Chausseestraße at the time of the Berlin Wall

The borders of the four Berlin sectors had a decisive impact on people's lives even before the Berlin Wall was built. Since 1949, the inner-city border of the Soviet sector was also the border between East and West Berlin. Many Berliners today are no longer aware that the 1.7-kilometre-long Chausseestraße was the westernmost extension of East Berlin.


In his book "Chausseestraße", Holger Schmale describes how cinemas located close to the border in the western sectors attracted East Berliners until 1961, how graves in cemeteries that were now located in the border strip were still tended after the Wall was built and where the last shots were fired at the Wall. A search for traces in front of and behind the former Chausseestraße border crossing, of which nothing remains today.


During the public discussion, participants will have the opportunity to share their own memories and collect ideas for a possible exhibition on the topic at the Mitte Museum.


Holger Schmale is a publicist. Using Chausseestraße as an example, he will talk about the development of the city over two centuries and five social systems. He bundles life worlds and fates as if under a magnifying glass.


Location: Mitte Museum, Pankstraße 47, 13357 Berlin

Registration: not required

Admission: free


(IN GERMAN)