8/17/2019 Interview (Barbara)
1/2
Berlin Wall Interview
Interviewers: Lena and Liesel Kemmelmeier
Interviewee: Barbara Walker
Barbara Walker is an associate professor of history,
specifically modern European and Russianhistory at the University
of Nevada, Reno and at one point lived in Berlin while the Berlin
Wall
stood.
Unfortunately, our audio equipment failed numerous times during
the interview,so instead we decided to record some direct quotes
from our interviewee,Barbara Walker, addressing main points of our
interview.
"In East Berlin, because of the large number of secret police
informants, people hadclose-knit social circles composed of
highly-trusted friends with whom they trusted their
lives."
"Although watching television was restricted in the East, many
close to the border withest !ermany could still tune in and watch
estern shows. As a result, many EastBerliners were eposed to how
rich other countries#places were which in turn madethem
resentful."
"ith the installation of staircases that allowed est Berliners
to peer over the Berlinall into East Berlin, sometimes East
Berliners felt as if they were $oo animals."
"Before the Berlin all was built, est Berliners would take
advantage of the low,
government subsidi$ed prices in East Berlin and do a lot of
their shopping there."
%I had &'-hour visas that limited my time spent in the East,
so I would enter at (&)*( A+and leave at (() +. It was
ehausting."
"I would store the notes from my interviews with friends in East
Berlin till I had a lot ofthem, and would then pass them to the /0
Embassy for an ac1uaintance who workedthere to take out via
diplomatic pouch, 2his was because I was always searched
whenleaving East Berlin for the est3 the first time I was searched
they found my addressbook with several addresses of East !erman
friends, which put them in danger sincethey were not supposed to be
in contact with esterners. I was horrified at my own
stupidity in trying to take the address book across the border
myself."
"Because of the way that East Berliners valued trust and
integrity in their friendships, Imet some of my best !erman friends
at the time in East Berlin."
"2he all was about ten minutes from my apartment in edding 4a
Berlinneighborhood in the north5, and I used to walk along the all
through large, beautifulcommunity gardens that were on the estern
side."
