Images from the Ceremony at the Sowjetisches Ehrenmal on May 8

By: Jon Brunberg | posted: 5/11/2005 1:00:00 AM

Several hundreds of people gathered at the Soviet War Memorial (Sowjetisches Ehrenmal) in the Treptower Park in eastern Berlin to commemorate the Soviet soldiers that died in the battle of Berlin in May 1945. A long row of people queued up to lay wraiths and flowers in the mausoleum that is located in the eastern part of this impressive memorial park that was built in 1948. First came the Russian Ambassador to Berlin, then the militaries followed by representatives from the Socialist parties in Berlin. Spontaneous applauds broke out when a few decorated veterans entered the stairs to the mausoleum. It was a peaceful and thoughtful event but one can only think about how things must have changed in this part in former east Berlin. Only twenty years ago this anniversary day must have been a crowded and pompous event, gathering a lot of veterans and visitors. When the next even anniversary takes place in 2015 there will hardly be one veteran left from the battle of Berlin to tell the story.

Previous articles about the anniversary in Berlin:
2005-05-09 | Berlin is preparing for the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II
2005-05-06 | The 8 of May in Berlin: The Day of Victory, Liberation or Defeat

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