The Cold War: Breaching the Berlin Wall (1989)

Figure 1.--The Berlin Wall was finally breached on November 9, 1989. The SED government announced that travel restrictions for East Germans had been lifted. That night the people of East Berlin surged into the western part of the city. Hundreds of thousands of Berliners celebrated throughout the night. Even more East Berliners crossed the next day. Soon Berliners with hammers and chissels and slefge hammars began demolishing the hated wall by hand. The Berlin boy here has a very determined look as he goes about to destroying this symbol of tyranny. I imagine it is one of those memories that will stay with him ll his life.

Following the success of Solidarity in Poland, the people of East Berlin began to demonstrate against the Easter German DDR Government. Large scale demonstrations became increasingly common. DDR officials prepared to use the security services to supress the street demonstrations. Chairman Gorbechev ibn a departure from his predecessors refused to approve such measures. Unable to forcibly supress the demonstrations, DDR officials wre forced to resign. The Berlin Wall was finally breached on November 9, 1989. The SED government announced that travel restrictions for East Germans had been lifted. That night the people of East Berlin surged into the western part of the city. Hundreds of thousands of Berliners celebrated throughout the night. Even more East Berliners crossed the next day. Soon Berliners with hammers and chissels and sledge hammars began demolishing the hated wall by hand.

Created: 7:31 AM 10/1/2006
Last updated: 7:31 AM 10/1/2006