Brandenburg Gate Berlin 1958. The photo shows the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in 1958, a symbol of division and growing tensions between East and West.
Scene: The famous gate is still freely accessible, but the political border between East and West Berlin already runs nearby.
Cold War tensions: After the Soviet Union’s Berlin Ultimatum (1958), the border between the two halves of the city was more strictly controlled – a precursor to the construction of the wall in 1961.
Military presence: Possibly seen in the vicinity are GDR People’s Police officers or allied soldiers.
The photo captures a historical moment before the final division of Berlin – the Brandenburg Gate will soon become the central symbol of the Iron Curtain.