Der Platz
Geschichten um einen ehemaligen Todesstreifen in der Berliner Innenstadt
In Berlin-Treptow, an the border to Neukölln, lies a 6,000 square meter area that was a restricted zone between East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. Over the years, gardens were planted and destroyed, walls erected and dismantled, and a biotope flourished only to be cut down again. This space has seen the arrival of art, camels, dogs, and garbage, sparking disputes and eventually leading to the construction of a large building. The narrative explores the lives of residents from Neukölln and Treptow, whose streets were abruptly divided and later sought to reconnect after the fall of the Wall. It includes stories from employees of the VEB Deutsche Schallplatten, who gazed at the death strip from a former piano factory, an artist collective that formed post-reunification, ADAC air rescue pilots landing in the area, and a former border soldier who served there. Created to mark the 30th anniversary of the border's opening on November 9, 1989, this work highlights the historical and political events surrounding division and reunification, representing Berlin's evolution since World War II. It focuses on a lesser-known site where a significant portion of the inner-city border wall stood, offering a rich historical and cultural context. Personal accounts, complemented by historical research, vividly illustrate the impact of division and the process of coming together again.
