Thank you USA.
Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachov, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachov, tear down this wall! - Ronald Reagan June 12, 1987.
General Secretary Gorbachov, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachov, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachov, tear down this wall!
______
For 40 years long, the two German parts were separated by a big wall. The wall separated two countries from another: the Federal Republic of Germany (Western Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (Eastern Germany).
Historical background is the loss of the second world war after which the allies separated Germany into four zones of occupation: a British, a French, an American and a Soviet zone. Berlin, actually lying in the Soviet zone also got subdivided into the four zones. The British, French and American zone formed the Federal Republic of Germany, the Soviet zone formed the German Democratic Republic.
What Ronald Reagon demanded in 1987, became reality on November 9, 1989: the wall in Berlin opened. Now the wall that separated lovers, that saparated families, got teared down. It is beyond imagination to feel how the people from Eastern Germany must have felt back then. Freedom.
People from the German Democratic Republic till then were not allowed to travel outside the countries of the Soviet Union without permission. Whoever did, got shot.
My own family was separated. My family from my father's side lived in Western Germany, while we lived in Eastern Germany. Of course, I was still too young to notice anything of that, but still today I hear stories from that time. When there were events, like my father's uncle's birthday they had to get a permission to go there. They had to tell where exactly they go, why, when and when they'll be back. Many demands got declined. My dad had to go alone because my mom wasn't allowed since she isn't a direct family member. The only countries my parents had seen till 1989 were Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia and their own of course.
Now I'm definitly not saying everything was bad in Eastern Germany. Not at all. But the call for freedom and demogracy became louder and louder. No one would have thought it could happen so fast. The decline of the Soviet Republic played a big part in that. And maybe without the support of George H.W. Bush (he followed Ronald Reagan) the reuion of the two German countries, which followed soon after the Wall got torn down, might not have been possible. James Baker, foreign secretary of the USA, supported the German union and played a big part in defending Germany's desires internationally.
Domestically, it was especially the Western Germany's [u]Chancellor Helmut Kohl[u] who represented the German interests and debated with the allies about the future of Germany. With regard to foreign affairs, the German Reunion would not have been possible without the agreement of the four allies. France, Great Britain and the Sovjet Union all had doubts and were sceptical. The USA, nevertheless, supported Germany in it's claim for their own country and independance and played a big role in achieving this great moment in Worl'd history.
Furthermore, it was the people of Eastern Germany who overthrew the dictatorial party SED by constantly going on the street and demonstrating, by escaping into countries like Hungrary and Poland and asking for refuge in the Embassies of Western Germany.
People can make a difference if they just stay true to their dreams and fight for their dreams.
Alot of debating was done, alot of things had to be talked over. Which alliances should the reunited Germany be part in (EU, NATO)? How independent will Germany be? How big should their army be? Those are just some examples of all the questions that had to find an answer. But then, on October 3, 1990, Eastern Germany joined the Federal Republic of Germany. Germany was united again.
For Germany it is one of the biggest part in their history. I don't think anyone nowadays who wasn't involved can feel the emotions people felt back then. Even if I was not really a part of this (I was only 3), it nevertheless brings tears to my eyes. Tears of joy. It touches me...like it touches millions of Germans.
A song that carried all the emotions from that time is The Scorpion's Wind of Change.
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
An August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the wind of change
The world closing in
Did you ever think
That we could be so close,like brothers
The future's in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change
Chorus:
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change
Walking down the street
Distant memories
Are buried in the past forever
I fallow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change
The wind of change blows straight
Into the face of time
Like a stormwind that will ring
The freedom bell for peace of mind
Let your balalaika sing
What my guitar wants to say
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change
******
I chose the title Thank you USA in a provocating manner, because nowadays we often only talk about the USA in a negative way. A Bush and his government can also do good. And they did good.
Probably not many of you will actually read this. But this song, this situation and all the things happening bring tears to my eyes. You know...the wall to me really was a bad thing. Whoever crossed it without permission got shot.
It's very hard to write a short entry about something this complex. But this Blog means alot to me and I tried my best.
General Secretary Gorbachov, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachov, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachov, tear down this wall!
______
For 40 years long, the two German parts were separated by a big wall. The wall separated two countries from another: the Federal Republic of Germany (Western Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (Eastern Germany).
Historical background is the loss of the second world war after which the allies separated Germany into four zones of occupation: a British, a French, an American and a Soviet zone. Berlin, actually lying in the Soviet zone also got subdivided into the four zones. The British, French and American zone formed the Federal Republic of Germany, the Soviet zone formed the German Democratic Republic.
What Ronald Reagon demanded in 1987, became reality on November 9, 1989: the wall in Berlin opened. Now the wall that separated lovers, that saparated families, got teared down. It is beyond imagination to feel how the people from Eastern Germany must have felt back then. Freedom.
