West Germany 1966, a photo from Bremen, West

Photographer's Note

On my way home by train from England in August 1966 I first stopped in Brussels. After that I spent two nights in Amsterdam. I have a handful of B&W photos from those days, but the negatives don't look very interesting so I didn't bother to scan any. Maybe another time.

My third stop was Bremen in northern Germany, where I only spent an afternoon and an evening, proceeding by night train to Copenhagen. I don't think I had any idea of the layout of the city, but I managed anyway to find the probably nicest place, the Rathausplatz, or Marktplatz (Market Square).

To the left, mostly outside this photo, is the Bremen City Hall. In another direction is the cathedral. I have no information about the buildings seen here, except that as far as I have found out they were all destroyed during WW2 and rebuilt after the war.

You may see a tall statue slightly towards the right side. It shows Roland, a mythological medieval knight who is regarded as the protector of Bremen (and several other cities in northern Germany).

This photo was taken with a very simple camera and is scanned from a Kodak Plus-X negative.

Here is a larger version.

A more recent photo of this place was posted by Elvira (notrap).

Fis2, jhm, bukitgolfb301, pajaran, ikeharel, pierrefonds, annjackman, PiotrF, mcmtanyel, PaulVDV, ChrisJ, COSTANTINO, alvaraalto, macjake, worldcitizen, adramad, cornejo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Nicou (193814) 2019-07-20 0:35

Hello

quel retour dans le passй et iamge fantastique qul rendu des tons et belle place avec le graphisme de voies au sol ces personnes avec les pousettes ce tram en fond et quelle architecture sur ces йdifices fantastique
Bravo et belle journйe
Nicou

Fis2 (171907) 2019-07-20 0:39

Witaj Gert!
Such photos are watched with nostalgia.
Excellent black and white photo.
Well done.
Have a good weekend.
Krzysztof

jhm (211738) 2019-07-20 0:40

Hello Gert,

Amsterdam the flower power time.
The nostalgia of long time ago
Nice architecture with perspective and depth image.
And very pleasant to look at.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

pajaran (117033) 2019-07-20 0:49

Pozdrav.
Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantani dobar tekst ...
Lepo pokazano.
Lepa crno bela fotografija i secanje.
Lepa arhitektura i deo grada.
Zelim vam sve najbolje za vikend.
Paja.

Greeting.
A good view and a moment, interesting good text ...
Beautifully shown.
Beautiful black and white photos and memories.
Nice architecture and part of the city.
I wish you all the best for the weekend.

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2019-07-20 0:51

Hi dear Gert

Oh so great photographer, you are!
Not only for developing countries but also developed countries shot you have! 53 years before for Bremen!!
It seems to be already recovered from WW2. Great shot and so gerat your stocks!
Your stock is so precious heritage!

All the best and have a good day! Takero

kasianowak (17676) 2019-07-20 1:15

Amsterdam would have been a logical addition to Bremen and Brussels with similar gable houses but we have already agreed it's all about people and old vehicles and the atmosphere of the 60s. I really like the ladies with prams walking towards you and the tram just about to enter the square.
We all (except, maybe, for Malgo :) have been to places where we didn't manage to take any images - mine are, among all, Guwahati and Bishkek.
Have a nice weekend!
Kasia

papagolf21 (152607) 2019-07-20 1:52

Bonjour, cher Gert,
C'est toujours intйressant de regarder dans le miroir (ou le rйtroviseur) et dйcouvrir ces images de 1966. Le noir et blanc est parfait pour restituer le temps qui passe;
Conserver ses йcrits d'une pйriode, c'est tout а fait journalistique et c'est trиs bien.
Amitiйs.
Philippe

ifege (49393) 2019-07-20 2:55

Hi Gert
A great old B&W photo of a characterful old square. Perfect scan.
Cheers
Ian

