Football World Cup

loading video

locations

information

In June 1974, the Federal Republic organises the Football World Cup. West Berliners are not limited to television viewing: games will also be held at the Olympic Stadium.

The fact that both German teams will play group matches here is a particularly sensitive point. However, they will not face each other in Berlin.

locations

Olympiastadion, Olympischer Platz, 14053 Berlin

showtime
5

latitude
52.514837

longitude
13.239616

date

May 1974
Willy Brandt steps down

Günter Guillaume, a close aide of Willy Brandt, is exposed as a Stasi agent, prompting Brandt to step down as Federal Chancellor on 6 May 1974. Berliners are dismayed: Brandt symbolises the policy of easing tensions which has led to significant improvements to everyday life in the divided city. The day of his resignation, they come out onto the streets to demonstrate their support.

Politics, West

00:39
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
1974
West Germany's Permanent Mission in East Berlin

The two German states establish official relations. Although the governments of the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR did not open embassies in Bonn/East Berlin – the Federal Republic did not recognise the GDR as a foreign country under international law – they did establish Permanent Missions on 2 May 1974. The Basic Treaty signed in 1972 paved the way for this step. The staff of West Germany's Permanent Mission lived and worked in East Berlin. However, their children went to school in West Berlin. A life divided between two very different worlds. Ministry official Hans-Otto Bräutigam vividly recalls this time.

Contemporary Witnesses, Politics, West, East

02:37
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
1974
A tank runs amok

In March 1974 a US soldier runs amok in his tank and almost sparks a global conflict. The soldier breaks through the border crossing at Checkpoint Charlie, drives to the Dreilinden Checkpoint and continues on into the GDR. His motive remains unknown.

Border, Escaping, West, East

00:27
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
1974
Intershops open

In 1974 GDR citizens are allowed to purchase Western goods in foreign-currency shops - known as Intershops - for the first time. The product lines in these stores featured a small selection of high-quality GDR merchandise and a large range of goods produced in the FRG or other countries in the non-Socialist economic area. Shoppers could pay in Deutsche marks (Western marks) or in other currencies, such as the US dollar or the Austrian shilling. Prices were marked in Deutsche marks and set by the GDR authorities. Special conversion tables were provided to convert West German marks into other currencies, but they had little relation to the actual rates. The Intershops, a source of tax-free goods, were very popular among West Berliners. Smuggling goods for personal use virtually became a national sport.

Everyday Life, West, East

01:53
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
1974
Everyday life for the allies

The families of the allied forces spend their day-to-day lives in their own residential areas in West Berlin, complete with schools and shops. The British even have their own train, which travels from Berlin to Hanover once a week.

Everyday Life, West

00:32
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
August 13, 1974
Rubbish from the West in the East

During the time the Wall split East from West, rubbish became a lucrative business: Between 1974 and 1994 five million tonnes of rubbish from West Berlin ended up at Schöneiche landfill site in the GDR. The border in Berlin ran for a total of 155 kilometres; the section stretching around the outer edge of West Berlin (separating the city from Brandenburg in East Germany) measured 112 kilometres. This film looks at how people living in Brandenburg experienced the Wall going up and what it was like to live in its shadow.

Border, Contemporary Witnesses, Everyday Life, Politics, West, East

03:08
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
October 07, 1974
The GDR's 25th anniversary

The GDR is turning 25. In October 1974, the Republic's birthday is marked in a fitting manner: a military parade through the centre of East Berlin. State-owned enterprises have exceeded their targets.

Politics, East

00:32
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
November 01, 1974
Tegel Airport opens

A new, modern airport opens in West Berlin. Tegel is designed to take over from Tempelhof as West Berlin's “beachhead” to the Federal Republic. But in its first few months in operation, its modern jet bridges barely dock with a single aircraft. The allied airlines are reluctant to leave Tempelhof because of the high costs involved. Many West Berliners continue to fly from Schönefeld. Robert Grosch, the director of Tegel Airport at the time, describes the difficulties the airport faced in its first years in operation.

Contemporary Witnesses, Everyday Life, West, East

02:23
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
1975
Schöneberg's last cowshed

The last courtyard cowshed in Schöneberg, West Berlin, has to close. Berliners must say goodbye to the days when they could get farm-fresh milk just by walking down the street.

Everyday Life, West

00:40
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
1975
Turkey comes to Kreuzberg

Numerous foreign workers from Southern Europe and Turkey come to West Berlin, attracted by the prospect of jobs and the extra pay that comes with living in the city. Many of them move into cheap flats in pre-war buildings in Kreuzberg. Eva Sarioglu talks about how the buildings were often in very poor condition. Over time, Kreuzberg becomes known as Little Istanbul and develops its own unique identity: “The air was different there,” says Eva.

Contemporary Witnesses, Everyday Life, West

01:31
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD

location

1963
Hertha in the Bundesliga

Berliners on both sides of the Iron Curtain share a passion for football. West Berliners' pride and joy: the club Hertha BSC. The “Champions of the Berlin City League” have been promoted to the new Bundesliga. As manager and vice president of the club, Wolfgang Holst helped Hertha get in the Bundesliga. However, Wolfgang recalls how the Berlin club was not a popular choice for star footballers from the Federal Republic. The situation in the GDR league couldn't be more different: it is home to two East Berlin teams. The army sports club “Vorwärts” is competing for points against the State Security Service's club “Dynamo”. Neither of these clubs has any trouble attracting top players.

