Welcome to the WWII Forums! Log in or Sign up to interact with the community.

Berlin: Then and Now Photos

Discussion in 'Western Europe' started by jagdpanther44, Oct 27, 2011.

Page 1 of 3
  1. jagdpanther44

    jagdpanther44 Battlefield wanderer

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2007
    Messages:
    1,894
    Likes Received:
    553
    Location:
    Cheshire, England
    Just returned from a short trip to Berlin with my family.

    While I was there I managed to fit in time to do a few 'then and now' comparisons.

    So, to kick off, these were taken at Herman Goering's Air Ministry building.

    Hitler leaving the ministry building
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Goering at a parade day march past
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Street view of parade
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    More to follow...
     
    jagdpanther44, Oct 27, 2011
    #1
    rkline56, Fred Wilson, TiredOldSoldier and 11 others like this.
  2. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2009
    Messages:
    9,130
    Likes Received:
    2,497
    Keep them coming! I can see a great "coffee-table" book taking shape.
     
    Biak, Oct 27, 2011
    #2
  3. Poppy

    Poppy grasshopper

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    Messages:
    7,740
    Likes Received:
    820
    Well done...Is that Goering in pic 5? Fat fellow holding the thingy-/what is that?/- on left side of street, by himself.
     
    Poppy, Oct 27, 2011
    #3
  4. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2010
    Messages:
    9,562
    Likes Received:
    3,060

    There were alot of fat bast@rds in the German army remember... : )
     
    CAC, Oct 27, 2011
    #4
  5. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2011
    Messages:
    7,217
    Likes Received:
    1,270
    Location:
    The Land of 10,000 Loons
    Keep 'em coming, JP44! I'm a big fan of "then & now" pics.

    Yes, that is the "gravitationally-challenged" Goering. Not quite sure what he's holding. Maybe something along the lines of a scepter or baton.
     
    TD-Tommy776, Oct 27, 2011
    #5
  6. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

    Joined:
    May 21, 2007
    Messages:
    18,047
    Likes Received:
    2,366
    Location:
    Alabama
    His Field Marshal's baton.
     
    Slipdigit, Oct 27, 2011
    #6
  7. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2009
    Messages:
    14,290
    Likes Received:
    2,607
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    I love these things. You do a great job of lining up your shots. Hope your family didn't mind too much.
     
    LRusso216, Oct 27, 2011
    #7
  8. Poppy

    Poppy grasshopper

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    Messages:
    7,740
    Likes Received:
    820
    Poppy, Oct 27, 2011
    #8
  9. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2009
    Messages:
    14,290
    Likes Received:
    2,607
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    This comes from a Flickr site along with a picture.

    [​IMG]



    The symbol of authority for a Field Marshall was a baton and this one belonged to Hermann Goering. The placard says it was given to him personally by Adolph Hitler in 1938. He had it with him when he presided over the surrender of France in 1940.
    Hermann Goering's Field Marshall Baton | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
     
    LRusso216, Oct 27, 2011
    #9
  10. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2002
    Messages:
    13,578
    Likes Received:
    1,487
    Location:
    London, England.
    Great stuff John ! :cool: I know you've been wanting to 'do' Berlin for a while.....
     
    Martin Bull, Oct 28, 2011
    #10
  11. jagdpanther44

    jagdpanther44 Battlefield wanderer

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2007
    Messages:
    1,894
    Likes Received:
    553
    Location:
    Cheshire, England
    That sounds like a good idea. ;)

    Thanks, Lou.

    I try to do my best to line up my shots with the originals, although it can be difficult sometimes due to changes in the terrain which prevents me from getting to the same position as the original.

    My family were very understanding and patient with me when it came to getting the photos, especially when I'd say "the spot is just around the corner" and we had another 15 minutes or so of walking to do to get to it. ;)

    My mum and dad came on the trip with us and my dad is also an avid WW2 fan, so having an ally helped. ;)

    Thanks, Martin.

    Berlin is now crossed off my list. :)
     
    jagdpanther44, Oct 28, 2011
    #11
  12. jagdpanther44

    jagdpanther44 Battlefield wanderer

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2007
    Messages:
    1,894
    Likes Received:
    553
    Location:
    Cheshire, England
    Two more comparisions from the Air Ministry.

    I wonder if the eagle is now sat in some museum or was destroyed?
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    The building suffered little damage during allied bombings and the Battle of Berlin. It was repaired post war by the former East Germany government.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    jagdpanther44, Oct 28, 2011
    #12
  13. Skipper

    Skipper Kommodore

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2006
    Messages:
    24,984
    Likes Received:
    2,386
    The DDR government did a great job repairing it, you'd hardly even notice it was heavily damaged near the roof.
     
    Skipper, Oct 28, 2011
    #13
  14. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2002
    Messages:
    13,578
    Likes Received:
    1,487
    Location:
    London, England.
    The Air Ministry eagle is pictured in ATB's 'Berlin-Then & Now' and it seems that the statue fell victim to post-war 'denazification'.....
     
    Martin Bull, Oct 28, 2011
    #14
  15. Skipper

    Skipper Kommodore

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2006
    Messages:
    24,984
    Likes Received:
    2,386
    It seems like Berlin was worth the 2 hours delay at the airport wasn't it?
     
    Skipper, Oct 28, 2011
    #15
  16. jagdpanther44

    jagdpanther44 Battlefield wanderer

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2007
    Messages:
    1,894
    Likes Received:
    553
    Location:
    Cheshire, England
    It actually ended up being a 3 hours and 20 minute delay, Skip! :(

    We were later informed that the delay was due our aircraft being held up at Faro airport in Portugal after a heavy storm severely damaged the airports terminal building and also prevented any planes from taking off for a few hours.

    On the subject of the Batons (which were awarded to the highest ranking members of the german military), I read that they had a scroll contained inside them? Would be interesting to know what was on the scroll.

    On with the 'Then and Now' photos...

    Brandenburg Gate parade
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Russian T-34 at the gate
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    German Tiger on the opposite side of the gate
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    jagdpanther44, Oct 28, 2011
    #16
    Alaskarat and Hufflepuff like this.
  17. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2009
    Messages:
    9,130
    Likes Received:
    2,497
    What's a Gorilla doing at the Brandenburg Gate? :)
     
    Biak, Oct 28, 2011
    #17
  18. jagdpanther44

    jagdpanther44 Battlefield wanderer

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2007
    Messages:
    1,894
    Likes Received:
    553
    Location:
    Cheshire, England
    There was even a Minnie Mouse dressed as Princess Lea from Star Wars. :confused:

    It is a tourist thing, have your photo taken with them and probably pay a fortune for the pleasure!!!

    The two guys in uniform and holding the flags were also doing the same thing, beckoning passersby to stand with them and have their picture taken. :confused:
     
    jagdpanther44, Oct 28, 2011
    #18
  19. jagdpanther44

    jagdpanther44 Battlefield wanderer

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2007
    Messages:
    1,894
    Likes Received:
    553
    Location:
    Cheshire, England
    I found this design in the parquet flooring of the former Wehrmacht headquarters building.

    [​IMG]
     
    jagdpanther44, Oct 28, 2011
    #19
  20. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2002
    Messages:
    13,578
    Likes Received:
    1,487
    Location:
    London, England.

    That really is an excellent 'T & N'......:cool:
     
    Martin Bull, Oct 28, 2011
    #20
Page 1 of 3

Share This Page