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The Painstaking Principles of The Palace of Tears Sheila Rind and Sophia Brown The Division After World War II The Berlin Wall was the physical division between East Germany (Democratic and Communist) and West Germany (Capitalist) during the years of 1961 to 1989. West Germany were the Allied Powers of America, France, and Britain, and East Germany was controlled by the Soviet BERLIN, GERMNAY - Tränenpalast, also Union. Because of the different ideologies, known as The Palace of Tears, was the and the competition during the cold war, the former border crossing train-station at country got split up into two in 1949. Within Friedrichstraße, where the East Germans had a short period of time, East Germany and to say farewell to the ones who were going to West Germany became very distinct, with a West Germany. rapid growing economy in the West. East Berliner’s freedom became very limited, so they wanted to ditch their home and move to West Berlin. Although some were stopped on the way, thousands were successful. By early 1960’s, the population and labor force was decreasing a lot, and by 1961, East Berlin had lost 2.6 million, so the Soviet Union desperately built a wall to make a physical separation. This separation ended the mass exodus and tore numerous friendship and family relations apart. This picture above is the Berlin Wall. It shows the dullness, and the emptiness. Photo taken by Sophia Brown. The Name During 1962 and 1990, The Palace of Tears was supposed to be an entry from the West to the German Democratic Republic (GDR), but it was later changed and made as a departure exhibition that was established on the 15th of hall. Due to the tears that was shed outside September 2011, which shows the division of the building, Berliners came up with the Germans in everyday life. However, it is not name Tränenpalast, translated to Palace of only a place of sadness, it is also a place of Tears. happiness and laughter that both West and East Germans shared when they were allowed to visit each other briefly. It was a place where millions of East Germans shared the depressing experiences and strong emotions and say goodbye to loved ones who were not permitted into West Germany. Memories remain of painful farewells and the inhumane GDR borderline. It is also used to remind foreigners and Germans about the separation and the tearful farewells that the families had to go through. This is the Palace of Tears at Friedrichstraße, Berlin, where many tears were shed and strong emotions remains. Photo taken by Sophia Brown. What is The Palace of Tears? The Palace of Tears was used as a checkpoint and train station for the West Germans when they came to visit their friends and families in the East. Since the East Germans couldn’t After the Wall was taken down, and the borders opened, on November 9, 1989, the station at Friedrichstraße was overcrowded with millions of East Germans using the freedom to travel and take the S-Bahn or underground to West Berlin. People were waiting enthusiastically outside the station in a queue that was several hundred meters long. cross the boarder to the West, the train station was where everyone got to meet and say farewell. It is a place that can teach the next generation the history and the struggle people had to go through in the past. It is an On July 1, 1990, the GDR discontinued checks at the border crossing points to the Federal Republic. The station changed as a result with losing its function. The connection corridor to the station was demolished, and great place to learn and be reminded about by 1991, the Berliner Marcus Herold rented the Berlin Wall. “I actually crossed the the building, organizing concerts, readings, boarder from West to East, and it was very exhibitions, and theater performances until frightening. There were soldiers that were 2006. It was only until the foundation called spying on us wherever we went.” says a “The House of History” reconstructed the German man. Many people fled from East entire place and made it into what it is today. Germany to West Germany because of the strict regulations and the limited freedom. People were split up from their family and friends but when the Berlin Wall was torn down, they were finally reunited. On the other hand, many citizens lost their lives from trying to escape East Germany, and never got the opportunity to see the history form. “People wanted to escape East Berlin because of the strict regulations and the limited freedom. You could easily tell the difference between East Berliners and West Berliners because of their clothes. They were very old fashioned and not up to date,” says a woman that lived in West Berlin. The Palace of Tears was a train station to cross the border between West and East Berlin during This picture is one of the many examples shown at The 1962-1989. Videos, audios, photographs, and Palace of Tears. It has a story, and real pictures along important artifacts are currently portrayed in with it. the exhibition. According to a mid 50’s man Interview visiting The Palace of Tears, “I remember We interviewed a couple of Germans at the when they were building the wall, and got Palace of Tears and they all had the same spilt up with my friends, we waved white thoughts which was; The Palace of Tears is a flags across the boarder.” struggle and difference between West The Palace of Tears is a very small museum Berliners and East Berliners. An atrocious that touches the personal stories of the many and painful nature that is displayed through families that were severely affected by the different artifacts, films and audios from separation. It showcases the stories of people and families who were affected by the families trying to escape from East Germany. Cold War. It shows families who were split It is illustrated in a very respectful manner up from one another and others who were and explains the tragedy Berlin went trying to escape the brutality of East through during the Cold War. The Palace of Germany. Finally, it is a place where you can Tears was a border point for West Berliners really grasp the feelings and emotions of the coming in and out of East Berlin. many people troubled by the war. After visiting the Palace of Tears, I could From 1961 to 1989, there were many feel the pain the Germans had to go through, conflicts between East Germany and West and the different emotions left in the station. Germany because of the different ideologies. Reading about it online and physically The Berlin Wall did not help solve the visiting there is totally different. There are problem, but lead to more deaths. The only examples of real stories from people who “safe” way to cross the border was by using experienced escaping East Berlin or traveling the train from Friedrichstraße in East Berlin, across the border line with the train. Not only where there were many tears shed and are there examples, but can have the depressing emotions felt from saying farewell opportunity to meet people who were in the to their loved ones. This is definitely a exact situation and hear the stories live. This recommended place to visit, and you can was definitely a worthwhile experience for learn many lessons. me, and wouldn’t mind visiting there again. Other people usually have similar opinions. The Palace of Tears is a place that every person who has a chance to visit Berlin should go. It is a place where you can see the