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A PEACEFUL 30 YEARS FALL OF THE PREFACES To watch the videos, scan the code with the camera on your mobile device.

Dear Readers, Dear Readers,

When I was your age, I lived in the German Even 30 years later, dealing with this On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the fall David Gill, the incumbent Consul While the booklet and accompanying videos Democratic Republic. We knew neither epochal era that changed , , of the , we invite German learners of the Federal Republic of Germany in New are mostly in English, there are plenty of nor the rule of law in East and the world is extremely rewarding. The to explore the multitude of events, people, York, and Diana Erinna, who teaches German opportunities to test your German. We hope Germany, and limitations on freedom and the fall of and narratives that marked the end of the in Boston, MA, will help you discover this you enjoy discovering the fascinating events of expression, freedom of the press and show what civil courage and fighting for and ushered in a new era in German fascinating chapter of post-war German from our recent history! religion, as well as insurmountable one’s rights and freedoms can do. and European history. history. Their eyewitness accounts will give Sincerely, to the and restrictions on our choice It is said that history is the teacher of life. As a student of German, you have probably you a better understanding of what everyday of profession were part of our daily lives. So, immerse yourself in life in the GDR and already been acquainted with the facts and life felt like behind the , what For more than 28 years, the Berlin Wall was the events of 1989. striking imagery surrounding the fall of it meant to be involved in politics, and German Consulate General New York the symbol of the division of Germany and the Berlin Wall in your history classes. This how that experience shaped their future Goethe-Institut New York the world. On , 1989, something multimedia booklet is designed to give you a life trajectories. Their oral histories are Goethe-Institut Boston happened that no one could have imagined David Gill supplemented with facts to help you frame Consul General firsthand account of the events that led to the or foreseen: The Berlin Wall fell. of the Federal Republic of Germany and articulate major events in post-war New York collapse of the Iron Curtain in 1989. Germany (1945–1990).

1 th Gate US President Harry S. Truman, May 8 , 1945: 1945

1945 “The flags of freedom fly all over Europe!” Übung macht den Meister. Wortsalat Finden Sie die deutschen Namen der vier Alliierten!

UNGARN MALTA VENEZUELA JAPAN Vereinigte Staaten von KUBA Glossary BRASILIEN FINNLAND Union der Sozialistischen allies unconditionally die Alliierten surrendered to the Allies on Sowjetrepubliken ÄGYPTEN capital May 8, 1945, thus marking the ISRA EL GEORGIEN THAILAND die Hauptstadt end of World War II in Europe. occupation zone Frankreich MAURITIUS GHANA die Besatzungszone The four major victorious powers— TOGO IRLAND the , the , unconditional surrender die bedingungslose Kapitulation Great Britain, and — divided USBEKISTAN Großbritannien Germany’s territory as well as Berlin, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) ZYPERN MALI AUSTRALIEN die Union der Sozialistischen capital, into four occupation zones. Troops SÜDAFRIKA CHILE NEUSEELAND Sowjetrepubliken (UdSSR) from other countries, including Belgium, 2 victorious power , , Luxembourg, and Berlin SINGAPUR UKRAINE LITAUEN die Siegermacht 1945 a contingent of Danish and Norwegian SLOWENIEN TSCHAD BELGIEN World War II forces were also stationed in these zones. der Zweite Weltkrieg Use your phone to scan the QR code. 1949 Do you want to know more about BRD oder DDR? Germany after WWII, 1945–49? Kreuzen Sie an!

