Photo articles of Bernd-Horst Sefzik
Part 1
Bernd-Horst Sefzik visited a lot of European countries, including Yugoslavia following a major earthquake. Or Poland, from where he reported on a children’s health centre which commemorates the victims of German occupation as a “memorial for life”. His reports were not merely confined to the socialist nations of Europe. He also visited Turkey for instance where a steelworks was built with Soviet aid.
ROMANIA
BACKGROUND
Coverage on the development of spa town Baile Herculane in the Cerna Valley. The Romans laid the foundation stone for the first bathhouse in the thermal springs here around 2,000 years ago: At the waters of Hercules, NBI 34/77.
After the Danube has flowed through seven European nations, it slowly streams towards the Black Sea estuary. In the process, it carries so much sediment with it that the land is pushed 40 metres into the sea every year: The youngest nation of Europe, NBI 20/80.
YUGOSLAVIA
BACKGROUND
On Easter Sunday 15th April 1979, the biggest earthquake in the history of Yugoslavia struck the Adriatic coast. 135 people died in the disaster. Kotor, situated in an inlet in the autonomous republic of Montenegro, was especially hard hit: Kotor – 200 days after the disaster, NBI 51/7.
SWEDEN
BACKGROUND
The report dealt with the growing economic difficulties in Sweden, criticising the ruling centre-right government in power for the past four years: A closer look at Sweden, NBI 7/81.
TURKEY
BACKGROUND
Soviet experts construct the steelworks at Isekenderun. Vast industrial facilities and new residential areas alter the city skyline: Example Iskenderun, NBI 13/77.
POLAND
BACKGROUND
The children’s health centre near Warsaw was set up as a living memorial to the men, women and children murdered during the Nazi occupation. Its 14 storeys were supposed to symbolise the years of childhood: Memorial for Life, NBI 29/79.
FINLAND
BACKGROUND
The image accompanies a report about the old town of Porvoo. Sefzik also visited Helsinki during the trip: Peaceful old Porvoo – Finland’s second-oldest town, NBI 41/84.
FRANCE
BACKGROUND
The images came about during a two-week stay in France, in Paris and Lyons. The reason behind this was the debate in France around the political recognition of the GDR: Recognition now!, NBI 27/72.