Traces of East Germany - Wall, bunkers, wilderness | DW Documentary

Key Concepts

Cold War, Inner German Border, Division of Germany, Border Security Installations, Green Belt, Heritage Preservation, Remembrance Culture, East Germany (GDR), West Germany, Border Memorials, Restricted Zone, Eyewitness Accounts, Generational Memory.

Reconstruction of the Valbeck Border Watchtower

• Main Topic: The reconstruction of a border watchtower near Valbeck, Saxony Anhalt, Germany, as a symbol of Germany's division during the Cold War.
• Key Points:
  • The tower is a relic of the Cold War, representing the tensions between East and West Germany.
  • The reconstruction was initiated by a local heritage association after the tower was illegally dismantled in 2009.
  • The tower is one of only four of its kind remaining in Saxony Anhalt, making it a rare and protected monument.
  • The reconstruction cost almost €200,000 from a heritage preservation fund.
  • The rebuilt tower will be 11 meters tall and is expected to become a tourist attraction, especially for hikers and cyclists using the Green Belt.
• Arguments: The heritage association argues that the tower is a crucial part of history and helps younger generations understand the past.
• Quote: "It's just a part of history. Also, this is the only watch tower that has been rebuilt and restored. We have to point that out. There's nothing like this happening anywhere else in Germany." - Local Heritage Association.
• Technical Terms: Protected monument, heritage association, green belt.

Life in the Restricted Zone and the Fall of the Wall

• Main Topic: Personal experiences of living near the Inner German Border and the impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
• Key Points:
  • Villages near the border, like Valbeck, were heavily restricted, requiring special permits for entry.
  • The border was heavily guarded with walls, fences, mines, and automatic firing devices, creating a "death strip."
  • The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 brought freedom of travel and led to the dismantling of many border installations.
  • Many Cold War relics vanished quickly after the wall fell, as people wanted to erase the daily reminders of division.
• Examples:
  • Martin Hammon, former mayor of Volbeck, recalls visiting his grandparents in the restricted zone with limited access.
  • Urm of the local heritage association grew up in Berlin and was smuggled in the trunk to see his then girlfriend, now wife.

Preserving Memories in Stapleborg

• Main Topic: The efforts of the heritage association in Stapleborg to preserve and share the history of the Inner German Border.
• Key Points:
  • The local museum in Stapleborg is dedicated to preserving reminders of life during the GDR era.
  • A border room has been set up in the museum to showcase artifacts and stories related to the border.
  • A model of the border shows how close the fortifications were to the village.
  • A bunker that served as a command post for border guards has been restored and opened to the public as a museum.
  • The bunker includes the common room for border guards, the border reporting network, and access to a BT11 observation tower.
• Examples:
  • Ingash Vatnner, who grew up in the restricted zone, shares her experiences of constant checks and restrictions.
  • Sven Müller and Patrick Schunaman, born in the 1980s, are actively involved in the heritage association and lead guided tours of the bunker.
• Quote: "Soldiers sat here and they would shoot you if you tried to cross. It's definitely history you can touch. Somehow you're somehow actually holding it in your own hands. That's why it's so important." - Sven Müller.
• Technical Terms: GDR (German Democratic Republic), BT11 (Border Tower 11 meters high).

The Hutton Leven Border Memorial

• Main Topic: The preservation of a section of the Inner German Border in Hutton Leven as a memorial and educational site.
• Key Points:
  • Hutton Leven is unique because its border installations are well-preserved.
  • An international working camp brings young people from around the world to learn about the Cold War and the border.
  • The memorial includes a tour of the former border fortifications, including the patrolled strip and signal fence.
  • The border fortifications were set up close to people's garden fences, and residents lived under constant surveillance.
  • The decision to preserve the border as a memorial was initially controversial, with 500 signatures collected against it.
• Arguments: The memorial serves as a reminder of the past and the importance of not repeating historical mistakes.
• Quote: "We have to keep some of this and show it to our grandchildren." - Idea formed after the border opened.
• Technical Terms: Patrolled strip, signal fence.

The Vulpera Border Memorial and Student Involvement

• Main Topic: The preservation of a small section of the border near Vulpera and the involvement of students from Falstein Secondary School in its upkeep.
• Key Points:
  • Students from Falstein Secondary School maintain a section of the former border, including a fence and anti-vehicle ditch.
  • The students learn about the division of Germany and life in East and West Germany through this project.
  • The ditch was built in 1966 to stop vehicles from crossing the border.
  • The school's sponsorship of the memorial began in 2015, in cooperation with an association of former East German border soldiers and federal border guard officers (KZA).
• Arguments: The project aims to educate students about the past and promote understanding between East and West.
• Quote: "I have the impression that this resentment between east and west is not diminishing... I hope it can help them find a completely different view of the whole story." - Sebastian Kenoba, history teacher.

The Vanished Village of Yarza and the Grenzvandler App

• Main Topic: The story of the village of Yarza, which was demolished due to its border location, and the use of the Grenzvandler app to bring its history to life.
• Key Points:
  • Yarza was a small village located on the border with West Germany, and its residents were forcibly resettled in the 1960s.
  • The village was leveled, and today, only a few traces remain.
  • The Grenzvandler app uses historical photos and eyewitness memories to recreate the village on smartphones.
  • The app allows users to explore the former village and learn about the lives of its residents.
• Examples:
  • Fredel Schaefer, one of the last residents of Yarza, shares her memories of life in the village with documentary filmmaker David Roof.
• Technical Terms: Grenzvandler app.

The Green Belt and its Significance

• Main Topic: The development of the Green Belt along the former Inner German Border as a natural habitat and a monument to peaceful reunification.
• Key Points:
  • The Green Belt is a unique natural habitat that developed within the sealed-off border area.
  • Rare species and biotopes thrived in the undisturbed environment.
  • The idea to protect the area was born in December 1989, and the environmental NGO BUD (German member of Friends of the Earth) took up the cause.
  • The Green Belt is the largest network of biotopes in Germany and is a national natural monument.
  • It has been nominated as a world natural heritage site.
• Arguments: The Green Belt is a success story that combines nature conservation with the culture of remembrance.
• Quote: "It's the largest network of biotopes in Germany. That in combination with the culture of remembrance, that it's also a monument to peacefully overcoming the division of Germany."
• Technical Terms: Biotopes.

The Opening of the Border in Stapleborg

• Main Topic: The spontaneous opening of the border in Stapleborg on November 11th, 1989, and its significance for the community.
• Key Points:
  • The border in Stapleborg was opened by local residents after hearing about the fall of the Berlin Wall.
  • Peter Ruling and his brother-in-law helped unscrew the border fence, creating the first breach.
  • People from East and West celebrated together in Stapleborg's cultural hall.
  • The opening of the border in Stapleborg was the first place the border fell after Berlin and the official crossings.
  • Every November 11th, the opening of the border is celebrated in Stapleborg.
• Quote: "We said to the border guards, 'Did you watch TV in Berlin? Everything's open. You can go home.' 'No, no,' they said. We have no orders." - Peter Ruling.

Conclusion

The video explores the multifaceted legacy of the Inner German Border through various initiatives aimed at preserving its memory and promoting understanding. From the reconstruction of watchtowers and the restoration of bunkers to the creation of border memorials and the use of technology to recreate vanished villages, these efforts highlight the importance of remembering the past and learning from it. The Green Belt serves as a testament to the unexpected ecological benefits of the border, while the personal stories and experiences shared by those who lived near the border provide valuable insights into the human impact of division. Ultimately, the video emphasizes the need to engage younger generations in these historical narratives to foster a deeper understanding of the past and prevent similar events from happening again.