I remember the bad old days in Berlin, Germany. The city had been divided into separate zones after the war, and Check Point Charlie gates were not to be taken lightly.
Although my family and I had visited Germany many times, and my husband had studied both in Freiburg and Bonn, I'd been through the Wall once from West Berlin to the east.
November 9, 1989. My young son, Brian, ran down the stairs into our London kitchen yelling, "The wall's fallen! The wall's fallen!" I knew exactly what he'd meant and ran to the TV.
The very next day, we were watching our kids playing a soccer game in Regent's Park with our friends, Ed and Michele. We decided on the spot we needed to go to Berlin and be part of what was happening. We bought plane tickets and left next day.
The wall area was chaos--but basically good chaos. Certainly, young guards (some seemingly as young as eighteen) walked three abreast in front of the wall. They called out in English, "Do not defame the property of the GDR" (German Democratic Republic). The only response to them was more and more flowers being placed into their guns' barrels.
Everyone, including the four of us, chipped away at the wall. We were having no success, when a large German man smiled and said in English, "Let me help." He went to where rebar was placed in the concrete--wham, wham, wham--pieces flew off like magic.
Speaking of magic, the whole surreal experience was just that. People from the world over came together to celebrate. A victory of justice. A victory of humanity. A victory of good triumphing over evil. Bravo democracy!
Although my family and I had visited Germany many times, and my husband had studied both in Freiburg and Bonn, I'd been through the Wall once from West Berlin to the east.
November 9, 1989. My young son, Brian, ran down the stairs into our London kitchen yelling, "The wall's fallen! The wall's fallen!" I knew exactly what he'd meant and ran to the TV.The very next day, we were watching our kids playing a soccer game in Regent's Park with our friends, Ed and Michele. We decided on the spot we needed to go to Berlin and be part of what was happening. We bought plane tickets and left next day.
The wall area was chaos--but basically good chaos. Certainly, young guards (some seemingly as young as eighteen) walked three abreast in front of the wall. They called out in English, "Do not defame the property of the GDR" (German Democratic Republic). The only response to them was more and more flowers being placed into their guns' barrels.Everyone, including the four of us, chipped away at the wall. We were having no success, when a large German man smiled and said in English, "Let me help." He went to where rebar was placed in the concrete--wham, wham, wham--pieces flew off like magic.
Speaking of magic, the whole surreal experience was just that. People from the world over came together to celebrate. A victory of justice. A victory of humanity. A victory of good triumphing over evil. Bravo democracy!
How cool that you were able to go to Germany at that time. I remember that day clearly. What a great memory and a great event in history.
ReplyDeleteWhat an unbelievable experience to live through. I admire your spontaneity of buying the tix and going for it. I was very moved as I watched it on TV.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! I was too young to remember this, although I did drive past the remains on a school trip when I was 12, not fully understanding what it was all about. I'm pretty sure there is a bit of it on my Mum's fridge, as a magnet!
ReplyDeleteThis must have been an incredible experience. You've lived history. I live in England, although I was born in Australia. My German writing partner and I have just finished writing a series of four books together--that's colaboration. hehe.
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What a great day for me to discover your blog. That is a fascinating story. I'm amazed that you specifically went there to experience the physical chipping away of the wall. I was in Germany the year before that and the western Germans still believed it would never happen, then it did!
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We watched on TV. How great to have been there! I'm trying to visit all the A-Z Challenge Blogs this month. My alphabet is at myqualityday.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteNancy, How exciting that you were able to take part in history in the making. Did you make a refrigerator magnet of your piece of the wall?
ReplyDeleteMy one time in Berlin was before the fall of the wall. We lived in Worms at the time and went to Berlin on a sleeper train at night so we were prevented from seeing the East Germany countryside. That was also an exciting trip.
My family and I visited the wall the summer of 2010. So little is left of it now, but our tour guide did an excellent job breathing life into the ghosts of those darker days.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to be part of history!
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Happy A-Zing!
That was a fantastic day!
ReplyDeleteI am visiting for the first time in my rounds in the A to Z Challenge. You definitely took the opportunity to participate in an historical moment. I look forward to visiting her often.
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My dad is from Germany. When they were tearing the wall down, my grandma and uncle went back over there and brought us back pieces of it. It was awesome! One of the coolest things I have. What a magnificent moment when the wall finally came down. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, what an amazing experience this must have been. I remember when the Wall came down and it was such a spectacular moment, one of those things you never forget.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by my blog, Nancy. It's great to meet you!
SO awesome that you were there. What a great, great moment in our lifetime's history.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy. I loved reading about someone who went for such a memorable experience. We used to have a piece of the wall and treasured it.
ReplyDeleteI remember that day. Hi Nancy, nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteAmazing story!!! Thank you for sharing this most inspiring, first hand memory. Wonderful!
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This brings tears to my eyes. I'd lived my whole life knowing that wall was there, never thinking it would ever change. When it fell, my husband and I were rejoicing with all the people in Germany. It was such an important moment in history. At last, the real end of WWII, the end of the Cold War. It's wonderful that you got to be a part of it.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome and would have been so amazing to be there! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and I am looking forward to following you.
ReplyDeleteI remember thinking, having grown up never knowing anything but the cold war, that it was a true miracle. I could hardly believe it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a visiting A-Z blogger and new follower.
Wow! That's so cool you had a chance to go there during such a momentous historical event!
ReplyDeleteHistorical day!
ReplyDeleteVisiting from the A-Z challenge (thanks for stopping by Anglers Rest & for your comments). It was an historical moment & I am glad that you were able to be there & now treasure a piece of that wall. Even a small piece is the focal point of so much history with significant meaning.
ReplyDeleteWow, that must have been an experience like no other! Remember watching the coverage of the fall, and feeling like freedom/liberty really is the birthright of every person on earth, that they are destined to find it at some point or another. Wonderful stuff!
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