dog patrols and tank traps to be negotiated all of which were patrolled regularly and under surveillance from the watchtowers of the East German border guards. In places this no-man's land was up to 100 metres wide and the wall itself the least of the obstacles.
Not only that but the wall was designed to be collapsible into West Germany in the event of the Cold War becoming hot - East German tanks could simply plough straight through it.
All scary stuff but remember when reading about the history of the wall that there was paranoia and propoganda on both sides.
For a good general, and unbiased, page about the wall remnants (and with links elsewhere) have a look at Berlin Wall Guide
Statues in Pergamon...
by coceng
When in Pergamon, don't be annoyed with so many naked statues around you with all kinds of posings !
Here, the men genitals made from marbles are a common sight !
Funnily, the women statues have gowns worm on them.
What's the story ?
Some people come to Berlin and...
by ucbwalker
Some people come to Berlin and unshakably associate it with World War II and Nazism and Hitler. Many locals are sick and tired of walking to work and passing a tour guide relating the horrible things that were done in their backyard sixty years ago to a bunch of disgusted American tourists. Just be courteous and understand that this is a city that endured so much in the past century. It's finally enjoying some relative normalcy, and it deserves all the encouragement that we tourists can give it.
Bekenntniskirche, Treptow, 1932
by Kathrin_E
Another expressionist building - architecture, time and style are similar to the Kreuzkirche in Schmargendorf but without the elaborate brick ornaments. The complex contains the church, the parish centre and housing for the parson. The five-storey facade is inserted into the front of houses along the street. Only the two stump-like spires on top and the inscription "Bekenntniskirche" ("Confession Church") indicate that this is a place of worship, not a school or hospital or office building.
Date: 1929-1932
Architect: Curt Steinberg
Confession: protestant
Address: Plesser Straße, Treptow
Location: Treptow - in former East Berlin, not far from the former wall.
How to get in: contact the parish
Large second hand store
by matcrazy1 about Kleidermarkt Colours
There was huge choice of cheap, casual, second hand clothes mainly for young folks sold in that large store. Urszula didn't find anything specially interesting in this store. Maybe she needed more time there :-).
The second store of the same company Garage Kleidermarkt located at Ahornstraße 2 (Schöneberg) seemed to be more interesting.
HOURS:
Mon - Wed: 11.00 am - 7.00 pm,
Thur - Fri: 11.00 am - 8.00 pm,
Sat: 10.00 am - 4.00 pm,
Sunday: closed. Second hand casual clothes. Cheap area.