Key moments - 'When? Well, immediately'

27 Oct 2009, 12:16 pm   -   Source: Bryony Jones, SBS
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East German government spokesman Guenther Schabowski announced the end of travel restrictions (EPA/AAP)

East German government spokesman Guenther Schabowski announced the end of travel restrictions (EPA/AAP)

November 9, 1989: A mistake at a routine press conference prompts thousands of East Germans to head for the border, demanding to be let out.

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November 9, 1989: A mistake at a routine press conference prompts thousands of East Germans to head for the border, demanding to be let out.

For almost four decades, East Germans had been willing to risk everything to cross the border to the West. Dozens had died in the attempt.

But that all came to an end on November 9, 1989.

And there was no fanfare, no ceremonial rolling back of the barricades. In the end, the Berlin Wall was seen off by a simple mistake.

By the autumn of 1989 - despite the Wall - East Germany was once again haemorrhaging citizens.

Encouraged by the opening of borders across the Eastern Bloc, many 'Ossis' had made the long, slow journey to West Germany, not across the Wall, risking the dangers of the Death Strip, but safely, via Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Austria, in their clapped-out Trabant cars.

Travel restrictions lifted

The government decided something had to be done, and in an effort to encourage some of its people to stay - or come back - it voted to end travel restrictions.

All East Germans would be free to travel abroad without permission - and, perhaps more importantly, without fear of persecution.

The news was announced by GDR press spokesman Guenther Schabowski on the evening of November 9, 1989.



A ripple of chatter spread through the room full of journalists. Finally, one of them asked, "When will this come into effect?"

Schabowski, confused, looked through his notes for a date. Failing to find one, he concluded, "Uhh... Immediately."

On hearing the news, East Germans immediately began heading for the border.

Queues at border crossings

Many in East Berlin gathered at the crossing points along the Wall, demanding to be let through - if only for a few hours, to see what life was like on the other side.

Border guards - who had yet to be informed of the rule change at first refused.

They then insisted on stamping the passport of each person who insisted on leaving across the photograph, so that if they tried to return to the GDR they could be identified - and refused admission.

Eventually, as the crowds grew and grew, overloaded officials lifted the barriers, allowing East Berliners to flood across into the West.

Many were met by jubliant West Berliners, who greeted friends, relatives and strangers alike with a shower of champagne, hugs and kisses.

The party atmosphere would continue for days, as the metaphorical 'holes' in the Wall became real breaks, made by East and West Berliners alike chipping away at the hated barrier which had kept them apart for decades.




 

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