Everyone was familiar with the grocery business run by the Gierloff family
In the heart of Templin, Germany, lies Ernst-Thalmann Street, a common street name across several German towns and cities, named after Ernst Thälmann, a prominent German communist leader during the Weimar Republic era. While specific details about the history and notable establishments of this street in Templin may be scarce, its origins can likely be traced back to the period of East Germany (GDR), when many streets were dedicated to socialist or communist figures.
During the GDR era, Ernst-Thalmann Street in Templin would have hosted residential areas, local businesses, and public institutions aligned with the socialist framework. However, detailed information about specific landmarks or establishments on that street in Templin is not readily available. For a more in-depth understanding of the street’s historical development or its notable buildings, local municipal archives or historical societies in Templin might be the best sources.
Through anecdotal evidence, we can piece together a snapshot of life on Ernst-Thalmann Street in Templin during the GDR era. Marlies Born, a resident from Templin, identified the location of a photo in the "Historical Peekaboo" series as Ernst-Thalmann Street. Hans Dura, who learned to be a baker in Templin from 1965 to 1968, worked at a bakery that belonged to the HO and later to the Konsum. Thomas Gierloff's family's store, originally on the other side of the street, was destroyed during World War II, and they later rented a store across the street.
The photo, which shows a grocery store on the right and a bakery on the left, also offers a glimpse into the past. Hans Dura's younger brother Peter was trained as a butcher at the Schade butcher shop in Templin. Renate Engel, who is related to the Gierloff family, had an apartment above their store. Marlies Born, the oldest child at home, was sent to buy coffee from the bakery on Sundays when they had unexpected visitors.
Siegfried Adolph remembers the snack bar that was on Ernst-Thalmann Street, which was popular and usually full. Until a few years ago, Frau Mautschke's organic store was located in the house shown in the photo. Thomas Gierloff, who recognized the store on Thalmann Street 14, which his family took over, has a special connection to the photo. Across from the Gierloffs' store, there was a Konsum.
Rolf Prütz, a resident from Beutel, mentioned that there were two bakeries on Thalmann Street at one time. Klaus Preuß, a resident of Milmersdorf, is a fan of "Historical Peekaboo" and correctly identified the location of the photo. The door of the grocery store was open in the summer, displaying wooden clogs. The oldest son of the Gierloff family was a footballer.
These stories provide a glimpse into the daily life of Templin residents during the GDR era, offering a unique insight into the history of Ernst-Thalmann Street. For a more comprehensive understanding, further research is encouraged, particularly through local archives and historical societies.
The residential and commercial buildings on Ernst-Thalmann Street in Templin, during the GDR era, were likely centers of home-and-garden lifestyle, as implied by the presence of a bakery, grocery store, and a butcher shop. The lifestyle of the Templin residents, therefore, would have been shaped by this home-and-garden setting in this common socialist street.
