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During the Cold War, as this portion of the Havel River formed the border between West Berlin and East Germany, the bridge was used several times for the exchange of captured spies and thus [...]

From the very beginning, the GDR’s border fortifications on the outskirts of West Berlin had a great influence on the flora and fauna. Due to its large forests, West Berlin, which was [...]

The era of wall art began in 1976 when the GDR border troops started to build a new wall of concrete segments on the west side. These were around 3.60 m high and mostly painted white. Of course, [...]

During the years of the Berlin Wall, air traffic to West Berlin ran via three fixed air corridors. Hamburg (northwest), Bückeburg (west) and Frankfurt (southwest).   German planes were not [...]

For the members of the diplomatic corps in the GDR, life was completely different from that of the citizens of East or West Berlin. Ambassadors, embassy counsellors, embassy secretaries and [...]

Many people thought of a city in the style of medieval Nuremberg with a city wall. A city in which one constantly comes up against the wall. Nothing could be more wrong. West Berlin had an area [...]

After decades of division, Berliners in East and West were fed up with the Wall. Therefore, in 1989, there was little interest in preserving pieces. Wall-snatchers and companies on official [...]

The district of Steinstücken was created in 1787 when farmers from Stolpe acquired land outside their village boundaries. A small settlement developed there in the 19th century. Stolpe was [...]

Where there is a comrade, there is the party (SED). Where there are 20 comrades, there is an Intershop. – a common staircase joke from GDR times. But, what actually was an Intershop? [...]

The German-German air border was far more massive than just air. Many successful attempts took place “under” the border, numerous tunnels were dug, and if they were not betrayed or [...]