Baden-Württemberg BRD DDR Bayern BRD DDR 3 Berlin BRD DDR and Reichstag 1949 Brandenburg BRD DDR BRD DDR BRD DDR BRD DDR -Vorpommern BRD DDR Niedersachsen BRD DDR Nordrhein-Westfalen BRD DDR Rheinland-Pfalz BRD DDR BRD DDR Glossary In 1949, two states were formed on German Sachsen BRD DDR Sachsen-Anhalt territory: In the Soviet zone, was BRD DDR parliamentary democracy introduced with the founding of the German Schleswig-Holstein BRD DDR die parlamentarische Demokratie Democratic Republic (GDR), an undemocratic Thüringen BRD DDR German Democratic Republic (GDR) satellite of the Soviet Union. The three die Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) other zones were merged into the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), a parliamentary Wo war die Grenze zwischen BRD und DDR? der Ostblock democracy based on a social market Markieren Sie die Grenze auf der Karte! economy. Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) die Bundesrepublik Deutschland (BRD) Berlin was divided in two. Berlin’s Soviet socialism occupation zone was declared the capital of der Sozialismus the GDR, and became the capital of the

Federal Republic of Germany. Answer: in the GDR. , and were Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, The states by the Soviet Union) did not formally Berlin (administered Allies) and East by the Western Berlin (administered had a special status: like part of the GDR treated Berlin was like part of the FRG, and East treated Berlin was West the FRG or GDR. Yet in everyday life, belong to capital. and its Thuringia, and Saxony as Saxony-Anhalt, of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, states along the present-day between the GDR and FRG ran The borders Berlin. Berlin and the GDR, including East well as between West die soziale Marktwirtschaft 4 Sign Translation:

“STOP National ! Trespassing prohibited!”

People from the Soviet Zone had Wie heißen diese Wörter in Ihrer Sprache? been fleeing to the West since der/die Geflüchtete 1945. There were various reasons 2,738,566 people for this, including the forced collectivization of agriculture flüchten as well as dissatisfaction with 1949–1961 the political situation and career from to flüchtig prospects. 331,390 der Flüchtling This exodus of often well- 279,189 educated young people posed an 252,870 261,622 die Fluchthilfe existential threat to the economy 197,788 204,092 199,188 207,026 of the GDR. 165,648 182,393 184,198 129,245 143,917 Die der Fluchtweg Flucht die Zuflucht 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 die Fahnenflucht Source: www.chronik-der-mauer.de/material/?mType=8 die Massenflucht Glossary die Fluchtgefahr collectivization die Kollektivierung fluchtartig migrant der/die Übersiedler*in der Fluchtplan planned economy die Planwirtschaft der Fluchtversuch What is a communist regime? 1945-1961 4a der Flüchtling 5

Brandenburg Gate on August 14, 1961, seen from the West. On , 1961, the East German closed down all checkpoints to West Berlin. Watch JFK’s speech: Wo auf der Berlin-Karte sind diese Sehenswürdigkeiten? Ordnen Sie zu! 6 7 West Berliners looking into the East with binoculars at Invalidenstraße. US President John F. Kennedy In the foreground, the Berlin Wall. during his Berlin speech on A Reichstag E Berliner Dom , 1963 B Alexanderplatz F

C Brandenburger Tor G Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche

D Siegessäule Answer: F5, G1 E6, D2, C4, B7, A3, In , the leaders of the GDR decided to take radical measures to stop people from fleeing to West Germany. They closed the entire border with the 7 Federal Republic of Germany and built a wall through Berlin. This had fatal 3 6 Glossary consequences for the people in the East 4 and West, especially in Berlin: Many families were torn apart and visiting was 2 border die Grenze only possible under extremely difficult circumstances! Brandenburg Gate 8 das Brandenburger Tor On June 26, 1963, US President John F. National People´s Army (GDR) 5 refugee movement Kennedy, then on a visit to West Berlin, officer Conrad Schumann fleeing die Fluchtbewegung to West Berlin with a jump over 1 gave a speech that ended with the famous a . , 1961 building of the Berlin Wall 1961 sentence: “.” der Mauerbau Ask David Gill:

