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Exhibition theme: The Border Opens: Santa Clauses at Brandenburg Gate [45/87]

OBJECT INFORMATION

Info

November 12 1989
Berlin, Brandenburg Gate
Created By: Eva Kowalski

License: Creative Commons License

Depicts

Berlin Wall (West), disguise, group of people, man, poster, Wall graffiti

Context

advertisement, Christmas

Places

Brandenburg Gate

Text in image

[F]reedom

Malle

Peace on earth

Other items in this set

Almost everyone knows to this day where he or she was on 9 November 1989. The joy at being suddenly granted the freedom to travel, also to West Germany, was immense. Each time a new border crossing was opened, people celebrated. In the same way, the removal of segments of the Wall and of border fence, as well as the reconstruction of roads between East and West became important events. Countless photographs and films taken in Berlin and at the inner-German border document these incidents as they occurred – thus preserving the good fortune of experiencing everything live for the family album.

Original Caption

"These Father Christmases were not demonstrating; rather they were posing for some advertising shoots. People weren't familiar with student Father Christmases in the GDR. I was bemused and fascinated."