Berlin - Schicksalsjahre einer Stadt

The department store fire-founder Andreas Baader is freed in West Berlin with the help of journalist Ulrike Meinhof. This action is considered to be the birth of the Red Army Faction (RAF). New symbols emerge in the east of the divided city: the monumental Lenin monument and the showcase building "Interhotel Stadt Berlin". (Text: rbb)

Change of power in East Berlin: Erich Honecker replaces Walter Ulbricht. In West Berlin women demonstrate against the "Paragraph 218" and for the first time there is again a telephone connection between East and West Berlin. (Text: rbb)

Cuba's head of government, the revolutionary Fidel Castro, visits the capital of the GDR. East Berliners are finally allowed to travel to Poland and the CSSR without a visa. A new permit agreement allows visits to East Berlin from West Berlin and GDR television has a new entertainment show: "Ein Kessel Buntes". (Text: rbb)

"Flower power" at the World Youth Festival in East Berlin and yawning emptiness on the West Berlin motorway due to the oil crisis. Some are building the Palace of the Republic, others are tearing down the Sports Palace. (Text: rbb)

Chancellor Willy Brandt resigns because of a spy from East Berlin. In Tegel in West Berlin, a new modern airport is launched and the hit "Über den Wolken" (Above the Clouds) manages to jump over the Wall. (Text: rbb)

The West Berlin CDU politician Peter Lorenz is kidnapped by terrorists, the Senate imposes a ban on the immigration of foreigners to individual districts and in East Berlin a World Congress celebrates the International Year of Women. (Text: rbb)

In East Berlin the Palast der Republik is inaugurated, David Bowie moves to West Berlin this summer and the GDR government expels the songwriter Wolf Biermann after a performance in West Germany. (Text: rbb)

German autumn - RAF terrorism reaches its climax with the "Offensive 77". West Berlin laments Germany's youngest drug victim: 14-year-old Babette dies of an overdose of heroin. In East Berlin, coffee has become a scarce commodity due to rising world market prices. (Text: rbb)

That year, the English Queen comes to West Berlin for the second time. And Freddie Mercury rocks the Deutschlandhalle. At the easternmost edge of the city, in Marzahn, the key to the millionth apartment is personally handed over by the head of state Honecker. An airplane hijack in Tempelhof ends lightly. (Text: rbb)

1979 marks the beginning of the second major oil crisis. Driving became more expensive again and consumer prices skyrocketed. The GDR celebrates its 30th anniversary debauched. For the first time, the Alternative List is represented in the West Berlin Senate. In addition, the Congress Hall, the International Congress Centre, or ICC for short, will be opened on the Messedamm. (Text: rbb)