1966 What was a typical The education system in the GDR school day like? Glossary David Gill 9 The education system in the GDR was centrally organized. The national educational objectives National People’s Army 10 focused on teaching students to be good members die Nationale Volksarmee (NVA) Leninism TESTIMONIAL der Leninismus of socialist society. All students initially attended 13 youth dedication ceremony the Polytechnische Oberschule (POS) for 10 years. die Jugendweihe Christian study group, der Marxismus This was a comprehensive general education school ca. 1974 confirmation (Catholic) divided into lower, middle, and upper class levels. die Firmung Marxist-Leninist ideology David Gill was born in 1966 die marxistisch-leninistische The very first day of school Jugendweihe ― Youth Dedication Ceremony and grew up in Herrnhut In addition to the natural sciences and technology, confirmation (Protestant) Weltanschauung 11 in Gnadau near in 1972 die Konfirmation (Saxony). He was one of the POS mainly focused on making sure there was The Jugendweihe is a coming of age seven children, and his a close relationship between theory and practical ceremony. In the GDR, this celebration congregation 12 die Kirchengemeinde father was a bishop in the training in the working world. After graduating was introduced as a socialist alternative to Moravian Church, a small from the POS, it was generally possible for students Protestant/Catholic confirmation ceremonies. final graduation exam for The FDJ to take the (final graduation exam) at the secondary school / high school Protestant denomination At the same time, Jugendweihe celebrations das Abitur with congregations around The Freie Deutsche Jugend Erweiterte Oberstufe (EOS, extended secondary were really meant to be used for political (FDJ, ) was school) or combine taking the Abitur with a three- education system the world. Growing up exploitation. Young people were supposed das Bildungssystem Ask David Gill: as a member of a church the only state-recognized and year vocational apprenticeship. to be brought up in accordance with sponsored youth organization. institute of higher education congregation in the GDR However, in addition to academic performance, Marxist-Leninist ideology. To prepare die weiterführende Bildungseinrichtung As a mass organization, it was David Gill with meant having a place of these higher education options also depended on for the Jugendweihe, young people were national educational objective How did school influence part of a parallel education his six siblings refuge and experiencing the students’ civic engagement, membership in required to participate in Jugendstunden das staatliche Bildungsziel your personal life? system outside of school. a kind of openness and mass organizations (see the FDJ), and even their (“youth meetings”) once a month for one civic engagement freedom within the church The role of the FDJ was to family background. This meant that often it was year. At these meetings they heard speeches das gesellschaftliche Engagement community that the majority introduce young people to not possible for the best students to take the Abitur on political and other topics and went on extended secondary school of the population in the GDR Marxist-Leninist ideology and David Gill: exam because they were not members of the FDJ. factory tours. Young people who did not die Erweiterte Oberschule (EOS) did not have. But it also to bring them up as “class- At the same time, admission to institutions of higher participate in the Jugendweihe faced far- political exploitation meant accepting that you conscious socialists” so they education came with certain responsibilities such reaching consequences such as being denied die politische Instrumentalisierung would have to make major could help shape socialist society “Children all over the world like to play, as serving in the Nationale Volksarmee (NVA), the Final ball after completion admission to institutions of higher education factory tour sacrifices. in the GDR. so of course we played, even in East Germany.” of the GDR (1956–1990). of dancing lessons in 1980 (see EOS) or universities. die Betriebsbesichtigung 14 15 Ask David Gill: David Gill: 1966 David Gill Public pool in Berlin in 1970 continued TESTIMONIAL What made you Faktencheck DDR “To me, it seemed as though different from three-quarters of East your peers? Es gibt über die DDR viele Mythen. watched West German TV.” Was ist korrekt, was ist falsch? Glossary

16 17 Mythos 1: mass organization In der DDR gab es keine Bananen. die Massenorganisation

refuge der Zufluchtsort Tourism in the GDR Mythos 2: In der DDR gab es keine Arbeitslosen. socialist society GDR citizens enjoyed traveling to die sozialistische Gesellschaft myth der Mythos the islands of Rügen vocational training Mythos 3: and , , die Berufsausbildung travel permit In der DDR gab es ein bezahltes Baby-Jahr die Reisegenehmigung and the Thuringian Forest. It youth organization für die Mutter. was only possible to travel die Jugendorganisation Poland Polen abroad to countries within the Free German Youth Mythos 4: die Freie Deutsche Jugend (FDJ) Rügen (Island in the Baltic Sea) former Eastern Bloc. Poland, 15 David Gill as chairman of the In der DDR gab es Rügen , , , Citizen’s Committee at the former island in the Baltic Sea and were popular travel (State Security Service) headquarters keine Telefone. die Ostseeinsel Romania Rumänien destinations, although it was , 1990 David Gill as press speaker of the Gauck-Agency (the agency Bulgaria responsible for administering the archives of the former Bulgarien Saxon Switzerland sometimes necessary to apply for Mythos 5: GDR State Security Service, the Stasi)

