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Child Item

So its 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany. Do you Remember it?

AMKC

Imagine its 30 yeas since the Berlin wall fell. I remember where I was for some of that day. I was watching the news with my Mum and Dad and the rest of the family. Watching all these people hitting the wall with whatever they could get be it a small hammer or a lump hammer etc and thinking its going do be a long time before they knock that down as well as asking the Dad why are they doing that and him explaining why. I was only a child after all and did not realise the significance of it at the time. Do you remember where you were?

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banie01

I was 10, it seems really strange but much like Captain Havoc above.

I really felt like it was a moment in history.
If my son said that to me now, I'd be the 1st to tell him feck off!
History is judged in its aftermath...
But honestly, I suppose from growing up on a diet of Cold War propaganda.
Where the world was black and white, right or wrong!

That the collapse of what we all "knew" was an evil empire was surely an epoch shaping moment?
Even if I didn't know what an epoch was!

From the 1st crossings from Hungary into Austria right up to the actual collapse of the wall...
I remember it, maybe not well and more in a CNN coloured haze.
But one thing that does stand out is the tension surrounding what would happen if USSR cracked down, or if a border guard fired.

Hector Savage

Mad_maxx wrote: »

I followed nothing bar sport when I was twelve so I don't remember it at all

Recall our German teacher producing a piece of the wall in class one day the following year though

A few years ago I sent a few postcards from Berlin with pieces of the wall in a capsule plastered to the card.

I am not 100% convinced of the authenticity of the pieces though.

spurious

I remember thinking about flying over, but didn't. Raging with myself afterwards.

Hector Savage

Nov 7 , 1990
Mary Robinson becomes the first woman elected President of the Republic of Ireland.

evil_seed

Carry wrote: »

Yes. I was there that night, at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin. Most emotional moment in my life.

you should do an AMA

sbsquarepants

I came home from school for my lunch and seen it on the telly. By coincidence my cousin was in berlin at the time on a school tour and he picked up a few pieces of the broken wall and brought them home with him, i still have one to this day, proudly displayed in a plastic watch box!:D

Conall Cernach

It's sort of hard to believe that it's been down longer than it was up. It was such a huge cultural thing growing up in the 70s and 80s.

The Bollocks

"So its 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany. Do you Remember it?"

I do in my bollocks.

branie2

It started off the end of an era

hellsing101

My father still calls Germany West Germany for some reason. When we go to stores selling tools he would always ask me to check if it was made in West Germany.

It fell a few years before I was born so dont know much about the situation above the whole David Haselhoff song being a symbol of freedom for those involved.

Carry

evil_seed wrote: »

you should do an AMA

I'll tell the story of that night later here in this thread when I find a moment.

sunbeam

I was in my Leaving Cert year. It was widely tipped to come up in some form on the Irish and English papers the following June.

It didn't.

Carry

I was a journalist/editor for a newspaper in Berlin at that time, our editorial office was just around the corner from Checkpoint Charlie. We were all on alert because the tension across the wall in East Berlin was palpable and we expected that anything could happen at any time.

On this November evening a small group of female editors, including myself, went together with the editor-in-chief to a small cafe directly at Checkpoint Charlie to discuss feminism or such like.
Incidentally it was the famous Café Adler where John le Carré allegedly wrote (or was inspired to) his novel The spy who came in from the cold.

At around 7pm our photographer, a man of few words and facial expressions, shuffled into the cafe, returning just from that infamous press conference in East Berlin, where the eastern press officer declared that the eastern citizens will be allowed to cross the border, and after being asked the question when? he said rather unsure, I think now. That was it.
So now our photographer told us, the wall will be opened at any moment, and shuffled out again.

Stunned we went out to the Checkpoint to see what’s going to happen, our wineglasses still in hand (at that point we were all already a bit tipsy). More and more people gathered around the border checkpoint at the western side, more and more rather hesitant people gathered at the other side. The eastern border police stood still strong but became more and more unsure what to do with the situation and the increasing masses of people.

