"Der deutsche Friedensvertrag bändigt den westdeutschen Militarismus!": sign at the Friedrichstraße checkpoint, Berlin
A large board beside the GDR coat of arms stands before the Friedrichstraße crossing barrier, with two uniformed men and a Volkswagen at the checkpoint behind it. Its text pairs warm words ('peace and understanding') with a single named cause of danger, 'West German militarism', which a peace treaty is said to tame.
- Date
- December 13, 1961
- Period
- Cold War
- Made by
- ADN-Zentralbild (GDR state news agency), photographer Stöhr; sign erected at the Friedrichstraße border control point by GDR authorities
- Country
- East Germany
- Medium
- Signs and banners
- Issuer type
- State
- Leader
- Otto Grotewohl
- Audience
- Mixed
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Event
- Berlin Crisis 1961
- Techniques
- ScapegoatingGlittering generalities
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archive), Bild 183-88832-0001, via Wikimedia Commons, retrieved October 2, 2026
- Rights
- CC BY-SA 3.0 de (Bundesarchiv release on Wikimedia Commons; file page states the licence)
Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-88832-0001 / Stöhr / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Text on the object
Laßt uns gemeinsam für Frieden und Verständigung wirken! Der deutsche Friedensvertrag bändigt den westdeutschen Militarismus! [GDR coat of arms on the left board; 'STOP' on the road sign at right]
Let us work together for peace and understanding! The German peace treaty tames West German militarism! [GDR coat of arms on the left board; 'STOP' on the road sign at right]
Read from the 784 px image; line breaks as on the board.
