On 9 November 1989 Günter Schabowski said at a televised press conference that new travel rules applied immediately, without delay. They were meant to start th…
Berlin Freedom Week runs 7 to 14 November 2026 around the 37th anniversary, with events on freedom, democracy and human rights.
East Germany joined the Federal Republic on 3 October 1990, after a free election, currency union and the Two Plus Four treaty.
No. The Gate opened on 22 December 1989, when Kohl walked through to be welcomed by Modrow.
Crowds climbed the Wall and about one million East Germans visited West Berlin by the Saturday, the East German news agency reported.
Commander Harald Jäger gave way to the crowd and the way to West Berlin was open at 23:29.
Asked when the new rules took effect, he said that as far as he knew it was immediately, without delay.
About 500,000 people demonstrated in East Berlin five days before the Wall opened.
About 70,000 marched and no shots were fired; Honecker resigned on 18 October.
Hungary began taking down its fence on 2 May and opened its border to East Germans on 11 September.
East Germany sealed the border to stop people leaving; it had lost at least four million people by then.
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