In the early morning hours of November 10, 1989, large crowds of people gathered in front of the entrance gate of the Department Store of the West at the Tauentziehen – the KaDeWe. Some had already waited for hours in the cold for the glamorous consumer temple to open its doors. On this day they wanted to be the first people from the GDR to get a glimpse of the previously unreachable Western world of goods.
The night before, the Wall had fallen. People from the Eastern part of the city celebrated with West Berliners all night long around the Ku’damm and the KaDeWe. Some bars reacted with spontaneous special offers, such as one beer for the price of one Ostmark. People cheered and celebrated until dawn. Then the stores on the shopping street of West Berlin finally opened.
On the day after the fall of the Wall, the KaDeWe quickly prepared for the crowds coming from the GDR. After an exciting first night in West Berlin, everyone was first served a free cup of coffee to warm up. Then the visitors marvelled in disbelief at what was on offer in the displays.
In the GDR, there was an economy of scarcity. Officially, head of state Erich Honecker promised consumer socialism with a high standard of living. But in reality, there was a shortage of many things, such as televisions, cameras and household appliances. While basic needs were usually met, high-quality products were in short supply. The West became a place of longing in people’s minds.
Since 1970, every East German entering the Federal Republic received Welcome Money. In 1988, this was raised to 100-Deutschmark and could be claimed once a year. After the fall of the Wall, however, long lines quickly formed in front of the banks. Many wanted to spend the money immediately and fulfil long-cherished wishes. Electronic goods and music were popular. Sweets were also frequently bought.
But not everyone was thrilled by what they got to see. "Do you really need 86 kinds of salami?" asked a woman from East Berlin critically when visiting the famous delicatessen department. The prices also startled many – and they were rising significantly during those days.
After the first rush on November 10, most people returned home to the GDR. But the Wall remained open and the KaDeWe continued to be a magnet for visitors from the GDR. 200,000 visitors rushed through the aisles of the luxury department store on some November days of 1989. There have never been more people at the KaDeWe.
