East (Ost) / West Berlin April 1990 (2)

[@robfriedrich2822]

Before 1990, the S-Bahn between Friedrichstrasse and Lehrter Stadtbahnhof was hidden with some walls, that nobody in East Berlin could see the trains. Here it's removed yet.

[@rewboss]

The whole public transport network is reunified and running as one system. All of the gaps created by the Wall are now closed, except for one small branch which ran SW from Zehlendorf for a mile or so. Problems remain because lines built while Berlin was still divided were not coordinated with each other: West Berlin invested in the U-Bahn, while East Berlin concentrated on S-Bahn and trams.

[@MRLBRMNN]

Haha, found a 10year old comment from you and just watched some videos of yours like a month ago :D

[@emirvmendoza]

Looking forward to a rewboss video about the ghost stations

[@robfriedrich2822]

The S-Bahn before August 13th 1961 is almost restored, missed is the Siemensbahn, Hennigsdorf to Velten (done with railway trains), Spandau to Falkensee and Klein Machnow in the southwest

[@forgiveninasong]

The river wasn't sealed. Where the point of the border was, the river was quite wide. People did try to swim across, and some people did manage it, but a lot of people were shot and made 'dead in the water' so to speak. If you want a good book to read about the history of the fall of the Eastern Bloc, I suggest you read 'The Berlin Wall' by Frederick Taylor (who also wrote 'Dresden'). It's a brilliant history.

[@telekino5]

Unter den Linden is also an S-Bahn-station and it was closed like the station Bornholmer Str. which you can see at the beginning of this movie at 1 min 02. The trains did run from west to west by partly running on resp. under eastern territory (Mitte area) without stopping at the closed stations in East Berlin, so that no East German could enter the trains to travel to West Berlin. Like the S-Bahn route in this video also the U-Bahn-lines U6 and U8 did pass through East Berlin without stopping.

[@bearman38]

Reunification was finalized on July 1 of 1990. Until this date, all crossings required a passport, and currencies were the Mark and OstMark. I was there at this time, and needed to go through Checkpoint Charlie to visit East Berlin.

[@Sugerius]

Superb! Some little corrections: the S-Bahn trains you see were built in 1927/1928; the so-called intercity on 1:55 is a French military train coming from the Gare française de Berlin-Tegel, the only circulating on these rails in this time (german trains used only the Stadtbahn); thanks so much for the rare pictures from Friedrichstrasse!!!

[@RepartoLento]

This station had 3 platforms (two for the western Berlin trains and one for the eastern Berlin trains). They built up this steel wall between the East/West tracks, so nobody could run or even look to the other side.

[@forgiveninasong]

Your videos are so informative! I lived in Berlin for a year (2005-06) and I have an endless fascination with the city and everything that happened there. A lot of the videos you have are of places I used to be at a lot (Gesundbrunnen, Alex, Friedrichstr, Zoo) and it's downright scary looking at the abandoned Ring platforms at Gesundbrn...I used to get the Ring all the time!!! Wonderful videos xxx

[@lkyksb3]

The sounds of the trains seem really old. REALLY old sounding, but its kinda unique and fun to be able to ride vintage trains like these.

[@doubledbbw]

I had a chance to visit Berlin twice in 1995 while I was stationed in Germany in the Army. There was still a stark contrast between west and east Berlin 5 years later. The friends that went along with me also noticed it too and even the cost for items were way more cheaper in the old east Berlin than in west Berlin. I also had a chance to visit the German City of Jena in 1993 with the German/American friendship club called Kontact. I was stationed in Bamberg which was not too far to travel.

[@jamesreynolds5776]

I went to Berlin this year (2024) for the first time and I stayed in east Berlin near the Alexanderplatz and the Fernsehturm (TV Tower) and visited west Berlin. Wow there's still a clear feeling of a difference between east and west Berlin.. in east Berlin near my hotel there were lots of old apartment buildings that looked from the 60s and very Eastern bloc.. I will plan to come back to Berlin in a few years (if not sooner).. my high school friend lives somewhere in east Berlin..

[@ARTISTZDE]

Very nice to see, how everything looked more than 15 years ago!

[@youtubister]

Gee, I remember these trains at 2:22 and travelling on them, wooden seats and all. Happy memories. Great video of definite historical value with informative annotation.

[@EssexWolf1993]

This is a very good video clip of the Berlin U Bahn, espcially when you go past a couple of closed stations due to the rise of the Berlin wall.

