Could you imagine that this Element aus der ehemaligen Berliner Mauer once stood at Potsdamer Platz? It divided East and West Berlin. Today, it stands here in Dortmund as a symbol of freedom.
This Element aus der ehemaligen Berliner Mauer is more than just concrete. It represents a pivotal moment in German history. It’s a reminder of a time when a wall physically and ideologically divided a nation.
Lensing Media employees can admire two parts of the Berliner Mauer in the inner courtyard of the Lensing Carrée in downtown Dortmund. Until November 9, 1989, the wall separated East and West Germany. Today, two small sections stand in our inner courtyard as a sign of freedom. “Freedom through knowledge” is the motto of Lensing Media’s 150th anniversary. We celebrate this motto with this new achievement.
The Immoweb AG acquired parts of the Berliner Mauer at an auction of the Federal Republic of Germany ten years ago. Street artist Michael Nolte, alias “miNo ART”, artistically painted it. In 2017, the Mauerteile came to Lünen. The artwork, still in three parts at the time, was located in Lünen at the Westermann’s beer garden on Wethmarheide. Publisher Lambert Lensing-Wolff took a liking to two of the parts.
A complex heavy transport brought the Mauerstücke, weighing almost three tons, from Lünen to downtown Dortmund. A crane erected and decoratively placed the two parts in the inner courtyard of the Lensing Carrée. The procedure took several hours. Caution was required because the two contemporary witnesses had to be protected from harm.
Lambert Lensing-Wolff said to the Ruhr Nachrichten that the wall is a “very defining symbol of freedom”. It symbolizes one of Germany’s most important achievements: freedom of expression according to Article 5 of the Basic Law. The Mauerstücke are a gift to Lensing Media employees and visitors. They should remember the significance and importance of this achievement.
These T-shaped elements of the Berliner Mauer are about 3.6 m high and 1.2 m wide. Each element weighs about 3.1 tons. This Element aus der ehemaligen Berliner Mauer and others consist of steel-reinforced concrete. The elements are original and unique.
The “Grenzmauer 75” (Vorderlandmauer) in segmental construction was a barrier system with barrier technology properties. The elements are 3.60 meters high and 1.20 meters wide. They stood on a 2.10 meter deep base. They formed the fourth design of the Berliner Mauer. They are recognizable by the side grooves and the upper metal edge. The grooves allowed the lateral interlocking to form a seamless wall. In 1990, the elements were dismantled from the inner-city border, for example at Potsdamer Platz.
Take a moment to reflect on the history held within this Element aus der ehemaligen Berliner Mauer. Consider the importance of freedom and the power of knowledge. Let this be a reminder of the past and a beacon for the future.