The Berlin Wall is gone by Barbora Misakova

Construction of Berliner Mauer what is original German name of Berlin wall was probably one of the saddest moments of the World War II. This barrier completely encircled the city of West Berlin and so separated it from East Germany and East Berlin. First concrete elements and blocks were put in place on August 15 1961. Soldiers guarding the wall had orders to shoot anyone who would try to defect the wall. West Berlin became an isolated enclave, families were split, and people employed in the West were cut off from their jobs. During 28 years of wall existence there were around 5,000 successful escapes to West Berlin, but the number of those who died because of existence of ! this wall or because of effort to cross it has been disputed. “Do not hesitate to use your firearm, not even when the border is breached in the company of women and children, which is a tactic the traitors have often used.” – that was an order from East German authorities which was not only directing shooting deserters but also excusing it. When on June 12, 1987 Ronald Reagan challenged Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the wall, no one believed it would ever happen. Today it is exactly 20 years what the Berlin wall was crashed down. On Nov. 9, 1989 many East Germans came to this wall and crossed over it. This simple gesture represented victory, hope and mainly end of separation and anxiety. No border guards, no secret police, informers or rigid communist control anymore! It is a time for freedom: freedom of choice.

related story (sgx15840): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091108/ap_on_re_eu/eu_germany_a...

by Barbora Misakova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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