[@andrewwcook]

Yes, it is and shortly after just before the video changes to Zoo station is where the Hauptbahnhof is now.

[@fakerating]

The East German map of their interpretation of West Berlin as "Westberlin" at 3:33 is quite amazing.

[@Mark-yy2py]

fakerating I remember when I was in Berlin in the 1980s when I was stationed at TCA- I would go to the East and shop on occasion- and in Alexander -Platz, I would recall a large city map of “Berlin, der haupstadt der DDR”, and in lower case, “westberlin”, and the whole western side was green, as if it were a forest. Who were they fooling? I knew then that something had to give.

[@REDARROW_A_Personal]

​@@Mark-yy2pyFunny you mention that. I knew a guy who's farther was stationed in West Berlin. He used to go with him when he went to East Berlin and buy stuff there with his pocket money.

[@mutamari3955]

Gesundbrunnen looks so different now. It‘s great to see how it looked before there was a whole Mall or an big trainstation with a lot of different entrances

[@JJørgensen]

I was there in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989. I loved east Berlin.

[@Steve14ps]

The S-Bahn in West Berlin was run by the Deutsche Reichbahn (East German Railway) until 1984, hence its rather run down condition in places. In 1984 BVG (West Berlin Transport) took over operation of the S-Bahn and started to re-vamp the network, but the events of 1989 changed all their plans. Interestingly BVG drivers never took trains into Friedrichstraße as East German crews took trains on the last leg across the border, the changeover was at Lehrter Bahnhof, which is now Hauptbahnhof, Berlin's main station.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

***** Thanks. It seems so long ago now... yet I still remember being there.

[@sven471111]

Sure about this?I think to remember this thing,too.But I dont think they changed drivers on the other lanes S2 and U6 what also had a stop at Friedrichstr.So what was the point changing there?

[@monsieurcronier]

Ein Video von historischer Bedeutung! Wer Ost-Berlin noch aus eigener Erinnerung kannte, macht hier eine faszinierende Zeitreise.

[@ralf12eb]

Hi, this is an rarly time document, thanks for it !!. I was with my school class in 1987 in Berlin for a week, and we did traveled to East Berlin two or three times within this week - through this border passage Friedrichstrasse. I remember the Intershop and the transit controls to East Berlin, these endless ways and passages under the railway station - and back through Tränenpalast, it was very uncomfortible and nervous.

[@mannivormelker3765]

2:10. This is not a german Intercitytrain. This is a train of the french allied army from Berlin-Tegel trough Strasbourg/France. For the french sector in Western Berlin.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Thanks. I am pleased you found this to be of interest. I am sorry for the mistakes - thank you for correcting me. Simon

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Thanks - I did not know what the man said, but it did not sound happy so I quickly stopped filming, 'just in case' the police were called... after all this was East Berlin / DDR and even though the wall had opened I still did not want any trouble! Simon

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Thanks. Its a part of history which I learnt by being there, instead of at school. In many ways its a very sad history, although the ending of that chapter has - for most people - been happier (re-unification). For me, born in 1959, this was a direct connection with the terrible events of 1933/9 - 1945, etc. Simon

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

did you not learn about this at school? it was very sad - to stop people from the east travelling to the west as wall was built around West Berlin, and border guards were told to shoot - to kill - anyone trying to escape to the west. please ask your parents / school teachers. Simon

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Hello edup12, thank you as well - I did not know about the people trying to swim the river. I suppose it helped if a person was very good at swimming - especially under the water! (could hold their breath for a long time while swimming several meters below the surface of the water) Simon

[@tallcedarsovlebanon]

An excellent visual record of the DDR, I was very interested to go to Schoenefeld at this time and see all the ex-Oost Blok flights still operating. This is what youtube should be for!

[@mannivormelker3765]

Minute 2:20. This trains was built 1927 at 1930. This arexthe Twenties.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

So gehts mir mit dem gesamten ost-teil von Berlin heute. Alles sieht überall gleich aus. Und damit meine ich Gleichheit im negativen Sinne. Das fängt ja schon mit unseren Bahnhöfen an. Auf der Linie U5 erkenne ich keinen einzigen Bahnhof mehr wieder.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

@Ndrwboi re: the closed stations, please read up about the Berlin wall and what happened to the railways when it was erected in the 1960's. Oh and actually, by the time I filmed this, several stations in the former East Berlin which were on railway lines used by West Berlin U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains had re-opened!

