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
 

Violinists Across the World Play for Ukraine

Violinists across the world have joined together to perform the Ukrainian folk song "Verbovaya Doschechka" in support of Ukraine.

 

 

 

https://www.violinist.com/blog/laurie/20223/29139/

I visited an exhibition in Hagen - Photographies by Bryan Adams

Being a renowned photographer, Bryan Adams took advantage to put on display several of his portraits

EXPOSED

WOUNDED: THE LEGACY OF WAR

HOMELESS

PIRELLI CALENDAR 2022

 

Let's go!

 

Sir Ben Kingsley (2010), Malgosia Bela (2013), Michael Shannon, NYC (2012)

Mick Jagger - detailed view

Michael J. Fox, Toronto, 2009 - detailed view

Julianne Moore, New York, 2010 - detailed view

Mickey Rourke, London, 2005

Rammstein, Berlin, 2014

Dustin Hoffmann, Malibu, 2006

 

Sir Ben Kingsley, London, 2010 & L'Wren Scott, London, 2006

 HM The Queen, Buckingham Palace, London, 2008

Christoph Waltz, London, 2014

 

Amy Winehouse, London, 2010 - detailed view

Victoria Beckham, London, 2005

 

Pink, New York, 2006

Danny Trejo, Los Angeles, 2011

 Linda Evangelista, New York, 2015

Amy Winehouse, Mustique + Boy George

 ***************

HOMELESS

Daughters, Sons, maybe mothers and fathers, siblings

Homeless, but not nameless!

 

 

 

********************* 

 

PIRELLI 2022

(Photos taken in 2021)

 

Jennifer Hudson, Grimes, Guitar on Corvair, St. Vincent

Grimes, Guitar on Corvair, St. Vincent, Iggy Pop

St. Vincent, detailed view

Grimes, detailed view
 

*****************

WOUNDED - just a few - enter at your own risk

Is war an answer to fight for peace, freedom and democracy?

Often ... maybe ... yes??

The soldiers shown in the exhibition paid the highest price possible 

(except of the death on the fields). They show their injuries with pain 

and pride and need respect. They fought in Afghanistan and Iraq.

All soldiers are shown with name and military rank!

 

When the exhibition was announced, I was a bit afraid of "Legacy of War". 

I was afraid that I might feel like a voyeur although these are portraits 

of soldiers back from war, not a documentary of war.

 

When I decided to go to the museum, the war of agression of Wladimir Putin 

against the Ukraine started....

There is no meaningful alternative ...

 There is no meaningful alternative to:

peace

freedom

love

respect

faith in the good

humanity

There is only one meaningful alternative to war:

the end of war.

Amalia Koslowski, February 2022

STOP THE WAR NOW!!