Posts Tagged ‘GDR’
Berlin Wall
Sunday, September 11th, 2016Timm Gossing
Wednesday, September 7th, 2016
Ernst Thälmann Memorial
Friday, July 22nd, 2016
Red Town Hall, Berlin
Friday, April 8th, 2016
Kerstin Beck
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2016
Ernst Thälmann Memorial, East Berlin
Monday, February 15th, 2016
Pastor Christian Führer
Saturday, November 7th, 2015
Günter Schabowski
Friday, November 6th, 2015….May 2010 ….East Side Gallery, Berlin….
During an infamous press conference on November 9th 1989, Günter Schabowski, an unofficial government spokesman for the East German government and member of the Politburo, hastily announced new travel regulations allowing East German citizens to cross the border with proper permission. His confusing answers gave the impression the borders would be opened immediately. Hours later the Berlin Wall crumbled.
Günter Schabowski passed away this week, about a week before the anniversary of that history changing night. Four years ago when I began photographing people who had their lives changed by the division of Germany, Mr. Schabowski was already seriously ill and living in a nursing home. I regret not being able to get his portrait.
Pastor Christian Führer
Tuesday, July 1st, 2014..June 2014.. ..Leipzig..
Pastor Christian Führer passed away earlier today in Leipzig, Germany. He was the organizer of the Monday Demonstrations in Leipzig which was the catalyst for the fall of the East German Socialist regime. During the autumn of 1989 millions of disgruntled East German citizens marched peacefully every Monday night to voice their displeasure demanding more civil rights such as freedom of speech and travel, economic reform and democratic elections.
All this was started by an ordinary man who believed that citizens had the right to publicly voice their opinions.
I photographed Pastor Führer at the Nikolakirche in April 2013. He was wearing his customary denim jacket which he wore during the Wende. I have photographed extraordinary people but never has light reflected on someone as regally than on Pastor Fuhrer.
My translator, Leonie, and I had the honor of spending three hours listening to his recollections about the Wende. He was a wonderful man who was at the epicenter of change in Germany and Europe. More credit should be given to individuals like Pastor Führer who did their little parts to make momentous changes in the way millions of people presently live their lives.
Alexanderplatz, Berlin, DDR
Wednesday, March 12th, 2014