Figure 1.--The photo was taken in front of Berlin's historic and very battered Brandenburg Gate separating East and West Berlin during 1947. Notice the war-battered structure. Berlin was in ruins because of the Allied bombing and the Soviet assault. And the Brandenberg gate was the iconic symbol of the city. The gate marked the line betwen the Soviet and Western zones in Belin. It would become the location of Check Point Charly. Notic that in 1947 that people could still move freely between the zones. This did not change until Stalin attempted to isolate West Berlin (1948), resulting in the Berlin Airlift. The boy is wearing Lederhosen with out a shirt, a commn practice during the summer. Many children during the difficult years following the war went barefoot.

The photo was taken in front of Berlin's historic and very battered Brandenburg Gate separating East and West Berlin during 1947. Notice the war-battered structure. Berlin was in ruins because of the Allied bombing and the Soviet assault. And the Brandenberg gate was the iconic symbol of the city. Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm II wanted a suitable landmark for his growing capital. It was designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans who was inspired by the Propyläen in Athens’ Acropolis. It was built at the time of the French Revolution (1788-91). The site chosen was one of the gates of the city which led to the Boulevard Unter den Linden. It is now the only surviving of the 18 city gates. The Quadriga, the sculpture at the top represents the Goddess of Victory by Johan Gottfried Schadow was erected 2 years after the Gate itself was finished (1793). Napoleon took it to France as a war trophy (1806). The Gate after Worl War II marked the line betwen the Soviet and Western zones in Belin. It would become the location of Check Point Charly. Notice that in 1947 that people could still move freely between the zones. This did not change until Stalin attempted to isolate West Berlin (1948), resulting in the Berlin Airlift. The boy is wearing Lederhosen with out a shirt, a commn practice during the summer. Many children during the difficult years following the war went barefoot. A Grman reader writes, "Here a father with his two children passes the (western) side at the Brandenburg gate with a Leiterwagen (small cart with sparred frame) at the end of the chaussee (road) through the Tiergarten (a green area with trees like Central Park in New York City or Hyde Park in London) to the west of the gate. We do not know what they were doing, perhps looking for food to buy. Later during the Soviet blockade of West Berlin, people grow grew potatoes in the park!"

Created: 3:05 AM 5/29/2014
Last updated: 3:05 AM 5/29/2014