They sang and sparkled, above, below and beside the Berlin Wall. They crossed the border with incredible joy, amazement, tears and good humour. Editorial: All to hail, and all to play for All along the wall, West Berliners trampled over the white demarcation line dividing the city, in effect crossing into the East.Ĭontinue reading. “Open the gate! Open the gate!” the East Berliners shouted as the gathering grew with the news that the borders would be opened. East German border guards at times sprayed the crowd with water cannon but otherwise let the crowd revel on unchecked. West Germans, carrying hammers to chip away at the surface, rushed forward to greet them. Hundreds of youths last night clambered up to dance atop the Berlin Wall near the most potent symbol of the divided Germanies, the Brandenburg Gate. ‘We have decided today that all East Germans who want to leave permanently can do so without delay.’ Because of the exceptional nature of the decision, passports will not be needed. Tourists who want to return to East Germany can also obtain immediate permission. When East German television carried the announcement, the station’s switchboard was jammed almost instantly as thousands of callers tried to elicit more information.Įast Germans will be able to obtain exit visas without delay, allowing them to cross into the West through all border points within Berlin and along the border with West Germany.
Burda magazine fall 1989 free#
Soon afterwards, the official ADN news agency said tens of thousands of people, many probably unaware of the new travel rules, took to the streets in several cities demanding free elections and liberalised travel. He said it would come into effect immediately, and would last until new travel regulations were passed into law. The decision was announced by Mr Güenter Schabowski, a politburo member, after the second day of a central committee meeting in East Berlin. West German television said a couple crossed the Bornholmer Strasse checkpoint in West Berlin at 9.15 pm (8.15 GMT) with identity cards stamped with the new-style visas. Within hours, East Germans on foot and in cars began arriving in West Germany and West Berlin.
0 kommentar(er)
