Culver City,
California
x
Unnamed Archive
Maker: Unknown
Date Made: between 1945-1985
Country: German Democratic Republic; West Germany
Materials: photograph paper
Measurements: 23 cm x 17.5 cm; 9 1/16 in x 6 7/8 in
Language: German
Genre/Form: photograph
This black and white photograph appears to capture a “before and after” view of the Versöhnungskirche, or Church of Reconcililation, that was located on the corner of Bernauer Strasse and Hussiten Strasse. It was originally built in 1894 and survived War II. However, when Berlin was divided between the American, French, British, and Soviet powers, the Church fell into the Soviet sector, though most of the members of the congregation found themselves in the French sector. When the Berlin Wall was constructed in 1961, it ran directly in front of the Church - as seen in the top portion of the photograph. Below, a priest speaks to his congregation in a makeshift outdoor church which seems to have been organized in front of the walled- off Versöhnungskirche. There is an altar with flowers and a statue of Christ, a podium with microphones, and some foldable chairs for the congregation, though many are standing. Cut off from its congregation, the Church was used by Soviet border guards as an observation tower, before being demolished in 1985. However, the Kapelle der Versöhnung, or Chapel of Reconciliation, was built on the very same site in 1999 and incorporates rubble from the demolition of the previous church. It stands today as a memorial to the division of Berlin and a symbol of reconciliation and peace.
Collection/Series: Peter Bochmann Border Guard Collection
Accession Number: 2017.015.019