Berlin Quotes

“Tadelt nie die Taten der Soldaten, Leuten, die da sterben sollen, Sollt ihr geben was sie wollen, Lasst sie trinken, lasst sie küssen, Denn wer weiß, wie bald sie sterben müssen. Never criticise the acts of soldiers, Those men who are destined to die, Give them all that they wish, Let them drink, let them kiss, For who knows how soon they must die.”
― Rory MacLean, Berlin: Portrait of a City Through the Centuries

“In a lengthy preamble he read that the ‘Ultras’ – as the ‘extremist’ leaders of West Germany were called – wanted to revoke the results of the war and attempt again to impose German imperialism across Europe. To achieve the goal NATO – with its ‘infamous’ DECO II war plan – was preparing at that moment to attack democratic East Germany. As a result, Dieter and his fellow officers were to build a wall to protect their half of the city and country.”
― Rory MacLean, Berlin: Portrait of a City Through the Centuries