die Sächsische Schweiz a travel permit to travel outside In der DDR wartete man national campground the GDR. 10-15 Jahre auf ein Auto. der staatliche Campingplatz Thuringian Forest der Thüringer Wald a recreational facility Within the GDR, citizens could Ask David Gill: offered by a company or union Czechoslovakia generally take advantage of a Ask David Gill: die betriebliche Erholungseinrichtung Tschechoslowakei al goal in the GDR. number of recreational facilities travel destination Hungary politic corr wrong correct only few. were there but wrong; correct

das Reiseziel Ungarn

offered through their workplaces What was known

a major full employment was ect; and unions as well as state about West Germany, What freedoms did foreign trip Usedom (an island in the Baltic Sea) Answer: Myth 1: Myth 3: Myth 4: Myth 5: campgrounds. what was unknown? Myth 2: citizens of the GDR have? die Auslandsreise Usedom Ask Diana Erinna: 19 Diana Erinna:

Trip to the Havel, 1978 1970 What was a typical Do you speak GDR? “I did military training school day like? in high school.” In der DDR wurden Wörter aus dem Westen (englische Diana Wörter) “eingedeutscht”. Wie hießen diese Wörter in der DDR? Verbinden Sie die Wörter! Erinna

TESTIMONIAL A Hamburger 1 Wurfspiel Military instruction in the GDR B Hot Dog 2 Kaskadeur In 1978, Wehrunterricht (military instruction) 18 became a mandatory subject at all C Stuntman 3 akrobatischer Volkstänzer polytechnical and extended secondary Diana Erinna was born in The very first day of school in 1977 schools in the GDR. Boys and girls were Glauchau (Saxony) in 1970 and D Breakdancer 4 Grilletta taught basic knowledge about the military, grew up there as an only child. including practical training. Her father was the technical E Plastiktüte 5 Broiler director of the local hospital. In the GDR, the majority of the For the boys, this involved mandatory population watched West German F Frisbee 6 Ketwurst participation in a two-week military camp. Like David Gill, Diana Erinna learned as a child that she television. However, there were two This training was usually conducted by NVA lived in a country where freedom was limited and where the areas where it was very difficult to G Darts 7 Plastebeutel reserve officers and included endurance government dictated which career you were allowed (or not pick up a West German TV signal ― training, shooting air rifles, and training on allowed) to have. H Brathähnchen 8 Wurfscheibe in the utmost northeastern part of how to throw hand grenades. the GDR, around and in the Diana Erinna: The girls had to take a course in civil eastern part of Saxony. defense, which trained them in first aid and For this reason, these areas came evacuation procedures. to be known colloquially as the “Tal “We weren’t allowed to trade chewing der Ahnungslosen” (“Valley of the gum pictures.” The overall goal of military instruction was to Clueless”). prepare students for possible basic military service and encourage them to consider a 20 career in the military. Civil Defense, 1988/89 Answer: H5 G1, F8, E7, C2, D3, B6, A4, 21 24 Trip to Dresden, West German public TV Sign at the Brandenburg Gate summer 1989 main news broadcast on the West Berlin side, 1986 1970 Diana Erinna 1970s continued Attention! TESTIMONIAL You are now leaving West Berlin Ask Diana Erinna: Wie heißen diese Aktivitäten auf Deutsch?