East and west of the border people became more confident and shouting: open the wall! After hours of tense and anxious waiting (you never knew how the armed border police might react) the border police gave up and simply opened the gates – and all hell broke loose. The people from East Berlin stormed into the west, there was hugging and kissing and crying and laughing and shouting – it was a true reunification, overwhelming for everyone.

Our editor-in-chief, a woman of considerable charm and quick-thinking, went back to the cafe, bought a bottle of champagne and brought some glasses which we offered to the eastern border police who finally let loose as well and accepted it smiling and joined the party. All the pubs, bars and cafes around the checkpoint contributed drinks for free, I think there was not one person sober that night.

That night all the rules and German reservations went down the drain in Berlin. Everthing stayed open, public transport run all night for free, East Berliners stumbled in amazement and in masses through the streets of West Berlin, being greeted and hugged by everyone. It was the biggest party the world has ever seen, I think.

At 6am I staggered finally home and woke up my flatmate, who got the short straw when humour was distributed. I told her that the wall is open, she said, go away you’re drunk, yes, I said, as is everyone in all of Berlin apart from you. She ate humble pie later for breakfast.

The following days were filled with work (being a journalist at this historic moment meant a lot of overtime) but with festivities as well. All the pop and rock stars came to Berlin, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Joe Cocker, can’t remember all of them, and gave free concerts. Most memorable for me was the Joe Cocker concert.

East Berliners got 100 Deutschmark “welcome money” and stormed the western shops. I remember that my local supermarket was almost empty, as were many other shops. From the next day on lots of people came with hammers and other tools to peck at the wall (I still have some pieces somewhere, real ones), but it took ages until the wall was finally pulled down.

After all the joy and partying reality hit. How to organise Germany now? How to look after the people who lost their state, their work and the very basis of their lives? It became ugly, but that’s another story.

Raconteuse

Carry wrote: »

I was a journalist/editor for a newspaper in Berlin at that time, our editorial office was just around the corner from Checkpoint Charlie. We were all on alert because the tension across the wall in East Berlin was palpable and we expected that anything could happen at any time.

On this November evening a small group of female editors, including myself, went together with the editor-in-chief to a small cafe directly at Checkpoint Charlie to discuss feminism or such like.
Incidentally it was the famous Café Adler where John le Carré allegedly wrote (or was inspired to) his novel The spy who came in from the cold.

At around 7pm our photographer, a man of few words and facial expressions, shuffled into the cafe, returning just from that infamous press conference in East Berlin, where the eastern press officer declared that the eastern citizens will be allowed to cross the border, and after being asked the question when? he said rather unsure, I think now. That was it.
So now our photographer told us, the wall will be opened at any moment, and shuffled out again.

Stunned we went out to the Checkpoint to see what’s going to happen, our wineglasses still in hand (at that point we were all already a bit tipsy). More and more people gathered around the border checkpoint at the western side, more and more rather hesitant people gathered at the other side. The eastern border police stood still strong but became more and more unsure what to do with the situation and the increasing masses of people.

East and west of the border people became more confident and shouting: open the wall! After hours of tense and anxious waiting (you never knew how the armed border police might react) the border police gave up and simply opened the gates – and all hell broke loose. The people from East Berlin stormed into the west, there was hugging and kissing and crying and laughing and shouting – it was a true reunification, overwhelming for everyone.

Our editor-in-chief, a woman of considerable charm and quick-thinking, went back to the cafe, bought a bottle of champagne and brought some glasses which we offered to the eastern border police who finally let loose as well and accepted it smiling and joined the party. All the pubs, bars and cafes around the checkpoint contributed drinks for free, I think there was not one person sober that night.

That night all the rules and German reservations went down the drain in Berlin. Everthing stayed open, public transport run all night for free, East Berliners stumbled in amazement and in masses through the streets of West Berlin, being greeted and hugged by everyone. It was the biggest party the world has ever seen, I think.

At 6am I staggered finally home and woke up my flatmate, who got the short straw when humour was distributed. I told her that the wall is open, she said, go away you’re drunk, yes, I said, as is everyone in all of Berlin apart from you. She ate humble pie later for breakfast.

