At the outset, there was the desire for freedom and the courage to act. In 1948, hundreds of students were demonstrating against political repression at Berlin's traditional university that happened to be in the eastern occupied sector of the city. They were demanding a new, free university in the western occupied sectors.

And their dream was realized: On December 4, 1948,  Freie Universität Berlin was founded in West Berlin.

During this year marking the new university's 60th anniversary, we are reflecting on the six decades of university history with reminiscences shared by a graduate from each decade.