My God, Help Me to Survive This Fatal Attraction (East Side gallery) - BERLIN, GERMANY

"My God, Help Me to Survive This Fatal Attraction", often referred to as the “Fraternal Kiss,” is one of the most iconic murals of the East Side Gallery in Berlin, Germany, Europe. Painted in 1990 by Russian artist Dmitri Vrubel, the artwork quickly became one of the most recognizable images on the remains of the Berlin Wall.

The mural depicts Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East German leader Erich Honecker locked in a socialist fraternal kiss, recreating a famous photograph taken in 1979 during the 30th anniversary celebration of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). The exaggerated intimacy of the gesture became a powerful symbol of the political relationship between the Soviet Union and East Germany during the Cold War.

Over time, exposure to weather and vandalism led to the deterioration of the mural. In 2009, as part of a large restoration project of the East Side Gallery, the original paintings were removed and the artists were invited to recreate their works using more durable materials. Dmitri Vrubel repainted the piece, ensuring that this striking image would continue to stand as a reminder of division, ideology, and the dramatic transformation of Berlin after the fall of the Wall.

Today, the mural remains one of the most photographed landmarks in Berlin and a lasting symbol of Europe’s Cold War history.