Chris O'Dell Photographs
East Berlin 1964
World Youth Rally, East Berlin 1964
This
picture was taken at the World Youth Rally in East Berlin in
1964. The East German leader Walter Ulbricht has just arrived in
the covered stand on the left hand side of the far side of the stadium
that carried his name. The Berlin Wall was closed to West Germans
but foreign visitors could get a temporary visa and cross into the
Eastern sector through Checkpoint Charlie. I was staying in West
Berlin with a school friend who was teaching as part of his degree
course in the German language. We crossed the border into the
Eastern sector a number of times, but eventually we were arrested by
Vopos, (the Volkspolizei) and the roll of film in my camera was
confiscated. Fortunately it was a new roll with few shots on
it. We decided that it might be better not to make any more
return visits. The gymnasts in the picture did hours of
soviet-style
prancing around making pictures and words with pieces of
cardboard and flags. This was followed by an interminable speech
from the
revered leader. My friend, fluent in German, translated the
speech to me in a whisper, adding his own comments. I was in
great danger of injuring myself in my attempts not to be seen exploding
with laughter. Although it was called the “world” youth rally, we
were probably the only two people in the crowd from the other side of
the Iron Curtain. Twenty years before I took this picture, the
parents of these young people would have been accustomed to waving
their arms about in similar salutes to a very different leader.
Or was he so different?
Camera: Asahi Pentax, 55mm Takumar lens, Kodak Tri-X film.
Exhibition prints of this photograph and all others on this site are available size A2 on Permajet Distinction Fine Art paper 325gsm price €100 including packing and posrtage to all parts of the world. Send email here with title of image and I will invoice you via PayPal (you do not need a PayPal account, you can pay with major credit/debit cards.
See home page for all other reproduction details
Exhibition prints of this photograph and all others on this site are available size A2 on Permajet Distinction Fine Art paper 325gsm price €100 including packing and posrtage to all parts of the world. Send email here with title of image and I will invoice you via PayPal (you do not need a PayPal account, you can pay with major credit/debit cards.
See home page for all other reproduction details
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