23 What was known about West to sleep High school excursion, Germany, what was unknown? 1988 Glossary to eat first aid Ask Diana Erinna: die Erste Hilfe to learn military camp das Wehrlager to study Were you able to visit relatives course in civil defense in West Germany? der Lehrgang für Zivilverteidigung (ZV) evacuation measures to drink die Evakuierungsmaßnahmen

25 Karl-Eduard von Schnitzler ran a military instruction der Wehrunterricht to dance notorious propaganda TV show about West Germany on GDR TV. military basic knowledge das militärische Grundlagenwissen National People’s Army officer der NVA-Offizier military reserve force die Reserve 22 Ask Diana Erinna: Ask Diana Erinna: Diana Erinna: Diana Erinna: compulsory military service die Wehrpflicht With a SIMSON S50 moped, 1985 professional soldier How did school To what extent were “When I was 14, I started to go clubbing, and “I had really hoped that my der/die Berufssoldat*in influence your private young people in the GDR my parents would allow me to come home would stay in West West German television life? less free? at around 2 o’clock in the morning.” Germany.” das Westdeutsche Fernsehen 26 David Gill: Service at Samariterkirche, Ask Diana Erinna: East Berlin 1989

Were you afraid “The church was the only organization WIEDER (again) oder WIDER (against)? 1970-1985 to flee? in East Germany which was not ruled by the Communist Party.”

...... holen to repeat

Ask David Gill: Auf ...... sehen! Goodbye!

The GDR’s repressive border security was What role did the to disagree, Glossary church play in the GDR? ...... sprechen to object mainly intended to keep people inside the country. The border troops were supposed to prevent GDR citizens from escaping the reason for fleeing der Fluchtgrund ...... setzen to oppose GDR at all costs. There were automatic firing systems and soldiers had orders to shoot. open opposition The lack of freedoms led to die offene Opposition dissatisfaction among the GDR’s ...... stand resistance 27 Yet, this did not stop people from fleeing the Protestant church population. Yet, there was no open David Gill: GDR by crossing the Berlin Wall or the inner die Evangelische Kirche 1988 Protestant Church opposition to the regime. Convention in Görlitz German border. There were countless escape regime ...... aufbau reconstruction attempts — some successful, others ended in das Regime The Protestant church played a “There was no opposition death. Along the Berlin Wall alone, at least significant role in the opposition. criticism of the political system in a way you would describe 140 people were killed between 1961 and die Systemkritik To some extent, it offered a safe Ask David Gill: ...... spiegeln to reflect opposition in a democratic society.” 1989. haven for individuals and small border installation die Grenzanlage groups that criticized the political Did you ever think system. But this meant having to about fleeing the GDR? die Sperranlage take great risks and accepting the consequences. Ask David Gill: Diana Erinna: Ask Diana Erinna: death strip der Todesstreifen However, fleeing the GDR was escape attempt extremely dangerous, and those This was the obstacle that had der Fluchtversuch who attempted it faced harsh Was there any opposition to be overcome: Walled in! — the Berlin Wall sentences if they were caught. to the regime? “I wanted to take my life in my own hands.” Why did you flee the GDR? The die Berliner Mauer David Gill: Ask David Gill:

SUMMER “People were fed up, after all... Why did people participate in 1985- 1989 Watch US President ’s 30 they were encouraged by these ? speech at the Brandenburg Gate what happened.” US President Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate

29

Mikhail Gorbachev in 1986 In the early , the Eastern Bloc Know your rights! experienced a period of economic Verbinden Sie die Wörter! 28 stagnation. Under the leadership of , the General People standing in line In June 1987, US President Ronald Reagan to buy fruit Secretary of the Central Committee A Meinungsfreiheit 1 Freedom to travel , 1985 of the Communist Party, the USSR visited West Berlin, where he gave a speech on 31 June 12th. B Pressefreiheit 2 Legal equality responded by introducing a reform Public entertainment during program in 1985. Other countries in C Religionsfreiheit 3 Freedom of expression May 1 (Labor Day), 1989 Glossary the Eastern Bloc (Poland, Hungary, D Versammlungsfreiheit 4 Privacy of correspondence Czechoslovakia) also began to show Czechoslovakia initial signs of collapse. E Kunstfreiheit 5 Freedom of assembly die Tschechoslowakei Nevertheless, the leadership of the F Vereinigungsfreiheit 6 Right to property and (transparency and restructuring) GDR continued its relentless political “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, G Reisefreiheit 7 Freedom of press Glasnost und Perestroika course, which fueled the opposition if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and 32 (die Transparenz und der Umbau) H Rechtsgleichheit 8 Freedom of religion against the regime and drove people , if you seek , come Meats department at reform program to the streets. The churches played here to this gate. I Briefgeheimnis 9 Artistic freedom Kaufhalle supermarket das Reformprogramm in East Berlin a significant role in the opposition’s Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, economic stagnation J Recht auf Eigentum 10 Freedom of association peaceful protests. tear down this wall!” Answer: H2, I4, J6 D5, E9, F10, G1, C8, B7, A3, die wirtschaftliche Stagnation 35

