"Back then, going up the Brocken Mountain felt like following a pilgrimage trail for me. After having been a Soviet military area for decades, the age-old excursion destination was suddenly accessible again. I was amazed at the masses of people – entire walking associations – who made their way up there following the fall of the Wall. Many also went to see the military installations that were still up there. Russian soldiers were selling their old military insignia in a small container.
It felt a little as if the mountain were being reclaimed – the former powers that be had finally been put behind bars. The descent crossed the Brockenbahn, a narrow gauge steam railway, which at the time had not been put into operation yet. Since its restoration, the Brocken summit (and the surrounding area) has become a popular tourist attraction."
Bernd Schmidt (Göttingen)
