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Fall of the Berlin Wall

Germany celebrates German National Day – The Day of German Unity

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Germany’s celebration of the 24th National Day is underway!

Every year the official celebration of the “Tag der deutschen Einheit” on October 3rd is hosted by one of the 16 German federal states. Traditionally that particular state’s capital organizes a “Bürgerfest” ( a party for the citizens). This ”Deutschlandfest” as it is called offers a variety of entertainment but most importantly introduces and showcases every federal state of Germany on its “Ländermeile” ( “Federal States Mile”).

This year Hanover in the Lower Saxony state is ‘putting on the party’, and it will start tomorrow, Oct. 2nd lasting until Oct. 3rd!

What had happened in History:

25 years ago courageous citizens from Leipzig, East Berlin and many other cities of previous East Germany (GDR) demonstrated for their freedom and their rights. All throughout the year of 1989 a wave of protest against the SED (Socialistic Unity Party) regime was rising until finally the long-awaited day arrived, and the Berlin Wall came down. This historically important day was the 9th of November 1989, and Willy Brandt then said “ Now comes together what belongs together”! (excerpts taken of Ministerpräsident Weil’s ‘Welcome‘)

The two “Germanys” growing together turned out not to be as easy as initially perhaps anticipated, and it took a while before East and West Germans would consider themselves to be the people of one nation again. Even though the sincere wish was there, it took several years and a lot of work before the two “Germanys” would become one once more.

Today, 25 years later, we can say that most Germans feel like belonging to one nation again. Throughout the weeks of this year’s Soccer World Cup the world could see a collective German spirit rejoicing or recoiling during the German National Team’s games. The final winning of the Cup was an event that all Germans could proudly embrace and celebrate together. It was an event that made Germans in all parts of the country – whether from former East or former West – see themselves as one nation celebrating together in unity.

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Photo Source: www.Tag-der-deutschen-Einheit.de

The Fall of the Berlin Wall – November 9, 1989

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English: The Fall of the Berlin Wall, 1989. Th...

30,415 GDR citizens fled to West Berlin in July 1961, which was the highest number of refugees per month since 1953. After that event the GDR started with the building of the Berlin Wall on August 13th, even though just in June 1961 First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party, Walter Ulbricht, had declared “Nobody intends to build a wall”.

After years  of a divided Germany, dramatic events like the Berlin Blockade, and many  frightening attempts of East-Berliners fleeing the repressive country GDR, the Berlin Wall fell on November 9th, 1989 .

Anchorman Hans Joachim Friedrichs proclaimed then on ARD’s Tagesthemen, “This is a historic day. East Germany has announced that, starting immediately, its borders are open to everyone. The GDR is opening its borders … the gates in the Berlin Wall stand open.”

The Berlin Wall was a phenomena not only for foreigners, but also for Germans who were non-Berliners. It seemed strange how within a country one part of a capital city belonged to a different regime. The Berlin Wall and its historical situation inspired writers and filmmakers around the world, and continues to stay a topic of great interest even nowadays .

“Deutsche Lese-Ecke” on California Germans

Stay tuned for quite a different Berlin Wall story by CaliforniaGermans’ author Dieter Kermas tomorrow.

“Welche Mauer?”, a short story written all in German, will also start our “Deutsche Lese-Ecke” category, where you will be able to find periodic new postings of short stories, poems and excerpts of larger works exclusively in German.

Sources: Berlin.de, wikipedia
Photo: wikipedia
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“Festival of Freedom” – 20 Jahre Berliner Mauerfall – “Fest der Freiheit”

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It’s been 20 years that the Berlin Wall came down and the city of Berlin has planned great festivities to commemorate this historical event.

On November 9, 2009, Berlin will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with a spectacular “Festival of Freedom”.  One thousand foam domino tiles over 8 feet tall, that Foam Dominos symbolizing Fall of Berlin Wall have been placed along the former route of the wall in the city  center, will fall at the Brandenburger Tor as a symbol for the falling of the wall.

The Festival of Freedom will begin with an open-air concert at Pariser Platz by the Staatskapelle Berlin conducted by Daniel Barenboim. After the concert, the fall of the Berlin Wall will be symbolised by knocking over the dominos, that have been designed by the Berlin youths. This event will be broadcast live in ZDF from 19.25 until 20.15. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend this extraordinary event.

Many other events are planned through the end of the year. Check the calendar at the website dedicated to the Mauerfall 09 

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