In the 1970s it was a strange place, as it was an island of the West in the vast sea of state socialism, which at that time still operated under the illusion of being a functioning system.
The contrast between East and West was striking. East Berlin was a city of older people dressed in socialist uniformity—short hair, expressionless faces. West Berlin was a younger city, as it allowed people to avoid the military. While the eastern side of Berlin went to bed early and the streets rolled up before midnight, West Berlin was neon-colored and nocturnal. It was always a shock to return to the West after a night out in the East. These stunning black-and-white photos, taken by German photographer Heinrich Klaffs, show what Berlin looked like in 1970. Check them out!
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