People from the German Democratic Republic till then were not allowed to travel outside the countries of the Soviet Union without permission. Whoever did, got shot.
My own family was separated. My family from my father's side lived in Western Germany, while we lived in Eastern Germany. Of course, I was still too young to notice anything of that, but still today I hear stories from that time. When there were events, like my father's uncle's birthday they had to get a permission to go there. They had to tell where exactly they go, why, when and when they'll be back. Many demands got declined. My dad had to go alone because my mom wasn't allowed since she isn't a direct family member. The only countries my parents had seen till 1989 were Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia and their own of course.
Now I'm definitly not saying everything was bad in Eastern Germany. Not at all. But the call for freedom and demogracy became louder and louder. No one would have thought it could happen so fast. The decline of the Soviet Republic played a big part in that. And maybe without the support of George H.W. Bush (he followed Ronald Reagan) the reuion of the two German countries, which followed soon after the Wall got torn down, might not have been possible. James Baker, foreign secretary of the USA, supported the German union and played a big part in defending Germany's desires internationally.
Domestically, it was especially the Western Germany's [u]Chancellor Helmut Kohl[u] who represented the German interests and debated with the allies about the future of Germany. With regard to foreign affairs, the German Reunion would not have been possible without the agreement of the four allies. France, Great Britain and the Sovjet Union all had doubts and were sceptical. The USA, nevertheless, supported Germany in it's claim for their own country and independance and played a big role in achieving this great moment in Worl'd history.
Furthermore, it was the people of Eastern Germany who overthrew the dictatorial party SED by constantly going on the street and demonstrating, by escaping into countries like Hungrary and Poland and asking for refuge in the Embassies of Western Germany.
People can make a difference if they just stay true to their dreams and fight for their dreams.
Alot of debating was done, alot of things had to be talked over. Which alliances should the reunited Germany be part in (EU, NATO)? How independent will Germany be? How big should their army be? Those are just some examples of all the questions that had to find an answer. But then, on October 3, 1990, Eastern Germany joined the Federal Republic of Germany. Germany was united again.
For Germany it is one of the biggest part in their history. I don't think anyone nowadays who wasn't involved can feel the emotions people felt back then. Even if I was not really a part of this (I was only 3), it nevertheless brings tears to my eyes. Tears of joy. It touches me...like it touches millions of Germans.
A song that carried all the emotions from that time is The Scorpion's Wind of Change.
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
An August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the wind of change
The world closing in
Did you ever think
That we could be so close,like brothers
The future's in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change
Chorus:
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change
Walking down the street
Distant memories
Are buried in the past forever
I fallow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change
The wind of change blows straight
Into the face of time
Like a stormwind that will ring
The freedom bell for peace of mind
Let your balalaika sing
What my guitar wants to say
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change
******
I chose the title Thank you USA in a provocating manner, because nowadays we often only talk about the USA in a negative way. A Bush and his government can also do good. And they did good.
Probably not many of you will actually read this. But this song, this situation and all the things happening bring tears to my eyes. You know...the wall to me really was a bad thing. Whoever crossed it without permission got shot.
It's very hard to write a short entry about something this complex. But this Blog means alot to me and I tried my best.
good blog
rollerpig, August 20th, 2007 at 01:02:15am
You feel like you know nothing? I never even knew any of this happened. xD When it comes to history, especially in school, I can never read it or pay attention. I just can't, but something about this blog made me read it. I think I learn more from this website and these blogs than I would in a classroom. XP Anyways, I enjoyed this blog and even though you were really young at the time you were alive when it happened. It's nice knowing that people won't get shot for crossing a wall without permission anymore. Thank god the wall was opened.
threeam., July 17th, 2007 at 09:58:11pm
wooo omg
XD
I'm writing exam about this in 2 hours and I feel like I know nothing at all XD
thanks!
Love, July 17th, 2007 at 04:17:47pm
You could write history text books
Kurtni, July 17th, 2007 at 04:13:25pm
thank you so much for reading.
and thanx for your comment.
Love, July 17th, 2007 at 12:12:42pm
Jasmin, it is very nice to see this blog. I remember as a child and teenager seeing stories on the news regarding those who tried to escape and those who succeeded, but often too afraid to tell their stories for fear of the lives of loved ones left behind. And I vividly remember the pictures we saw as the wall started to come down, the way a section was pushed back and hands reaching out to each other. Even though I was only 18 at the time and didn't really know too many details about the division, I fully understood the symbolism of the reunification. I know Germany has come a long way since then, and that there are still issues to work through (at least for the older generation that lived through it) but the younger generation who don't have firsthand knowledge or experience of that period will bring only strength to a future Germany.
Grandma, July 17th, 2007 at 12:01:15pm