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Reunion in Berlin (1951)

1951 · Short film · 25 min

  • War
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Synopsis

This black-and-white Lutheran World Action film shows events from a 5-day July 1951 Lutheran rally in Berlin, when approximately 300,000 Christians gathered from East and West Germany to discuss church issues. At the time, many Christians were in danger of being persecuted by Communists, and major Communist youth rallies occurred in East Germany that year. The rally occurred in stadiums around Berlin, including the one for the 1936 Olympics. The film opens with a checkpoint sign in West Berlin “You are leaving the American sector” (0:42), as narration talks about enduring tensions after World War II. A Kurfürstendamm sign and Air France advertisement (1:02). St. Mary’s Church in Berlin (1:22) as narration describes the Communist atheist pressures faced by evangelical Christians. Marx-Engels-Platz (1:27). Stalinallee, an avenue that was part of East Germany’s reconstruction plan after the war (1:44). Bells ringing; the Brandenburg Gate (2:22). Fliers being printed in German for “German Evangelical Church Convention Berlin July 11-15, 1951” (2:26). This was the 3rd annual evangelical church rally. Visitors from East Germany arrive at Friedrichstrasse Station and check in at the reception office on the Barnum and Bailey Circus premises (3:05). Camps set up for the International Communist Youth Rally to be held 2 weeks later (3:40). Starting at 3:53, conference attendees included American High Commissioner John J. McCloy, rally president Dr. Von Thadden, Bishops Dibelius and…

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Details

Running time
25 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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