"WEST BERLINERS CALL IT 'THE DEATH STRIP'"

EAST GERMAN WOMEN PUT TO WORK TURNING BERLIN'S EAST-WEST BORDER INTO 'NO-MAN'S LAND'

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) On September 29, 1961, Associated Press reports that "East Germany put girls and women to work today at turning Berlin's East-West border into a no-man's land."

West Berliners refer to the area as "the death strip."

East German women along with "thousands of laborers" cleared ground and razed houses along the 25-mile sector.  They were under supervision of "armed guards."

JFK+50 NOTE

The Berlin Wall (1961-1989) was started on August 13, 1961 to stop the movement of Germans in Communist East Berlin into free West Berlin. JFK said, "A wall is a hell of a lot better than a (nuclear) war," but on his visit to Berlin in June 1963 he predicted the eventual reunification of the city.

The Berlin Wall was a series of concrete barriers accompanied by a wide area containing anti-tank vehicle trenches, beds of nails and other defenses.

SOURCES

"The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall," The National Museum of American Diplomacy, www.diplomacy.state.gov/

"Women Toil to Tighten Berlin's 'Death Strip,'" The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 29, 1961, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

The Berlin Wall

1986

Attribution:  Noir

CC-BY-SA 3.0

 

"I THINK THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS"

ALLIES SUGGEST SOVIET GUARDS USE ALTERNATE CROSSING POINTS IN BERLIN OTHER THAN CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

Berlin (JFK+50) On September 3,1962, Associated Press reports "the Western allies halted a Soviet guard convoy at Checkpoint Charlie yesterday and suggested the Russians use the Brandenburg Gate* or the Sandkrug-Bruecke crossing."

The suggestions came from Major General Albert Watson III (US), Major General Claude Dunbar (UK) & Major General Edouard Toulouse (FR).

JFK+50 NOTE

Since the Soviets had blocked the Brandenburg Gate, it was asked how they could go about driving through it.  An informant replied...

"I think that's their business."

*Brandenburg Gate is an 18th century classical monument located in Berlin, Germany.  BG opened in 1791.  For almost 30 years the gate was obstructed by the Berlin Wall.

SOURCE

"Allies Suggest Russians Use Easier Berlin Entry," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 3, 1962, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

The Brandenburg Gate

Berlin, Germany

photo by Cezary p at Polish Wikipedia

2007

"IN FACE OF NEW COMMUNIST CROSSING RESTRICTIONS"

WESTERN ALLIES POSITION TANKS & INFANTRY AT BERLIN CROSSING GATE

Berlin (JFK+50) On August 23, 1961, the United States, Great Britain and France "pushed tanks and infantry up to the sector border dividing Berlin...in the face of new Communist restrictions on traffic between the East and West parts of the city."

U.S. Army Patton tanks appeared at the Friedrichstrasse* Gate which remains, with the new restrictions, the only place where "all foreigners going into East Berlin" may cross.

According to The Evening Star, the American tanks "looked as if they were aiming their guns directly at the building that houses many East German government offices."

*The Friedrichstrasse Station was known as 'the palace of tears' because it was where Jews boarded on trains headed for concentration camps during the Holocaust.

JFK+50 NOTE

The border between East & West Germany was sealed by the Communists on August 13, 1961 with a small number of crossing points remaining.  Foreigners and Allied personnel went through "Checkpoint Charlie."

SOURCES

"Allies Push Troops To Sector Border," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., August 23, 1961, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

"FriedrichstraBe Station and Palace of Tears," www.dark-tourism.com/

 "Checkpoint Charlie"

Berlin

by Petershagen (1986)

www.flickr.com

"26 FEET 5 1/2 INCHES STANDS 24 YEARS"

JESSIE OWENS SETS OLYMPIC RECORD IN LONG JUMP

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) On August 4, 1936, Jessie Owens* won the gold medal for the long jump at the Summer Olympic Games held here in Berlin.