[@mannivormelker3765]

Minute 1:55. Das ist kein Intercity. Die fuhren damals da nicht. Sondern der Militär-Zug der französischen Schutzmacht von Tegel nach Straßburg.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Even in those few years you must have seen a lot of changes! Simon

[@SpeoDeo]

Thanks for scharing this !

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Thanks. It nearly did not happen, as 4 weeks before I went to Berlin my camcorder 'went wrong' and the shop told me it would take 6 weeks to repair. When I bought the camcorder I was told that repairs take 2-3 weeks. So I stood up in the shop shouting very loudly accusing the sales staff of telling me lies. The manager came to me and took me to an office where customers could not hear what was being said and arranged to give me a new camcorder within 7 days. Simon

[@MrFoxInc]

From blog.inberlin.de : 0:00 S-Bahnhof Wollankstraße 0:59 S-Bahnhof Bornholmer Straße (geschlossen) 1:19 S-Bahnhof Gesundbrunnen (teilweise ziemlich verwahrlost) 2:43 Einblick in eine alte S-Bahn (der Baujahre 1928 bis 1931, noch mit Holzbänken) 3:24 S-Bahnhof Friedrichstraße (unten) 4:35 Intershop im S-Bahnhof Friedrichstraße (unten) 5:05 U-Bahnhof Friedrichstraße (U6) - Halt und Umstieg war auch schon zu Mauerzeiten möglich 7:00 Abfahrt S-Bahn von Friedrichstraße in Richtung Westen - nächster Halt war Lehrter Stadtbahnhof vorbei am Reichstag 9:00 S-Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten

[@michaelfisher9267]

Was it true that a couple of West Berlin S-Bahn stations were inside the GDR? E.g. Wollankstraße?

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Thanks. Sometimes families with people from both east and west would meet in another country in the Eastern bloc during their summer holidays. Simon

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

in December 1989 I went through Freidr. Str. and yes I did need my pasport plus i think i still had to buy some Ostmarks. But they did not search me to stop me from carrying western newspapers, etc. In April 1990 I walked through Checkpoint Charlie. Despite being British with a Brityish passport it was very daunting walking through the 'no mans land' between the two sections of the city. I could feel the city, and the emotions of those who had died trying to do this. Simon

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

ah but the wall only 'opened' in 1989, it took time to dismantle. In April 1990 the east platforms were yet to be unsealed - indeed Germany was still a divided nation, Berlin a divided city with specific crossing points. For me (British) I could only travel between east and west at Checkpoint Charlie or FreidrichStrasse stn - and I needed my passport and to change money to East German currency. Simon

[@wellardsmith3629]

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

It was an exciting time. We all expected things to end horrifically badly but instead our highest hopes for a peaceful resolution became the reality.

[@johntoilet777]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... I love that sound :-D

[@masteristscalerailroadmodels]

me too. Gorgeous sound compared to modern sci-fi chopper AC noise.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

yes, 1989 did mark a big change in global affairs. I think this year will too (either that or 2008) For me I rushed to Berlin to see things which I realised would be changing *very* quickly. First I went in December 1989, with a super 8 cine film camera, and then in April 1990 with the camcorder. Even in those few months there had ben some big changes and some of the closed stations in E. Berlin had re-opened. Simon

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

There are also some railway lines in London which are also closed because of what happened between 1939 and 1945. (both 'underground' and 'mainline' - or using German terms, U-Bahn and S-Bahn). Simon

[@glenn6912]

The U-Bahn runs through a part what used to be East Berlin. From West Berlin, through East Berlin, to northeastern West Berlin.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

yes. But the platforms have been repaired or rebuilt now and the stations are very busy (lots of people use them again) Simon

[@valicourt]

Great sense for history, thanks!

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Thanks. Simon

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Thanks. I knew that I had the one chance to film things which even then were starting to change, with some formelrly closed stations already open again - but only for people of the DDR. Being British I could only travel to the East via Checkpoint Charlie or Freidrichstrasse Station - and the regulations said that I had to return the same way I came / it was not allowed to enter one route and leave the other route. Simon

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

@carlberg2006 Thanks, On KZbin I have several films from Berlin, not just the wall etc but also the trains, trams, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, M-Bahn, vintage tram, etc and this is just about everything I fimed. In April 1990 I was in Berlin for 3 days - I knew that things would soon change and am just 'very happy' that I was able to visit at that time. Simon

[@AtomXDR]

Great work! Thanks a lot!

[@ahannem1]

This video shows exactly the bizzare separation of East and West Berlin. West Berliners taking the S or U-Bahn to Friedrichstrasse to cross the border or just to transfer into a different train. While there buying some cigarettes or booze at the Intershop. East Berliners having to watch the trains going to the West Sectors moving right through their city, without being able to board it themselves. I've taken these trains many times myself.

