S2 E1: The Berlin Wall, with Russell Tovey

The Berlin Wall was one of the most important symbols of the Cold War, signifying the division of Europe into communist East and capitalist West.

But why was the Wall built? How did it affect the lives of ordinary Berliners? And how did it come crashing down in 1989? 

In this episode we were joined by actor Russell Tovey alongside IWM Curator Paris Agar, eyewitness John Kampfner and KCL Lecturer Katrin Schreiter.

CELEBRITY GUEST

Meet this week's guest.

  • Berlin Wall - Russell Tovey

    Russell Tovey is an actor and host of popular podcast TalkArt.

OBJECTS

See some of the IWM collection items featured in this episode.

  • Berlin Wall section

    Section of the Berlin Wall

    Section of the Berlin Wall from a street called Leuschnerdamm in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin. One side of the wall section is covered in graffiti, including the inscription 'CHANGE YOUR LIFE', by the artist Jürgen Grosse, known professionally as 'Indiano'.

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  • Berlin Wall sign

    Warning sign

    Warning sign at the border of the British sector in Berlin.

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  • Paul Hogarth painting - Sunrise on the Spree

    Sunrise on the Spree, 1981

    Sunrise on the Spree is a painting by artist Paul Hogarth who was commissioned by IWM in the 1980s to document the architecture in Berlin.

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Conflict of Interest- Series Two

See more from Series Two of Conflict of Interest, a podcast which invites celebrities to ask the simple questions about the world's most complex conflicts, with guests including comedian & activist Eddie Izzard, actor Katherine Parkinson and radio host Cerys Matthews, alongside curators, experts and eyewitnesses.

Listen Here >

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