The Symbolic Berlin Wall
The Berlin wall, a structure that once separated a city from a people still carries many powerful memories today. The wall was erected in 1961 by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and physically and ideologically separates the city of Berlin from 1961 into 1989. The Berlin Wall did more than that, it was also a symbol of the political division of Germany, Cold War and oppression by those living on both sides.
The stories of the people that dared to challenge Berlin Wall′s commanding presence are hidden in the profound historical significance of the wall. The wall served as the backdrop repeatedly to unforgettable moments of protest, hope and love, and those immortalized images include The famous image of a kiss.
The Kisses on the Berlin Wall
The kisses on the Berlin Wall were not acts of passion or romance, they were beautiful acts of love and defiance and solidarity. These are kisses in the face of adversity, a crack of hope, a taste of humanity, in the face of a world torn apart.
The “Fraternal Kiss”
The fraternal kiss between Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and Erich Honecker, an East German leader, is one of the most well known kisses on the Berlin Wall. The celebration of the GDR’s 30th anniversary on October 7, 1979 is when this kiss occurred.
The image of the two leaders, one wearing the red scarf he was famed for and the other a red armband, in an embrace became a symbol of Soviet Union and East German solidarity. But it was also a politicized show — a reminder of the interdependence and the overlap between them.
The “Goodbye Kisses”
Other kisses that occurred on the Berlin Wall were far more personal and intimate. As families and loved ones bid farewell to each other, crossing from one side to the other, they often sealed their last moments together with a kiss.
These heart-wrenching goodbye kisses represented the pain and longing experienced by those separated by the wall. They conveyed the message of love and endurance amidst the unyielding barrier that tore families, friends, and lovers apart.
The Symbolism of the Kiss
These kisses on the Berlin Wall were more than just gestures of affection; they were acts of defiance and resilience in the face of oppressive regimes. They represented the human spirit’s refusal to be subdued and the relentless pursuit of freedom and unity.
Similar to how the wall came to symbolize division and conflict, these kisses transformed its rigid concrete facade into a canvas for human emotions and stories. They countered the harshness of the wall with simple acts of connection and compassion.
The Legacy of the Kisses
The kisses that decorated its surface have survived the Berlin Wall to this day years after it has fallen. They are a reminder of what love, hope and human resilience can achieve in the very hardest and most oppressive circumstances.
Even these kisses on the Berlin Wall should remind us the power of standing up against tyranny, letting love and friendship tie us together and of our common humanity. They start conversations, they get people to feel, they get people to imagine a world where walls are tore down and love kills all.
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