Fight of the zoos: Berlin's animal arms arms in the Cold War
Fight of the zoos: Berlin's animal arms arms in the Cold War
The relationship between culture and politics is often viewed based on literature or music, but less well -known is the fascinating history of the zoos in Berlin during the Cold War. A new documentary illuminates this unusual aspect in the area of tension between the city's two shared halves. The film entitled “Berlin - Cold War of the Zoos” will be broadcast on Arte on Thursday, August 1, at 8:15 p.m. and gives an insight into a time when animals were not only symbols of leisure activities, but also political rivalry.
the zoos as a political stage
After the Second World War, the zoo in the east of Berlin entered the scene as a direct rival to the already established Zoological Garden West. This discussion became an expression of the political systems that represented the respective pages. Zoo Director Heinrich Dathe in East Berlin and his western colleague Heinz-Georg Klös were not only responsible for animal care; They were also representatives of their ideologies. With the help of animal gifts from different countries, they searched for paths to put their zoo in the spotlight through spectacular new openings and media presence.
symbolism in the animal world
The animals were not only considered a living exhibits, but were also the result of political maneuvers. The opening of the zoo in the east, in which animals were also given by the Stasi, and the competition in the west, which came up with a number of new animal purchases, illustrated how tight zoo and politics were intertwined. The directors staged themselves in the media to present their version of the "better" animal husbandry and thus increase the reputation of their systems.
an extraordinary competition for visitors
At the beginning of this rivalry, the zoological garden in the west was the only point of contact for Berlin animal lovers. But after the foundation of the GDR in 1955, the ambition grew to establish a “counter zoo” in the east. Regardless of the limited financial and material resources, the zoo was quickly brought to life with the help of pensioners and students as well as by animal presents. This type of community work reflects the strong cohesion of the East Berlin population.The meaning of the film
The documentation not only offers fascinating insights into the history of the zoos, but also in the social structures of Berlin during the Cold War. Under the influence of the division, the zoo management became a reflection of political competition. Both zoodirectors lived in the facilities, which strongly mixed the public and private space. This makes the documentation an exciting journey through time in an era in which the animal world acted as a metaphor for geopolitical tensions.
conclusion and outlook
As the various approaches to animal husbandry, both the prosperity and the ideology of the respective systems illustrate, the film is an interesting challenge: the question of the final winner in the "Cold War of Zoos". Whether this applies to a zoo or the ideology as a whole, the spectators will find out on ARTE on August 1st. This extraordinary story about rivalry and cooperation In times of division, many will certainly stimulate the importance of culture in the political context.
- Nag
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