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Back to the 1980s
Fall of
the Berlin Wall
In the year 1989,
there were dramatic events such as a massive flight
of inhabitants of the GDR (East Germany) via Hungary
and big demonstrations in Leipzig on Mondays. After
weeks of discussion about a new travel law, the
leader of East Berlin's communist party (SED), Günter
Schabowski, said on November 9, 1989 at about 7
p.m. in somewhat unclear words that the border would
be opened for "private trips abroad". Soon thereafter,
an onrush of East Berliners towards West Berlin
began, and there were celebrations at the Brandenburg
Gate and at the Kurfürstendamm in West Berlin. On
November 10, demolition work began with the aim
of creating new border crossings. On November 12,
a checkpoint at the Potsdamer Platz was opened,
and on December 22, a checkpoint for pedestrians
was opened at the Brandenburg Gate. So-called "wall
woodpeckers" hammered pieces out of the wall, many
of which were sold as souvenirs. A few larger segments
were officially donated or sold.
On July 1, 1990, an economic, monetary and social
union between East and West Germany was formed,
and all restrictions concerning travels were dropped.
The wall vanished almost completely until 1991;
there are a few remainders at the Bernauer Straße,
the Niederkirchnerstraße (near the building of the
former Prussian parliament, now housing the parliament
of Berlin) and as the 1.3 km long "East-Side-Gallery"
near the railway station "Hauptbahnhof".
On February 1997, a red line was painted on the
pavement at the former "Checkpoint Charlie" to mark
the course of the former Berlin Wall. This line
reached a length of 20 km and shall be replaced
by two rows of paving stones.
For additional information click here.
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