Remembering the end of WWII (8.5.1945)

 The Second World War ended in Europe in 1945 with Germany's unconditional surrender on 8th May. Fighting in Berlin had already ended on 2nd May, but the official surrender was signed on 8th May. Germany was then divided into four occupation zones. 

During the division of Germany, the Berlin Wall was a border fortification system of the German Democratic Republic that existed from 13th August 1961 to 9th November 1989 to hermetically seal off West Berlin from the territory of the GDR. On 13th August 1961, the SED began to seal off the borders around West Berlin, initially with barbed wire and, a few days later, with walls. 

The people of the GDR protested during Monday demonstrations in Leipzig 1989. They wanted freedom of expression and free elections; they wanted to be able to travel to the West again. The peaceful revolution was successful, because the Berlin Wall fell. 1989/1990 East and West Germany were reunited.

In my hometown there are several memorial stones, together in a city park to commemorate the victims of WWII

"In memory of the victims of Nazi tyranny and World War II"

"Enemies became friends, committed to peace

Donated by Veteran's Association"

"In honourable memory of the dead, as a warning legacy for the living. For us"

Photos taken by me in June 2025