Amazing hd color footage of berlin from 1945 right after end of ww2‏

[gray_marian]

Amazing HD Color Footage Of Berlin From 1945 Right After End Of WW2 | Bored Panda

[Rodney Mills]

Thanks Marian,

My wife and I spent a week in Berlin in 1993. It was fully restored of course by then and a wonderful walking city. The museums and art galleries are fantastic.

That film clip should be mandatory viewing by all citizens of the world, in particular politicians and persons of power to show the end results of unbridled arrogance and the folly of war.

Rodney

[gray_marian]

'That film clip should be mandatory viewing by all citizens of the world, in particular politicians and persons of power to show the end results of unbridled arrogance and the folly of war.'

My sentiments entirely Rodney. Magnificent architecture, just reminds us of the futility of war and most importantly lost lives

[j.sabourn]

Futility of war yes. Arrogance of pushing a common parliament on a number of European countries also a yes. The first thing necessary apart from anything else is the basic means of communication apart from political differences. This has been shown by the people who prefer to keep their own languages and customs safe, and this applies to every nation in the world. We see this as a glaring example of the Ukraine who the politicians have taken up the cudgel as a war against a so called aggressor who doesn't like the hand they have been dealt. Politicians should keep out of it, they will only magnify small problems into bigger ones which they have already succeeded in doing. If everyone one was heart set on complete unity one only has to go back years to when Esparanto was going to be the end all to cure the problems of communication among various people. How many have learned to speak and use. If people were honest and wanted everyone the same, this would have been grasped with both hands and the world now speaking with one language. The truth is people are individuals and want to stay that way true to their own way of life, Democracy is not the only way others view it, as some are not yet ready and never will be to be brainwashed by whoever or whatever some smooth speaking car salesman can churn out. We are all different as peoples and always will be unless we are all robotised. JS

[j.sabourn]

I see nothing that cannot be equalled by most cities in the UK after the Blitz. The Brandenburg gate as far as I am concerned should have been demolished as was a symbol of Fascism at its worse. The German citizens who are smiling are probably pleased that the bombing has stopped. There is still as much carnage if not more happening to this day in the Middle East. I was in Hamburg in 1954 the shore nightwatchman who was employed was an ex U Boat commander and he seemed happy with his position in life. If those photos had been taken 3 years prior you would probably have seen the same faces smiling giving you the V sign and shouting Sieg Heil. They got what they had been dishing out and I have no regrets for what they received in return. Also the going currency was a 50 packet of woodbines in Hamburg in 54, to which the Frauleins were very acceptable to receiving again I have no regrets. Cheers JS PS Just hope theres no Herr Sabourns strutting around. Britains oldest and best and probably only ally is Portugal, which one seldom hears on the news about, so maybe they are getting on with their lifes without too much conflict there. JS

[gray_marian]

#5, The Brandenburg Gate was commissioned by King Frederick William 11 of Prussia as a sign of peace and built by Carl Gotthard Langhans from 1788 to 1791 and is an 18th-century neoclassical triumphal arch and like any beautiful building to my mind is a feast for the eyes. Personally, I view a stunning building or a village home no matter where it is as a work of Art by Master Craftsmen and saviour it, for what to me brings as much pleasure as a Painting would in an Art Gallery. Yes indeed John, this particular film is of Germany, but it symbolizes as I said earlier, the futility of any war.

As to your "woodbine habit's" or any wee Sabourn's, I couldn't possibly comment

[j.sabourn]

I was always careful to call myself Herr Shmitt Marian. It was only in my cups that the name might of slipped out or when I was asleep and she was going through my pockets. Have you seen the Documentary of the City that Hitler had built under Berlin, you might get a surprise. As to the Brandenburg Gate another symbol built by someone to emphasise their hopefully own immortality. My idea of stunning art work goes along way back before the man made statues to themselves. They are termed the Ionic, Doric and Corinthian. They were also proper artisans. I don't decry the workmanship just the reason for building which Hitler utilized to its full use. Cheers JS

[gray_marian]

No I haven't seen the documentary but shall look for it As to Corinthian Pillars I have a weakness for them and have been known to swoon much to hubby's dismay as he tends to view them more of a hindrance when redeveloping the site on which a building stands.. Hence the façade is retained and the new build enclosed behind. He says I would go bankrupt as a Developer.

PS What does 'only in my cups mean?'