[@Mark-yy2py]

I remember when I was in Berlin in the 1980s when I was stationed at TCA- I would go to the East and shop on occasion- and in Alexander -Platz, I would recall a large city map of “Berlin, der haupstadt der DDR”, and in lower case, “westberlin”, and the whole western side was green, as if it were a forest. Who were they fooling? I knew then that something had to give.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Most East Berliners knew much more than their govt. wanted them to know. After all, they could watch West Berlin television and listen to West Berlin radio.

[@Thomate888]

Thanks for uploading. 6:51: Robotron was our company for making microelectronic parts. The Slogan from Robotron was: Our microelectronics are the greatest XD. Why the members of the Central Comitee (Zentralkommitee) had so big dorsums? Answer: They had pacemakers from Robotron. That`s a double joke: our politicians made their jobs till they were to sick to go ahead or they died and our technology wasn`t the best, regardless the leaders praised it.

[@Signaler]

Ohje - Wollankstraße war viele Jahre meine Heimatbahnhof. Wollanstr. was my home station for many years. (1984-1999)

[@LomLom1975]

Very good, very interesting. Thank you!!

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Thanks - someone else said that, in the first comment on this video. I've copied it below... Simon ------------------------------------ the S-Bahn trains you see were built in 1927/1928; the so-called intercity on 1:55 is a French military train coming from the Gare française de Berlin-Tegel, the only circulating on these rails in this time (german trains used only the Stadtbahn);

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Edward, More information about the Berlin wall can be found on Wikipedia. As KZbin wont let me add a weblink to this comment I've added it to the main text about this film. Simon

[@BERLINblurs]

I really like your films.

[@tavalli]

Excellent video!

[@Thomate888]

Du Glücklicher! Mein Vater war Polizist und damit war uns jeglicher Zugang zum Intershop oder Westprodukten, die uns hätten geschickt werden können, vergolten. Umso mehr habe ich mich gefreut, als wir die erste Fanta abends zum Essen auf dem Tisch hatten, kurz bevor die Mauer fiel XD.

[@Thomate888]

The computer and also the EVA-principle were invented by a german named Konrad Zuse. The name of the linux distribution called SUSE is a tribute to Konrad Zuse.

[@Thebibs]

Man I love that Town. So much so that I got married there 2 months ago.

[@NickerSkids]

I am from Scotland and having nothing much to add to the comments. However,i have been only once to Berlin and it is probably the best place i have ever visited.I visited the U-bahn station at the unter-den-linden ,near the brandenberg gate.The guide told me this station was closed during the wall period,does anybody have any information about this station?

[@RawAngles]

I would love to use some of this footage in a forthcoming documentary, can we discuss?

[@Alex1337no1]

the location from 2:00 looks WAAAY different today..xD

[@elton1981]

floris de vries It really does. That station is really busy. The ring line is in use again.

[@granskare]

nice 2 videos...good to make this record of the recent times...

[@TalksWithDirt]

Wow, East Berlin looks like it never really recovered from WWII as of the end of the DDR. Those buildings were in some serious disrepair.

[@sushifornico]

Und der Geruch der alten S Bahnen :-) aber echt tolles Video ! Wann wurden die Geister Bahnhöfe wieder aufgemacht? Erst nach der Vereinigung?

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Thank you - some ghost stations were already open when I visited Berlin in April 1990. But only for people from East Berlin / DDR. Most ghost stations opened after reunification

[@Ndrw_82]

@KoshmarUK Man! U are totally right!! Which country are u from??

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

I assume that this in West Berlin? Simon

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Yes, but the Berlin wall was because too many people from the east were going to Berlin and then escaping to the west. Then in 1988/9 the same was happening via other eastern countries - for a while I thought that the army would be used to stop this, but thankfully a peaceful solution was found. Simon

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

A lot of people were unable to decide their destiny. Not just Germans. Although we do not have a war the same is happening with the EU taking over most of Europe. Given a vote I would choose to leave the EU - not because I want to but because it is not democratic, it costs too much money, it has contempt for human rights, etc. But the politicians know that we Briitish people do not like what is being done - which is why they do not give us a vote. Simon

[@owenelliott5742]

Lmao

[@hennef53]

