On the 20th anniversary of the GDR, searchlights in East Berlin project two crosses into the night sky. A joke question in the GDR runs: "Why will the 30th anniversary be cancelled?" The answer: "Because you’d have to make three crosses then" [A German expression denoting relief]. Because of the poor supply of food, a verse also makes the rounds: "No coal in the cellar, no spuds in the pantry, hoorah for the 20th anniversary [Ger: "Keine Kohlen im Keller, keine Kartoffeln im Sack, es lebe der 20. Jahrestag!"]
The state-owned Cottbus textile collective combine creates "Präsent 20". This 100-percent polyester material for outer garments makes GDR fashion history, being used for women’s clothing, men’s suits and uniforms.less
7 October
1969
Rumours that the Rolling Stones were to give a concert on the Springer tower block on 7 October attract young people to East Berlin. Several hundred of them who look suspiciously like beat fans are arrested by the GDR state security.
19 October
1969
The Tegel Airport in Berlin: two GDR citizens force a Polish commercial aircraft to land (1969) (Photo: Landesarchiv Berlin (Shelf mark 138280))
The Tegel Airport in Berlin: two GDR citizens force a Polish commercial aircraft to land at Tegel Airport. After they left the aircraft, it continues its flight to Schönefeld.