The following days were filled with work (being a journalist at this historic moment meant a lot of overtime) but with festivities as well. All the pop and rock stars came to Berlin, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Joe Cocker, can’t remember all of them, and gave free concerts. Most memorable for me was the Joe Cocker concert.

East Berliners got 100 Deutschmark “welcome money” and stormed the western shops. I remember that my local supermarket was almost empty, as were many other shops. From the next day on lots of people came with hammers and other tools to peck at the wall (I still have some pieces somewhere, real ones), but it took ages until the wall was finally pulled down.

Fantastic! Reading that warmed my heart.

I'd by raging if I were your flatmate though - asleep for the best bit! :eek:

Elemonator

I wasn't around. I've collected stories from people who were around, my drum teacher visited East Germany and explained just how surreal the situation was. He said the Berlin Wall was like a warzone. Part of me wishes I was around to see it, but the other part of me is thankful that they got it right and I got to grow up in world away from all that.

weldoninhio

Carry wrote: »

I was a journalist/editor for a newspaper in Berlin at that time, our editorial office was just around the corner from Checkpoint Charlie. We were all on alert because the tension across the wall in East Berlin was palpable and we expected that anything could happen at any time.

On this November evening a small group of female editors, including myself, went together with the editor-in-chief to a small cafe directly at Checkpoint Charlie to discuss feminism or such like.
Incidentally it was the famous Cafdler where John le Carrllegedly wrote (or was inspired to) his novel The spy who came in from the cold.

At around 7pm our photographer, a man of few words and facial expressions, shuffled into the cafe, returning just from that infamous press conference in East Berlin, where the eastern press officer declared that the eastern citizens will be allowed to cross the border, and after being asked the question when? he said rather unsure, I think now. That was it.
So now our photographer told us, the wall will be opened at any moment, and shuffled out again.

Stunned we went out to the Checkpoint to see what’s going to happen, our wineglasses still in hand (at that point we were all already a bit tipsy). More and more people gathered around the border checkpoint at the western side, more and more rather hesitant people gathered at the other side. The eastern border police stood still strong but became more and more unsure what to do with the situation and the increasing masses of people.

East and west of the border people became more confident and shouting: open the wall! After hours of tense and anxious waiting (you never knew how the armed border police might react) the border police gave up and simply opened the gates – and all hell broke loose. The people from East Berlin stormed into the west, there was hugging and kissing and crying and laughing and shouting – it was a true reunification, overwhelming for everyone.

Our editor-in-chief, a woman of considerable charm and quick-thinking, went back to the cafe, bought a bottle of champagne and brought some glasses which we offered to the eastern border police who finally let loose as well and accepted it smiling and joined the party. All the pubs, bars and cafes around the checkpoint contributed drinks for free, I think there was not one person sober that night.

That night all the rules and German reservations went down the drain in Berlin. Everthing stayed open, public transport run all night for free, East Berliners stumbled in amazement and in masses through the streets of West Berlin, being greeted and hugged by everyone. It was the biggest party the world has ever seen, I think.

At 6am I staggered finally home and woke up my flatmate, who got the short straw when humour was distributed. I told her that the wall is open, she said, go away you’re drunk, yes, I said, as is everyone in all of Berlin apart from you. She ate humble pie later for breakfast.

The following days were filled with work (being a journalist at this historic moment meant a lot of overtime) but with festivities as well. All the pop and rock stars came to Berlin, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Joe Cocker, can’t remember all of them, and gave free concerts. Most memorable for me was the Joe Cocker concert.

East Berliners got 100 Deutschmark “welcome money” and stormed the western shops. I remember that my local supermarket was almost empty, as were many other shops. From the next day on lots of people came with hammers and other tools to peck at the wall (I still have some pieces somewhere, real ones), but it took ages until the wall was finally pulled down.

After all the joy and partying reality hit. How to organise Germany now? How to look after the people who lost their state, their work and the very basis of their lives? It became ugly, but that’s another story.

