Stalin-Allee
Encyclopedia
Stalin-Allee is a German short film by director Sven Boeck.
The film focuses on the Karl-Marx-Allee
, also still known as Stalin-Allee. The homogeneous architecture of the street is unique in Europe
. In 1952, construction work began. Amidst the ruins of Berlin
"palaces for the working class" were built, the "first socialist avenue in Germany
".
In the first years of the GDR, Stalin Avenue was the showcase meant to demonstrate the power and effectiveness of the socialist system. Beyond the cultural aspects of the street, a film about Stalin Avenue has to include the failings of the socialist experiment as well. Built during the era of Nation Building, this street is connected with historical events like the rebellion on the 17th of June 1953
, in which the construction workers played an important role, the sudden disappearance of the Stalin monument, the demonstrations on the 1st of May
and the parades during the era of Erich Honecker
.
This is a film about the claims of socialism and the wrong ways to realize it. Its subjective description of today's situation combines the views of the inhabitants, the "Trümmerfrauen" ("rubble women" who rebuilt Germany) and the former construction workers.
The film focuses on the Karl-Marx-Allee
Karl-Marx-Allee
The Karl-Marx-Allee is a monumental socialist boulevard built by the GDR between 1952 and 1960 in Berlin Friedrichshain and Mitte. Today the boulevard is named after Karl Marx....
, also still known as Stalin-Allee. The homogeneous architecture of the street is unique in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In 1952, construction work began. Amidst the ruins of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
"palaces for the working class" were built, the "first socialist avenue in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
".
In the first years of the GDR, Stalin Avenue was the showcase meant to demonstrate the power and effectiveness of the socialist system. Beyond the cultural aspects of the street, a film about Stalin Avenue has to include the failings of the socialist experiment as well. Built during the era of Nation Building, this street is connected with historical events like the rebellion on the 17th of June 1953
Uprising of 1953 in East Germany
The Uprising of 1953 in East Germany started with a strike by East Berlin construction workers on June 16. It turned into a widespread anti-Stalinist uprising against the German Democratic Republic government the next day....
, in which the construction workers played an important role, the sudden disappearance of the Stalin monument, the demonstrations on the 1st of May
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
and the parades during the era of Erich Honecker
Erich Honecker
Erich Honecker was a German communist politician who led the German Democratic Republic as General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1971 until 1989, serving as Head of State as well from Willi Stoph's relinquishment of that post in 1976....
.
This is a film about the claims of socialism and the wrong ways to realize it. Its subjective description of today's situation combines the views of the inhabitants, the "Trümmerfrauen" ("rubble women" who rebuilt Germany) and the former construction workers.