Visitor from West Berlin (1966) Immediately after the construction of the Berlin Wall, West Berliners were entirely prohibited from visiting relatives in the Eastern section of the city. As the decade wore on, various permit agreements gradually allowed for some family visits. It was only at the beginning of the 1970s, however, that West Berliners were able to visit their East Berlin relatives on a regular basis. In this 1966 photo, a West Berliner bids farewell to relatives on the Eastern side. The sign on the left reads: "The GDR exists and is gaining strength. It is neither to be bought nor annexed." Photographer unknown.