Places of (In)Visibility

How can places that still exist be invisible? It’s not the places themselves that are invisible, but rather the many stories associated with them. "Places of (In)Visibility" focuses on the stories of people who came to Hamburg from East Germany (GDR) at different times and in various ways. These stories span from 1953 to 1989. Tales of escape, emigration, and settling into a new city transform everyday, unremarkable, or even touristy places into special sites of personal memory.

On five tours and at 16 different stations, you will learn what these places meant to people—and what they still mean today. The memories of contemporary witnesses form the heart of the audio walk. Their stories are contextualized and commented on. Additionally, there are numerous documents to discover at each station. Each tour takes you to three to four stations and lasts about 45 minutes. You can visit the locations in person or listen from home—whether you live in Hamburg, are visiting the city, or are simply interested in these places.

The "Places of (In)Visibility" project is a collaboration between the Public History department of the University of Hamburg and the Hamburg State Center for Political Education. It is made possible and funded by the Federal Minister for Media and Culture under the "Youth Remembers" federal program and supported by the Federal Foundation for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship.

Tour four leads to the Fish Market and the Reeperbahn, which were and still are not only tourist hotspots but also important places for those arriving from the GDR. The Fish Market was a tourist highlight for many, especially after the fall of the Berlin Wall when many people from the GDR visited the Hanseatic city. Like the Fish Market, the Reeperbahn was a must-visit place in Hamburg for many contemporary witnesses. Additionally, another significant place of arrival in 1989 plays a central role: the Casa Marina—a ship that became a temporary floating home for many. Shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, many people were accommodated on this ship, located very close to the Fish Market.