Hi, I am Sig (junge1),
I was born in Dominikus- Krankenhaus in Berlin-Hermsdorf, Bezirk Reinickendorf in December 1939. Bezirk Reinickendorf was one of 20 Bezirke that made up Gross-Berlin before World War II and one of 12 Bezirke that made up former West-Berlin, the other 8 Bezirke were Russian occupied and became East-Berlin after the war. Moved from Berlin to Neurohlau (Nova Role) Sudetenland (now Czech Republic), in August 1943 (our entire block of apartment buildings was bombed out in November 1943) and returned back to Berlin in November 1945. Saw my dad the first time in my life in August/September 1946 after he returned from POW camp. Attended elementary school in Berlin-Waidmannslust, high school in Berlin-Hermsdorf, and trade school in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Was an apprentice for the trade of Klischeeaetzer (photo engraver) at Burrath & Schmidt on Friedrichstrasse between U-Bahnhof Kochstrasse (near to what later became Checkpoint Charlie) and Hallisches Tor.
While watching Allied planes supplying West-Berlin by air during the Berliner Luftbruecke in 1948-49 I developed my love for aircraft. I guess I could be considered a 'Berliner Grosschnauze", or at least I used to be.
'Wanderlust' led me to leave Berlin in summer 1960 to emigrate to Toronto, Canada and in February 1962 to move from Canada to New York City, NY, USA. In January 1963 I joined the United States Air Force, one step ahead of Uncle Sam drafting me. Became a United States citizen within 7 weeks after it became a security issue because of my military career. One day after I was sworn in as a citizen in Seattle, my entire unit left for Southeast Asia in June 1966. After nearly 5 years of active duty (extended 11 months to make it an 18 months overseas deployment) I got discharged and moved to New York City. In 1973 I moved to Phoenix, Arizona and two years later joined the Arizona Air National Guard.
Received my higher education at Arizona State University and the University of Georgia and worked for 22 years for the Arizona Department of Water Resources in various capacities. Upon military retirement in 1999 and State retirement in 2005 I looked at a number of things to keep me occupied. Traveling and joining 'renderosity' in September 2007 were a couple of them,
Sig..
Comments (26)
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
auntietk
Oh wow! This must be where you were standing when you took the picture of the place where you're standing when you took this picture ... ... Dang. Well, I know what I mean! LOL! Cool!
JuliSonne
Wunderschöne Nacht und Nebel Aufnahme vom "Lulatsch" wie ihn die (Ost)Berliner nennen.
renecyberdoc
sieht toll aus.
0rest4wicked
Atmosphere in a night shot, well done!
ia-du-lin
klassisches Berlin-Motiv, sieht gut aus bei Nacht
bazza
Great shot of this tower Sig so now we know where the last shot was taken from..
junge1
I had gone into East-Berlin in 1984, something Americans could do, but not the West Berliners or West Germans. We had to exchange money into the worthless East german currency before we were let in through Checkpoint Charlie. The atmosphere in East-Berlin felt like something out of the movie 'Schindler's List'. Depressing. To me it looked like Berlin in the 1940s. Lines around a butcher shop, people standing in a long line and waiting to buy meat or sausage, but most hooks and shelfs in the store were empty. Then we went to a Konditorei, a pastry store, and had a slice of Kuchen and a cup of coffeee and when we asked for seconds, we were informed by the waitress (or owner) that she didn't have anymore and she was very apologetic about it. On this visit into East-Berlin I wore Levi's (jacket and pants), with an inlaid belt buckle and carried a Nikon. While on the S-Bahn (the city train) I became aware of people covertly checking me out. I found out later that genuine Levi pants were selling for $600 on the black market. I also couldn't get rid of the feeling that I was being observed. When we came back into West-Berlin, street lights blazing, Mercedes' drag racing a BMW or something like that off the light I felt like I had left a prison. It was a good feeling to feel free again. Much later, after the wall had come down, my mother had a lady (from former East-Berlin) come to help her with her daily chores five times a week. This lady, a trained professional but at that time willing to do anything, told me that of the 4 or 5 levels in the Sphere at the top of the tower, one was a restaurant, one was the observation deck and the others were occupied by secret police, and yes, she confirmed that I was being shadowed for the entire time I was in East Berlin.
Feliciti
wirkt fast unheimlich bei nacht der 'lulatsch' klasse aufnahme !!
flavia49
fantastic! It looks like a spaceship!
Faemike55
Very cool capture very interesting story
nefertiabet
Great shot, love Berlin!!!
flaviok
Fascinante captura meu amigo, aplausos (5)
farmerC
Shining.
emmecielle
Wonderful capture! :)
sandra46
stunning image!!
jocko500
cool looking
adrie
Cool capture and POV.
bobrgallegos
Awesome night shot!!
Crudelitas
Nebulöse Erscheinung! Ein unheimlich gutes Foto!
drifterlee
Very cool building!
Lashia
Awesome POV- thanks for sharing! :) You should check out the Halloween Photography Contest! "Zombie Apocalypse!"
blondeblurr
I also remember having visited this tower: 'Der lange Lulatsch' - as everybody knows him, so very well ... ~Tempus Fugit~ Wicked POV,Sig BB
Dreamingbee
wow Sig - i remember this place - and your shot is fantastic !!! wow !
jarmila
very beautiful capture
danapommet
That is a scary comment that you left us Sig. My father raised us to only believe 10% of what we heard or read. And even to the point that we were only to believe 90% of what we actually saw. That was pre-CNN late 1940s and 1950s. What a time in history for you to get to explore both sides of the wall. Another great shot and POV. Dana