By the 1950s the German capital had become a divided microcosm of the Cold War. East Berlin was controlled by the communist government of East Germany while the western half of the city was occupied and supplied by the United States and its allies.
Life in Berlin’s communist section was beset with problems. While a large number of East Berliners supported communism after the war, many became disillusioned with its lack of progress and freedom. The East German government placed pressure on workers with ambitious production quotas and targets. Essential items like food, clothing and accommodation were subsidized by the government – but there were often shortages or long queues. East Germany’s industrial priorities meant that fewer consumer goods and luxuries were produced.
These fascinating color photos from Robert Rynerson were taken by U.S. Army soldier Edmund von Nordeck who was stationed in the U.S. Army’s Berlin Brigade hospital that show street scenes of Berlin in 1954.
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| 1952 BVG (West) prototype motor-trailer set, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Funkturm Berlin, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Berlin, 1954 |
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| 279th Station Hospital, Berlin, 1954 |
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| 279th Station Hospital, Berlin, 1954 |
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| 279th Station Hospital, Berlin, 1954 |
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| 279th Station Hospital, Berlin, 1954 |
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| 1952 motor-trailer set on Line 75. The U-Bahn did not reach Spandau, so heavy volume tram lines were operated till 1967, Berlin, 1954 |
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| 1952 prototype car, one of the last two trams built for the West Berlin system, Berlin, 1954 |
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| A 1929-built WWII survivor with a second motor car used as a trailer, Berlin, 1954 |
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| A tram wrapped for Berlin’s biggest circulation tabloid, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Allied and municipal mounted police, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes with British military sign in foreground, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Berlin street scenes, 1954 |
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| Cathedral in Soviet Sector, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Haus Wien cinema, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Ka De We department store, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Leineweber store in Steglitz, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Leiser store and Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Line 48 bus passing entrance to Kleist Park and the Allied Control Authority Building. New BVG headquarters are in the high-rise office building in rear, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Line 75 tram passes HQ of advertising and publishing firm, Berlin, 1954 |
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| New Airlift Memorial at Tempelhof Zentral Flughafen, Berlin, 1954 |
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| On Line 55 which in 1967 became the last tram line in West Berlin, Berlin, 1954 |
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| On Line 75, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Steglitz Rathaus shopping district, Berlin, 1954 |
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| The Steglitz Schlossstrasse shows tram and trolley coach (O-Bus) overhead, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Titania Palace, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Victory Column, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Wertheim department store’s Steglitz branch, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Westend and Messe Halle, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Windowless Zoo Bahnhof with transit info center in front, Berlin, 1954 |
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| Wittenbergplatz U-Bahnhof on right, Berlin, 1954 |
