Reuter’s Speech

On 9 September 1948, Ernst Reuter, elected Lord Mayor of West Berlin, delivers a significant

speech in front of the Reichstag in Berlin. Despite the massive traffic restrictions during the

blockade, about 250,000 people attend the political assembly. Worried about the Western

powers to back down and withdraw, Reuter calls upon the people of the world: “Look upon

this city” and “..., see that you should not, cannot abandon this city!”