Contemporary Witnesses, Everyday Life, West, East

01:42
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
1965
Beatlemania and the Rolling Stones

Young people are crazy about the Beatles and not just because of their music - much to the bemusement of many older Berliners. The Rolling Stones give a legendary concert in the West Berlin venue, the Waldbühne. The fans leave a trail of destruction in their wake. East Berlin quickly uses the incident in its propaganda war against the West, classifying beat music as a decadent, Western influence and banning numerous bands.

Culture, West, East

01:47
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
1966
Soviet plane crashes into Stößensee

A Soviet plane crashes into Stößensee. Apart from the pilots, no one is hurt and a disaster is narrowly avoided on West Berlin's densely populated Heerstrasse. A plaque on Stößensee bridge commemorates the fighter jet crash: "On 6 April 1966, Soviet pilots Captain Boris Vladimirovich Kapustin and Lieutenant Yuri Nikolayevich Yanov steered their faulty aircraft into Stößensee, losing their lives in the crash. Thanks to their selfless act, they avoided an unforeseeable disaster in the nearby residential area. This plaque honours the sacrifice made by the Soviet soldiers as a symbol of humanity in the midst of the Cold War."

Politics, West

01:36
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
1964
Skiing on Teufelsberg

In 1964 Teufelsberg - a hill rising up to 112 metres - is equipped with a ski lift and floodlights, creating Alpine-like conditions for skiers in the walled-in city. Berliners can take skiing courses free of charge. This urban winter sports location even features a ski jump. However, over the years, American agents working in the listening station on Teufelsberg claim that the skiers are disrupting their work. In 1999 the entire infrastructure is dismantled.

Everyday Life, Culture, West

01:55
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
1985
Natural gas and senate stockpiles

Natural gas from the Soviet Union begins flowing to West Berlin in early October 1985. But because the allies are worried that the Soviets could cut the supply at any moment, they build a massive gas storage facility underneath Stössensee lake. West Berlin is preparing for disasters in other ways too. The senate has built up huge stockpiles of essentials so that the city can still retain its freedom even if things take a turn for the worse.

Everyday Life, West

00:56
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
1987
One birthday, two parties

East and West Berlin hold separate celebrations to mark the city’s 750th birthday. East Berlin spruces itself up and completely renovates the historic Nikolai Quarter. Chancellor Kohl attends the celebrations in West Berlin. Erich Honecker has been invited, but doesn’t show up. When it becomes clear that the two sides still disagree over Berlin’s divided status, the East feels cheated and promptly retracts the invitation it had extended to Mayor Diepgen.

Politics, West, East

00:54
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
March 05, 1969
Election of President of the Federal Republic, Gustav Heinemann

On 5 March 1969, the West German Federal Assembly elects Gustav Heinemann to the post of Federal President in West Berlin. His election is taken as a sign of the political reorientation in Bonn: in autumn 1969 a social-liberal coalition comes to power in the Federal Republic, led by Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt. East Berlin accuses the West Germans of violating the city’s special status by holding the presidential election in West Berlin and seals off transit routes. GDR chief commentator Karl-Eduard von Schnitzler lashes out on East German television, remarking that there is a village in the West German state of Schleswig-Holstein called Berlin. He suggests the Federal Assembly go and elect its Federal President there.

Politics, West

01:04
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
May 1978
Elizabeth II and Queen visit Berlin

Queen Elizabeth II graces West Berlin with a visit in May. Her first visit, in 1965, was about reconciliation between the UK and Germany. This time, she is here to show her support for West Berlin’s freedom, which British forces are helping to guarantee. Her Majesty is not the only monarch drawing crowds in West Berlin. Freddy Mercury and his band Queen are here to give what turns out to be a spectacular concert in the Deutschlandhalle arena.

Politics, Culture, West

00:58
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
1968
Introduction of transit visas

In 1968 West Berliners travel on holiday by long-distance coach. But this method of transport is not without its drawbacks: in mid-June 1968 the GDR introduces a mandatory passport and visa fee for transit traffic between Berlin (West) and the Federal Republic. The charge of five West German marks per person will give a significant boost to the GDR's foreign currency reserves.

Border, Politics, West, East

01:13
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD
April 02, 1979
Congress centre opens

The International Congress Centre (ICC) opens in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, West Berlin. It is one of the biggest congress centres in the world. The building (320 metres long, 80 metres wide and 40 metres high) was designed by Berlin architects Ralf Schüler and Ursulina Schüler-Witte. It cost 924 million Deutsche marks and took just four years to build. With 80 conference halls and rooms for 20 to 9,100 guests, multifunctional facilities, state-of-the-art technology, and a wide range of services, the ICC is ideal for all kinds of conferences and events. Harald Juhnke, a well-known Berlin entertainer, is extremely impressed.

Everyday Life, West

01:25
Video versions:
- SD ,
- MD