Berlin Wall bash and Cellebration after 20 years

Before the Berlin Wall's erection, 3.5 million East Germans escaped from the German Democratic Republic (GDR), many by crossing over the border from East Berlin into West Berlin. From West Berlin, emigrants could travel to West Germany and other Western European countries.

During its existence from 1961 to 1989, the Wall stopped almost all such emigration, saved the economic collapse in GDR and separated the GDR from West Berlin for more than a quarter of a century.

Around 5,000 people attempted to escape over the Berlin wall, with estimates of the resulting death toll of more than 200.

We visited the East Germany in Cold War time

"...In 1985 me, my wife and our 16 years old son visited for the first and last time East Germany as tourists. It was very hard to camp our tent in a conspicuous way, because every other bush was a Russian military camp.

In downtown Dresden, by Zwinger palace, closed to that infamous 1944 bombed cathedral -- preserved so until 1987 by Russian occupants as a proof to Germans of W.W.II American atrocities -- in a summer theater, art and conservatory students presented pantomimes and comedies to tourists.

Many spectators were in military Russian uniforms. At the end when people threw money, I saw a clown picking a Russian kopeika -- the smallest ruble unit was thrown by a "wide cap uniform." The young artist smelled it, tested it in disgust, showed it to the public, and threw it away. The public applauded. It was an explosive atmosphere for years.

I saw East Germans formally dressed to attend opera in Dresden despite limited financial resources. That “show up” was a protest against the “barbarian” Russian invaders. Their civilized discipline impressed us.

In Erfurt in a public place -- a student host camp where we took a shower and slept for one night in their yard tent -- it was forbidden to watch West German TV stations only 25 miles away. For one second only I put myself in the German’s shoes, it was unbearable.

We left East Germany the next night. My wife pushed me to forget about my plans for Berlin, and I had to agree with her..."

The world celebrate the fall of wall, rebirth of freedom 20 years ago

The world also celebrate Michail Gorbachev and Lech Walesa the Polish leader both winners for Nobel Price for Peace. They are our HEROES and winner for us.

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