1963: John F. Kennedy brings hope to a divided Berlin

[@markwilson2992]

What made this more powerful was no narration. The video spoke for itself.

[@jeroenvandenberg5750]

Genau

[@davalvideo]

I am so thankful that German television has kept its original videotape of the coverage of President Kennedy's visit to West Berlin...and not just some grainy kinescope. Their live coverage that day was very extensive, from the motorcades, the stops at Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie, to the speech at the city hall. Great footage of a truly historic day.

[@timjohnson5519]

Great quality footage and inspiring.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Glad you liked the film. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe.

[@manfacetweek]

this is why jfk is my favorite us president of all time

[@mikebaginy8731]

A very moving video. I lived in Berlin from 1961 to 1963 and saw JFK in his motorcade on the Clayallee. I also experienced the building of the wall. Times I will never forget. And I recall the reaction of people on the street when news of his assassination was broadcast, many weeping women.

[@metin1294]

Bir türk olarak almanyada bende j f kenndy nin hayraniyim sevdigim bir politikaci büyük politikaci sevilen bir lider sonu böyle olmaliydi .kitleleri arkadindan sürükleyen coşturan bir liderdi , saygiyla sevgiyle aniyoruz ruhu şat olsun .

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for watching. We kindly remind you to adhere to our netiquette guidelines and comment in English. This allows the community to participate in constructive discussions. You can find our guidelines in the information box of our videso or by visiting the following link: p.dw.com/p/MF1G

[@runnerawe]

still moving

[@James-nl6fu]

Murdered for the "crime" of being a better man by cowards and traitors who ruined several nations, including their own. I can think of no higher praise❤️

[@altarique123]

Beautiful

[@PakawanDuangsuwan]

On the square in front of the city hall is nowadays a second hand market during the weekends. We were there a few weeks ago. Among the things I bought was a vintage camera tripod. It had a writing on it; Made in West Germany.

[@najmuddinf]

June 26, 1963, JFK in Berlin, cheer up with German peoples🎉, but at the end of same year at November 22, 1963, he already dead got assasinated😭. So sad and tragic. In just few months, everything change

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@Kareem-Baba]

That was when the words of a US president is important both home and abroad

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

I didn't know that JFK was popular in Germany. I keep thinking about the Dallas assassination 😢 Till this day, there's a clear X mark on the street to remember history 😢 I recently met a young lady who's first name is Kennedy

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you for sharing. We appreciate you taking the time to comment. Sending you all the best

[@dr.wilfriedhitzler1885]

My father in Germany had two pictures of politicians in his office here in Germany. One shows Willy Brandt and the other President Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy was and is very popular in Germany. The Americans brought us democracy, we lost due to the uprise of Hitler.

[@is_jutt1]

"Ich bin ein Berliner."

[@harryegden3696]

Truly one of the great events of the 20th Century. A youthful US President travelling to the very epicentre of Cold War politics. And yet who has been the very catalyst of the worst bloodshed in human history….the Lone-wolf gunman. Take Sarajevo 1914 Gavrilo Princep and his “associates “. The “ Black hand” but especially their bankrollers.

[@BerkFernandez-hg5xk]

JFK instinctively knew where to go and what to do. He brought a clarity and deep conviction of our place in the world.

[@ArntArnesen]

@@BerkFernandez-hg5xk So did indeed Nixon...

[@jeroenvandenberg5750]

Absolutely. Thát was the tragedy of LBJ ;he lacked this foreign policy intuïtion. One of the best on dómestic policy. Kennedy and Nixon were unmatched on foreign affairs..... "We áll inhabit this small planet. We all breath the same air. We all love our childrens futuàh(😊). And we're all mortal..."

[@stefaniatroisi905]

Quello era un...Presidente! Pure bello oltretutto! Dopodiché c'è stato sempre il quasi nulla...a parte Reagan!!❤

[@cumulusterraticus3446]

Propeller heads History often repeats itself !

[@Janique2100]

Ich war letztes Jahr in Dallas, genau da wo Kennedy erschossen wurde, es ist sehr spannend, nebenan gibs einen Laden mit Andenken. jacky undJohn waren ein richtig hübsches Paar. I wanna be a Kennedy (U96)

[@yvonnefarrell1029]

I was told that the correct German would have been "Ich bin Berliner" and that the President's statement "Ich bin ein Berliner" inadvertently stated "I am a Berliner (a kind of donut)". Great to see this footage in full and we say Vielen Dank, DW.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for watching! While it would certainly make for an amusing tale, it is important to clarify that the story you mentioned about JFK being misunderstood as saying "we are all jelly donuts" is nothing more than a rumor. JFK intended to convey the message that "we are all citizens of Berlin" and it was well understood by the Berlin audience.

[@JohnJay2142]

In Berlin, they take offence if you order a "Berliner" in a bakery, they call them "Pfannkuchen" there.

[@1080lights]

Grammar technicalities aside, the Germans would have understood perfectly and would not have found it odd. Plus, the pastry is not called a Berliner in Berlin, anyway.

[@stephanchen7834]

@@yvonnefarrell1029 Both phrases are grammatically correct in German, you can use both but the meaning is slightly different, while it’s true that in German we usually don’t use an indefinite article before a profession, religion or a nationality but doing it isn’t wrong either, using an indefinite article would mean that you place yourself as a part of a collective group but you are not only one, so actually it makes more sense for Kennedy to add the indefinite article

[@TheRichardSpearman]

Ironic that JFK was welcomed to divided Berlin in the western sectors, whereas his predecessor Harry S Truman 1945 -52 ensured the division of Germany, Vietnam and Korea.

[@ebooksajdakamave890]

❤We Thank Konekted To This JFK' s One Of His Best Historic Moments ❤BEKSUIS ❤

[@JB-gj6li]

Watching footage of JFK events seem mythical. My goodness.

[@marcogarza3720]

JFK 🎉a right righteous man . He sounds like he's talking about Donald Trump 🎉❤😅💜

[@jerrymarnon41]

RFK JR/TULSI. 24❤❤❤

[@mrocean8139]

What party?

[@braydenbaumann4398]

​@@mrocean8139the we the people party, lets make sure he gets on tge ballot!

[@duncanbarry3898]

america lost its innocense on 22 n0v 1963 ....major barry ret usaf

[@kneesoxxx7902]

America held slaves in this country, practiced Jim Crow , killed people all over the world and wiped out an entire generation of natives after they stole this land from them.. all before 11.22.63 .. He must’ve been less than sober when he made that ridiculous comment so I forgive him.

[@IsacCorrea]

Woody.

[@petrouschkababouschka2827]

Still SO funny!

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for watching. What exactly do you find funny?

[@petrouschkababouschka2827]

Ich bin Berliner is inclusive but, Ich bin EIN Berliner means I am a donut :)

[@RiesterMeister]

@@petrouschkababouschka2827 No, completely wrong and an urban legend. "ich bin Berliner" is grammatically just wrong. "Ich bin ein Berliner" means a citizen of Berlin and in some regions it may also imply that you are a jelly filled donut. But in Berlin that thing is called Pfannkuchen and people in germany do not laugh if someone says "Ich bin ein Hamburger". It's rather a dad joke to turn it into "haha, you're food"

[@cervgiovanni]

Civis romanus sum