Good evening to you all! This is another part of one of the most beautiful backyards of Berlin, "Riehmer`s" in Kreuzberg. And this is the story after World War II..... After WW II the big "clean-out" began, and some people say, that this clean-out destroyed more than the war itsself..... Ornaments, sculptures, all figurative elements must be destroyed ! They were symbols of a wrong politics! The modern architects and constructors after WW II were "Bauhaus"-oriented, all bodies had to be cubic now, all lines had to be clear, nothing had to disturb this clear lines... The architecture of the emperors`s days was totally wrong in the modern architect`s eyes: A rich scuptured fassade at the street side symbolized riches and wealth, and behind in these small dark backyards nested poverty, illness and despair.... James Hobrecht, the great old planner and constructor with his street plan of 1863 was now a bad person, he was the devil himself, he was the planner of all those backyards despair, because he created once those small claims... Hang him up! Please imagine: The Senate of Berlin, our local city government, payed money for nearly 20 years to the house owners to destroy all those fine ornaments and sculptures at their houses....It is a great luck that all those fine ornaments you can see at my pics here are on their places till today! In 1964 a book came out: "HOW THEY MURDERED OUR CITY". It were normal citizens that protested against this modern architecture barbarism and the cleanup spleen in Berlin, and slowly the authorizies began to think twice..... The community of Riehmers heirs tried even in 1971 to get money from our Senate to destroy all those fine structures and ornaments at their houses. They were fans of the "clean-up"- group. It was a giantic piece of work, of arguments and of money to change their minds. The city of Berlin gave the complete repairs- budget of five years in this project, more then 7,5 mio. Deutschmark from our taxes. In 1980 the restauration could begin..... (to be continued....) Thanks for your interest and your time here. I was very happy about your comments to my older pics. Goodbye till tomorrow. billcody