Diana Erinna: Diana Erinna: Ask Diana Erinna: Abandoned, looted East German cars near the continued Hungarian border. The GDR owners left Hungary “And I said to myself: “...I could see Was it dangerous to escape? crossing the open “green border” to in the 33 ‘Diana, what makes you Austria.” summer of 1989 a second-class citizen?’ Tents for GDR at the Markieren Sie auf der Karte den And I said: ‘Nothing!’” embassy of the Federal Fluchtweg von Diana Erinna aus Republic of Germany, September 1989 der DDR in die BRD! Ask Diana Erinna:

Can you describe your Diana Erinna: second attempt to flee Glossary the GDR? In the late 1980s, the situation in the GDR got even worse. The country was politically “I remember my dad Austria isolated, the economy was in ruins, and the coming up to my room 34 Österreich state was nearly insolvent. When Hungary and he was crying.” A GDR refugee family after Austrian border leaving the Prague embassy, die österreichische Grenze removed its border with Austria in the on their way to the train that embassy summer of 1989, thousands of GDR citizens fled would take them to the Federal die Botschaft to the Federal Republic of Germany through Republic of Germany. Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Austria. One of Ask Diana Erinna: foreign policy die Außenpolitik these refugees was Diana Erinna. GDR government In response to the mass exodus of GDR What did your parents die DDR-Regierung citizens via the Hungarian-Austrian border, think about your plan insolvency GDR authorities no longer authorized travel to flee the GDR? die Zahlungsunfähigkeit to Hungary. Thousands of GDR citizens international isolation responded by storming the Federal Republic of die außenpolitische Isolation Germany’s embassies in Prague and . mass exodus There was such a great onslaught that the GDR die Massenflucht government finally relented and allowed them border security to emigrate. die Grenzsicherung 1989 FALL 36 “We are the people!” Watch thevideo: October 1989 (Monday demonstration)inLeipzig, “Montagsdemo”

(Monday demonstrations). Montagsdemonstrationen came to beknownasthe cities across theGDR.They held everyMondayinvarious demonstrations started to be In September 1989, peaceful onOctober 9 peacefully demonstrated in When 10,000people more peopleparticipating. demonstrations witheven not happen.Thisledto more demonstrators. Yet,thisdid would take action against the the fear thatthegovernment joined theprotests despite A growing numberofpeople observed June17 Federal RepublicofGermany commemorate thisevent, the (State SecurityService).To the ,andStasi deployment ofthemilitary, suppressed withthemassive June 17, 1953, hadbeen The popularuprisingon in theGDRsince1953. were thelargest protests The Mondaydemonstrations succeed. Peaceful Revolution would it became clearthatthe any governmentinterference, holiday from 1954to 1990. th asapublic th without in thefall of1989? demonstrations in theMonday Were youinvolved

Ask DavidAsk Gill: Germany unitedfatherland!” “Montagsdemo” inLeipzig, 70,000 demonstrators, (Socialist UnityParty) Banner translation: “Never againSED October 1989 38 37

