Icon: enlarge
Working in front of the Brandenburg Gate: ZDF is planning the TV show "Willkommen 2021" there, without an audience
Photo: Paul Zinken / dpa
As in previous years, the Berlin fire brigade is preparing for a state of emergency despite the ban on selling fireworks on New Year's Eve.
"Of course we hope that it will be quieter than usual, but we can't foresee that yet," said a spokesman.
Therefore, like every year, the number of personnel on the guards and the organizational units will be increased.
A total of around 850 people from the professional fire brigade are to be deployed as well as more than 520 volunteers from the volunteer fire brigades.
427 vehicles are occupied.
In addition, there would be around 120 emergency services from the Bundeswehr and the technical relief organization.
"This means that the number of staff is almost tripled compared to normal operations," it said.
In the capital, we have a strict ban on the sale of fireworks in the rest of the country.
The ignition of firecrackers is also prohibited in many places.
Last week the Senate published a list of 56 places where this will be the case.
These include large squares and sights such as Potsdamer Platz, Breitscheidplatz and the Brandenburg Gate.
Staying in these places is also prohibited.
It could "go off massive"
The deputy Berlin state chairman of the police union (GdP), Thomas Spaniel, criticized the Senate's measures.
"These firecracking zones came too late," he said in the RBB.
And: "You still had the opportunity to drive to Poland via the so-called small border traffic and was probably able to stock up on enough firecrackers."
No party at the Brandenburg Gate
Meanwhile, preparations for New Year's Eve in Berlin are also underway elsewhere - under the sign of the corona pandemic.
So the big New Year's Eve party at the Brandenburg Gate will be canceled this year.
Instead, the ZDF is planning the TV show "Willkommen 2021" with Andrea Kiewel and Johannes B. Kerner, but without an audience.
The band Karat and pop star Jürgen Drews will perform there between 9.45 p.m. and 0.30 a.m.
The first barriers were set up on Monday.
Although the responsible district office in Mitte had also approved a large firework display at the Brandenburg Gate, there will not be such a thing this year, said a ZDF spokeswoman.
Icon: The mirror
wit / dpa