The Berlin Wall, 20 years gone

[minidog]

Twenty years ago, on the night of November 9, 1989, following weeks of pro-democracy protests, East German authorities suddenly opened their border to West Germany. After 28 years as prisoners of their own country, euphoric East Germans streamed to checkpoints and rushed past bewildered guards, many falling tearfully into the arms of West Germans welcoming them on the other side. Thousands of Germans and world leaders gathered in Berlin yesterday to celebrate the "Mauerfall" - the dismantling of the Berlin Wall and German reunification - and to remember the approximately 100-200 who died attempting to cross the border over the years. Collected here are photographs both historic and recent, from the fall of the Berlin Wall. Be sure to pause on photos 12 - 15, and click them to see a fade effect from before to after. (38 photos total)
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/11/the_berlin_wall_20_years_gone.html

 

[Eric Lindros]

I can remember it as the day if it was yesterday.
Hehe, maleonetwo was just a cute little baby when the Wall collapsed and opened the boarders betweeen East and West-Berlin.

It was a big day in German history.

 

[GregCentauro]

The Berlin wall was a load-bearing mortification for Europe. A grave mistake to tear it down.

 

[Will E Worm]

It was torn down because they didn't have anything better to do I would guess.

Reagan's Alzheimer's Disease was acting up when he was giving that speech.

Reagan should have stayed in Hollywood and the Berlin wall should still be up.

Reagan SMASH :tongue:

 

[Galactic]

Nice post Mini......saw those pics last night....pretty cool stuff. :thumbsup:

 

[Cpt.Obvious]

I remember the events that led up to wall coming down, the Civil unrest in East Berlin, along with East Berliners finding a migration path out of Communist dominated Germany.
It was a scenario for the possible start of World War 3, it was even mentioned in "the Day After".
and Despite Erich Honecker, or more likely because of Mikhail Gorbachev, cooler heads prevailed and the wall inevitably came down.

 

[beauregard]

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down those walls!
Cannot embed due to the video owner,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Eyao-2KWo&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh+div-HM

Such an apt song, and I will always remember watching those walls come down when I hear this song.