22 November 1963 - JFK Assassinated

Posted on November 22, 2009

Forty-Six years ago today, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Five months previously in June 1963, Kennedy had visited West Berlin, making his famous ‘Ich bin ein Berliner speech’ at Rathaus Schöneberg.

Looking through my collection recently, I noticed that I have some stamped ‘covers’ that date from that period.

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This autographed card showing Kennedy and Willy Brandt, the governing Mayor of Berlin, is dated 23 June 1963. Unfortunately, I’ve no idea whose autograph it is.. Anyone have any ideas?

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This cover from Berlin to Bavaria was stamped a day later on 24 June 1963.

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This cover, from Postamtmann Frost in Mosbach/Baden to Hampstead in London, really  has nothing to do with either Kennedy or Berlin, but was franked on 22 November 1963, the day Kennedy was shot.

Following the Vietnam War, the relationship beween the ordinary West Berliner and the Americans became much more strained.. But in 1963, two years after the building of the Berlin Wall, the isolated West Berliners were still happy for any sign of solidarity from the outside world. Of course, in the ensuing years, we have learnt that although Kennedy could be considered one of the great American Presidents, he certainly wasn’t the person he was imagined to be at that time.. A beacon of hope for the future..

» Filed Under Around & About Berlin

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