Celebrating 20 Years Since the Fall of The Berlin Wall
We’re coming up on the 20-year-anniversary of The Berlin Wall’s euphoric end. This is a date that signified a unification that was long overdue. Yet, the tearing down of the wall symbolically represented the release of separation and differences that had been held by all.
The anniversary of the fall, November 9, will be here soon. In celebration of this historical date, they’re preparing for a ‘Festival of Freedom’ event. This event aims to gather as many students as possible to design 1000 dominos that will symbolically represent the Fall of The Berlin Wall. This image is meant to be both symbolic and powerful. The celebration will also include an open-air concert at Pariser Platz by the Staatskapelle Berlin conducted by Daniel Barenboim.
For almost three decades Berlin had been separated by a Wall. The government of the GDR had erected this Wall on 13 August 1961 to cut off the connection between East and West Berlin and with it the escape movement rooted in the growing economic gap between East and West Germany. The government of the GDR itself called it an ‘anti-Fascist protective barrier’ although everyone knew that with its barbwire and firing order it was to prevent the GDR’s citizens from escape primarily. —via www.mauerfall09.de
Currently, there’s the ’20 Year Fall of the Wall’ being held September through October 17, which is centered around the Gleim Tunnel between East and West Berlin. Also starting this month, is an art exhibit that will depict Berlin from 1989-2009, which will run through January 2010.
To continue the celebration, expect a powerful exhibition coordinated by Robert-Havemann-Gesellschaft e.V. (RHG) called the ‘Peaceful Revolution 1989/1990’ to open early next year. This exhibit will document the following year after the fall of the wall and help tell the powerful story of reuniting the separated German people.
Please take a moment to honor those who lost their lives trying to escape the former Wall and let’s remember the day the Wall came down. For more information on different events taking place, please click here for the calendar.
LUX Nation, do you remember the Fall of the Berlin Wall? What meaning and significance does this hold for you?
Tagged in: freedom, east and west germany, peaceful revolution 19891990, the fall of berlin wall, 20-year anniversary, robert-havemann-gesellschaft e.v. rhg,