[Roger Dyer]

......... We see this as a glaring example of the Ukraine who the politicians have taken up the cudgel as a war against a so called aggressor who doesn't like the hand they have been dealt. Politicians should keep out of it, they will only magnify small problems into bigger ones which they have already succeeded in doing. ....... JS

John S. in W.A.,....... whilst I would agree with most of the comment in your post, I am confused, somewhat, by that expressed in the above selected quote. On previous occasions you have openly maintained a certain sympathy for the actions of M.Putin and for the part that Mother Russia has played in the strife that has befallen the Ukraine. In this respect I note you are not alone. There are some fellow members who would support your view which, of course, they are fully entitled to do. However, here's the rub....on the one hand you give valid reasons why a nation may wish to maintain it's own way of life and it's language and rightly suggest it is a perfectly natural human condition from which it is hard to break away. Call it tribal instinct if you wish, but certainly (and I think most would agree) there is an inherent sense of wellbeing and security to be found amongst ones own kind. If that is an acceptable supposition why shouldn't the same courtesy be extended to the people of Ukraine, which like Russia, is a sovereign nation?

Certainly there are Ukrainian citizens who speak Russian and, seemingly, feel a greater affinity with
Russia and it's people, but the unarguable truth remains that the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians have long aspired to distance themselves from Russian domination. As the western world believes, Putin, has a burning desire for Russia to regain the same significance on the world stage as that formerly enjoyed by the U.S.S.R. prior to the advent of 'perestroika' and 'glasnost'. Surely, his expansionist policies have already been set in motion and the 'forced' acquisition of Crimea and the ongoing trouble in Ukraine is testimony to that. If Putin's reasons were purely altruistic and his only concern was for the welfare of pro-Russian citizens in the Ukraine, then why hasn't he attempted to negotiate with Kiev for an amicable resettlement of those people back in Russia where they can enjoy the comfort and security of being amongst their own kind? Something for the too hard basket I hear you say, but surely a far nobler proposition than to exacerbate an internecine war in which too many 'innocents' have already died? and which most prudent observers identify as a blatant attempt to extend the borders of Russia. Is it any wonder that in the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania there is a certain unrest due to Russia's current disregard for the legitimacy of former Soviet countries?

Some hold the view that Europe and the U.S. should keep out of it and let the nice M.Putin exercise his manifest megalomania.....personally, I think such a policy would be immoral and disastrous for the world at large. Almost eighty years ago Hitler adopted the very same policy, purportedly for the very same reasons, and was allowed to do so whilst the rest of the world backed off and did nothing until it was too late to avoid what followed. The eventual outcome would drag most of the world into a war that few really wanted or were prepared for, other than Adolf and his belligerent allies. The excellent video footage provided by Marion is a timely and stark reminder of the devastation and horror that evil men are prepared to engender to assuage a sick and dangerous mind. I have seen similar images of London, Warsaw, Coventry, Rotterdam and even Guernica (Spain) which occurred a few years earlier and created a similar abhorrence of war and the misery it can inflict upon the helpless. Will we never learn ? Unfortunately, John, although I very often see considerable merit in most of what you post, I cannot share your calm acceptence of Vladimir Putin..... I rather think he is a particularly dangerous man - I hope I'm wrong.


Roger

[j.sabourn]

I hope you are wrong as well Roger. I am not politically minded and believe the term Communist should be accepted alongside Conservative Labour Liberal Republican Democrat by making it a more or less illegitimate party as the US has done they have if anything exaberrated the problem. There are communist countries in the world who adhere to the old brand of communism such as North Korea who I would consider a Dictatorship, the likes of the old Yugoslavia under Tito also communist would appear to work very satisfactory to the people. Cuba has gone its own way with trade embargos enforced against it and the people have adjusted, their problems now will be with more of an influx of the more modern world to its shores in the way of Gangsterism drug lords and all the things of modern society. The Ukraine was at one time part of the Confederation of Russian States until Germany invaded it in 1942 or thereabouts. The US and its allies have invaded and stationed troops in various countries in the middle east without any outcry, the factions now fighting amongst themselves have been armed mainly by the west, but if Russia puts one foot out of place it is considered a heinuous crime. Come of it, the big bad bogey man Russia, they have committed no more and no less crimes than any other nation. The only difference is the west has a better propaganda machine. The Ukraine problem was started by unruly elements who deposed the then pro Russian president, the eastern part of the country was considered un-patriotic to them and therefore received no government assistance, their language being considered defunct. Britain went to war over a few hundred Falkland Islanders, does one expect Russia to do no less for a couple of million Russians. You believe what you want as we all have that privilege, myself I keep an open mind. Britain declared war on Germany for one reason only was that she had a treaty with Poland. Britain has no Treaty with the Ukraine. Cheers John S.