Mag für Sie belanglos sein. Der "lokale Fürst" war Kurfürst in Köln, Sitz Bonn. Er war gleich gestellt mit dem Kurfürsten von Brandenburg und Preußen. Bonn war vor 2000 Jahren Hauptstadt der Ubier und Sitz der römischen Kultur. Da hat man sich am Wannsee noch die Plötzen um die Ohren gehauen. Was war in New York oder Washington vor 250 Jahren? Keine Bange - ich mag Berlin auf seine Art und Weise auch! Hab' viel drüber publiziert.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

certainly most has, if not all. I am not sure about 100% of the system. There have also been attempts at extensions again, however as in the early 1930's the money has run out. This explains why the extension of Line U5 has ended up as a short shuttle service named U55. But it had to be opened asap, as it was built with a Federal grant - and had it not opened the monies would have had to be repaid. simon

[@audinos4827]

I have never heard of this law. As an amateur photographer I have photographed many bridges in recent years, as well as objects viewed from a bridge, and I have never once been questioned by police. I have never seen police or guards on any road or railway bridge (as they were in the DDR), but only on very large dams such as Shasta Dam in California. They do not prohibit photography there. In fact, they sell postcards of it.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Thanks everyone for adding the timescale of the re-unification. Looking back it seemed to happen so quickly... who would have imagined in October 1989 that in one year the political landscape would be so very different. And it all happened in peace - although we must remember the protests in cities such as Leipzig and that other 'Eastern' countries were allowing people out to the West. Simon

[@VanlifewithAlan]

Sorry, video response should go to part two and not part one!

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Gorbachov and reagan decided to work together, realising that when faced with an 'outside' force we earth-born humans must act as one. What they did not reckon on is that what they saw as outsiders would come in peace through the mother's womb, with a desire to birth a new understanding of what it means to be human so that mankind would be able to put aside cultural differences and live together as one people.

[@keithbate9405]

I visited Berlin, Dresden and Prague in 1990 and the Eastern Part reminded me of my childhood in the early /mid 1960's (born 55). It was grey and "run down". Dresden had hardly been touched since the war years. No open toilets at service areas. No proper food etc. Despite this I liked it there as I felt a feeling of nostalgia that I was back in my childhood past (time travelled). went back 11 years later to Berlin/East Germany/ Prague and frankly it was like being in the West. On the former visit Prague practically closed down after 2200. "a communist mentality" still prevailed according to our local guide. In 2001 there were (sadly) 4 McDonalds in Prague . - none in 1990. The whole world is gradually becoming homogenised.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Keith Bate In 1989 I visited Centrum in what was still east Berlin. This was the large department store at Alexanderplatz. In many ways it was like a catalogue store- you chose your products from the display and then ordered them for collection from the collection area.The food hall however had fresh food on display - with signs everywhere in German, English, Russian and another language (Polish perhaps? I no longer remember) which said that these items could only be bought by people with Berlin residency cards. In other words, only the people of East Berlin! However, on looking at the produce that was being sold... well our supermarkets would reject things which looked like that!

[@keithbate9405]

citytransportinfo "the past is a foreign country they do things differently there" (Hartley "the go between". My fav first line from any novel). I sometimes wish I could return "to that foreign country" sigh. But hey "I pass the test" and for me "the road go's ever on" .

[@MRLBRMNN]

I was born in Prague in 1993 and am now living in Berlin and somehow I got stuck watching videos from those cities in the 90s. Prague has really changed but in a good way!

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

probably, yes. My knowledge of Berlin is not so good, so I cannot be certain. Simon

[@Kevwhite115]

What I don't get it whats this video about i can't like see anything in the videos i know its about east and west berlin but what?

[@marvin7774]

mittlerweile ist es das auch wieder.

[@Ndrw_82]

Wunderbaren videos!! :) Why were so many stations of East Berlin after the re-union closed? I only have seen pictures and tv-shows about East-Berlin, but I liked the "socialist" architect! And I think it is a non-ideological based issue! Houses are cool-looking, futuristic and comfortable for people. Such houses were bulit all over the world, not only in socialist countries. I don't think the old-fashioned, dark-mooded prussian style should be back, but the alexanderplatz-style...!!! ;)

[@youtubister]

@TaoNakamora He says, "We don't really like seeing this (the filming) here."

[@7boon]

Did the DDR make you apply for a visa and check your paper to enter East Berlin back then, since you're a Westerner?

[@5mnz7fg]

As time runs by...

