The 20th Anniversary of the Fall of Berlin Wall

"We are the people"

A wave of people started flocking to the check points, Bornholmer Brücke was open first. And yet again the decision of a single man made all the difference. As the crowd grew stronger and shouts became more demanding one soldier decided to open the gate. This signifies the point of no return


By SUSANNE WERNICKE (susanne.wernicke@wavemagazine.net)
from Berlin, GERMANY


A solemn, yet festive atmosphere determines the celebrations of the 20 years anniversary of the Fall of the Wall at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. At 8 p.m. Germany's famous TV-show host Thomas Gottschalk initiates the count down to the symbolic second Fall of the Wall. Artists from across the globe had painted over 1000 stones that now collapsed like dominos along the former German-German border. People from Berlin, Germany, Europe and the rest of the world came to celebrate the 9th of November as the day that freed East Germans and became representative of the end of the communist regime in Europe. The crowd remembers. Maria is 45 years old from Berlin.

- I came home to my boyfriend, we had dinner and went to bed. I had no idea that I could have walked across the border into West Berlin, I was not aware that I was missing the unthinkable." Many people like Maria have simply passed their first night as free people without knowing it. Martin was a student in West Berlin he came to the Brandenburg Gate to await the first East German who would climb the wall.

We were shouting - 'Let them go, Let them free' and then finally a guy appeared on top of the wall." Fortunately for those in Berlin that were able to witness the unbelievable events of the 9th of november. Georg from Leipzig only made it to the second fall of the wall. " People are so friendly here, happy and joyful. The atmosphere is breathtaking, I hope it is close to what it was 20 years ago."

There are bands, there are speakers, there is music and there is colorful light. The celebrations go ahead as planned on the night of the anniversary, contrary to the events in 1989.

Unprofessional, disorganized and unplanned

The weeks prior to november 9th 1989 were marked with silent protests and demonstrations across cities in the GDR. From Rostock to Leipzig posters read "We are the people". Week to week the number of people increased, no one knew how much longer a peaceful solution was possible. The national and international pressure grew, the East German government had to act. Finally a press conference was held on the evening of the 9th of November. Günther Schabowski announced the new travel regulations outside the GDR. They state that citizens were now able to move freely but that they had to give up their right to ever return home in case of permanent settlement outside the GDR. Then a West German journalist asked the question that led to the following events.

- When will this new regulation be effective? - Schabowski answered that it would be valid right away. When in fact it was meant to start at 4 a.m the next day. Confusion and miscommunication helped to put forward the peaceful overthrow of the GDR government.

A wave of people started flocking to the check points, Bornholmer Brücke was open first. And yet again the decision of a single man made all the difference. As the crowd grew stronger and shouts became more demanding one soldier decided to open the gate. This signifies the point of no return.

Reunification of Germany with mixed feelings

In the beginning it was Helmut Kohl and the US that supported Germany's step to reunite. France as well as Great Britain feared the return of a demon in the center of Europe. Margaret Thatcher is said to have been very angry with Helmut Kohl for having proceeded without consultation with the British government.

On March 18th 1990 the first free elections are held. In Juli 1990 the Deutsch Mark succeeded the East Mark, on the 15th of the same month Helmut Kohl and Mikhail Gorbachev meet to finalize the reunification. On August 31 the minister for interior of West Germany Schäuble and secretary of state of the GDR Günther Klaus signed the contract for the unification of Germany.

Germany is united on paper and the administrative institutions have been reformed. The question remains, is Germany united? "For my family and me nothing has changed, my kids grow up without borders in their mind. I am happy for all of us."

Bernd from Cologne came to the anniversary to see what has changed since he last saw Berlin 25 years ago. Sandra is working as a nurse in Marzahn a neighborhood in the East of Berlin she answered. "You know, I haven't experienced life in the GDR, I grew up in a united Germany and still I am earning less money than a nurse in the West of Germany. How can it be after 20 years?"

Many people feel the financial unbalance as humiliation. Immediately after the reunification Helmut Kohl released a 10 - point plan in order to reconstruct the bankrupt GDR. The money went into infrastructure, reforms and regional development. The 9th of November 2009 reminded us of two things: Germany and Europe have taken a step towards peace and unity, however by closing one chapter of historical, cultural and political divide people now have to learn to live with each other again.


(Published: 11.11.2009.)