On 20 Dec 2006 02:53:40 -0800, "JPG"
wrote:
>I have a fascination with the politics of war and have been
>disappointed to see that any traces of what used to be the "Iron
>Curtain" in Germany have been erased from the maps. None of the maps I
>have bought show the location of the old border between east and west
>and I have no idea whether the "Iron Curtain" corresponded with the
>current state borders.
>
>I have not been to any border areas yet but I would guess that when
>travelling by road they ought to be obvious by change in road surface,
>evidence of fences, watchtowers, old border installations, restored
>road links etc.
>
>Can anyone suggest to me where I could find a map showing the old
>border areas? What interesting relics are likely to be found and is it
>possible to walk along border areas where East German guards used to
>patrol?
Very much so.
For Berlin, I'd recommend the following book:
Wall Remnants - Wall Traces
by Alex Klausmeier and Leo Scmidt. (Westkreuz Verlag 2004)
ISBN 3 - 929592 - 40 - 1
Website about what's in the book:
http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/denkmal/denkmale_in_berlin/en/berliner_mauer/mauer-spuren/vorwort.shtml
As far as the ast/West German border is concerned, there are some
museums where border installations have been retained/rebuilt, but
many areas where the existence of a cleared strip can show you where
the border was.
This site (German language) shows details of the Marienborn memorial
site (former motorway control point) and the musuem at Hotensleben.
http://www.grenzdenkmaeler.de/
Another place where there are border remnants is in Modlareuth, a
village divided between Thuringia (DDR) and Bavaria (FRG):
http://www.moedlareuth.de/
This Wikipedia map shows the division according to former provincial
(Länder) borders and occupation zones..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Deutschland_Besatzungszonen_1945_1946.png
Hope this helps - if not, please post again, and I'll do my best to
offer further links.
Keith, Bristol, UK |