[@hennef53]

...und was gibt es an bedeutenden Metropolen in der Nachbarschaft von Berlin? Warschau. Toll. Von Bonn nach Paris, Rotterdam, Luxemburg und Brüssel sind es Tagesausflüge.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

But once the wall came down not everything was good - the economy changed and many people in the former Soviet Bloc found that whilst they were now allowed to have passports and to travel to the West they were no longer able to afford to travel. So a few people became very wealthy and everyone much poorer. Very bad :-( Simon

[@marilynr46]

@erikinhawaii I've lived in America for 47 years and I never was questioned or harassed by the police for visiting different parts of a city. I can't believe the crap that people in other countries are told about the US. And, I would also like to remind everyone that we would't be able to watch all these videos and comment with people from around the world in this format if the USA didn't invent the computer and TV and the West didn't create the internet,

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

It is time for humans to realise that cultural etc differences are minimal - underneath we are all the same.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

No, not me. sorry! Simon

[@manhunt202]

berlin is soo butiful city iwas there and it was best time in my life and iam from isreal :D German people should come visist isreal also!!

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Religions were created by people (who pretended to be divine) with bad intentions in ways designed to make humankind split in to grpups which fight each other; especially at this time (Autumn 2011 - 2013), which is when humanity is having a rebirth and gaining a new understanding of what it means to be human. This was done because those who are in power knew that once humanity has this rebirth then we will kick them out. Comet Elenin is acting as a catalyst for the rebirth. The time is now!

[@audinos4827]

You have obviously led a sheltered life. Have you ever visited East Germany, or the USA for that matter? Only a few months before this video was taken, this person would have had his camera confiscated and would probably have been arrested. Do you really want to return to those days?

[@raylsistemlerbir6763]

3:46 Anhalter

[@jostreinert7874]

"Westberlin" was officially used only by GDR-authorities in order to point out, this is a separate entity versus "Berlin - capital of the German Democratic of Germany" for the Eastern part, whereas German officials of the West used "Berlin (West)" in order to point out, the city should be considered as not divided. The terminus "capital" was never used, because the Westgerman authorities denied the existence of the GDR as an independent country. However, Berlin was always considered as the capital of a united Germany, Bonn was only a provisional capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. The whole Berlin was divided into four seperate occupied zones, the occupied zones of the British, US and French constituted Berlin (West) and the zone of the Soviet constituted Berlin (Ost). Berliner were not allowed to join the army and there had special identycards and no travelling pass.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Thank you. I remember that but for younger people this historic information about life in those days is important to know. I did not film this but remember seeing signs in the fresh fruit department of Centrum - the big department store in Alexanderplatz East Berlin - saying that only people with Berlin residency cards were allowed to buy the fruit. The signs were in four languages - German, English, Russian and another one .. Polish perhaps?

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

I think that this will all change, after 2012. Everyone will be equal. Simon

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

EU, Australia, US, Canada, etc all try to keep others out. This is partly because of matters related to poverty in the outside nations. If only there was greater global democracy and an economic system which was fair for all humans so the terrible situation would be changed for the better. Simon

[@7boon]

China used to have Friendship Stores which only took foreign currencies and with security guards that only let in foreigners.

[@MsCajt]

how very interesting we learnt about this at school in the 80s in Australia although in hindsight from a western anti communist perspective. Sure the DDR seems to have had its faults but maybe wasnt all bad either

[@wuloki]

It had a lot of faults, such as the constant spying on it's citizens. But some things were really good, as you say. The school system, for example, was pretty good, giving everyone an equal chance, and still lives on in scandinavian countries, which adopted it. Also, the DDR made sure that the basic needs of humans (like food, housing, healthcare) were cared of. Housing and food was very cheap, while healthcare was free. This kind of lives on in current Germany, where healthcare is still free - however, you can have a private health insurer like in the US, if you choose so.

[@wuloki]

Probably the biggest social problem in Germany today is housing. The rents for basic appartments exploded in recent years, and the government seems to do nothing about it. Of course, this pisses a lot of people of. And those who remember the housing system of the DDR are even more angry about the current state of affairs.

[@wuloki]

You could put it like this: Low income families would have had a better life in the DDR. High income families of today would have had problems in the DDR. From my point of view, the pendulum as gone too far to the capitalist side of things. A little bit of socialism does not hurt anybody, and gives a lot of people a better life. I think there should be a middle ground between the extremes, capitalism and socialism, and this would be a good thing for the majority.

[@jeremynv89523]

@@wuloki Victor Grossman has said that after the Wall fell, about a third did better; a third did about the same, while the lives of the other third have gotten much worse.

[@Thomate888]

No and that`s not what I mean.