First videophone conversation demonstrated in Berlin 80 years ago today (Mar 1 1936)

(Sunday, March 1, 1936) — German Minister of Postal Affairs Paul Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach inaugurated the first videophone conversation today in Berlin with Leipzig’s chief burgomaster.

Germany’s Gegensehn-Fernsprechanlagen (visual telephone system), was developed by Dr. Georg Schubert, who headed the development department at the Fernseh-AG, a technical combine for television broadcasting technology.