Silvio1953 (222889) 2019-07-20 3:56

Ciao Gert, great view of fantastic square, beautiful B&W, lovely composition with a lot of people, splendid light and excellent clarity, very well done, my friend have a good weekend ciao Silvio

mesutilgim (0) 2019-07-20 4:27

Hello dear Gert,
Another nice and intersting b&w capture/entry from Bremen, one of my most beloved cities.
In the eighties I was working in a major Turkish company, producing TV's with the licence of Nordmende, which had its headquarters in Bremen and so I had the opportunity to visit Bremen many times.
Specially the Christmas times and festivities in this nice Hansastadt was wonderfull.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

pierrefonds (115518) 2019-07-20 4:47

Hi Gert,

The length of the square is giving depth to the compostion. You have captured well a daily life scene. The point of view is showing the details of the tramway and of the buildings. Have a nice day.

Pierre

photographer_sg (6059) 2019-07-20 5:49

Hello Gert
Wonderful view of the city square perfectly composed and executed. The buildings and the architecture are impressive and visually appealing. I also liked very much the sense of movement provided by the people on the street - especially the two ladies and the two men near the tram lines - and the approaching tram.
Best regards
Satya

Energysavingelk (7888) 2019-07-20 6:01

Hej Gert!

A first class reminder of my childhood. I grew up in Osnabrьck and Oldenburg, both not far from Bremen. Life as it was in the mid-sixties. Thanks for sharing!

Sven

Tue (93412) 2019-07-20 7:12

Hej Gert,
Jeg var her for lidt over tolv еr siden og jeg genkender pladsen og isжr de smukke husfacader. De mange mennesker giver en god and fin atmosfжre til billedet.
Lars

rychem (72187) 2019-07-20 7:33

A very good archive photo, a sentimental and nostalgic atmosphere, we have to turn back for only 50 years and we can see what a big difference, a very elegant photo
Best regards, Ryszard

rbassin (27472) 2019-07-20 8:59

Hello Gert,
une trиs belle photo d'archive avec un bon rendu B&W.
La place est superbe.
Bon W-E
Roland

annjackman (23019) 2019-07-20 10:22

Hello Gert,
This photo fascinates me as I love looking at photos from the time that when I understood much less about the world. The composition works very well and I am drawn to the two ladies pushing old fashioned prams as they provide the centre of interest for me in the photo. Interesting architecture and tramlines complete this super old image.
Kind Regards, Ann

Miguel82 (47110) 2019-07-20 11:16

Gert, the archive photo is really rewarding. It shows the daily life in the mid 60's at the Bremen market square. At this period the tramway was passing through the plazza. The buildings illustrate a sample of the brick Gothic architectural style. Good memory, sharp scanned photo.

everlasting (19978) 2019-07-20 12:00

a great image Gert! this one certainly stands top to the test of time, composition perfect, b/w excellent, and I just love the details

jmdias (116441) 2019-07-20 12:22

gert

I saw this sculpture by myself and I never was there. haha.
near my home there is ROLВNDIA (Land of roland)it was founded before II War by many german immigrants and it received the name. curiously during the war most of german-italian names were removed, but rolвndia not. in the central square there is a copy of this monument, exactly the same.
very nice this slice of the town. probably at this moment the space is much more "clean" and restores yet. TFS.

take care

jorge

GyurMaster (25026) 2019-07-20 14:22

Dear Gert,

Yes, Rathausplatz and Marktplatz indicates that you are in the centre of town and draft beer is available for sure! You made your ways some 50 years ago, but not only in finding beer but the best POV. Its an excellent photo, which provide me a lot of details to observe: the women with the baby carriages, the tramway, the arcades on the right. And the beautiful buildings of course.

I wish you a nice WE!
Gy.

