Further Media
Are you currently standing at the gate, facing the main path? You’ve already heard about this street in connection with the dining hall and the center’s other community facilities. Can you recognize your location in the historical photo? The people in the picture are standing in the same location as you but on the opposite side of the gate. They are looking out from the center at the busses waiting to take them to Tempelhof airport, from where they went to an assigned place of residence in West Germany.
Refugees arriving in Marienfelde were distributed across West Germany. Only 5 percent of the recognized refugees stayed in West Berlin. The others were assigned to live elsewhere. This meant a lot of bureaucracy: The Western Allies wanted all refugees over the age of 15 to carry Interzone passports. However, to obtain one, a valid ID card was necessary. Therefore, the passengers received a temporary Berlin ID card. As the Senate said, they became “citizens of Berlin for the duration of their flight”.
For most, arrival in West Germany was followed by a journey through many temporary residences. It often took months or years before they finally settled in a new home.