For almost thirty years the Wall cut Berlin in two. No other edifice better symbolised the gulf that separated East and West during the Cold War. For many Germans, the reinforced concrete, barbed wire and anti-tank barriers that divided East and West Germany were a human tragedy. Entire families were split asunder for a great many years.
On 9 November 2009, Germany is then celebrating a very special anniversary. Exactly twenty years ago the Berlin Wall was brought down, without a shot being fired. Germany’s peaceful revolution has gone down in history. On that day East Germans were, for the first time, free to cross the border to West Berlin and to dance on the Wall with West Germans. Everybody who was there that night will tell you that it was an unforgettable experience.
Celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall
For months the organisers of the anniversary celebrations have been busy with preparations. In June 2009 the first test run was held for the 100 dominoes that are to fall on the 9 November, where the Wall used to run. Children, young people and artists from every corner of Germany have decorated the dominoes. This is to be part of a programme attended by numerous well known personalities and individuals who opposed the former East German regime.
The "Celebration of Liberty” will begin with a classical open air concert at the Pariser Platz in the heart of Berlin. The Staatskapelle Berlin will be playing works by Richard Wagner, Ludwig van Beethoven, Arnold Schönberg and Friedrich Goldmann.
Chancellor Angela Merkel, the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Governing Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit will walk through the Brandenburg Gate from East to West after the musical highlight.
Photo: REGIERUNGonline
Dominoes in front of the Brandenburg GateBringing the Wall down again
Following the symbolic appearance of the politicians, the Polish trade unionist and later President Lech Walesa will knock over the first domino in front of the Reichstag building.
The band Bon Jovi will provide the music, with their song, "We Weren’t Born To Follow", which is dedicated to the peaceful revolution of 1989.
In the meantime the President of the EU Commission José Manuel Barroso and the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek will bring down the dominoes from the Potsdamer Platz along with students from European schools. This re-enacting of the fall of the Wall completes the official part of the programme. To wind up, a firework display at the Brandenburg Gate will celebrate a Germany that has now been reunited for twenty years.
