tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post6282492383963643983..comments2024-03-26T07:58:59.761+00:00Comments on I'll think of something later: Himmel über BerlinDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-76772034127805685562011-04-12T15:18:14.736+01:002011-04-12T15:18:14.736+01:00When I was in Berlin in 1960 there was indeed noth...When I was in Berlin in 1960 there was indeed nothing in the old centre of Berlin except piles of rubble - in the Eastern Sector two restored buildings only: the opera house ( used for communist party meetings) and the Russian embassy half way down the Unter den Linden and still of course there ( with a plaque commemorating Prince Gorchakov which was not there in 1960 !)<br /><br />It is interesting to note the early (1964) date of the building of the Philharmonie - showing the central and iconic significance accorded to music in Germany<br /><br />I think that Stauffenberg was executed in the courtyard of the Bendlerstrasse building - hence the plaque etc there<br /><br />The Siegesaule in 1960 had only one plaque, recording the great Prussian victory at Konigsgratz - which defeated Austria and excluded her for Germany, paving the way for the Franco-Prussian War and the unity of Germany. Hence one of the most important battles in history - had it gone the other way the history or at least the timing of history of the rest of the 19th and of the 20th centuries would have been different. The plaques recording the Prussian victories over France in the Franco-Prussian war had been removed from the Victory Column by the French in 1945 - now restored, I believeDavid Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-33939833932220675302011-04-11T21:36:28.480+01:002011-04-11T21:36:28.480+01:00Berlin and Potsdam too cities that I always enjoy ...Berlin and Potsdam too cities that I always enjoy visiting.Laurenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03297393116796129135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-57463543027275581442011-04-11T11:37:46.830+01:002011-04-11T11:37:46.830+01:00Yes, I wrote that, though you've clarified som...Yes, I wrote that, though you've clarified some interesting details...Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-26754414063850860062011-04-11T11:26:08.997+01:002011-04-11T11:26:08.997+01:00The Siegesaule used to stand in front of the Reich...The Siegesaule used to stand in front of the Reichstag and the column then was one unit shorter. Hitler had it moved to its present position - and lengthened so that the proportions are much improved. I wonder if the future President Obama realised when he made his speech standing on the 1930s plinth on which the column now stands that his feet were on a construction designed by Adolf?David Damantnoreply@blogger.com