Jens MittelbachAhead of Print in BFP: Ahead-of-print article: “Computer in den Staatlichen Allgemeinbibliotheken der späten DDR”. How late-1980s East German public libraries became sites of early computerization—then lost much of it after 1989. #EastGermany #libraries #history #digitalhistory
Ahead of Print in BFP: Ahead-of-print article: “Computer in den Staatlichen Allgemeinbibliotheken der späten DDR”. How late-1980s East German public libraries became sites of early computerization—then lost much of it after 1989. #EastGermany #libraries #history #digitalhistory
J4mesRob0t(East) Berlin, (East) Germany - Berlin Cathedral sits on a museum island in the Mitte district
This is what I call a drive by shooting: WAIT STOP THE CAR! [SNAPS PIC] Ok Bye, even managed a partial hand selfie in the process - Feb 1991
This is when we arrived in Berlin. It seemed the only entry point into Berlin was from the east side. Every other road in from the west was likely a diplomatic route. If they ever existed. I recall driving all the way around the southern end of the Berliner Ring looking for a way in (see also Trabant Graveyard post), going up and over, and entering from the north somewhere around Friedrichhain. We continued through the Mitte district and then turned left onto Karl-Liebknecht Straße, and made a quick stop at the Berlin Cathedral. Somehow we ended up on Unter Den Linden and the boulevard opened up arriving at the Brandenburg Gates. Unfortunately, there was no chariot on top, just the dreary columns. The Quadriga was undergoing repairs. DOH-&^$#! At least we made it. So getting out the car, I walked up to this Turkish gentleman standing beside a huge pile of rubble. He was selling a piece of the Berlin Wall for -5 DM. There was no Euro yet. I could have just took one, they weren’t his to sell but I rather he had something for just standing there all day waiting for tourists like me to show up, and not feel bad about it later. I still have it, it’s got green and red spray paint on it and looks really punk rock 🤟🏻 I wonder if it’s legit. It’s sitting in a giant decorative glass ashtray next to the other junk I’ve collected over the years.
#Berlin #Germany #BerlinWall #FallOfTheBerlinWall #GermanReunification #ColdWar #PeacefulRevolution #WestGermany #EastGermany #HistoricalEvent #Freedom #Unity #Democracy #EndFascism #Photo #Photography #fotografie #photographie #foto #fotografia
Vintage Series
(This is a digitized version of the original print and includes some restoration work.)
This is what I call a drive by shooting: WAIT STOP THE CAR! [SNAPS PIC] Ok Bye, even managed a partial hand selfie in the process - Feb 1991
This is when we arrived in Berlin. It seemed the only entry point into Berlin was from the east side. Every other road in from the west was likely a diplomatic route. If they ever existed. I recall driving all the way around the southern end of the Berliner Ring looking for a way in (see also Trabant Graveyard post), going up and over, and entering from the north somewhere around Friedrichhain. We continued through the Mitte district and then turned left onto Karl-Liebknecht Straße, and made a quick stop at the Berlin Cathedral. Somehow we ended up on Unter Den Linden and the boulevard opened up arriving at the Brandenburg Gates. Unfortunately, there was no chariot on top, just the dreary columns. The Quadriga was undergoing repairs. DOH-&^$#! At least we made it. So getting out the car, I walked up to this Turkish gentleman standing beside a huge pile of rubble. He was selling a piece of the Berlin Wall for -5 DM. There was no Euro yet. I could have just took one, they weren’t his to sell but I rather he had something for just standing there all day waiting for tourists like me to show up, and not feel bad about it later. I still have it, it’s got green and red spray paint on it and looks really punk rock 🤟🏻 I wonder if it’s legit. It’s sitting in a giant decorative glass ashtray next to the other junk I’ve collected over the years.
#Berlin #Germany #BerlinWall #FallOfTheBerlinWall #GermanReunification #ColdWar #PeacefulRevolution #WestGermany #EastGermany #HistoricalEvent #Freedom #Unity #Democracy #EndFascism #Photo #Photography #fotografie #photographie #foto #fotografia
Vintage Series
(This is a digitized version of the original print and includes some restoration work.)
