Tour of East Berlin

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We went on a tour yesterday and here are some of the sites. Majority of the tour was done in East Berlin as that's where most of the significant historic landmarks are. This post will be short and sweet, so check out the pictures section for a running commentary of the places we visited.

Dorina

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Photos

Brandenburg Gate
Brandenburg Gate located in Pariser Platz (Paris Square). It was commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia as a sign of peace and built by Carl Gotthard Langhans from 1788 to 1791. Today, it is considered one of Europe's most famous landmarks.

Brandenburg Gate
The Quadriga was placed back on top of the gate after Napoleon's death. He had taken it back to Paris as a sign of his victory over the Germans. The Quadriga now looks over the square and ironically enough over the Paris Embassy in Germany.

Under the gate
Some of the art work under the gate.

Hotel Adlon
The ritziest hotel in Berlin, located in Pariser Square, where all the politicians and celebrities stay. If it looks familiar, it's because this is where Wacko Jacko dangled his baby outside the window (third floor, second window from the right).

Holocaust Memorial
Nothing specifically happened at the place where the memorial is placed. There was much controversy over what should be placed on this piece of land. Its situated at the busiest intersection of one part of the city. This was deliberate, so that everyone who drives passed it would see it.

Holocaust Memorial
The memorial itself are square concrete blocks in varying sizes aligned in a grid like pattern. There are no names on the blocks at all and when you walk towards the middle of the structure, the concrete blocks get taller. It's kind of an eerie feeling walking through this memorial. There are far too many words to explain the feeling you get walking through this structure.

Holocaust Memorial
There was an information centre underneath that provides details about those who were killed in the war. Also, there's a three hour tour of Saschenhausen where the concentration camps took place. Hopefully we'll get a chance to go here.

What is left of Hitler's bunker
These are the Communist style architecture of residential houses that were built on top of what was Hitler's bunker. The red roofs are what makes the architecture Communist style. The bunker doesn't exist anymore.

Luftwaffe HQ
Luftwaffe HQ - The Nazi Luftwaffe (air force) building also has a communist history. After the war, it was occupied by the Soviets and became the center of the East German government. They painted a memorial on the wall of the Luftwaffe to show the happy people of east Germany they would create.

Luftwaffe HQ Painting on the base of the building
Soviet East German government's depiction of communist life with blue collar shaping white collar hand and everyone happy in the background. In theory all classes are equal, but in practice Soviet propaganda was giving people false beliefs.

Berlin Wall
At least what remains of it.

Berlin Wall
The curved part at the top of the wall was to prevent people from throwing over hooks. If they managed to get over they had between 15 to 40 metres of "Death Strip", consisting of guards, barbed wire, sand containing trip wires that set of alarms and more than 400 sniper towers throughout the 164km stretch of the wall.

Checkpoint Charlie
The only way to cross the wall was through various checkpoints, this - Checkpoint Charlie - being the biggest.

Gendarmenmarkt - Konzerthaus (Concert House)
This is Konzerthaus (Concert House) where the Symphony Orchestra now resides. Gendarmenmarkt is also home to the French and German cathedrals. Most of this area was destroyed during the war, but are now nearly all fully restored.

Konzerthaus
One of the statues near the stairs

Konzerthaus
More statues on the roof.

Gendarmenmarkt
One of the pretty lamp posts in Gendarmenmarkt and there are several more scattered around Berlin.

Comments

[Dani Ball]

PO-TAY-TO!
Hi Guys, I hope you are both doing well! Its great to see that you are finally there and seeing so many wonderful things! I love getting your travelblog updates, so keep them coming! Have a great time and enjoy every moment! Dani

[Mum]

Hi again
Great to see your photos and know where you have been. hope all is still going well. as for here, Grandad is now home after nearly 2 weeks in hospital. He is still not as well as he should be but some of his medication has been changed which should help. Grandma is grateful to put her feet up in her own lounge. Nothing much happening this end. Oh, mum got her new bright red Getz today, so she is very excited even if the loss of money from her account is a bit depressing. Went ot Woodford on Sunday for Jacob's birthday and after a lot of mucking around we managed to find a nice place to celebrate. a pleasant day in all. Bye for now. lots of love to you both.

[Massie]

Hi Mitcvhell and Dorina, haven't as yet read the blogs (will do so tonight) as your mother just sent them through. I would like you to add my email to your blog list so i can recieve your blogs. look forward to reading the rest of your blog. Love Massie