Frontlinie des Kalten Krieges
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Front Line of the Cold War

Zimmerstraße, 1985

Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2026

1. Frontlinie des Kalten Krieges / Front Line of the Cold War Marker

Die Zimmerstraße gehörte vollständig zum sowjetischen Sektor – dennoch patrouillierten Soldaten der drei westlichen Schutzmächte genauso auf dem Bürgersteig, wie sowjetische. Die eigentliche Grenze war diese Hausfassade, die Wohnungen dahinter gehörten schon zum Westteil der Stadt und standen weitestgehend leer oder wurden als Lagerflächen genutzt. Der Bürgersteig, über den auch Militärfahrzeuge fuhren, war „Niemandsland“. Gegenüber, auf der Ostseite, gab es einen breiten Todesstreifen und deswegen wenig Bebauung – bis auf das historische Gebäude, das in den Jahren von 1933 bis 1945 Sitz der Gestapo war.

Nach dem Mauerfall 1989 siedelten sich hier Galerien und Büros an. Im Jahr 2011 zog die Duft-Manufaktur Frau Tonis Parfum ein und offeriert noch heute das „Veilchen“, den Duft, für den sich in den 1920er Jahren schon Marlene Dietrich begeisterte.

Blickrichtung Kreuzberg, Zimmerstraße 13
Blickrichtung Potsdamer Platz, Zimmerstraße 11
Berlin, 1985 Berliner Mauer (West) © Michael Hughes, 1985

The Zimmerstraße was entirely part of the Soviet sector—yet soldiers from the three Western powers patrolled

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the sidewalk just as Soviet soldiers did. The actual border was this building facade; the apartments behind it belonged to the western part of the city and were largely empty or used as storage spaces. The sidewalk, which was also used by military vehicles, was „no man’s land.“ On the east side, there was a wide death strip, resulting in little development—except for the historic building that housed the Gestapo from 1933 to 1945.

After the fall of the Wall in 1989, galleries and offices began to set up here. In 2011, the fragrance manufacturer Frau Tonis Parfum moved in and still offers the „Veilchen“ scent today, which Marlene Dietrich loved back in the 1920s.

View towards Kreuzberg, Zimmerstraße 13
View towards Potsdamer Platz, Zimmerstraße 11
Berlin, 1985 The Berlin Wall © Michael Hughes, 1985
 
Erected by Frau Tonis.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1933.
 
Location. 52° 30.45′ N, 13° 23.305′ E. Marker is in Berlin, in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. It is in Berliner Innenstadt. It is on Zimmerstraße just east of Wilhelmstrasse, on the right

Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2026

2. Frontlinie des Kalten Krieges / Front Line of the Cold War Marker

when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Zimmerstraße 13, Berlin 10117, Germany. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, Central Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Zimmerstraße 14/15 (within shouting distance of this marker); Konzerthaus Clou und die Gestapo / Clou Concert Hall and the Gestapo (within shouting distance of this marker); Checkpoint Charlie (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Checkpoint Charlie Site (about 120 meters away); Panzerkonfrontation am Checkpoint Charlie / Checkpoint Charlie Tank Standoff (about 120 meters away); Brezhnev Memorial Plaque (about 150 meters away); Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (about 150 meters away); Fourth-Generation Berlin Wall Segment (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berlin.

 

Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2026

3. Frontlinie des Kalten Krieges / Front Line of the Cold War Marker

 

 
Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on September 13, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.