When Americans and Russians took over Berlin (1945)

After Germany's defeat in World War II, Berlin, the capital city, was divided and placed under the joint control of the victorious Allied powers, mainly the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France. The division of Berlin mirrored the broader division of Germany into four occupation zones, with each zone administered by one of the Allied powers.

0:00 Driving on the German Autobahn in direction to Berlin
0:50 Entering the US Berlin District
1:00 Picture of Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill
1:15 Soviet soldiers marching, probably on Straße des 17. Juni in direction of the Siegessäule
2:40 German refugees pulling carriage
2:56 Trümmerfrauen "rubble women" at work
3:25 destroyed Berliner Dom (Cathedral)
4:15 US military visiting the Neue Reichskanzlei
5:40 Berliner S-Bahn
5:56 Olympia Stadion (olympic stadion)
6:59 Olympic swimming pool
8:11 American Beach Club / Amerikanisches Strandbad
8:52 Trümmerfrauen "rubble women" at work
9:34 Galopprennbahn Hoppegarten
13:37 US military playing golf

The American and Soviet sectors were the most significant and played a crucial role in the control and governance of Berlin. Here's how the Americans and the Russians organized their control over the city in 1945:
1. The Potsdam Agreement: The Potsdam Conference, held in July-August 1945, solidified the division of Germany and Berlin among the Allied powers. The agreement outlined the principles of governance and cooperation for the occupation of Germany, including Berlin.
2. Four-Zone Division: Berlin was divided into four sectors, corresponding to the four Allied powers. The American, British, and French sectors merged to form West Berlin, while the Soviet sector became East Berlin. The sectors were demarcated by physical barriers, such as fences and checkpoints.
3. Allied Military Control: Each sector was placed under the military control of its respective Allied power. The American forces controlled West Berlin, and the Soviet forces controlled East Berlin. The British and French sectors also had their military presence, but they played a smaller role in the administration of the city.
4. Four-Power Administration: Despite the military control, major decisions regarding Berlin were made collectively by the four occupying powers. They formed the Allied Kommandatura, a joint governing body responsible for overseeing the city's administration and handling key issues.
5. Economic Cooperation and Disputes: While the sectors were under separate control, there was a level of economic cooperation between the Allied powers in Berlin. However, tensions and disputes quickly arose, especially between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies, as ideological differences and the emerging Cold War strained relations.
6. Berlin Airlift: In 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin, cutting off road and rail access to the city. In response, the United States and its allies organized the Berlin Airlift, a massive operation to supply West Berlin with essential goods and provisions via air transport. The airlift successfully circumvented the blockade and demonstrated the determination of the Western Allies to support their sector of the city.
The division of Berlin into East and West eventually solidified, with East Berlin falling under Soviet control and becoming the capital of East Germany (German Democratic Republic) in 1949. West Berlin remained under the control of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France and became an enclave within East Germany until the reunification of Germany in 1990.

Footage in original color and HD before restoring for the documentary Spirit of Liberation" (Kronos Media, 2016)