BERLIN JUNE 25-28
Flying into Berlin from St Petersburg via Moscow can generate an emotional surrealism when being conscious of the contemporary history of Europe, particularly as it relates to the role Russia played leading up to catastrophic events of Berlin's near total destruction in April-May of 1945. I well remember when starting to learn the history of WW11 in my early teens how 'long ago' it all seemed. The reality that the conclusion of these events occurred only eight years before my birth magnifies just how contemporary this period in history is. This was even more starkly highlighted when visiting the largest Soviet War Memorial and Cemetery outside of Russia, located in Treptower Park in what was East Berlin, and witnessing the intimacy felt by the Russians paying their respect.
Berlin is a fascinating city with a diverse mix of the new being incorporated with the rebuilt and renovated old. This of course is not unique to Berlin and many other German and European cities, which includes the UK, who share this post 1945 restructuring. What is unique to Berlin and the German Nation as a whole is the reason for all this, having it's roots in the rise of Fascism and the period of the Third Reich.
That is enough in words in my effort to create a perspective of how I see Berlin. I hope my photos tell the same story.
Arriving in Berlin
 |
Our digs        
Getting around!
    
The Reichstag
 
Brandenburg Gate (best shots possible a/c surrounded by fencing for event)
Victory Column (Prussian-Danish war 1870's)
   
Humboldt
   
Berlin Cathedral
   
Alexanderplatz
STREET SCENES & ARCHITECTURE
               
Great lunch in this suburban East Berlin cafe
WAR MEMORIALS
    
The first 2 Soviet T34 tanks to enter Berlin
       
Soviet soldier with Berlin child and lowered sword with broken Swastika
depicting the end of the war
Mother Russia mourning her 23 million dead
The Tiergarten Cemetery has 2000 Soviet military personnel buried and Treptower Park has 7000 buried. Total Soviet losses for the battle of Berlin from late April to May 9 1945 were 80,000. Total western allied loses from the D Day Normandy landings on June 6 1944 to May 1945 were 35,000. This is why the Russians get somewhat perplexed at claims made that the D Day landings led to the defeat of Germany. This in no way detracts from the sacrifices made and contribution by all to the defeat of Fascism.
|