Our guest speaker, Mirko Poetzscher and his wonderful pictures outlined for us how he came to grow up in East Germany after the post World War 2 settlements when Germany was divided between the victorious nations under joint administration. In essence West Germany came into being with its capital Bonn and 60 million people and the remainder became East Germany with its capital Berlin and 16 million people.
The division between the two became a heavily cleared area on which were erected watchtowers, fences and guards making it very difficult to run across. The eastern border was under the Soviets and the western border under the Americans and the British. Those who went across from one side to the other were strictly monitored but many who want from East to West never went back. The wall was built in 1961 by which time it is estimated that 20% of the Population in the Eastern sector had transferred to the West.
The Allies spent money on rebuilding the economy in the West and sought reparations later.
The Soviets extracted resources from the East as war reparations, thus further weakening the East. While the East had free healthcare and education the West had higher salaries, more consumer goods, and greater personal freedoms. To prevent further losses it was decided to close the border, lock off streets and train stations and build the Berlin Wall.
The Wall was 43 km long through Berlin plus 112 kms through East Germany. Some crossings from east to West were allowed for seven day periods. As adults, Mirko’s grandparents were able to do this and by some minor miracle they managed to get permission on one occasion to take Mirko with them passed armed guards and sniffer dogs. Those crossing were given $100 each welcome money worth twice as much as the currency then prevailing in the East, and resulting with a trail of goodies making there way back to the East with the returning occupants.
Mirko’s pictures showed lines of the East’s most popular car, the Trabant (“Trabbi”) making their way across the border. It was estimated that between 1961 and 1989, when the wall was dismantled, 5000 people had escaped from the East.
There began large demonstrations and pressures on the system. When the wall actually fell in 1989, it actually happened by mistake. An East German Politburo officer prematurely lifted the restrictions on travel a day before it was intended, causing huge pandemonium ending with the guards giving way to those wishing to cross to the West.
Mirko showed pictures of Erfurt today with its Cathedral and significant buildings and lay out. It would seem like a good place to visit for those who journey to Germany, the reunification of which began on 3 October 1990.
Since Mirko arrived in New Zealand he has proved to be a very successful insurance businessman and Rotarian which has gained him a Paul Harris Fellow. For further information, try GOOGLE.
If Mirko's story made you more curious about that period I can recommend a wonderful German movie - The Lives Of Others.
It has been available on both Prime Video and Netflix.
Highbrook Rotary ran their 10th Fun Run & Walk on Wednesday 22 March 2023.
