Love Parade: How Berlin's techno event became a phenomenon - and a disaster | History Stories

Love Parade started out in Berlin in 1989 as a political protest for peace and international understanding through love and music. The demonstration went on to become an annual event and one of Europe's largest music festivals and techno parades. For over a decade, the German capital city was brought to a sweaty standstill in the summer, until the festival eventually relocated to other German cities. In 2008, Love Parade achieved a record turnout, with 1.6 million ravers hitting the streets of the German city of Dortmund. Two years later, disaster struck in Duisburg, with a crowd crush killing 21 people. In 2017, the trial of ten defendants from the city of Duisburg and the organizer began at the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court. By 2020, the trial ended without convictions. The founder of Love Parade, DJ Dr. Motte is attempting to create a Love Parade revival on Berlin's streets with "Rave the Planet". This episode of History Stories traces the history of Love Parade from its beginnings as a crowd of 150 walking the streets of Berlin to its tragic end in Duisburg.

Report by Christian Weibezahn.

#dwhistoryandculture #berlin #loveparade #techno #music #summer

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