The Fall of the Berlin Wall ~ 20 Years Later

The Brandenberg Gate - then and now
A site where President John F Kennedy and President Ronald Reagan
both delivered speeches supporting a free and united Germany

Dancing on the wall as the Soviets lift travel restrictions

The Iron Curtain
Adding coiled razor wire to the top of the wall,
which was already embedded with large glass shards

The Yellow Line represents the location of the Berlin Wall

20 years ago, November 9, 1989, the communist East German government announced the lifting of travel restrictions between the east and the west. People from both sides ran to the wall in celebration. They climbed the wall - and weren't killed with bullets in the back for it. They danced on the wall. They tore the wall down. Families and friends were reunited for the first time since the division of the country after the end of World War II.

While the Soviets tried to starve West Berlin into reuniting under the rule of the east, they were kept alive by the heroic efforts of the Berlin Airlifts. I have written about the airlift here and the Candy Bomber here and the 60th Reunion of those who kept Berlin alive here and the memories of a child in Berlin during the airlift here.

The Berlin Wall stood for oppression and denial of freedom - the fall of the wall stood for freedom and prosperity.

For a magnificent photo history of the wall, click here.

And we must never forget what a truly great speaker sounds like ~ June 12, 1987