Derk 265 Posted November 9, 2009 Twenty years since the Berlin Wall came down.......... Congratulations to Germany and the world !!!!!!! Hou doe, Derk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Dave 2,322 Posted November 9, 2009 There you have it democracy in action. My dad was still the USAF and we were stationed at Wurtsmith AFB, MI at the time. I had only been going out with Sheila (my wife) a couple months at the time and she was at my house watching a movie when the news flash came. Would of loved to of been there for the party. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted November 9, 2009 Let's all thank Roger Waters for his contribution to world peace! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+hgbn 91 Posted November 9, 2009 One of the days that burns into your memory.... Especialy when you have served during the cold war. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Typhoid 231 Posted November 9, 2009 I watched it on the military network feed to the 6th Fleet Flagship within EUCOM at the time. quite a feeling. and boy, did we party!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Soulfreak 6,524 Posted November 9, 2009 The 1st weekend as the borders were open, my brother and i drove to Schwerin. I´lll never forget these days. On the highway as we drove to the east, only Trabants & Wartburgs were driving to the west. On the checkpoint, there were hundrets of people welcoming the brothers from the other side.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Gepard 11,289 Posted November 9, 2009 (edited) It happend during my military time. And we thank god that it ended as harmless as it came. The opening of the Berlin Wall was an accident. This is not widely known outside Germany. During a press conference the berlinian Partychief announced a new travel law and told by the way, that the citicens of the GDR could now travel freely, but forgot to say, that the start of this law was set to the next day. But the most dangerous thing was that nobody told it to the border forces. The soldiers on the GÜST (Border control stations = Checkpoints)and the border patrols knew nothing about this subject. They guys on the "frontline" were surprised, when citicens came close to the checkpoints. While the people crouwded in front of the GÜST the american, french and british forces in West Berlin went to high alert status. And the soviets? The were still celebrating their great socialist october revolution. And who has seen russians celebrating, know what it means: Vodka, Vodka, Vodka. The most astonishing thing that happend was that nobody of the east german armed forces lost his head and opend the fire. And i think we all can be happy that it came so. If not ... I dont want to think about what could have been if only one single shot .... One day later i was sent into an ammo bunker to fill Kalaschnikow magazines. And the air smelled like chinese solution. It was god damn close to a military strike to suppress the cvil rights movement. The officers told us that they favored Pinochets way. ..... I dont want to think about how it could have been ended. Edited November 9, 2009 by Gepard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mannie 21 Posted November 9, 2009 And the walls came tumbling down!!!! :salute: :drinks: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+whiteknight06604 934 Posted November 9, 2009 (edited) Mr Gorbachov tear down this wall....and they did. freedom is never stopped...it may be repressed for a time but in the end as many despots dictators and socialist polititions found out and will continue to learn you can not take away peoples freedom or rights forever. Edited November 9, 2009 by whiteknight06604 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CarlosemoG 0 Posted November 10, 2009 (edited) My recollections of this day are fuzzy (I was 11 at the time). But I do remember watching the news in the following days and seeing all those people tearing down the Wall and celebrating in the streets and feeling happy for them, even though I didn't fully understand what it all meant for them. Today I felt happy for them again as I watched today's celebrations in the full knowledge of its significance for Berlin, Germany, Europe and the whole world. So, to Germany, Happy Happy 20th Anniversary! "All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein 'Berliner!'" - JFK Edited November 10, 2009 by CarlosemoG Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emp_Palpatine 501 Posted November 10, 2009 It happend during my military time. And we thank god that it ended as harmless as it came. The opening of the Berlin Wall was an accident. This is not widely known outside Germany. During a press conference the berlinian Partychief announced a new travel law and told by the way, that the citicens of the GDR could now travel freely, but forgot to say, that the start of this law was set to the next day. But the most dangerous thing was that nobody told it to the border forces. The soldiers on the GÜST (Border control stations = Checkpoints)and the border patrols knew nothing about this subject. They guys on the "frontline" were surprised, when citicens came close to the checkpoints. While the people crouwded in front of the GÜST the american, french and british forces