That must have been an amazing experience!! One of the best things I've read on boards.

w/s/p/c/

weldoninhio wrote: »

Mods, could the title be changed to "So it's 30 years since David Hasselhoff brought down the Berlin Wall in Germany. Do you remember it?" for factual accuracy. Thanks :p

The most amazing mimefest ever if you search for the video on YouTube... I've been looking for freeedooommmm...

Yep I remember seeing it on the news aged 7 and wondering what the hell was going on and my mam explaining it to me. Visited Berlin for the first time last year, great city with some history.

iguana

I was 10 going on 11 and I remember it as a massive event. Personally it was the first ever time I understood why people would cry when happy, because I cried watching the sheer joy and emotion people were feeling. I remember in the weeks beforehand hearing interviews on the radio about people, many from Germany escaping through Hungary into Austria. I particularly remember a man who was just amazed by how many bananas were in supermarkets in the West. And despite knowing Hungary had taken down it's border, my family saw that as the first step in what would be a long, long process. Waking up on what would have been the morning of the 10th and being told that the wall had come down was stunning.

It was a pretty amazing 7 weeks or so as the whole of the east started to open up. I also remember feeling really mixed feeling about the Ceaușescus. I had followed the revolution in Romania, the Ceaușescus escape attempt and capture with joy that Romania was also becoming free of what really was an awful dictatorship. But I felt very uncomfortable at the thought of a couple in their 70s being executed on Christmas day, after a show trial. Especially with the reports that they had begged to die together rather than one after the other, and the footage of their just fallen bodies which were broadcast on some channels.

vriesmays

NKOTB were top of the charts.

jippo nolan

My wife & myself were in west Berlin in 1985 visiting my sister who who was married to a west German national.
Her apartment overlooked the wall into east Berlin where we could observe the East German border guards about 1/2 a kilometre behind an area planted with land mines.
We paid a visit to east Berlin alone as he was not allowed travel there.
The welcome we got at check point Charlie from an East German border guard I will never forget when we handed him our two Irish passports, he proceeded to put us up to the top of the queue.
However, inside it was a miserable experience, still remnants of the Second World War, shops with very little on the shelves.
We also had a “meal” that consisted of mainly peas.
An experience I will always remember!

Jimbob1977

The news broke when an East German minister announced that border controls would be relaxed during a press conference.

He was asked "when?". He didn't really have an answer, so he replied "now, I suppose".

East Germans headed for the Wall. The border guards had not received orders. Normally they would shoot, but they just stood down.

One of the quickest regime collapses of all-time.

A glory night!!

Redneck Reject

I remember much more than 30 years ago.Thats all I'm saying,heh.

peasant

Carry wrote: »

....That night all the rules and German reservations went down the drain in Berlin. Everthing stayed open, public transport run all night for free, East Berliners stumbled in amazement and in masses through the streets of West Berlin, being greeted and hugged by everyone. It was the biggest party the world has ever seen, I think.....

and a slightly different version of the story from me

I was doing my (then compulsory) military service in the West-German army (Bundeswehr) at the time...more precisely the basic training part of it in some barracks adjacent to a US/German military airbase not far from the Danube.

We had no party, quite the opposite.

In the run-up to the actual day, tensions in the East had grown massively, so had the number of people in the streets. Looking at what had happened previously in Hungary and Czechoslovakia (and in Eastern Germany in 1957) once people started gathering in the streets in masses, there was a not totally unreasonable expectation that these masses might be stopped by tanks...East German and more importantly, Soviet ones.

The prospect of Soviet tanks leaving their barracks of course makes the Bundeswehr nervous...so we were on alert. All leave for officers and other leaders was cancelled, so they were bored/excited and we poor recruits suffered

Alarm exercises at all hours of the day or night ...which mostly just meant grabbing all your stuff (and your weapon of course) and assembling in the yard, standing to attention while some person up front shouted something about the red forces and the blue forces and taking up defensive position, before letting you go back to whatever you were doing before.

So tensions were a bit raised and we were all pretty tired.

