A good summary of the events which led to the fall of the Wall of Berlin
YouTube - Moments in History - The Fall of the Berlin Wall
(German with English sub-titles)

A very dramatic video on the opening of the Bornholmer Strasse, the first "Grenzübergang" to open in that night, giving way to the pressure of the crowd
YouTube - The opening of the Wall at Berlin Bornholmer Strasse 1989
(German with English sub-titles)

Another, very reaslistic, video, at Potsdamer Platz (also German with English sub-titles)
YouTube - The opening of the Berlin Wall 1989 / Reichstag (English Subtitles)

There is a dramatic scene with this woman pleading to go through the Brandenburger Tor, at least once, and swears with blazing eyes that she will return - on the head of her children -

"Ist das so schwer zu verstehen ?"

And the Wall being dismantled piece by piece in front of the eyes of the border police, arguing with the demonstrators:
"Why do you think we built the Wall in 1961 ? We built it to protect ourselves from the West !"

Last but not least : the famous international press conference, where Günter Schabowski announced that "private" people are free to travel.

Schabowski did not attend the ZK meeting in the afternoon. The new rule was a draft and had been packed together with other documents for the press conference. He was reading the content of the announcement for the first time. In fact it was a mistake : the opening of the borders was a proposal drafted on the same morning - When a startled Western journalist called in-between : "When will it come into force ?", Schabowski, obviously puzzled by what he had just read, stuttered ...

"... Ab sofort ... Unverzüglich" (From now on ... Immediately ...)
YouTube - Günter Schabowski - Pressekonferenz über neue Reiseregelung

The last video is a remake of this press conference with consequences, a montage made up of interviews of former witnesses and old footages.

A fascinating reportage on what happened in that dramatic night : how a mistake and bureaucratic mess lead to the fall of the Wall.
YouTube - Schabowskis Zettel - Die Nacht als die Mauer fiel 3/8

Unfortunately, I could not find any video with English translation of Schabowski's press conference. They are all in German.

There will be some celebration tomorrow in Berlin and I cannot see any of these images without tears coming to my eyes.

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Man has survived hitherto because he was too ignorant to know how to realize his wishes. Now that he can realize them, he must either change them or perish. William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)

All the way over here - I remember.

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The government cannot give without first taking.

yes, it was a memory for a lifetime....I was there till late 88...

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"The captain has turned off the `No Dubbing' sign. You are free to speak any language you choose."

Hungarian historian: ‘Kohl's promise was not kept'
Published: Monday 9 November 2009

Chancellor Helmut Kohl's promise that no one’s life will be worse than it was before Germany’s reunification was not met, György Fehéri, a literary historian, told EurActiv Hungary in an interview.
EurActiv.com - Hungarian historian: ‘Kohl's promise was not kept' | EU - European Information on Enlargement

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Man has survived hitherto because he was too ignorant to know how to realize his wishes. Now that he can realize them, he must either change them or perish. William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)

Even though our "president" is a POS who can't be bothered to go (maybe you should have told him you were going to unveil a statue of him... he could have been there then) we remember.

"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

An historic event of great importance. Too bad the President of the United States can't be bothered.

Matt

It would have been a good opportunity for Obama.
He is a solid speech deliverer..could have gone a long way in public opinion there.

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The government cannot give without first taking.

I hope you may view thes images (I had to use my facebook account ...) - From Le Monde, how the world celebrates the fall of the wall in its own way - starting in Los Angeles, Italy, Korea, Bulgaria etc..

Leaving Facebook... | Facebook

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Man has survived hitherto because he was too ignorant to know how to realize his wishes. Now that he can realize them, he must either change them or perish. William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)

Can't say I remember the event; I was 7. I am sure I watched the scenes on the television with my parents, but I just cannot remember it. Anyways, it was a truely historic day for Germany and all Germans. The History Channel had a very good program on over the weekend detailing building of the wall, its improvement, escape attempts and ulitmate fall.

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I am a liberal, a classical liberal. Classical liberalism is liberalism, but the current collectivists have captured that designation in the United States. In Europe they are glad enough to call themselves socialists. But no one in America wants to be called socialist and admit what they are.

Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, Perseverance

What is it called? I'd like to DVR it.

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I wonder if the media here will give Regan any credit in his part of bringing about these events?

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"Democracy passes into despotism." - Plato

Good question.

What was his credit.

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Man has survived hitherto because he was too ignorant to know how to realize his wishes. Now that he can realize them, he must either change them or perish. William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)

Funny how in the US's recollection of events Reagan single-handedly tore down the wall. Something about that famous quote makes me think, somewhere in the distant recesses of my mind, that someone else perhaps was more responsible for tearing down the wall than Reagan.

Naw, I must be misremembering. Reagan was out there with a blowtorch and jackhammer. Bullets, landmines, and RPG's did not deter him.

Don't ruin this thread, please. Reagan's legacy is one thing but just for one day can we not go there? (Just the rememberence is enough i think).

As a general POV for me, i am too young to remember the all of the wall but it was truly a remarkable moment in world history, a true movement of freedom across half a continent.

Excellent thread.

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The George W Bush Store:

http://georgewbushstore.com/

I work daily with a guy who was born and grew up in what was formerly East Germany.
I'm well aware of the importance of the wall coming down.
It was an amazing event, celebrated by dozens of countries.

Obama should have made time to go there. However, the event isn't a US-centric event, which might surprise everyone who is a member of Team America.