Demonstration forfreedom of pressinEastBerlin, “No powertotheliars Banner translation: November 4,1989 of yesterday!” 39 der Volksaufstand national uprising die “Stasi”(derStaatssicherheitsdienst) State SecurityService die FriedlicheRevolution the Peaceful Revolution der protest die Volkspolizei People’s Police die Friedensgebete prayers for peace die NikolaikircheLeipzig Church ofSt. NicholasLeipzig der gesetzlicheFeiertag public holiday die Montagsdemonstrationen Monday demonstrations Glossary 44 Diana Erinna: Ask Diana Erinna: NOVEMBER 9, New Year’s Eve 1989 at the Brandenburg Gate

“...when the Wall came down How did you Watch the video: Watch the video: When the Wall between East (…) I was crying.But those feel after the Wall 1989 Sky News: A stroke of fate that and West Berlin was opened on weren’t really tears of joy...” had fallen? The Fall of the changed history — November 9, 1989, neither David Gill Berlin Wall Germany: Berlin Wall 42 nor Diana Erinna were in Berlin. They anniversary heard about the David Gill: People celebrating the in West German media and reacted to Ask David Gill: opening of the border between East and West on the historic news very differently. , 1989. “Nobody expected How did you hear about the fall of the Wall the fall of the Berlin Wall 40 overnight.” on November 9, 1989?

Günter Schabowski at the press conference on November 9, 1989

David Gill: Ask David Gill: Dismantling the Stasi, the GDR’s

41 intelligence apparatus, was one of GDR border officers trying Glossary People climbed the to control the masses the most important priorities for the “...it was a big party, What made the Berlin Wall at the coming to cross through the population. happiness, people were Peaceful Revolution border checkpoints in Berlin. Watch the video: Brandenburg Gate and overwhelmed...” possible? celebrated on the night of Mission impossible. ABC News: The Ministerium für Staatssicherheit der Grenzübergang November 9, 1989. (Stasi, Ministry of State Security) On November 9, 1989, the unthinkable happened: The Berlin Wall Falls Secretary of Information 43 had collected information on At the end of a press conference, the Secretary der Sekretär für Informationswesen GDR residents, West Germans, David Gill: Ask David Gill: of Information, Günter Schabowski, accidentally informant and foreigners for der/die Informant*in announced that the citizens of the GDR were free to purposes. In addition to official leave the country “effective immediately.” Ministry of State Security Stasi employees, there were also “...for this reason alone the Did the Stasi das Ministerium für The rest is history — the Wall had come down! many informants who spied on their Stasi focused on him very generate documents Staatssicherheit (Stasi) Thousands of GDR citizens stormed their way directly neighbors, friends, and even family much (…) they wanted to about you and your surveillance to the border crossings and to the Brandenburg Gate. members. know how we thought.” family? die Überwachung LATE 45 FALL Round Table Talks in Berlin 1989 Glossary Wie heißen diese Wörter in Ihrer Sprache?

interim government hoffen die Übergangsregierung erhoffen Central Round Table der Zentrale Runde Tisch hoffentlich reform die Reform 47 Hoffnung

Opening of the Berlin Wall Hoffnungslosigkeit at Bernauer Straße, The fall of the Berlin Wall posed new November 1989 Hoffnungsschimmer challenges for the of Hoffnungsträger/-in the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany. hoffnungsvoll Just a few days after the fall of the hoffnungslos Banner translation: Wall, a new interim government in the unverhofft “Legal security instead of GDR was brought in and a Central Round state security “Stasi” State Security Service” Table was formed with the goal of 48 initiating reforms. Mikhail Gorbachev and in Bonn, The central question was: , 1989 What would happen next in the GDR? Diana Erinna: Ask Diana Erinna: David Gill: Ask David Gill:

This was something the people in the 46 GDR were asking. The fall of the Wall “...in the events of this What happened to “Initially, the people of East Germany What happened gave them greater hope for more poor economy, they got your family and friends felt freed. The unexpected and after the fall of the freedom. Would this actually happen? unemployed....” in the GDR? unthinkable had happened.” Berlin Wall? 49 And what would the fall of the Wall mean for the people who had fled the Border checkpoint Berlin Demonstration in , Heinrich-Heine-Straße, November 1989 GDR? November 1989 50 53 Fireworks celebrating the German Unity, David Gill: Ask David Gill: night from October 2 to 3, 1990 at , Berlin 1990 “...in East Germany, I was How did the Peaceful excluded from the university Revolution affect track, that’s why I became a your life? plumber...”

