Page 481 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo II

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The „liberation“ of Berlin gains its significant meaning not only due to the geographic
position of the Museum itself, but much more in this context of the third and most dif-
ficult task where different war-perception had to be bridged: For the Berlin inhabitants
the seizure of Berlin was overloaded by negative memories of the Red Army. In the light
of the aim of forming a Great Friendship between the GDR and the Soviet Union this
perception had to be reframed. This task was layed on the guide who would have said at
his point: „The city of Berlin fell on the second of May, at 3. PM. These photographes
show the atmosphere of these days. It is possible that this Fascist had been shooting on
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a Red Army soldier half an hour ago, now the latter is giving him medical support.“
The next room, „Šturm rejchstaga“ (The Storming of the Reichstag), was wholly
dominated by a 4x6m sized diorama (Photo no. 10), whose visual effect were supported
by battle-cries from the speakers, which are described by the exhibition-plan as follows:
„-Šum boja, - Za mnoj!..., Vpered!..., Upa-a-a!...“ (- noise of battle, - Come over here! –
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Come on! - Hurra-a-a!). The guide would have paid special attention to the description
of how the flag was raised on top of the Reichstag. In this respect the Karlshorst Muse-
um is in line with its mothermuseum in Moscow („Central’nyj muzej Vooruennych Sil,
SSSR“), where this exact flag is the star-object of the exhibition.
This is the only time that Soviet victims are mentioned. The guide had to explain:
“Victory couldn’t be achieved without losses. On the German territory more than 340‘000
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Soviet soldiers died a hero’s death.“ It seems that the heavy losses had to be justified
by an additionary authority, therefore the visitors were guided through a corridor called
„Tak oni končili“ (That’s how they end). Vitrines showed photographies of the hanged
Nazis, following the Nuremberg Trials. Graves of the Soviet Army soldiers with deco-
rations were displayed on the opposite wall. This juxtaposition should demonstrated
that death has not been in vain. The accompaining guide-commentary was: „They, who
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brought humanity to the bloodiest war ever, couldn’t get off the deserved hook.“ The
guide reported subsequently in details on the deaths of the condemend Nazis.
The tour is continued in the first floor with the visit of the historic Hall of Capitula-
tion. Here the visitor experienced a further highlight. This room demonstrated the two
main storylines of the master-narrative. First of all, the Soviet victory was finalised in
the signing of the unconditional surrender. Secondly the memory of the 10th of October
1949 was recalled when Vasily Chuikov granted legal state authority to the first govern-

32 „Berlin fiel am 2. Mai um 3 Uhr Nachmittags. Die Stimmung jener Tage veranschaulichen die Fotografien
am Besten. Sie zeigen von der Herzlichkeit der Sowjetsoldaten. Dieser Faschist hat möglicherweise vor einer
halben Stunde noch auf diesen sowjetischen Soldaten geschossen, doch jetzt erweist ihm jener medizinische
Hilfe.“in: Text für die Führung durch die historische Gedenkstätte, 1985, p. 6.
33 Tekstovoj material ėkspozicii istoriko-memoral’novo zala-muzeja gruppy sovetskich voisk v germanii, g.
Berlin 1984, p. 38.
34 „Der Sieg konnte nicht ohne Opfer errungen werden. Auf dem Territorium Deutschlands starben über
340.000 sowjetische Soldaten den Heldentod.“ in: Text für die Führung durch die historische Ge-
denkstätte, 1985, p. 8.
35 „Diejenigen, die die Menschheit in den blutigsten aller Kriege gestürzt hatten, konnten ihrer gerechten
Strafe nicht entgehen.“ in: Text für die Führung durch die historische Gedenkstätte, 1985, p. 9.