The ice cream cone vendor does good business in Tempelhof in the heat. (1928) by Walter ObschonkaBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Hooray, the ice cream van has arrived!
As soon as the ice cream vendor appears on a hot summer's day with his colorful ice cream cart and loud shouts, a crowd of children surround him to impatiently invest the pennies they have saved or wrested from their mothers in strawberry or lemon ice cream.
Eight excursionists in a convivial pose in the open Hanomag "Komissbrot" (1928) by Photographer unknownBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
With the Hanomag "Kommissbrot" to the bathing lake
Eight friends enjoy their trip in an open Hanomag. The Hanomag 2/10 PS, popularly known as the "Kommissbrot", was the first true "Volkswagen" in the 1920s. It got its nickname from its shape, which resembled a soldier's daily ration of bread.
Sand sculpture at the Wannsee lido for the German heavyweight boxing world champion Max Schmeling (1931) by Friedrich SeidenstückerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
The Birth of an icon
On July 3, 1931, Max Schmeling defends his title as world heavyweight boxing champion and remains world champion in all classes. Schmeling, who had been living in Berlin since 1926, finally became an idol. Some Berlin Fans build him a monument made of sand on Wannsee.
At the weekend in the lake-rich surroundings of Berlin (1915/1935) by Photographer unknownBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Out into the green
At the weekend, we head out into the Berlin countryside with a motorcycle and folding boat. Folding boat trips became a mass pastime in the 1920s. The Deutsche Reichsbahn even ran special trains for folding boaters, who conquered the rivers and lakes in droves at the weekend.
After the swimming pool in the Spree, three Berlin boys sit on the bridge piles and play a hearty game of skat. (1921) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Playing skat on the Spree
Three boys sit on bridge piles on Kreuzberg's Lohmühleninsel near Sachse'sche Badeanstalt and play skat in front of the Spree panorama with Oberbaumbrücke, Eierkühlhaus and Osthafenspeicher.
Rubber swimming toys are inflated on the beach (1925) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Water riding on rubber animals
A new trend from America conquers Berlin's lidos. The illustrated magazine Die Woche reported from overseas in 1924: "The latest fashion is for young ladies in American seaside resorts to take large rubber animals with them and ride them around in the water."
"Wannsee 1930" (1930) by Friedrich SeidenstückerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Record attendance at the Wannsee lido
After the expansion with new buildings in the New Objectivity style, 1.3 million visitors come to the Wannsee lido for the reopening in 1930 - more than ever before.
Summer day on a Berlin rooftop meadow - the radio provides entertainment (1926) by Photographer unknownBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Summer on the roof
Four young women have made themselves comfortable on a rooftop meadow with their radio to listen to music together and enjoy the summer day.
Major heatwave in Berlin and the surrounding area. At 35 degrees in the shade in a Berlin office. (1928) by Ernst GränertBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
In a swimsuit in the office
An increasing proportion of the working population in the 1920s is employed in offices. In 35 degree heat without air conditioning, some employers relax the dress code to keep their employees happy.
Wasserbudiker - ambulant trade on the Spree in Berlin (1927) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Wurstmaxe on the water
The "Wurstmaxen", who sell hot sausages from the kettle in front of their bellies, can be found on every street corner in Berlin's nightlife of the 1920s. In Heringsdorf near Berlin, a "Wurstmaxe" supplied excursionists and bargemen in his self-built watercraft.
Paddengasse lido (1931) by Römer, WillyBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Wild bathing in Mitte
During construction work in the Klosterviertel, the banks of the Spree are not only used for depositing sand, but also for swimming. Berliners call their temporary river bath "Strandbad Paddengasse", after the historical name of the street where bathing now takes place.
Dance in the roof garden café of the Berolina high-rise on Alexanderplatz (1932) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Dance tea over the Alex
On Sundays, people go up to the new Berolina high-rise on Alexanderplatz to dance. The five o'clock tea in the roof garden café includes not only liveried waiters but also paid dancers who lead women without partners across the dance floor.
Pupils rowing on the Wannsee in Berlin (1926) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
School rowing on the Kleiner Wannsee
Whether in the west at Wannsee or in the east in Grünau - rowing has been practiced on Berlin's waters since 1876. In the 1920s, rowing also became increasingly popular in sports lessons at Berlin's schools.
With the self-made raft on a trip on the Spree in Berlin. (1921) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
SUP - who invented it?
In 1921, this daring youngster paddles across the Spree Canal in Berlin's historic center on his self-made board. Was he the one who triggered the hype surrounding stand-up paddling in the capital over 100 years ago?
Foxtrot steps on the beach...in the Wannsee sand (1925) by Photographer unknownBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
A little dance on the Wannsee
Foxtrot, swing or Charleston? It doesn't matter, the main thing is dancing! Berlin was a dancer's paradise in the Roaring Twenties - anytime, anywhere. And now let's get out to Wannsee!
Idee, Konzept, Bildauswahl und Texte: Sylvia Hoffmann
Technische Unterstützung: Stefan Geiser
