Thousands of Germans, many with tears in their eyes, Friday filed past the coffin of former Chancellor Willy Brandt, paying their last respects to one of the country's leading postwar figures.
The flag-draped coffin was flanked by six police officers and six tall candles inside the Schoeneberg City Hall, which was the seat of West Berlin's government when Brandt was mayor from 1957 to 1966.Brandt, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his ground-breaking efforts to bridge the gap between the West and the Soviet bloc, died Oct. 8 at age 78. He will be buried on Saturday in Berlin after a state ceremony attended by Prince Charles, French President Francois Mitterrand and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
"He convinced young people back then, including me, to take part in the political process," said 42-year-old Roland Lang, now a labor union official.
Gorbachev, before leaving Moscow for the funeral, said "He was one of the fundamental politicians, principled, capable of withstanding threats and challenges, sweeping aside barriers on the road to the consolidation of nations. I bow down before him."
Many elderly Germans walked with the aid of crutches or canes, while others asked for help in climbing the steps into the city hall. Young mothers hauled baby carriages into the foyer where Brandt was lying in state.
Hundreds brought flowers with them, to place near Brandt's coffin. Behind it was a larger-than-life photograph of the popular statesman.
"Thank you, Willy!" one man shouted as he stopped in front of the coffin. "Sleep well!"