Direct from the archive: new old pictures of the end of the Palace of the Republic.
Since 1976, the Palace of the Republic has also served as the seat of the GDR’s People’s Chamber. For many citizens of the GDR, the Palace was also a very popular destination because of the many good restaurants, bars and other recreational facilities close to the people. In 1990, the first freely elected People’s Chamber approved the Unification Treaty between the GDR and the FRG – the beginning of the end of the GDR was decided in the Palace of the Republic.
While the GDR was still in power, it was decided to close the Palace of the Republic because it was contaminated with asbestos and to decontaminate it down to the foundation walls. That, in turn, was the beginning of the end of the Palast der Republik.
