taz.de
The Fall of the Wall: A taz Journalist's Account
A first-hand account from a taz journalist on the night the Berlin Wall fell, detailing their actions and observations at various locations in Berlin.
German
Germany
Germany HistoryJournalismCold WarReunificationBerlin Wall
Taz NewspaperSed Politburo
Raul GerssonMax Thomas MehrErich RathfelderSchabowskiWalter Momper
- Describe the scene at the Invalidenstraße border crossing.
- The author describes a relatively calm and orderly scene at the Invalidenstraße crossing, with people from both East and West peacefully crossing into each other's territories. The then-mayor of West Berlin, Walter Momper, is quoted stating "Berlin is Berlin again."
- Trace the author's movements throughout the night of November 9th, 1989.
- The author initially went to Checkpoint Charlie to distribute copies of the updated taz front page, showing the news to the people gathered there. Then they proceeded to Invalidenstraße to witness the momentous occasion firsthand, and then finally returned to the taz office.
- What was the atmosphere like at Checkpoint Charlie after the news broke?
- The atmosphere at Checkpoint Charlie was celebratory and joyful, with people expressing their happiness freely. The taz office, however, was unprepared for the influx of visitors from East Berlin and lacked provisions for them.
- How did the taz newspaper first learn about the opening of the Berlin Wall?
- The taz newspaper learned about the opening of the Berlin Wall from a confusing news ticker message from SED Politburo member Schabowski. Realizing the significance, they quickly rewrote their front page with the headline "The Wall is Open!"
- What reflections does the author offer on the differences between East and West Berlin's alternative scenes?
- The article reflects on the differences between the West and East Berlin alternative scenes, noting that both eventually became assimilated into mainstream society and that the term 'alternative' was appropriated by the right wing.