David Gill: Ask David Gill: 51

Pro German Unity demonstrators, Leipzig 1990 “...what I was very grateful What did the fall of the for was my family and my Wall mean to you? congregation, my church. (...) In March 1990, the first free elections were held in the On the other side, it meant you GDR. This was followed by numerous other reforms paid a price...” and negotiations on reunifying Germany between the two German states and the Four Powers that occupied Germany at the end of World War II (2+4 Talks). And on October 3, 1990, something happened that would David Gill: Ask David Gill: Glossary have been absolutely unimaginable just a year before: Germany became a reunified country. “...and this experience of Is Germany a united In the last 30 years since the Wall practically fell free election exclusion was probably the part country today? die freie Wahl overnight, the people in East Germany have done an of life which was the most incredible job rebuilding the country and can be very difficult...” die Deutsche Wiedervereinigung proud of all that has been accomplished. While there are still some structural differences between former East and West Germany, one thing is certain: As a result of the fall of the Wall, millions of Germans — including Diana Erinna 52 and David Gill — gained new freedoms that opened up Anti-German-unity demonstrators, doors and opportunities beyond their wildest dreams! Leipzig 1990 54

1990 “Point Alpha” memorial site continued at

Quiz zum Abschluss Answer: 5B 4C, 3B, 1C, 2C,

Frage 1: Was ist die Jugendweihe? A eine religiöse Feier Diana Erinna: Ask Diana Erinna: B eine Party in der Schule C eine sozialistische Jugendfeier

“...for many years, I also couldn’t Is it hard for you to talk Frage 2: Was war die Freie Deutsche Jugend (FDJ)? Sign Translation talk about all these events...” about the events? A eine private Jugendgruppe B ein sozialistischer Sportclub “German History Memorial Border installations (of the former GDR) C eine staatliche Jugendorganisation Protected as a historic Frage 3: Was die „Montagsdemonstrationen“? Please do not destroy!” Diana Erinna: Ask Diana Erinna: A Proteste in der BRD B Friedliche Massendemonstrationen in der DDR “...I didn’t feel the desire to go Did you ever return to the C Proteste am Montag in Ost-Berlin GDR after the fall of there, but once I was there it was Frage 4: Wann fiel die Grenze zwischen der the Wall? very nice (…) it’s wonderful to DDR und der BRD? smell the environment” A 8. November 1990 B 3. Oktober 1989 C 9. November 1989 Ask Diana Erinna: Diana Erinna: Ask Diana Erinna: Frage 5: Was war am 3. Oktober 1990? Glossary A der Fall der Berliner Mauer What brought you “...I always wanted to teach Is Germany a united B die Deutsche Wiedervereinigung national holiday For Diana Erinna, fleeing the GDR was a decisive event in to the US? German abroad...” country today? C Proteste gegen die DDR-Regierung der Nationalfeiertag her life, leaving behind scars that have impacted her to Day of German Unity this day! der Tag der Deutschen Einheit Picture credits Check out these websites Collection of German movies related to this topic

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Konzept/Concept Finanziert mit der freundlichen Unterstützung des/ Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, New York Funded with the kind support of the Goethe-Institut New York Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, New York Umsetzung/Implementation Andrea Pfeil, Claudio Conidi, Amelie Lohmann

Künstlerische Gestaltung/Creative Design Géza G. Schenk - GGS Communication LLC, www.ggsc.info

Redaktion/Editing Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, New York Andrea Pfeil, Claudio Conidi, Amelie Lohmann (Goethe-Institut New York) Kerstin Hämmerling, Mehrnosch Mirzaei-Reyes (Goethe-Institut Boston)

Übersetzung/English Translation and Editing Sarah Jokar Deris

Filmaufnahmen/Film footage Alexandra Reese