Lübeck in Motion – The 1960s

The 1960s in photographs

by Hans Kripgans

" Do more of what you love " should be the motto for every single day of life, not just a New Year's resolution. I'm fascinated by history, and especially by visual contemporary history and the works of Berenice Abbot, Brassaï, Doisneau, August Sander, and Steve McCurry. Photographs capture significant and highly complex historical developments, or even just individual moments, in a single, lasting image. My passion lies in everyday photography. So what could be more fitting than a visit to the Willy Brandt House in Lübeck, one of my favorite cultural institutions in Lübeck? The photo exhibition " Lübeck in Motion – The 1960s " is on display there until March 13th. It presents photographs by the renowned photographer Hans Kripgans , who was the chief photographer and "the eye" of the Lübeck newspaper, the Lübecker Nachrichten, until 1975.

The power of images

In motion! A visual journey into history that is so much more than a mere retrospective. In this case, I'm revisiting my own childhood and looking back at the exciting years of the economic miracle when my parents were young. The scenes from the everyday lives of Lübeck's residents reveal the issues that preoccupied West German society during those years. Some of them are still relevant today, and just because the images are black and white doesn't mean life wasn't.

Don't trust anyone over 30: Children & Youth

This contrast between "young" and "old" has existed for centuries. As early as 2000 BC, a cuneiform text stated: "Our youth is degenerate and unruly. Young people no longer listen to their parents. The end of the world is near." The 1960s were no exception. Society was undergoing rapid cultural change, leading to tensions between generations. A shift in sexual morality and the widespread availability of television accelerated this transformation. With the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, a new, defining attitude to life arrived in Lübeck. Fashion was a visual antithesis to stuffy bourgeois values: short skirts, pinafore dresses, leather jackets, bell-bottoms. Bold designs in patent leather, velvet, and corduroy. (Um: isn't that incredibly trendy again: everything comes back around...) Parents feared their sons and daughters might end up as "bums" or "rockers." Imagine: teenagers simply meeting up to "chill" on the grass in front of the Holsten Gate.

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The mustiness under the gowns: Protests & demonstrations

The 1960s were a decade of upheaval for many reasons. I ask myself: have there ever been decades without upheaval? The construction of the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961, was undoubtedly formative for Germany and Europe, indeed for the balance of power throughout the world in the decades that followed. Its effects are still felt today. The Easter Marches originated in the 1960s. In Lübeck, too, citizens of all generations became involved in the fight against nuclear power and nuclear weapons. People's fears were further fueled by the Cuban Missile Crisis and the East-West conflict. The Shah's visit and the death of Benno Ohnesorge, the assassination attempt on Rudi Dutschke, and the emergency laws drove primarily young people into the streets. Happenings and sit-ins for a transformation of society ensued.

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Shop 'til you drop: Transportation & Shopping

Lübeck's face changed. Cars, cars everywhere! New and, above all, wider streets, parking lots, and parking garages were built. Bridges were constructed, including the Herrenbrücke (Gentlemen's Bridge), which, in the memory of everyone who lived through that time, was always raised when they desperately needed to cross it. Incidentally, it was also a frequently used excuse for being late. Currently, under the guiding principle of " Lübeck the Day After Tomorrow ," we are working to reorganize our mobility in Lübeck, developing alternative and sustainable transportation options to protect the environment and improve the quality of life.

Lübeck's old town, with its new large stores like Karstadt, Kepa, Haerder, Anni Friede, and C&A, offering a wide selection and spacious sales areas, became an attractive destination. With rising incomes, luxury goods became affordable for many West Germans. Shop windows were lavishly decorated. People dressed up when they went into town and always combined shopping with a visit to a café. Ladies, of course, kept their hats on.

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Every motif has a story to tell. There isn't enough space here to tell them all. Other exhibition areas are dedicated to the topics of "Building & Living" and to Willy Brandt himself, who remained loyal to his birthplace throughout his life, regularly visiting his mother Martha Kuhlmann and stepfather, meeting political allies, and appearing in Lübeck at the close of each election campaign in 1961, 1965, and 1969. The permanent exhibition at the Willy Brandt House in Lübeck dedicated to the life and work of Willy Brandt. Admission is free.

The Kripgans exhibition makes it abundantly clear once again that humans have ALWAYS been and are oriented towards the future. Every single person is part of this long and fascinating story and connected to the people of the past and the future.