The historical significance of the Berlin Wall is that it
divided a city for 28 years simply because of different political views. In the
east there were the soviets and communism and in the west were the democrats. For
the people of West Berlin they became trapped as the wall was built all around
them. For people in the east they wanted to flee as they did not want to be
under communist rule. Many families were separated by this wall as it was put
in place over night by either barbed wire fences, soldiers with guns or actual
walls. This also prompted people to get out of East Germany. The types of
exhibits, such as videos and pictures, in this
documentation centre show just what it was like for people during this time and
how they tried to or got out of East Germany. There were also some exhibits
about those who opposed the ideas of the soviet government and what happened to
them. The themes expressed by the exhibits are mainly freedom and reuniting
with family as well as everyday life and the government. All of these can be
seen in the various exhibits housed within this building. Looking out on the
observation tower one can get a sense of what the area would have been like
when the wall was complete. It went through neighbourhoods and right through
buildings. Beside the section of the wall that remains is an area that shows
outlines of old apartment buildings as well as a church that once stood in the
east. Iron rods stick out of the ground like the rebar of the wall keeping a
vertical barrier visible.
4 comments:
It sounds as though you enjoyed the exhibit. I agree that the exhibit displayed a sense of being reunited and of freedom. From any of the displays that you viewed at the museum did you also get a sense of resistance to the wall, why or why not?
Yes I did get a sense of resistance. No one wanted the wall even those in the army opposed it. I read one story about a young man who was a patrol officer and used that position as a way to escape.
I am interested in the title of your post. The Documentation Centre is located on West Berlin, but you call your post "A View From the East". Are you referring to East Germans as the main 'group' recognized by the Documentation centre. Do you think there should be a difference in recognition between East and West during this time?
I also thought that the exhibit portrayed a theme of the suppression of freedom. I also saw a theme of resistance. One quote specifically stood out for me. Willy Brandt, the former Mayor of Berlin stated "Our people will not be abandoned we are one people...[..]". I thought that this quote really embodied the overall theme that the people did not agree with the division of Berlin and it's people.
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