Jessie Owens, an African-American track star at Ohio State University, set an Olympic record in the long jump of 26 feet, 5 1/2 inches, a record that stood for 24 years.

Jessie, known as 'the Buckeye Bullet' won eight individual NCAA championships while at Ohio State and is considered to be the greatest athlete in the history of track and field.

JFK+50 NOTE

As an African-American, Jessie Owens' four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games shattered the Nazi propaganda that white, blue-eyed blonde Germans were superior to other races.

*James Cleveland Owens (1913-1960) was born in Oakville, Alabama & his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio.  When his name was recorded as his new school in Ohio, he told them "J.C." but the teacher thought he said "Jessie" & the name stuck.

SOURCE

"Jessie Owens Wins Olympic Long Jump," JFK+50, August 4, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

 

 

Jessie Owens Wins Long Jump

August 4, 1936

German National Archive

"TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND THE SAUSAGE"

FROZEN SAUSAGES MUST BE TAGGED BY BERLIN BUTCHERS

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) On January 28, 1926, Associated Press reports that frozen sausages sold here in Berlin must now be tagged so that consumers won't be deceived as to the grade of meat they are buying.

The ruling was made by the Department of Licenses and Inspections as a result of "many butchers" selling frozen sausages "at the same price" as fresh-meat sausages.

AP says that yellow ribbons will be required placed on frozen sausages by the butchers.

JFK+50 NOTE

German sausages (wurst) are made from high-quality ground pork or veal with spices such as nutmeg, ginger & caraway.  American sausages are coarser, heavily smoked or spicier,

SOURCE

"Yellow Ribbons To Denote Grade of Berlin Sausages," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., January 28, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Real German Sausages"

www.rawpixel.com/

"THOUGHT IT WAS HUSBAND COMING HOME LATE"

BERLINER STRUCK ON HEAD BY PACKAGE OF TOMATOES, VICTIM OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) On December 10, 1925, Associated Press reports Mr. Carl Fischer, "one of the best skat* players in Berlin," was struck on the head with a package of tomatoes hurled from the third floor of an apartment building.

Apparently, Mr. Fischer was the victim of mistaken identity as Mrs. Anna Wuschek, arrested on an assault charge, admitted she threw the package because..."I thought it was my husband coming home late again."

Mrs. Wuschek was slapped with a $7.50 fine in addition to court costs.

*skat is a 3 handed, trick-taking card game originating in Germany 1810-1813 & is the national game of the country.  It is played with 32 cards.

SOURCE

"Bull's-Eye Scored By Irate Wife, But On the Wrong Man," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 10, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Skat Players in Erfort Park

1967

Photo by Dieter Demme

Bundesarchiv

Bild 183-F0528-0026-001

CC-BY-SA 3.0

"COMBO OF SYMPHONY, CONCERT, BALLET & FILM"

UFA PALAST-AM-ZOO REOPENS WITH AMERICAN FEATURE FILM

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) On September 26, 1925, Associated Press reports that Berlin's largest motion picture theater, Ufa Palast-Am-Zoo* "was reopened last evening" showing an American feature film, "a combination of symphony, concert, ballet and film" for the first time in Germany.

The Berlin theater has been rebuilt "according to American ideas."  It has new directors Erno Rapee and Alexander Oumansky.

*Ufa Palast-Am-Zoo was a major theater in Berlin opening in 1919 & reopening as a larger theater in 1925.  UPAZ was destroyed in 1943 by Allied bombing & replaced in 1957 by Zoo Palast.

SOURCE

"Berlin Movie Theater Adopts U.S. Methods," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 26, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Ufa Palast, Memorial Church, Gloria-Palast

Photo by Willy Pragher

Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek

"HINDENBURG SEEMS TO BE FACING A REAL DILEMMA"

HOW SHALL THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF GERMANY DRESS, CIVILIAN OR MILITARY?

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) On April 28, 1925, Associated Press reports that the president-elect of Germany, Paul von Hindenburg, faces the 'minor problem' of "how he shall attire himself" for his inauguration.  

