Berlin turns to technology to bring back the wall

by Amy Judd | April 24, 2008 at 09:21 am

1082 views | 11 Recommendations | 22 comments

Nobody is disputing that taking down the Berlin Wall was anything but a good thing. It was the most striking symbol of Cold War division that was torn down after the collapse of East Germany, and much of it was sold off around the world.
However, now Berlin's leaders are starting to think that maybe they shouldn't have sold off the whole wall, as the money they could have made in tourism alone would have been huge.
They are wishing they were not quite so hasty.

But beginning next week, visitors to the German capital will be able to rent a hand-held gadget that uses GPS technology to show where the Cold War barrier once stood. Fewer than two miles of the real bricks still exist, but the MauerGuide allows tourists to embark on a virtual tour of the full 98 miles of the wall's former course across the city.

"MauerGuide presents a well-documented and customised account of history that is appealing to tourists and fits nicely with our overarching memorial plans for the Berlin Wall," said Andre Schmitz, Berlin's state secretary for culture, after the city's mayor, Klaus Wowereit, tested the device.

Visitors to Berlin today can rarely differentiate between the former east and west of the once-divided capital, which has seen a dramatic construction boom since the wall was toppled in a peaceful uprising in 1989.

In 2006, the Berlin authorities announced a £35m plan to preserve remnants of the wall, while in a recent German tourism survey more than 70 per cent of respondents said they came to the capital to experience the wall and felt disappointed when they couldn't find it. Now, as plans advance to build a theme park called Ossi World dedicated to the East German state (an Ossi is an easterner) the digital-age Baedeker will help people to visualise what the hated and feared wall looked like and where it was. Using GPS navigation technology it presents pictures, video footage and audio recordings on the history of the Berlin Wall at five prominent sites along its former route. With commentary in English and German, tourists can also avoid herds of tour groups and navigate their own way for the price of £9.

Victims' groups estimate that more than 1,000 people died trying to escape from East Germany, many of them shot by Communist border guards. The wall's horror, however, has only added to its allure, particularly for overseas visitors, most of whom flock to the East Side gallery – a stretch of avant-garde art painted on one of the last remaining stretches of the wall.

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Pontia Fallahi

at 13:16 on April 24th, 2008

I really liked what was written on this part of the wall: Many small people from many small places can [do] many small things to change the face of the world.

Pontia Fallahi has contributed a photo to this story.

Amy Judd

at 13:19 on April 24th, 2008

That's a great quote - I agree!

dunmurlautre.net

at 13:54 on April 24th, 2008

a picture from the movie "wall to wall" "d'un mur l'autre", a road movie from Berlin to Ceuta, by Patric Jean. www.dunmurlautre.net

dunmurlautre.net has contributed a photo to this story.

dunmurlautre.net

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:55 on April 24th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.

nosman

at 13:56 on April 24th, 2008

Taken in June of 2006, this is a replica helmet for my local team, The Dallas Cowboys. visit http://www.mundustrek.com
for more

nosman has contributed a photo to this story.

RachelPrince

at 14:18 on April 24th, 2008

On a recent trip to Berlin I was absolutely struck by the contradiction of new vs. old along the border of what used to be the Berlin wall. Especially in Postdamer Platz where new development and commerce has risen in the footsteps of such a recent footprint of suffering and immediate commerce and commercialism dominates an area that was so recently the site of such a major moment in history.

RachelPrince has contributed a photo to this story.

Amy Judd

at 14:35 on April 24th, 2008

I am surprised about that actually. I have never been to Berlin, but I would have thought that after all this time, the sides would have blended a little bit more.

jayr_patron

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 17:46 on April 24th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.

jipariente8a

at 17:53 on April 24th, 2008

Being able to see, touch and admired the wall has been one of the most exciting experiences in my life

jipariente8a has contributed a photo to this story.

jipariente8a

at 17:59 on April 24th, 2008

amy first of all thanks for letting me share my pictures and second its very interesting what you are writing about, I didn´t know about what the goverment is traying to do, great job!!!

Amy Judd

at 06:14 on April 25th, 2008

I agree, I say if it isn't broke, don't fix it.

Washee

at 21:18 on April 24th, 2008

Amy, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute some of my pictures.

Living in Berlin has always been interesting and fascinating. The city experienced great historic changes and todays visitors as well as locals are able to enjoy its culturally diverse city life. It is true, there aren't too many remains of the wall left to see. But I'd rather not see something like an "Ossi World" theme park in the future, which will never be able to illustrate history properly.

Amy Judd

at 06:17 on April 25th, 2008

I don't want an 'Ossi World' theme park either - I would like to see the wall as it is now and not as part of some sort of 'theme park'!

pannacida

at 06:12 on April 25th, 2008

I'm proud for being helpful with my pictures :-). I love Berlin, it's a very special place and I agree with Washee when says that an "Ossi World" theme park wouldn't be the right decision. Now I can "feel" the past in most of the eastern buildings and streets and this help us not to forget: I really hope that the real estate business won't clear all these signs.

Amy Judd

at 06:20 on April 25th, 2008

I agree, I hope not too.

Lexing Xie

at 06:29 on April 25th, 2008

the area of former segregation has seen a series of new uprise -- office complexes and commercial centers. Remainders of the Berlin wall are standing around in quiet corners, in this case as a reference to the not-so-distant past.

Lexing Xie has contributed a photo to this story.

Amy Judd

at 06:31 on April 25th, 2008

That's very poetic.

MonkeyMike

at 07:05 on April 25th, 2008

It was a grey day but amazing to wander around a city with such vivid and recent history. The rate of renewal is extraordinary.

MonkeyMike has contributed a photo to this story.

rclguard

at 08:46 on April 25th, 2008

Walking up to The Wall, you get the exact opposite feeling from when you see the Statue of Liberty for the first time. That's the only way to describe it.

rclguard has contributed a photo to this story.