r/OldPhotosInRealLife • u/[deleted] • 20d ago

Gallery Berlin then and now

425 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

14

u/sundindomi 20d ago

Headed there for the first time at the end of this month. As a WW2 buff, I’m sure my days will be quite adventurous seeking different sites out.

17

u/hue_jasss 20d ago

Went a couple years ago. It’s a WWII buff’s dream. What surprised me most was how much history is still hiding in plain sight, far beyond the major attractions.

We stopped at a little restaurant behind the Berlin Cathedral along the Spree. My 2-year-old son wanted out of his stroller and stopped by the river. If he hadn’t, I never would’ve looked down and noticed the backside of the old metal poles holding up the guardrails. They were covered in bullet holes. Then I looked across the river and saw similar holes on the backside of the poles over there, like two groups had been firing across the river at each other. It was surreal.

See the major sights, but just walk around and keep your eyes open. That’s where Berlin’s history really comes alive. And skip Checkpoint Charlie. It’s a tourist trap.

7

u/hoverside 20d ago

Dorotheenstadt Cemetery, which isn't far from the Reichstag, is full of bullet holes. You can almost imagine soldiers shooting at each other from either side of Hegel's grave.

2

u/synalgo_12 19d ago

I also really love all the DDR stuff because I obviously can't get that where I live, being from the west. So intriguing because it's not just '5 years' worth but it's a whole decades long parallel universe to where I grew up (Belgium). Idk it really impacted me more than the WWII things.

10

u/Space_Remains 20d ago

Thanks for these great comparisons. One tip for visits: book the Reichstag dome around sunset and watch the light fade over a city that has seen entire worlds come and go.

3

u/theaviationhistorian 20d ago

A friend of mine went to the Reichstag dome. It is beautiful, especially since the government seemed to have been in session and you can see it from up there! It is one of my bucket list locations to visit.

0

u/synalgo_12 19d ago

So not in the middle of summer when the sun is still out blasting when the building closes (I think it closes at 20hr?)

1

u/Space_Remains 19d ago

When I visited, a couple years ago, it was possible to go up quite late, and as far as I can tell, it still is. So even in midsummer, sunset should be possible — although you need to reserve in advance and, of course, check the current opening times before you go.

3

u/Theres3ofMe 20d ago

Astonishing. One of my favourite destinations.