Gdańsk, Poland - Kościół Rektorski Ojców Karmelitów pw św Katarzyny - roof gable of Rector's Church of the Carmelite Fathers of St. Catherine - Gdańsk, Poland - Feb 1991
#Gdansk #Poland #Polska #BerlinWall #FallOfTheBerlinWall #GermanReunification #ColdWar #PeacefulRevolution #WestGermany #EastGermany #HistoricalEvent #Freedom #Unity #Democracy #EndFascism #Photo #Photography #fotografie #photographie #foto #fotografia
Vintage Series in B&W
(This is a digitized version of the original colour print)
#Gdansk #Poland #Polska #BerlinWall #FallOfTheBerlinWall #GermanReunification #ColdWar #PeacefulRevolution #WestGermany #EastGermany #HistoricalEvent #Freedom #Unity #Democracy #EndFascism #Photo #Photography #fotografie #photographie #foto #fotografia
Vintage Series in B&W
(This is a digitized version of the original colour print)
Gdańsk, Poland - Wielka Zbrojownia - Feb 1991 #Gdansk #Poland #Polska #BerlinWall #FallOfTheBerlinWall #GermanReunification #ColdWar #PeacefulRevolution #WestGermany #EastGermany #HistoricalEvent #Freedom #Unity #Democracy #EndFascism #Photo #Photography #fotografie #photographie #foto #fotografia
(You already know the backstory, or it’s 3 posts down if you’re interested.)
This one looks like it’s right out of a late 60’s era spy drama.
In a state of decay, The Great Armoury Building in Gdańsk provides the backdrop for what appears to be a crime scene. Zoom in to see there are black curtains obscuring parts of it behind the tiny Polski Fiat on the left while a “CSI agent” appears to be pointing a camera past the open door into the car interior. Crime scene? This doesn’t appear to be a mere car accident. (Queue “For Your Eyes Only”.) All kidding aside, the tension and distress here was palpable. Lingering didn’t seem like a wise idea and I caught a blast for snapping this, as if doing so meant getting yourself arrested. Other than the CSI guy, I had the only other camera. I felt like I did something stupid that would get me in trouble. Did I risk it all for this souvenir? Not really. But I had an amazing time in Gdańsk. This was a bucket list trip. An incredible city no matter what state it was in. I will eventually go back.
Vintage Series
(This is a digitized version of the original print and includes some restoration work.)
(You already know the backstory, or it’s 3 posts down if you’re interested.)
This one looks like it’s right out of a late 60’s era spy drama.
In a state of decay, The Great Armoury Building in Gdańsk provides the backdrop for what appears to be a crime scene. Zoom in to see there are black curtains obscuring parts of it behind the tiny Polski Fiat on the left while a “CSI agent” appears to be pointing a camera past the open door into the car interior. Crime scene? This doesn’t appear to be a mere car accident. (Queue “For Your Eyes Only”.) All kidding aside, the tension and distress here was palpable. Lingering didn’t seem like a wise idea and I caught a blast for snapping this, as if doing so meant getting yourself arrested. Other than the CSI guy, I had the only other camera. I felt like I did something stupid that would get me in trouble. Did I risk it all for this souvenir? Not really. But I had an amazing time in Gdańsk. This was a bucket list trip. An incredible city no matter what state it was in. I will eventually go back.
Vintage Series
(This is a digitized version of the original print and includes some restoration work.)
Music AddictI wrote about heavy and alternative music in the GDR and it was as difficult as writing an academic paper.
#heavymetal #metal #music #metalmusic #history #DDR #GDR #EastGermany
https://distortthealgorithm.eu/post/walls-concrete-hard-riffs/
Walls, concrete and hard riffs - Rock beyond the wall, part II: The GDR
This article took way longer than originally planned. Trying, on one hand, to find citeable information, was not too difficult, but, as it is very often the case, a lot of the research on the topic is concentrated on the punk scene. And, a lot is either behind a paywall, or published onto scientific platforms that I no longer have access to, as they’re usually restricted for academic institutions. Oh well. On the other hand, while I have a good understanding on a lot of things GDR, I needed to find a way to explain the basics to people who don’t. I hope this won’t be too boring for whoever is reading, and if you make it through the first paragraphs, there should be enough music in the following part to compensate you.
Trabant Graveyard, Berliner Ring, Bundesautobahn 10, (formerly) East Germany, Post Communist Era - February 1991 - #BerlinerRing #Berlin #EastGermany #Photo #Photography #fotografie #photographie #foto #fotografia #BerlinWall #FallOfTheBerlinWall #GermanReunification #ColdWar #PeacefulRevolution #WestGermany #HistoricalEvent #Freedom #Unity #Democracy
I took this photo a little over a year after the wall fell.
Vintage Series
(This is a digitized version of the original print)
I took this photo a little over a year after the wall fell.
Vintage Series
(This is a digitized version of the original print)
Obsidian Urbex Photography☕Do you prefer coffee or tea? Just putting the finishing touches on my East Germany Road Trip 2026 blog, enjoying a nice cup of mushroom coffee as my drink of choice today.
Apparently it's good for you, enhances focus and cuts through the brain fog! Just what I need to edit photos and write some rambles about my adventures 😹
#AbandonedPlaces #Blogger #Adventure #Photographer #Writing #Travel #Germany #EastGermany
Reverend Elvis
Home ━ The European Conservative [Unofficial]The Man Who Wants the AfD To Win—German Ex-Boxer Wolfgang Blume
