Thirty-five years have passed since the Berlin Wall came down, reuniting people from East and West. But for deaf Berliners, vivid memories remain from a time when a wall divided not just a city, but their lives. In this documentary reflection, we meet Norbert and Andreas – two deaf men who grew up on opposite sides of the Wall – and who now share their thoughts on similarities, differences, and how life changed after 1989.
The Berlin Wall, erected in 1961 and torn down in 1989, did more than split a city – it shaped lives and realities. Norbert and Andreas, both deaf and living in Berlin, grew up on either side of this iconic barrier. In a conversation filled with both humor and seriousness, they share childhood memories, everyday experiences, and how society differed on the two sides.
Norbert, who grew up in West Berlin, remembers colorful cars, well-stocked stores, and a sense of freedom. Andreas, on the other hand, lived in East Berlin, where access to goods was limited, life was simpler, and propaganda about the decadence of the West permeated education – even in schools for the deaf. Yet, he says, there was strong support among people.
“We weren’t depressed in the East. We supported each other,” Andreas says.
“But when I came to the West, I felt a sense of relief. The air was cleaner, everything more colorful,” Norbert adds.
The Wall came overnight. No one in the East knew it was being built – not even the children. For Andreas, it suddenly meant an end to visits with relatives in the West. For Norbert, the Wall became a barrier of uncertainty and curiosity.
Despite their different upbringings, deaf people from East and West found ways to connect – sometimes through sports. Norbert recalls how they tried to organize a water polo match between the two sides, but the plans were stopped by the Stasi. Still, curiosity and the desire to understand each other grew.
When the Wall fell on November 9, 1989, it was a shock – but also a joy. Norbert was living just 150 meters from the Wall at the time.
“I noticed the soldiers were gone, and I saw the news on TV. I was very happy – not for myself, but for my son. He would grow up in a freer world,” he says.
But reunification wasn’t easy. Many older people in the East struggled to adjust to the new bureaucratic system, unemployment, and societal changes. For Norbert and Andreas, differences still linger in political thinking, in structures, and in social interaction.
Even so, the years have brought them closer. On the first anniversary of the Wall’s fall, deaf people from both sides gathered at the Deaf Center in East Berlin. The celebration was well-organized, the tables neatly arranged – much more structured than Norbert was used to from the West. It felt strange, but it was the start of a new community.
“We were seated in groups, not mixed. It felt odd. But we began to connect,” he says.
Today, Andreas and Norbert are good friends. Their story shows how deeply societal structures can shape lives, but also how people’s desire to understand and unite can overcome walls – both physical and mental.
Teckenbro, Sweden