can’t believe it’s already 20 years ago that the wall “fell down”.
DDR-Grenzbeamte stehen am 11. November 1989 auf der Ostseite der Mauer, während Demonstranten auf der anderen Seite ein ganzes Segment des Betonwalls heraushebeln.
Bis gegen Mitternacht wird die Öffnung aller Berliner Übergänge erzwungen, teilweise von West-Berlinern. Die Hauptstädter erobern die Mauer, die aus dem Westen helfen denen aus dem Osten, den “antifaschistischen Schutzwall” zu erklimmen.
Über den ganzen Platz hallt das Klopfen der “Mauerspechte”: Sie bearbeiten die den Wall auf der Westseite mit Hacken, Hämmern und Meißeln.
Am 12. November ist die Berliner Mauer mit Löchern übersät, an etlichen Stellen sind einzelne Elemente komplett niedergerissen. Dieser West-Berliner prügelt mit einem Vorschlaghammer auf den Wall in der Nähe des Potsdamer Platzes ein. Die Umstehenden applaudieren.
Eine Kolonne aus Trabis und Wartburgs rollt am 10. November über den Grenzübergang Rudolphstein von Thüringen nach Bayern.
Brandenburg Gate — This photo depicts me (Marek Hanusch) standing on on the Berlin Wall in front of the Brandenburg Gate with two East German border patrol officers. I was seven years old at the time. My step father, Jacek, who took the picture was a political refugee from Poland and had lived with my mother, Rosi, and myself for five years before. I remember how excited both of them were at the time even though I did not fully grasp what was going on.I was very young but I remember that it was a strange feeling standing in between those foreign soldiers - and foreign they were back then. I wonder what they are doing now that we are Landsleute (fellow countrymen). -Jacek Barski
From New York Times
Note that there is also graffiti on the Brandenburger Tor…
east berlin, east germany — Early morning of the 10th on the east side. -Richard Finn
From New York Times
Berlin, Potsdamer Platz — I climbed up a ladder and sat on the Wall after the official border opening at Potsdamer Platz on November 12, 1989. This shot is looking into the no-man’s land from the top of the Wall. -Mark Cain
From New York Times
Near Checkpoint Charlie, East Berlin side of the wall, — This photograph depicts us returning to West Berlin. It was utter mayhem. If you notice the bus, it was filled with American Forces person returning from their shopping. The white Trabant (East German car) was filled with young male East Berliners. When we were side by side they rolled their window down and wanted to trade their car for ours, a Chrysler 5th Avenue. They were very friendly and having a lot of fun and looking forward to visiting West Berlin. Robert Jerkovich
I remember riding the bus after we did shopping in East Berlin at Kaufhof in 1985. My parents got me a diecast firetruck with ladder and a scooter. I still have them both at home in the garage….
From New York Times
Click on photo for larger image
From New York Times
Brandenburger Tor, 20 years ago and today.
For more cool pictures, go here
20 years ago today, the Berlin Wall fell
This is a gorgeous shot from Sandia Peak, ABQ….
tonight’s sunset at 10,685 feet by davidteter
via laureola: