Film footage: President Kennedy’s visit to Germany in 1963 Part 2 – West Berlin. Film length 19:00. A licence fee of 38 x 30 seconds is charged for the purchase of a licence for the complete film. #190189
Visit of President Kennedy in Germany 1963 Part 2 – West-Berlin from zb Media Filmproduktion on Vimeo.
President Kennedy in Germany 1963 Part 2
Film footage: President Kennedy’s visit to Germany in 1963 Part 2 – West Berlin. Images from West Berlin, filmed on 26 June 1963. After his visit to Bonn and Frankfurt, President Kennedy spoke to a huge crowd of around 450,000 people in Schöneberg, the town hall of West Berlin. His speech, which became known as the “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech, was an impressive affirmation of the United States’ support for West Berlin. More film footage of this visit is available here.
President John F. Kennedy’s visit to Germany in June 1963 was a historic event and is often regarded as the high point of German-American relations.
A highlight of the visit was Kennedy’s famous speech in front of the Schöneberg City Hall in West Berlin on 26 June 1963. In front of a cheering crowd that had gathered to hear him, Kennedy declared his solidarity with the people of Berlin and emphasised the importance of freedom and unity. In his speech, he uttered the famous phrase: “Ich bin ein Berliner” to demonstrate his support for the people of West Berlin and their steadfastness in the face of the threat posed by the Berlin Wall.
Kennedy’s visit to Germany was also characterised by meetings with German politicians, including Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. The visit strengthened relations between the US and Germany and emphasised the importance of the transatlantic partnership during the Cold War.
Tragically, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on 22 November 1963, just a few months after his visit to Germany. However, his visit to Germany will be remembered as a significant event in the history of German-American relations and as an example of his ability to inspire crowds.
