In Memory Of Guenter Litfin by billcody

Photography • Historical • posted on Aug 24, 2008

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Description

Hello again! This pic here remembers at one of the darkest moments of the history of Berlin - THE WALL. This is a monument and a small museum - the Museum "Guenter Litfin". Who was Guenter Litfin? Guenter was a young man, a tailor. As many other people in those days he lived in East Berlin and worked in West Berlin to earn more money. Guenter had a girlfriend, living in West Berlin, and they planned to live together. They got a flat in West Berlin and did all the renovation works - and then came the 13th August 1961, and the eastern communistic government built the wall. Guenter couldn´t reach his girlfriend, his working place and the new flat no longer. The wall was a monster, looked as a monster, but Guenter and many, many others could not believe that eastern policemen and frontier troopers will be able to shot. A deadly mistake !!! Guenter jumped into a small channel and tried to swim to the other side, the western side. Eastern railroad policemen, who patroled on a railroad bridge above, saw him and shot. This happened exactly 47 years ago, at the 24th August 1961 - and that is the reason to show this pic here and today. Guenter Litfin was the first victim of the wall, the first in a row of more then 1 000 persons, 129 persons of them between Berlin and Berlin. When Guenter was murdered, the monstruous "WALL" was only 11 days old. Guenter Litfin was 24 years old when he was killed. This watchtower here is 1 of 2 who alived, all the other more then 200 watchtowers around West Berlin were teared down, often by private persons. This here is the big commando tower version, and this here was the headquarter of the "peoples"- policemen who killed Guenter. After the fall of the wall the tower was bought by Guenters brother and was created as a museum and a memory place for all wall victims. Guenter Litfins "killing field" is very famous today: We call this place today "Berlin Main Station" - it is our glass palace, the new railroad station. The railroad tracks cross a small harbour and a channel, and the eastern policemen shot from here above into the channel.... Only loser build walls!!

Comments (10)

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Janiss

3:34PM | Sun, 24 August 2008

Very interesting history and a place who remember me many marvellous memories of Berlin that I adore so much! Bravo Wolfgang!

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KarmaSong

4:39PM | Sun, 24 August 2008

I had never heard about this tragic story, Wolfgang,but you've related to us so vividly that I can sense the emotional feeling you had while writing it...That brings to mind the album Lou Reed released a long time ago on Berlin, which I love so much because the artist spent some time there and probably got the feel of the city way before the Wall was torn down. Excellent photo, BTW!

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dortygene

4:49PM | Sun, 24 August 2008

The contrast between the old and the new is very striking. People's inhumane treatment of others continues today. We need fewer or no walls. Thank you for relating the story and sharing your photography.

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artaddict2

5:37PM | Sun, 24 August 2008

A very moving story Wolfgang, I'm glad you posted this. I read with great interest. hope your week goes well my friend!

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durleybeachbum

5:04AM | Mon, 25 August 2008

Such an interesting read, thankyou for telling us this. It is so good that this monument survives so that those terrible days are not forgotten.

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dbrv6

8:43AM | Mon, 25 August 2008

Good to hear this history personalized about something that I knew happened.

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JeffG7BRJ

9:54AM | Mon, 25 August 2008

Eine starre Mahnung von ‚Der Wand‘ Wolfgang, bin ich sicher es zurückbringt traurige Erinnerungen für viele Leute, aber es ist auch ein wunderbarer Tribut zur Erinnerung von ‚Guenter Litfin‘. Es passt auch, dass dieser Mann zusammen mit allen anderen Berlinern an erinnert werden sollte. Ausgezeichnete Gefangennahme und eine sehr informative Erzählung Wolfgang, etwas neu ich habe heute gelernt, vielen Dank mein Freund für Teilen. Bravo! !!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A stark reminder of 'The Wall' Wolfgang, I'm sure it brings back sad memories for lots of people, but it is also a wonderful tribute to the memory of 'Guenter Litfin'. It is also fitting that this man along with all the other Berliners should be remembered. Excellent capture and a very informative narrative Wolfgang, something new I have learned today, thank you my friend for sharing. Bravo!!!!!

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mermaid

10:29AM | Mon, 25 August 2008

Ah yes the wall...and all its tragic victims...I was 3 years old when it was built, have been to Berlins eastern parts several times, cause we had friends there, and do remember the greyed out and watched over feeling you always had, visiting there...and I remember the days in 1989 when finally this abomination was torn down... hopefully governments will learn, there is no way through time to keep people inside your reign, if they do not want to...

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