Moment of silence for victims of the uprising in Berlin in June 1953; Photo; Licensed item; Original: 2880×2160; Photographer: Unknown; Licensable; Rights: © Bleek/zb Media.
Moment of Silence for Victims of the Uprising in Berlin in June 1953
Description
Moment of silence for victims of the uprising in Berlin in June 1953; Photo; Licensed item; Original: 2880×2160; Photographer: Unknown; Licensable; Rights: © Bleek/zb Media. The photo depicts a moment of silence for the victims of the uprising of June 17, 1953, in Berlin. After the violent suppression of the popular uprising by Soviet tanks and East German security forces, the killed demonstrators were commemorated in West Berlin and the Federal Republic of Germany.
Many people in the western part of the city gathered in silent sympathy – whether in public places, in front of memorial sites, or during an official ceremony. In West Berlin, such commemorations were held regularly thereafter, especially on June 17, which was a national day of remembrance in the Federal Republic until reunification, known as the “Day of German Unity.”
The popular uprising of June 17, 1953, began as a protest by construction workers against increased work quotas, but quickly evolved into a widespread movement against the communist SED regime in East Germany. The East German government requested help from the Soviet Union, whereupon Soviet tanks moved into Berlin and other cities, brutally crushing the uprising. Hundreds of people were arrested, many killed.
The photo symbolizes the remembrance of the courage of the demonstrators who protested for freedom and better living conditions. It also stands for the ongoing division of Germany and the Cold War that separated East and West for decades.