PiotrF (55970) 2019-07-20 15:11

Hello Gert,
An interesting view of the facades of these buildings on the market square in Bremen.
Interesting photo from your archive. I was not in the world then :)
Fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

lousat (139982) 2019-07-20 16:14

Hi Gert,i never been there so i can't compare the old views with the modern as i do with your post from Brussels,but obviosly the post is still interesting too,nice composition showing this sqaure during the economic boom era after the war,well done. Have a nice SUnday and thanks,Luciano

mcmtanyel (69195) 2019-07-20 21:44

Hello Gert,
Yes, it used to be West Germany back then. Lovely historic photo. 👍🏻👍🏻
Regards,
MT

ikeharel (114569) 2019-07-21 2:44

Thanks Gert for your nice critique today.
A sight of the main square in Bremen from 1966 looks immaculate, superbly done and preserved picture.
Its architecture may looks the same nowadays, but fashion of people closes and most likely street action must had change by a lot since. Interesting to discover places as they were half a century ago.
My best regards,
Ike

bobocortis (16090) 2019-07-21 11:48

Hi Gunnar.
Nice idea, going back to the past, showing old shots like this.
Great B&W, with many shades of grey.
Really well done, I'd like to see more shots like this..
Best regards.
B.

PaulVDV (63456) 2019-07-22 11:11

Hello Gert,
Again a nice testimony of that time.
No old cars on the street but the children's carriages draw our attention here.
A well composed picture with beautiful architecture and very attractive with the many people.
Best regards, Paul

COSTANTINO (117756) 2019-07-22 23:06

Hello dear Gert and have a nice time
and a happy new day
your title describes everyhting!!!!
I red carefully your useful notes
and your trip on your way home
by train from England
you are very lucky indeed!!!
a great sample of your work without
colors
welldone
and wellseen
regards
Costantino

ChrisJ (172430) 2019-07-23 3:32

Hello Gert,

Missed this one. A superb b&w shot of the market square. Good sharpness and tonal range and the trolley tram tracks add seep perspective. Tfs!

alvaraalto (42804) 2019-07-23 21:56

Hello Gert,
Again Such a beautiful nostalgic photo from the old box.
The two mothers behind their pram in particular set the tone and determine the atmosphere.
Excellent presentation
Have a nice day. Groet Rob

macjake (98544) 2019-07-24 4:59

Hi Gert
oh man, the time machine has outdone itself this time, I really like this one. its as if its a photo straight out of an old newspaper. and man, i love the scene of the 2 women walking with those strollers. you won't see those strollers around town any more - and how funny to think that those babies are now nearing their mid 50's! I won't get into my personal feelings about Germany, thats a story for another day, but as for this photo its an easy 10 out of 10. cheers
Craig

emka (158784) 2019-07-28 6:05

Hello Gert, I would bet that I wrote the comment to this one. Maybe I just wanted to check how it looks like now (in Google MAp) and then forgot.
As often, the buildings look the same but funny to see people. Look at these prams. My son had similar.
I was in Bremen in 1980, also many years ago. Maybe I have somewhere the pictures?? I remember, there was an interesting Jugendstil district. Fantastic sharpness.
Kind regards Malgo

worldcitizen (16226) 2019-07-29 16:35

Hello Gert,
This is another European gem. I can spend quite a while studying the details: architecture, people, the tram entering the frame in the distance. I also like the two women walking with baby carriages. It's a lovely square, both then and now.

adramad (73442) 2019-08-02 2:47

Hi Gert.
Charming image of this square with the atmosphere of those years, which we also appreciate in the dress, the line of houses is beautiful, already rebuilt or that remained intact in the war.
A good management, both of the luminosity, as of the sharpness.
Very well done. I like it.
Enjoy the weekend.
My best wishes for you.
Luis

cornejo (61504) 2019-09-10 4:50

Hi Gert, good black and white photo of this interesting square with a scene of everyday life in 1966, very well captured in this interesting image with good sharpness, depth, light and quality. A great job perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thank you for sharing this interesting work.

Good afternoon and happy week.
All the best from southern Spain.
Angel.