22-03-23
Dear Diary,
Day two in Berlin was a day full of learning and emotions. The day started at the Wall memorial site, where we began by watching two short films about the structures and process of building the wall. From here, we had a guided tour around the memorial site from a previously eastern-raised Berlin citizen, and now tour guide Herr Hoffman.
During the tour we learnt a lot about the building of the wall, and the lengths at which the Soviets took to ensure no-one could cross to the west. We even had a chance to see the area where the wall remains the same and has no-mans land, displaying how it really was for eastern Berlin residents looking out. It felt apocalyptic. Herr told many stories about those who tried to cross the boarder, many in horrific manners that lead to death, the youngest being less than one year old, killed accidentally from their mother suffocating them while trying to stay quiet in order to cross the boarder. I had never known the full extend of the Berlin wall, and until now it has felt like something fantasy, and not real, but in reality, I can see how horrific and brutal it truly was. After the tour finshed we explored the Berlin wall museum, looking down on the wall from what was previously a West Berlin watching platform.
Our next location of the day was the Stasi Prison site. Here we began by watching a short film about the wall and the history of the Prison. It was an Eastern Berlin prison that held prisoners of political wrong-doing, but it was also kept entirely secret to the general public in East Berlin. Surrounded by a restricted office area it was built and kept hidden. We had a tour from a former inmate, he shared his wealth of knowledge with us. We learnt about the general logistics of the prison, the various cells, day-to-day life, and also about the severe mental abuse he and other inmates endured. He had only been imprisoned for making a flyer that demanded truthful information, and promoted thinking. But due to this was punished heavily, imprisoned for two years, most of that in solitary confinement.
I had entirely no idea that this had happened due to the Soviet control in East Berlin. Learning about the harsh conditions was extremely interesting, but heartbreaking, and eye opening. I will never forget the way he described our lives and of politics in our countries, he said, “Democracy is a gift, you should remember that” and that “Those who sleep in democracy wake up in communism”. A hopeful way to end our tour.
We ended our day together as international students with a delicious Korean meal.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed today, I felt that I learnt so much that I had no idea about before.