in West Berlin went to high alert status. And the soviets? The were still celebrating their great socialist october revolution. And who has seen russians celebrating, know what it means: Vodka, Vodka, Vodka. The most astonishing thing that happend was that nobody of the east german armed forces lost his head and opend the fire. And i think we all can be happy that it came so. If not ... I dont want to think about what could have been if only one single shot .... One day later i was sent into an ammo bunker to fill Kalaschnikow magazines. And the air smelled like chinese solution. It was god damn close to a military strike to suppress the cvil rights movement. The officers told us that they favored Pinochets way. ..... I dont want to think about how it could have been ended. You were in NVA? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Gepard 11,289 Posted November 10, 2009 Border Forces (GT). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Jug 99 Posted November 10, 2009 My recollections of this day are fuzzy (I was 11 at the time). But I do remember watching the news in the following days and seeing all those people tearing down the Wall and celebrating in the streets and feeling happy for them, even though I didn't fully understand what it all meant for them. Today I felt happy for them again as I watched today's celebrations in the full knowledge of its significance for Berlin, Germany, Europe and the whole world. So, to Germany, Happy Happy 20th Anniversary! "All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein 'Berliner!'" - JFK I had the distinct privilege of observing all of the events of that day from around 80,000 feet. I was flying a TR-1 based out of RAF Alconbury in the UK west of the then inter-German border. As with most of the US troops stationed there, my first thoughts were for the German people. All I could think of was, "It's about time!". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derk 265 Posted November 10, 2009 Thank you for a couple of remarkable answers, showing that this forum has remarkable members. For years , hunting for steam locomotives, I had been looking from the West at the Iron Curtain border at many places. That was a grim experience on it's own. After having been in the former DDR itself (but not in Berlin) in the seventies for the same reason , the country left a lasting impression : somewhat unreal and very much like travelling back in time. The swastika had been changed for the commie symbols and that was that. But people were quite friendly and surprisingly open when no one was around, including SED party members. We were shadowed though, as one of my friends had ties with our military intelligence. In the months before the opening of the wall, the tension rose in the country with demonstrations in many cities that were brutally surpressed, but after the occurences in West German embassies in Prague and Budapest and the couple of changes in the gouvernement, the actual end of the Berlin Wall wasn't that much of a surprise anymore, although in the end everything happened very quickly. But I saw it live on television and emotional it was !! It was wittnessing the making of history........ For the record: the years after 1989 were fantastic: peace had broken out, and all the former enemy MiG's and Sukhoi's etc. were appearing at our airshows..... Had many interesting convesation with the crews and ground personnel !!! Hou doe, Derk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lexx_Luthor 57 Posted November 10, 2009 Gepard:: One day later i was sent into an ammo bunker to fill Kalaschnikow magazines. And the air smelled like chinese solution. It was god damn close to a military strike to suppress the cvil rights movement. The officers told us that they favored Pinochets way. ..... I dont want to think about how it could have been ended. Very interesting. I've read of peaceful resistance movements spanning Poland/E.Germany/etc... in the 1950s but we in the western "democracies" remained silent as they were beaten down. Is this Correct Thinking? Thanks for sharing!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ezlead 42 Posted November 10, 2009 I can't believe it's been 20 years. Course,I can't believe that I watched it being built.(On TV) I've seen a lot of good and bad when it comes to history. Like Jug,my first impression was "It's about @#$%@#$ time!!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Brain32 265 Posted November 10, 2009 And that is how it all started, eventhough just a kid I knew very well what that means, as my country was trying to do the same thing. Unfortunetly many walls were torn down before changes took place, walls of blood... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Silverbolt 104 Posted November 10, 2009 lol, i was thinking in born that day..... Reagan Smash, Reagan Smash! