The Fall Of The Berlin Wall: 20 Years On

About twenty years ago, I was almost turning four years old when the Berlin Wall fell, unifying East and West Germany. I somewhat remember the news coverage on television (I have a wild memory) and having no idea what was going on - of course - I was practically a baby! Now twenty years later, I know just exactly how important and symbolic November 9, 1989 was to most of the world - especially the Germans. Other than reuniting Germany, the Wall helped redraw the map of Europe and bring the end of Communism as we know it.

The Iron Curtain, or the division between the East (Communists) and West (Rest of the world) was best symbolized by the Berlin Wall which started to be built in 1961. The Eastern German Government or German Democratic Republic (GDR) built the wall around all of West Berlin, separating it from Eastern German and even Eastern Berlin. Over the years many died or were killed trying to cross the Wall to the other side, those who were caught were sentenced to hard labor. Many families were divided due to the Wall, and were only to be united after its fall some 20 plus years later. Watch some historical video footage, here.

President Sarkozy of France, 20 Years Ago

Even current President Sarkozy of France witnessed the event 20 years ago and chipped off a piece of the Wall (Check out the photo, above). Many were actually skeptical of his claims until he posted the image up on his Facebook (I know, the President of France has FB? Wth?). Not much of the wall exists except for large concrete segments of the Wall, to serve as a reminder and an artistic standpoint of history. In some souvenir shops, you can even buy chips of the Berlin Wall to take home with you.

I have yet to have visited Germany, but I look forward to doing it soon enough. I'm glad that Germany has risen up as a major G8 and its dark history, is well - history! I just hope that the discrimination against Germans would end and that people will not forget the troubles and tribulations communism brought to the world. It is vital that mankind remind itself every so often of its errors so that they do not do it again.

What do you think of the fall of the Berlin Wall?