2009 24 Dec

20 Years Since The Berlin Wall

Depending on whether you were on the East or West side of Germany after the warfare ended changed the lives of everyone. Families were separated and not permitted to see each other for decades. It was only after the Berlin Wall came down 20 years ago that East and West reunited.

For East Germans after the combat their lives significantly changed. They were in the Communist segment and forced to work in inefficient factories. They were closely monitored and couldn’t perform their religious beliefs. They were also utterly isolated from the West. During that time, if trains came from the West into the East they were completely dismantled by Communist soldiers in order to make sure nothing was being brought in.

East German civilians were only permitted to journey to Soviet bloc countries like Hungary, Czechoslovakia and others. Moreover the state was in charge of the press and news was suppressed. East Germans never really knew what was going on in the world. They were isolated and didn’t have much contact with the West side. People were not granted personal, cultural, or political freedom.

The long concrete barrier reinforced by steel that separated Berlins two sectors was literally a reminder of the separation between the two sides of the city. Nevertheless after years of division the wall and Communism came under fire in 1989. After two decades of Communist rule the citizens were rebelling. There were citizens shouting for liberty and demanding more rights.

Soldiers tried to preserve order and keep everyone away from the wall. Yet, the riots continued and it was only a couple days later that the Politburo’s information minister announced a news conference with correspondents from both the East and West sides.

He brought out a piece of paper the politburo had arranged and very calmly said that citizens of East Germany could request the next morning for visas to leave through any gates in the wall. Then he left and every reporter in the room remained still from shock. Right away journalists were planning their reports while leaving the conference. Tom Brokaw was at that press conference on the East side and the guard just let them go through the wall without checking any identification. The Soviet power of Eastern Europe and especially East Germany had ended.

Immediately the news was out and crowds were assembling at Brandenburg Gate. There were pep rallies, people dancing in the roads, parties, and playing as the East Germans exited and crossed onto the other side of the wall. For loads of people it was their first time and the excitement was escalating.

That night people started chiseling and tearing down the graffiti ridden barrier. Some kept pieces to recollect that day and how their lives had changed. There were students climbing up on the wall. It was a party of not only students, but every cohort in East Germany.

Citizens now had the freedom and the opportunity to pursue anything they wanted. They could take a trip any time and anywhere as well as study whatever they wanted. They didn’t have to conceal their religious beliefs and they could stay out however long they wanted. There was no longer a curfew and partying went on for a very long time. These people were no longer prisoners. They had the freedom to determine the rest of their lives because of the force and resolve of the people.

Diane Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Utah. She likes to write about the news, politics, college degrees, online education, and the college experience.