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzx7VEH9YUM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derk 265 Posted November 10, 2009 "All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein 'Berliner!'" - JFK Funny thing is that he actually said that he was a sausage (Ein "Berliner", a popular sausage) . He meant to state "Ich bin Berliner" meaning he felt like being from Berlin. The crowds forgave him....... Hou doe, Derk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Typhoid 231 Posted November 10, 2009 "All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein 'Berliner!'" - JFK Funny thing is that he actually said that he was a sausage (Ein "Berliner", a popular sausage) . He meant to state "Ich bin Berliner" meaning he felt like being from Berlin. The crowds forgave him....... Hou doe, Derk I thought that was a jelly donut..... and a quick Czeck (sorry...) says, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berliner_(pastry) jelly donut! We are all jelly donuts!! (which is what my doc accuses me of regularly......) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derk 265 Posted November 10, 2009 Hey, you're right Typhoid, always thought it was a sausage like the Frankfürter..... Hou doe, Derk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CarlosemoG 0 Posted November 11, 2009 Hey, you're right Typhoid, always thought it was a sausage like the Frankfürter..... Hou doe, Derk That's right. Here in Portugal we have a pastry called "Bola de Berlim" which could be translated as "Ball of/from Berlin", "Berlin's Ball" or "Berlin Ball". It looks like a "hole-less" (does that word even exist? ) donut and it comes in two versions: just dough or filled with a delicious creamy custard (yummy, my favourite!). So that seems to indicate that the "berliner" really is a German jelly donut. Anyway, check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ich_bin_ein_Berliner Apparently, he was right all along! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+streakeagle 871 Posted November 11, 2009 (edited) To the best of my knowledge, never in human history has such a dramatic change occurred without terrible amounts of blood spilling. The Berlin Wall marked the beginning of a tidal wave that ended with the total collapse of the Soviet Union. There is simply no precedent of such a global power giving up its control so quickly AND peacefully. Though, to be fair, the UK did give up its massive colonial empire relatively peacefully with a little prodding from the USA during WW2. But, correct me if I am wrong, the UK did so over a span of decades slowly shrinking and with some fighting. On a historical scale, the collapse of Soviet Communism occurred in a flash with hardly a shot fired. I still don't understand how this happened. Traditionally, those in power hold out and fight to the bitter end, which in this case could have produced the expected WW3 scenario in Germany. Alternatively, the people rise up and kill everyone they blame for their problems such as in the French Revolution and Bolshevik Revolution. Of course the American Revolution was a one of a kind as well. Most people that rise up and fight in a revolution do so because their very lives are in danger. The French and Russians were starving and/or dying in unpopular wars. But, the people of the 13 colonies decided that they hated their tax rates so much that they would die to have the right to vote for lowering them. If only they could see how we are being taxed now despite our right to vote! Hooray for Germany! As bad as they were, the experiences of WW2 and the Cold War should make Germany an even greater country than it ever would have been otherwise. Reunification must have been painful in some ways (and to some extent probably still is). But it was not right for one people and so many families to remain so divided for so long. I would like to see Korea unified. They essentially have the same problem and both the North and South would have much to gain if the Communists collapsed and merged with the South. Edited November 11, 2009 by streakeagle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CarlosemoG 0 Posted November 12, 2009 (edited) Great post, streakeagle. Though I was a little disappointed you didn't mention the April 25th 1974 military coup that finally brought down Portugal's fascist dictatorship. There was a real potential for confrontation between loyalist and revolutionary forces but good sense prevailed. http://en.wikipedia....tion_Revolution Korea reuniting would be a great accomplishment but are the people(s) ready for that? Guess we'll have to wait until Kim Jong-Il either dies or becomes too weak to rule. The ensuing power struggle could be interesting: more communism? a complete 180º turn to fascism? democracy? I'm afraid whatever comes next and the effort needed to accomplish it, it'll be the people paying for it as usual. Even though this particular division isn't so much political as it is religious (is it?), I'd like to see the Irish finally realising what unites them rather than what separates them and ending their struggling and discrimination for good so they can all live in peace. I hear there are Walls over there as there were in Germany... PS: That's a sweet family photo streakeagle, congratulations! Edited November 12, 2009 by CarlosemoG Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Growler67 0 Posted November 12, 2009 Was there when it happened. Not on site, but stationed in (at the time) West Germany. Buddy in my unit was on leave in Berlin and got trapped. Had to call in twice a day just to check in until he got back. He brought me a piece of the wall. I still have it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
