VISITING GERMANY: BERLIN – 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s visit to Berlin

"Ich bin ein Berliner"- With this sentence the former U.S. president John F. Kennedy demonstrated 1963 his solidarity with Berlin. To commemorate his visit a citywide program of events takes place.
 
With his visit and his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner"- speech on the 26th of June 1963 former U.S. president John F. Kennedy demonstrated his solidarity with West Berlin. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's visit to Berlin and his speech several events throughout the city commemorate this date and its meaning for the history of Germany.

John F. Kennedy in Berlin

In June 1963, U.S. president John F. Kennedy came to West Berlin for the 15th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. He was the first American president to visit the city after the Berlin Wall had divided it on 13 August 1961. By that time the transatlantic partnership was tense. In the opinion of the Federal Republic of Germany, the USA had not made enough effort to hinder the construction of the Berlin Wall.
 
The tensions loosened up with the famous speech Kennedy held at the end of his visit, on the 26th of June 1963. Placed in front of the Schöneberg Town Hall the president ended it with the legendary words “Ich bin ein Berliner” (I am a Berliner).

So, Kennedy left no doubt about his solidarity with West Berlin and the Federal Republic of Germany. Some hundred thousands of West Berliners cheered him up, filled with enthusiasm.

After his visit, Kennedy also promised to protect West Germany and Berlin militarily.

Citywide program

Until the 30th of June, many events commemorate Kennedy's visit to Berlin. Several institutions participate by organizing exhibitions, lectures as well as book and film presentations discussing the visit of the U.S. president and the transatlantic relations by then.

Source: Berlin.de

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