As a retired field marshal general, he can wear a uniform.  That would fit right in with his scheduled review of a military parade on inauguration day.  Previous president-elects, however, reviewed parades dressed "in civilian attire."  

AP says if Hindenburg appears in uniform before the Reichstag*, he will offend that body.  Accordingly, AP concludes...

"The President-elect thus seems to be facing a real dilemma."

*Reichstag, aka Imperial Diet, is the lower house of Germany's national legislature. 

 SOURCE 

 "Hindenburg's Inaugural Attire Is Delicate and Puzzling Question," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Bildnis Paul von Hindenburg

1915

Stautsbibliothek zu Berlin

Preufischer Kulturbesitz

"MIXTURE OF SPITE & DESIRE TO BE DRAMATIC"

50 CHRISTMAS DAY SUICIDES REPORTED IN BERLIN

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) On December 27, 1924, The Evening Star reports "some fifty cases of suicide on Christmas day have been reported to the police" here in Berlin.

Most of the suicides "were victims of unhappy marriages and seem to have killed themselves through a mixture of spite and desire to be dramatic."

Otherwise, Berlin was "practically empty" although the theaters and movies "were crammed."

There is also reported to be a surplus of unsold Christmas trees in the city with merchants having to practically "give them away."

SOURCE

"50 Commit Suicide In Berlin On Christmas," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 27, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

Wiesbaden, Germany

The Christmas Tree & Holiday Lighting

www.picryl.com/

"BERLIN LIES DEEP WITHIN THE RUSSIAN ZONE"

RUSSIANS STOP MOTOR TRAFFIC BETWEEN BERLIN & THE WEST

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) On June 15, 1948, the Associated Press reports that "the Russians halted motor traffic between Berlin and the west for a while today and also stopped 140 carloads of coal inbound from the British zone*."

Traffic was diverted to bypass a bridge across the Elbe River which was "closed for repairs."   A six-mile detour route which included ferry service across the river was provided.

*Post World War II Germany was divided into four zones of occupation at the Potsdam Conference.  Great Britain-NW, France-SW, US-S & USSR-E.  The city of Berlin was also divided into four occupation zones between those same countries.

JFK+50 NOTE

We chose this day in 1948 because it is my birth date.  As I celebrate my 76th year, it is bittersweet because June 15th is also the date of my wedding anniversary.  

My wife, Beverly, passed in April 2023 so I have had two birthdays and two anniversaries without her.  I have fond memories, however, of many birthday/anniversary celebrations with her.

SOURCE

"Reds Detour Traffic On Road From Berlin," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., June 15, 1948, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Map of Postwar Germany

by Matritum

www.deviantart.com/

 

"WHEN THAT DAY FINALLY COMES, AS IT WILL"

JUST AS JFK PREDICTED: GERMANY IS REUNIFIED

Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany (JFK+50) On October 3, 1990, East and West Germany were united for the first time since 1945.  October 3rd is a national holiday in the Federal Republic.Germany became divided in 1945 when troops of the Soviet Union occupied the eastern part of the country with Britain, France and the United States controlling the western part.

Between 1945 and 1990, Berlin was a major hot spot in the Cold War with the entire city situated within Communist-controlled East Germany while West Berlin remained free.

Two major crises occurred in Berlin during this period.  The first was the Berlin Blockade of 1948-1949 when the Soviets attempted to cut off supplies to West Berlin.  The second came in the Berlin Crisis of 1961 which culminated in the building of the Berlin Wall separating the two parts of the city.


Reunification came less than a year after the destruction of the Berlin Wall which had begun on November 9, 1989.


When John F. Kennedy visited West Berlin on June 26, 1963, the President said...

"What is true of this city is...real lasting peace...can never be assured as long as one German out of four is denied the elementary right of free men...to make a free choice.  When all are free, then we can look forward to that day when the city will be joined as one.

When that day finally comes, as it will, then (West Berliners) can (take) satisfaction that they were in the front lines for almost two decades."