And then, two days before the actual fall of the wall, they alarmed us out of bed at 03:15 in the morning (that time of night when you're so fast asleep that after being forcefully woken you have no idea what's going on) assembled us in the yard with all our rucksacks and guns. At this point, some joker thought it funny, instead of the usual blue on red "situation" to tell us that Soviet forces had indeed mobilised, that there was fighting in the streets of major eastern towns and that there was a significant Soviet tank force en route to the inner-German border.

Again, 03:15 in the morning, everybody is dazed and confused and you're told that ...
We were then marched out of the barracks to our positions around the airfield (a good three hours march) and dug in to our strategic positions. Some poor recruits were so tired, confused and afraid that there was actual distress and crying and it took well into daytime until the last one registered that this was still only an exercise.

Two days later then , when the actual wall fell pretty much without warning, the whole lot of us just sat in front of the TV and didn't know what to make of it.
One or two beers and the odd big grin was had alright...but party there wasn't...we were just dazzled, more or less.

After that normal service resumed (with a slight feeling of being surplus to requirement all round) and in the end my military service was cut short by three months as all of a sudden 500.000 men under arms had become a quite expensive hobby and the money was needed elsewhere.

I wish I had been in Berlin or any other border town instead, somehow I think I missed one of the most momentous events of my lifetime while being tired and confused

thomil

I don't quite have a first-hand experience, as I grew up roughly 90 kilometres away from the inner-German border. I was eight at the time, and all through that summer, there had been a feeling that "something" was in the air, that something was going to happen, though I didn't really realise what it was. What struck me most about the evening itself was how seemingly surprising it all was. Granted, at eight years old, everything that lasts for more than a week or two seems like eternity, but the wall, and the inner-German border had always "been there", and it seemed as if it would never go away. That summer, my parents had taken my grandmothers and me to a small town called Hitzacker on the southern bank of the Elbe, which overlooked the border. I still remember asking my parents what all this fuss with the border was about, after all, the other side looked just like our side!
On the night it actually happened, I still remember the tears in my grandmother's eyes, and I think my parents were pretty choked up as well. They had all been around when the wall had gone up, and none of them expected it to come down in their lifetimes, and they couldn't believe the images they were seeing. I was allowed to stay up late that night to watch everything unfold on TV, and a few days later, the first "Trabant" rolled into our small village on the outskirts of Hamburg.

branie2

A fragment of the wall is at the shrine of Fatima.

Esel

branie2 wrote: »

A fragment of the wall is at the shrine of Fatima.

That's supposed to be a secret!

Ipso

branie2 wrote: »

A fragment of the wall is at the shrine of Fatima.

Has herself cone to have a look?

punisher5112

I was only 4 so I don't remember oy what I've seen on TV documentaries.

Carry

peasant wrote: »

...In the run-up to the actual day, tensions in the East had grown massively, so had the number of people in the streets. Looking at what had happened previously in Hungary and Czechoslovakia (and in Eastern Germany in 1957) once people started gathering in the streets in masses, there was a not totally unreasonable expectation that these masses might be stopped by tanks...East German and more importantly, Soviet ones.

(...)

I wish I had been in Berlin or any other border town instead, somehow I think I missed one of the most momentous events of my lifetime while being tired and confused

Thanks for that story. It's an interesting and to me unknown perspective.

But in fairness, there was a real fear in Berlin that all the talk of Gorbachev about glasnost and perestroika would be just talk, or that the East German communist mandarins would fight toes and nails against any decision to give up their cushy little state. We have after all seen, during the Berlin Crisis, American and Russian tanks face each other at Checkpoint Charlie, and the shoot-to-kill order of the Eastern border police wasn't voided yet at that moment. And it takes always only one...

So thanks for trying to protect us against the enemy at 3.15am

And yes, you missed the most momentous moment in post-war Berlin. Actually I still welled up writing my story.

But rest assured I will drink a glass of bubbly at least in spirit with you (that's 2 glasses for me so

) at the 30th anniversary - if that is any consolation

Goldengirl

weldoninhio wrote: »

That must have been an amazing experience!! One of the best things I've read on boards.

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